Never built an AR before...

Skaufma0

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So I want to build an AR chambered in .556, and build it with the purpose of fun shooting and home defense. I'm familiar enough with the function of them, and I've shot them a ton, even had one on duty for a couple of years, but I've never built one and I'm not sure where to start. I can figure out how to put it together easy enough, just the gathering parts and whatnot I'm completely blank on.

I've heard good AND bad things about Palmetto State Armory's kits. But they are the most budget friendly I can find (unless I'm missing something).

Any advice or direction would be amazingly helpful.
 
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Buy a kit and lower from PSA.
This. Wait for a rifle kit that you like to go on sale and buy that. Then get a lower. Little patience and a few punches and some basic hand tools and if you have any mechanical abilities you can put a lower together
 
A couple options, assuming you’re not buying a complete rifle...none of which are difficult:

1. Buy a complete lower and a complete upper
2. Buy a lower and a rifle build kit
3. Buy a lower, a lower build kit, and a complete upper

Any of those three get you a complete rifle, minus mags and ammo. Some of those options even give you sights and/or optics. Keep an eye on the Daily Deals section.

And you’ve got quite a few members in the area if you need any help. I’m about to assemble a lower in the next couple days, and build another from a rifle build kit. I’ve done it a dozen times but I’ll still use the guides on Brownell’s site.
 
A couple options, assuming you’re not buying a complete rifle...none of which are difficult:

1. Buy a complete lower and a complete upper
2. Buy a lower and a rifle build kit
3. Buy a lower, a lower build kit, and a complete upper

Any of those three get you a complete rifle, minus mags and ammo. Some of those options even give you sights and/or optics. Keep an eye on the Daily Deals section.

And you’ve got quite a few members in the area if you need any help. I’m about to assemble a lower in the next couple days, and build another from a rifle build kit. I’ve done it a dozen times but I’ll still use the guides on Brownell’s site.

Might be a dumb question, but again, I just don't know.
How do you know what lower will fit with what upper? Or are they all pretty much universal to the platform?
 
I have tools. I don't lend but you are close to me so I'm happy to help if you'd like.

That would be awesome, when it comes time to make moves on this I'll definitely reach out. I'm sure I can figure it out with minimal frustration, but if I run into any issues then I'll let you know!
 
Might be a dumb question, but again, I just don't know.
How do you know what lower will fit with what upper? Or are they all pretty much universal to the platform?
AR-15 is an AR-15 (unlike the AR-10 platform).

There are a couple of firearms like the S&W M&P 15-22 that look like an AR-15, but they’re not...and uppers/lowers aren’t interchangeable. But for the rest of it, everything should work. Especially for 5.56 builds. Some 22 or 9 might need a little tweaking.
 
So I want to build an AR ...
I'm the last person to give you advice, as my recent relevant threads will demonstrate. :)

That said, I will note that I have had very good luck with PSA products. They seem to be a good value for the price.

More importantly, there are some of the most knowledgeable and helpful people on this forum that it has been my great pleasure to work with on my first AR assembly, just completed yesterday. The smartest thing you've done so far is to place yourself in their capable hands.

They will not let you fail!
 
https://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn/learndetail.aspx?lid=11004

Section 3 might help. Section 7 definitely will. You can go to each clip for the lower and print a PDF out ahead of time. Then watch the short videos, pausing when needed. I still do that for a couple sections...the others are done from memory.

I also have an 8.5x11 version of this printed out:

A7FE785F-46BD-4EF5-8EDD-B79A31B18FA8.gif

And I lay all the parts on it before I get started. That’s so I’ll know if I’m missing a spring, pin, decent, etc before I get started. Like this:

D23D1AD7-D4B1-4948-8C0E-EC84C98EAF84.jpeg
 
https://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn/learndetail.aspx?lid=11004

Section 3 might help. Section 7 definitely will. You can go to each clip for the lower and print a PDF out ahead of time. Then watch the short videos, pausing when needed. I still do that for a couple sections...the others are done from memory.

I also have an 8.5x11 version of this printed out:

View attachment 124311

And I lay all the parts on it before I get started. That’s so I’ll know if I’m missing a spring, pin, decent, etc before I get started. Like this:

View attachment 124310
Excellent tip for the AR newbies!

Building AR’s is so easy but it definitely is intimidating when you look at all of the LPK parts. Once you get comfortable with it, it’s tough not to buy more and more parts and build more rifles!
 
So with this one, since it has a trigger and whatnot, do I just need a stripped lower?
Yes, you would just need a stripped lower and mags. PSA is offering their M4A1 clone lower right now too. I build these things daily down range. PM me if you get stuck.

CD
 
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That's all. Well that and some magazines and you're ready to go shooting.

Beautiful! Oddly enough I have a ton of .556 ammo and about a dozen magazines. I already have my lower picked out so I'll wait and see if it goes on sale.

Okay, hopefully last seemingly dumb question... Since the lower is stripped and the kit doesn't have a lower, would they ship to my door? Or would I need to pick it up?
 
You have received a lot of great advice so far, so I can add little other than "Go for it! Its a lot of fun!" YouTube is filled with videos...I use one from Sootch to build mine.

My only warning is this: Building ARs is highly addictive. I bought my first AR...a year or so later I decided to try to build one...Since then I have built multiple rifles and pistols. You will get a good deal on a lower and BOOM...another AR. Or you will find a spare detent pin and think "Well...cant let this go to waste" and boom...another AR.
 
You have received a lot of great advice so far, so I can add little other than "Go for it! Its a lot of fun!" YouTube is filled with videos...I use one from Sootch to build mine.

My only warning is this: Building ARs is highly addictive. I bought my first AR...a year or so later I decided to try to build one...Since then I have built multiple rifles and pistols. You will get a good deal on a lower and BOOM...another AR. Or you will find a spare detent pin and think "Well...cant let this go to waste" and boom...another AR.

That's how I am with cars...I'm sure the wife will love me having another hobby. ;)
 
Beautiful! Oddly enough I have a ton of .556 ammo and about a dozen magazines. I already have my lower picked out so I'll wait and see if it goes on sale.

Okay, hopefully last seemingly dumb question... Since the lower is stripped and the kit doesn't have a lower, would they ship to my door? Or would I need to pick it up?
Yes, mailed to your door except for the lower will go to the FFL.

CD
 
yep. Go ahead and knock out the first one yourself, that way when something breaks or goes flying across the room you'll know what spares to keep.

Oh and you will probably need to go ahead and start saving for the inevitable pistol build, or 'loophole gun' as my 18 year old is apt to say
 
Even a stripped lower?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The lower is the only thing that has to go through an FFL, unless you buy one off a member. All of the other parts you can order straight to your door.
 
Beautiful! Oddly enough I have a ton of .556 ammo and about a dozen magazines. I already have my lower picked out so I'll wait and see if it goes on sale.

Okay, hopefully last seemingly dumb question... Since the lower is stripped and the kit doesn't have a lower, would they ship to my door? Or would I need to pick it up?

As others have stated everything except the lower can be shipped directly to you. The lower is the "firearm" and therefore has to be shipped to an FFL. Unless you go the 80% lower route which I wouldn't suggest as a first build.
 
With the complete lower kit, buy some extra detents and springs. Ask me how I know.
 
This guy can build one...so can you!
66D1066D-B1CB-4DC3-89B5-08BE23EEFD11.jpeg

If you’ve got any semblance of mechanical ability, it’s pretty easy. The interwebz will hook you up with all kinds of walkthroughs, step-by-step guides and videos! Go forth...and unleash the final phases of BRD!!!

Pics after or...you know the rest...
 
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Beautiful! Oddly enough I have a ton of .556 ammo and about a dozen magazines.

Be careful with .556 ammo. Most standard AR's are 5.56MM. ;)

They are addictive. One becomes 2, 2 becomes 12. And in a whole bunch of different calibers.
 
https://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn/learndetail.aspx?lid=11004

Section 3 might help. Section 7 definitely will. You can go to each clip for the lower and print a PDF out ahead of time. Then watch the short videos, pausing when needed. I still do that for a couple sections...the others are done from memory.

I also have an 8.5x11 version of this printed out:

View attachment 124311

And I lay all the parts on it before I get started. That’s so I’ll know if I’m missing a spring, pin, decent, etc before I get started. Like this:

View attachment 124310
Used this tonight (the diagram and the Brownell’s) to have my son do a practice run on a lower. It’s a CMMG 9mm design for Colt mags...already had the bolt catch set up for LRBHO, so we skipped that part.

Used pliers to insert the trigger guard roll pin for the first time, instead of hammer and punch. Really simple. Will also try it on the bolt catch next time with his M4 lower.
 
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