First EBR build is complete!

[mythaeus]

Done, and done! My first build, which is for my wife, is finally completed after about 3 months of shopping for parts and incrementally building it up. The last pieces of the puzzle arrived yesterday, the ACE Skeleton stock, buffer and buffer spring. I test fired the upper last week and will take this complete baby out for a spin soon.

Here are a few evening time photos. I'll take better photos over the weekend.











Here is the breakdown of the parts, price, and where I got them from:

DPMS Lower (Local private seller) $200.00
RRA Lower Parts Kit (Craiglist) $70.00
BC M4 Upper (Bravo Company) $110.00
Wilson M4 Barrel (Tony's custom (Gun show)) $185.00
FN Bolt Carrier Group (Tony's custom (Gun show)) $140.00
Charging Handle (Tony's custom (Gun show)) $15.00
Delta ring, gas tube, flash hider, pins, and other upper parts (Tony's custom (Gun show)) $35.00
Magpul MOE Handguard (GMS Tactical) $41.00
ACE Skelenton Stock (Shorty) (JSE Surplus) $80.00
1" ACE Butt Padd (JSE Surplus) $10.00
Buffer + Buffer Spring (JSE Surplus) $11.00
Matech BUIS (Craiglist) $45.00
1-point Tactical Sling (used) (Craiglist) $5.00

Total: $947.

What I learned:

1. You don't need a lot of the tools that are recommended by Brownells. You can wing most of the tools. The roll pin punches are a must. I got a complete set from ebay for under $20/shipped. A good bench vise saves a lot of trouble. I got one of those portable ones that didn't work too well. The all-in-one AR tool is actually decent.

2. If it doesn't fit, DON'T force it...read the manual. I almost screwed up the MOE handguard because I tried to put in in backward.

3. Craigslist is a good source for parts, but you need to have patience. The trick to searching Craigslist is to type in your search phrase then the words "site:craigslist.org" to find listings nationwide.

4. You are not going to really save any money when building your own AR in this market; however, you are free to custom the heck out of it right off the bat without having to sell/throw away unwanted parts. In the end, you get exactly what you want and have fun while doing it.

What an awesome experience overall. I'm now itching to build another. Let me know if you are in the Philly area and want to build. I have some tools you can borrow as well as some pointers (limited) if you need it.

Al

[mojo]

Very nice! .. How do you like the feel of the MOE handguards? I'm really on the fence with those.

[mythaeus]

Very nice! .. How do you like the feel of the MOE handguards? I'm really on the fence with those.

I like them! I need to take better photos of the handguards. They don't look as tapered in person. They are lightweight and seems to do the job just fine. For $41/shipped, you at least have "customized" one part of your AR vs. the boring (uh, standard) M4 handguards. GMS Tachtical may still have them in stock.

Al

[aubie515]

I told you that building an AR15 from the ground up wasn't difficult.

Your rifle looks good. You got a great deal on the Matech BUIS.

[Bravo Whiskey]

Looks great. Thanks for the cost break down as I can use that to get my builds into perspective
Tight Groups
BW

[Pa. Patriot]

Nice!...

But... It's a carbine. NOt a rifle

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This:

...is a "rifle"



/nitpick

[mythaeus]

I told you that building an AR15 from the ground up wasn't difficult.

Your rifle looks good. You got a great deal on the Matech BUIS.

You sure did and I listened . Thank you.

Looks great. Thanks for the cost break down as I can use that to get my builds into perspective
Tight Groups
BW

No problem. You should be able to shave off a few bucks here and there, but I went with pretty much the basic low cost (not cheap though) parts. Let me know if you are looking for anything in particular. I'll holler if I see it for sale.

Nice!...

But... It's a carbine. NOt a rifle

This:

...is a "rifle"



/nitpick

I was just checking to see if you were paying attention It is indeed an EBC, not an EBR.

Al

[phillyd2]

I call BS on this being your first build.....there are not enough scratches on the receiver

Seriously, nice job. The best thing other than having a cool new toy is that you now know and understand how each and every part works. And that's priceless.

[Fragger]

Very nice! .. How do you like the feel of the MOE handguards? I'm really on the fence with those.

I was ready to ask the exact same question. (smile)

They have a nice look to them but I'm the type that puts function before beauty in this case. I guess the ability to accept (if wanted) a few pic rails here and there would be a merit.

$41 shipping included? Thats the best I've seen on these.

[Virtus985]

there are not enough scratches on the receiver

Testor's flat black model paint, my friend.

I'm also building an AR15, and testor's paint has saved my sanity. I was putting in the bolt catch and trigger guard roll pins, and I managed to get it done with essentially no abuse to the receiver. I unwrap the masking tape off it and go to take a look at my handiwork and like a total putz I fumble it and drop it, RIGHT ON TOP OF MY BENCH VISE.

Very loud and very colorful words were used. Thankfully all the abuse to the finish was just a speck here and there, and a dab of flat black model paint on a cleaning patch was enough to cover my clumsiness.

My build is a 6.8 SPC chambered DMR, so I think I can abandon all hope of the build coming in under $1500 or so. The barrel alone cost me $325, not to mention LMT 6.8 bolts are $155.