First AR-15 Build — Recommendations?

[wanneroo]

Cabelas get a $49 Anderson lower.

Palmetto State has kits with all the parts and a completed upper for $260 with free shipping.

Spend the rest of the $100 in gift cards at Cabelas on a Magpul rear sight/ammo/tools etc.

Job done.

[icp4life162005]

Just got this email from Combatarmory.com
Coupon code TAKE15 for 15% off and free shipping

AR-15 .223/5.56 7.5" PISTOL-SBR LENGTH 1:7 TWIST W/ 7" SUPER SLIM M-LOK

HAND GUARD

Kit

WAS $200 NOW $110

USE CODE "TAKE15"

FOR RECORD LOW PRICE & FREE SHIPPING

Parts in kit include

-7.5 inch 1:7 5.56 barrel

-Upper receiver

-Slim M-lok Hand guard

-Gas block

-Pistol length gas tube

-Forward assist

-Dust cover

-Flash hider/Muzzle break

Shop online with code TAKE15

Shop Now




COMBAT ARMORY

AR15 MIL-SPEC

 Butt Stock Kit

USE CODE TAKE15


WAS $50 NOW $21


SHOP NOW







COMBAT ARMORY

AR15 Pistol

Tube Kit

USE CODE TAKE15

WAS $50 NOW $21

[PickingPA]

Does the email say when that deal ends?

[Rosco the Iroc]

It’s more about spreading the cost out into smaller purchases - eliminates the “we have more important things to spend $500 on” discussion.

Plus I have $150 to get started.

ah...understandable I'm on the same plan for my new National Match optic gun.

[ExFlyinguy]

I hate getting Cabelas gift cards but unfortunately that's usually where mine come from too.

I'm just going to regurgitate a couple things-

As already stated ANDERSON lower or PSA if you prefer. One of the cheapest places I see Anderson's is AIM Surplus unless you have a coupon Primary Arms is the same price(presently they are $40 but I've seen them for $35):https://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1ANSL
https://www.primaryarms.com/anderson...eiver-ar-15-a3

If you figure $25-$35 FFL transfer your looking at $60-$75 OTD. If you can get one at Cabelas for roughly the same and make use of your cards= WIN! https://www.cabelas.com/product/ANDE...0.uts?slotId=0

I don't know if Cabelas carries upper assemblies, but I didn't know they sold stripped lowers either. If it were me, I would just blow the gift cards on lower and lower parts maybe some mags. Take your time deciding on the upper. CMMG Lower parts kit:$70 @ Cabelas: https://www.cabelas.com/catalog/prod...ref=prd2387970

*If you want to go with a better quality trigger and pistol grip you can use a parts kit like this one that excludes trigger & pistol grip $45: https://www.cabelas.com/catalog/prod...ref=prd1165368

By the letter of the law- going with a pistol build allows you to make a rifle later if you so choose. If you build it as a rifle it stays a rifle unless converted to SBR.

[raxar]

You won't save any money buying individual parts instead of a kit. Especially since you'd need special tools to assemble an upper

[unclejumbo]

http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=271154

[icp4life162005]

Does the email say when that deal ends?

Unfortunately it does not. I would guess about a week or so. E're on the lessor side.

[Emptymag]

It’s more about spreading the cost out into smaller purchases - eliminates the “we have more important things to spend $500 on” discussion.

Plus I have $150 to get started.

That's the beauty of the AR15 - you can buy it one piece at a time, throw the parts in a box, and eventually have everything you need.

Here's a few of my build threads. The first one is a good example of what you're talking about - buying it a little at a time on a budget, but not necessarily buying "cheap" components...

Two Long Years of Gathering Parts - AR15 Build

Another Gun in a Box - AR15 Pistol Build

Pencil Barrel Lightweight Mid Length 5.56 Carbine


I've built all of mine in this manner - a little at a time.

With an avg ar going for $550, are you really going to save that much? But it depends on your skill and build. Lower for $50, and a no name every thing kit for $3/400.

You won't save any money buying individual parts instead of a kit. Especially since you'd need special tools to assemble an upper

Yeah, building used to be the less expensive route, but prices for complete rifles is so low now, it's almost a wash buying complete vs building.
You CAN save money, but it takes some work.

Also, when you build your own, you get to pick and choose parts - doing so allows you to buy "better than basic" for whatever components you wish - typically resulting in a more expensive build, BUT you are getting exactly what YOU want.
Pretty much all of mine fall into that category. By choosing to go "middle of the road" on parts as opposed to buying the cheapest option available, I spend a little more, but I think I end up with a gun that's a pretty good value with better than average parts for not a ton of money.
And I get to spread the cost out over time.

I've found the people of this forum to be a great wealth of info and have picked the collective brains each time I build.
Ask questions. I don't feel I'm an expert, but at this point, I've got enough of them now to have a pretty good grasp on building them.

[Knightshift]

I also am a newbie to ARs and have interest into owning one in the future. Good link from Bang to an introductory to the platform. And thanks to UncleJumbo for link to the past thread. Lots of reading to be done. Thanks guys.