Advise needed on build of AR- 15 Carbine 223/556

2-8-2017 | tnoldman

[TNoldman]

I am considering building a AR-15 Carbine 223/556. I have looked at the Ruger AR556 for about $600. Being an Engineer and mechanically skilled I'm giving some thought to "building my own". What do you think?

[Boomer]

Keep and eye on https://www.slickguns.com/ . They have an AR on sale for $399 right now.

I think what happened was some gun dealerships anticipated HRC getting elected so they put in a big order while cheap but then Trump won so now they need to unload a lot of AR’s for less than their cost. I even saw a Bushmaster on sale for $550 today. They normally go for over $700.

You are picking a very good time to buy an AR.

[rickomatic]

$99 Romanian AK kit was great buy and a lot of fun

Wow, that's a blast from the past! Unfortunately that ship sailed a long time ago. I built a "Romy" and a Yugo under folder, back in the day.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

A 220-250 gr. bullet at subsonic velocity sounds a lot like a 45 ACP. Sure the blackout bullet has a better ballistic coefficient and a little more velocity but I don’t know if it is worth it in rifle size package.

[Darth Mall]

Bump for later

[Boomer]

Just thought of one more thing. Think hard about getting a short stroke piston upper. They are great because the gases never reach the bolt group so it needs far less cleaning and far less often. The trade off is they are more expensive. When I get the funds I’m going to correct my mistake of not buying one to start with but I will end up paying a lot more because I bought too soon.

It’s the upper that takes all the beating so even a so-so lower will be just fine as long as the trigger is okay.

[LouAvul]

that nobody has to know about but you.

The lower still has to go through the 4473 form. Even a stripped lower requires that paperwork.

[SkyPilot]

Well, that figures. "Gun Control" is always turning up the heat on the boiling frog, with the End Game being registration and then confiscation.

But man, I thought New York and New Jersey were bad. At least they are not demanding registration, photos, and all the rest.....yet.

I guarantee this is next for CA: mandatory home inspections for gun owners. Mark my words. It will be under the auspices of "safety" and "compliance", of course.

In Connecticut, when given the "deadline" to register their "assault weapons", 95% of gun owners did not comply. It was a revolt.

Trump must do something. He knows the states are out of control. Several states and cities are openly breaking Federal immigration laws and getting away with it. And, without a whiff of irony, many of these same states are openly violating the Constitutional Second Amendment rights of its legitimate citizens.

Trump also knows the courts are out of control.

He should issue an Executive Order that reiterates every citizens 2nd Amendment rights, and tells state officials that violate their rights will be subject to Federal prosecution. He should instruct Federal agencies to assist citizens fighting for their gun rights, rather than opposing them. The Constitution trumps (no pun intended) unconstitutional state laws made up in midnight legislature sessions in Albany and Trenton. Yes, it would go to the courts, eventually. But if there was ever a battlefield to choose to die on, this is it.

The courts find "emanation in the penumbra" of the Constitution for women to slaughter innocent children, even at 9 months, but cannot determine what "Shall not be infringed" means.

[xander]

Good advice for a first AR. Having bought and built several over many years, a good basic AR in 5.56 from a reputable maker is always a great first step. Don’t mess with it, just shoot it.

From the builder side, one can travel in a million directions and the OP has given little info to cater a detailed response. There’s a significant learning curve in building ARs and my best advice is start absorbing how it’s done, what tools are needed, and (most important) make damn sure you understand the state and federal laws surrounding a build. There are thousands of AR parts and accessories out there, but the wrong combination can cause you to lose your gun rights for life.

[Farmer Dean]

It can be effectively suppressed and it carries enough weight.My wife wants a .300 upper to run on her M16A1,she already has a suppressor that will work.

[Big Red Badger]

Buy RUGER!

[Brooklyn Attitude]

“It can be effectively suppressed and it carries enough weight.My wife wants a .300 upper to run on her M16A1,she already has a suppressor that will work.”

I thought about getting one but I can’t figure out what it would be good for other than it is a centerfire rifle cartridge that can be suppressed.

[Rokke]

That’s not true. An 80% lower is nothing more than a piece of aluminum. if you drill it out to a functioning AR15 lower, it can be used by you for that purpose. However, you can not trade it, sell it or give it away to anyone else once it is a functioning AR15 lower. THAT is when it woukd need the paperwork and registration.
So I keep all of mine.

[Scrambler Bob]

Shall not be infringed.
Trump calls for Common Sense.

Demoncrat defn:

INfringed is when “Native Americans” put leather fringes on their rifles.

And they must stop that.

I’ll bet you will find some fringes at the North Dakota protests.

PS I forgot another Calif law, about ‘transfering firearms without proper paperwork and background procedure’. It means that you can’t just hand someone your gun and say, “Here try this out”. (Some exceptions.)

Frog in the pan. Yep.

[MHGinTN]

I built and tested three piston systems. The Osprey Defense one is the least maintenance and simplest. Next best is Adams Arms. Good, reliable system that you can adjust the gas on ... I use that gun to shoot 22lr conversion because I can turn the gas off and save that carbon from the gas port.

[TNoldman]

I would like to Thank all my FReeper friends that have responded.

I will keep you updated as I progress and learn.

[TNoldman]

I would like to Thank all my FReeper friends that have responded.

I will keep you updated as I progress and learn.

[huntingtime]

It seems you have had quite a bit of hunting experience! Perhaps you could help me, I am trying to pick a scope for my ar, but staying decently inexpensive.

I was reading some reviews on a few under $200 at the below article, but I am just not sure if they actually have used all of these or are just summarizing data points.

https://buyerbenchmark.com/best-ar-15-scope-under-200/

Thanks!

[Lurker]

I own 3 Nikon scopes. I really like the BDC feature. I’m very pleased with them and I paid right around $200 or so for them.

Just my 2 cents.

L

[Elderberry]

I have just finished building a hunting AR upper. I went with a 358 Yeti 18in bbl from Mad Dog Weapon Systems. I've had a 357 Herrett Contender for many years. I found the Yeti in my search for a AR cartridge similar to the 357Herrett. The Herrett was a 30-30 shortened and blown out to 358. The Yeti is a .308Win shortened and blown out to 358. The performance goals for this cartridge are to get a 180g projectile up to 2600fps from a 16"-18" barrel and a 200g to 2500fps. I have just finished case prep and am ready to fireform cases.

For a scope, I chose the Sightmark Core TX 1-4x24 DCR.

[huntingtime]

Yes, I really like that Anderson actually. Threw it in my gun safe that i found here: https://buyerbenchmark.com/best-gun-safe-under-1000/

Best of luck folks