Newbie AR build questions

[mardo]

I am starting to do my homework to build an AR. However, I have never handled one, let alone shot one. I want it for informal shooting and God forbid, self defense. I am not looking for a tack driver, but want 100% reliability.
I want (I think)
chrome lined 16" Barrel
open sights
fixed stock (I think)
normal handguard- I am not a gaget guy, I don't see me hanging stuff on my rifle

Any suggestions on what I should be looking for?
I saw del ton sells kits, are they any good? I would like to stick with American made stuff.

If I sound stupid, it's only because I am. Thanks.

[deth502]

i have a delton kit- its nice- wouldnt hesitate to buy another.

recently saw a place that looked like it had better prices. blackthorn?? blackwater?? black something, maybe someone else will know??

[Xringshooter]

What you described is a bare bones AR. Nothing wrong with that (one of mine is and I love shooting it) and you can always modify it later or build another one (ohh, and you will build another {use Yoda's voice} because of the BRD that you will catch ).

Del-Ton makes an ok kit, I've known several people that built their's from a Del-Ton and are quite happy. In fact one was built at my house just last Saturday from a Del-Ton kit and a PaFOA lower.

There are many threads about building/buying AR's on the forum. Do a search and you will turn up more info that you though imaginable.

[PROVANTAGE]

there is a guy on gunbroker selling a chrome lined sp1 upper with a complete dpms lower for 550.00. sound like a good deal to me

[mardo]

What you described is a bare bones AR. Nothing wrong with that (one of mine is and I love shooting it) and you can always modify it later or build another one (ohh, and you will build another {use Yoda's voice} because of the BRD that you will catch ).

Del-Ton makes an ok kit, I've known several people that built their's from a Del-Ton and are quite happy. In fact one was built at my house just last Saturday from a Del-Ton kit and a PaFOA lower.

There are many threads about building/buying AR's on the forum. Do a search and you will turn up more info that you though imaginable.

Who is better than del ton? I don't need the best, but want something decent.

WHOLY CRAP!!! I don't look in the rifle section too often. I did a search...
I'll be looking for a week at all the posts and getting more cornfuzed.

[synergy]

Buy nice or buy twice....

Don't skimp on parts, or you'll regret it later. You said you wanted 100% reliability...that means don't cut corners trying to save $5.

www.m4carbine.net

[Brown-Bear]

I recived a double star lower (stripped) as a gift for being best man ata buddies wedding. I sat on for a month or so before building. I finished with a bare bones kit. Fixed stock, A2 upper, no rails or fancy gadgets. works just fine and cost less than 400, remeber I already had the lower. Totally reliable. O guess I can't say that, the only snag I had was a FTF, FTE, after tinkering and excessive cleaning thinking it was a clogged gas tube, turned out to be a loose bolt key. Nothing a little lock tite could not fix.

Good luck and post pics once your'e done man.

BB

[junkmanted]

i did a build on a M16 parts kit with a Stag lower semi of course and love it Sarco has kits there in NJ so you might be able to take a ride call and have it ready for pick up.
this was the 1st time i ever held a ar also the build was simple

[Xringshooter]

You can by kits from Stag, RRA, DPMS, Bushmaster, Del-Ton, Sarco, Olympic and others. If you want to see even a greater variety go to AR15.com and look at the ads, the retailers list and the EE (equipment exchange) (it's like our classifieds). AR15.com and M4carbine.net have a lot of good technical stuff available about AR's. DO NOT however, go on the forum and ask who makes the best, you will get 159,213 (or more) different answers .