Build or Buy?

[Traxx]

Okay, I have never built an AR so this would be my first. Is it worth it to try and build or better to buy?
If I buy I would like to the the AA piston upper and an AA Lower.
To build, I am not even sure where to start. Also, are there any special tools needed to build. I like the idea of building and believe that I would be much more familiar with the weapon. What do you think?

[bwaites]

If you've never wrenched an AR together, you are better off buying if you count on good results. While people act like they are tinker toys for big boys, its more complicated than that.

Good luck either way!

[Drifter]

Building is definitely more rewarding.

[speederx7]

it depends on your mechanical ability... if you are all thumbs, then you probably want to buy a complete. If you are reasonably mechanical, an AR build is really pretty easy.

start surfing youtube and watch a number of the build ups and lower assembly walkthrus

[bwaites]

A dozen years ago, no one built their own, now everyone is an AR smith.

I wonder why they have all those schools to teach guys how to do it right, if any reasonably mechanical guy can do it?

I don't doubt they can be put together and will shoot, I just don't think you will get the best out of them if you don't have a fair amount of experience doing so.

Which doctor do you want working on your knee? The guy who has done a thousand knee surgeries, or your local family doctor?

I'll go with someone who has built a few, thank you very much!

[RStewart]

Most of the folks I know who built their own AR's had issues with them in one form or other. And they are reasonably competent mechanically-inclined folks, too.

I have my rifles built my true gunbuilders.

[skyfish]

Having done both with the AR platform and this being your first. Either buy a whole rifle or buy an assembled upper and complete your lower yourself.

Couple considerations, don't get hung up on piston. The AA "Advanced weapon system" is a pretty good buy. And there is a $150 option for Shilen barrel too. That 19.5" would be turn key.
I haven't tried an AA trigger, but I do REALLY like Rock Rover Arms 2-stage match trigger.
GB has a 20" Lothar Walther barrel and upper for sale as well.

If you buy complete, better resale? Usually. Build yourself more pride and your way. Also, what do you want to do with this rifle? Mine is 18", seems 18-22 is most common.

[CoolBarrelBill]

I built mine and so far I hve not had any problems.

[pappy42]

Depends on whether you want a blaster or precision rifle. If you want a reasonable expectation of accuracy and reliability, go with a competent builder and quality components.

[pinzgauer]

My somewhat contrarian experience: Select the right quality components, get the right tools, and pay attention to detail and you can build one that will hang with the big $$ rifles.

IE: If the parts are made right, and you put it together properly it will work reliably, and accuracy will be mostly defined by the barrel, optics/sights, trigger selection, and your shooting capability. IE: Not by black magic / secret sauce on the barrel extension. Reliability will be more due to selection of and the original mfg quality of the parts than anything you or a builder can do.

There are big debates on whether some of the secret builder tricks (locktight on the barrel extension to Upper receiver, Upper honing for concentricity, etc) make a difference or not. And in fact, some evidence that the builder tricks of old have a negative impact more than help. (Ex: Overtightening barrel nuts and flash hiders) For every story about polishing the internals there are others about how that removes the hard coating that is needed to prevent wear. So spend the money instead on a decent trigger that you don't have to polish to be smooth!

If you are just looking to get sub-moa and reliable, my experience is that it's not hard with grendel to do so without extreme measures. Not to say that concentricity is not good to have, just that the jury is out on whether honing will impact concentricity much given the way the AR assembles. But if it's important to you, there's a tool for that!

So for me, I spent my dollars on the best components I could afford, and ended up with both an accurate & reliable rifle for the price of mid-grade available commercially. And I enjoyed building it, and learning more about the AR. Most importantly, I learned exactly how it goes together, and the relationship between parts. Ex: Torque a barrel nut properly, and you realize how little the voodoo tricks can really impact accuracy.

I'd love to have a high end rifle, but it's just not in the cards with a kid in college, and another headed for West Point. And I enjoy building.

My rule of thumb would be, if you own a torque wrench and a good solidly mounted bench vice, and are comfortable in using them, you can build an AR Upper "right" with some study and the right tools. If you are not familiar with torque wrench type assembly, or are unwilling to buy a quality action block and armorer's tool, then don't try.

Also, build a lower first. If you find it hard, then don't try an upper. If you enjoyed building your lower, and managed to do so without scratching it up, and upper would be a good next step. IE: It means you can follow instruction and pay attention to detail.

If you are trying to compete benchrest or F Class, I'd question the selection of Grendel, but that's not my area of interest so maybe I'm missing something. But sure appears to me that certain bolt actions are going to be very hard to compete with box stock even with a high end, big name grendels.

I'm sure there will be other opinions, probably with merit. But here's one guy who built a grendel Upper & lower from parts that is shooting great, and is looking forward to doing my next one.

[WillD]

I'm expecting the last of my parts to arrive any day so I can begin my first AR build. I was rather surprised to see so much discouragement to Traxx's question. I don't consider myself "all thumbs" and I'm not deterred because of the wealth of information available. That said, in order of importance, what do you all consider the most important items in an AR build; assembler, barrel, trigger, upper/lower receiver manufacturer?

Thanks, Will

[bwaites]

I think it comes down to a few things:

1) We all have seen a lot of AR's wrenched together by guys who didn't know what they were doing, and then who got VERY frustrated because their rifles shot poorly.
2) The OP has never built one, and didn't mention if he had someone with experience to help him.
3) The fact that building an AR ISN'T just playing Legos. We've gotten that mentality, but just ask any good AR smith what he works on and he'll tell you it is rifles that were put together by their owners.
4) Very few of the top competitive shooters run rifles that they put together. Apart from the fact that some of them are sponsored, the truth is that having all the right tools, jigs, etc. makes a difference.
5) Building anything well is a function of doing it a lot, building an AR for the first time is a set up for problems. If you are careful, and if you are good, and if you take your time, you may build a quality firearm, but we've all seen guys who say they did those things, and still have problems.
6) Information on the internet, (including this post!) is just that, information. Whether it is good or bad is undecided. The only way to find out is by experience, and sometimes that experience comes at a price. There is LOTS of medical information on the internet, but no one smart tries to diagnose themselves, do they?
7) Yes, I have built an AR on my own, both upper and lower. It runs fine, but its a plinker, so thats all I wanted, a cheap plinker. Is it as accurate as my AA built uppers? I don't know, its a 5.56, and I still haven't found the load it really likes.
8) My rifles that I compete with were built by someone who does it for a living, because I want as many variables out of the equation as I can get.

Oops, that's more than a few....got carried away!

[Traxx]

Thanks, and no I don't have any assistance for a build. I am mainly looking for a medium distance weapon, 3 to 6 hundred yards.

[speederx7]

actually, i would argue that the AR platform is one of the most "lego-like" platform out there... It really doesnt get much simpler for assembly. i recommend reading the books by Zediker. Takes a lot of the myth out of AR's...

[LRS_Ranger]

I had Mark over at Short Action Customs build me an upper to my specs, which he did for a very reasonable price. I have exactly what I want, and I was sure that I was going to get a shooter. It was also pretty inexpensive. If you go that route, you can still piece it together but know that everything is all trued up like a custom smith will do.