Posted on 07/11/2019 11:53:18 AM PDT by Black_Rifle_Gunsmith
There is too much gun control legislation being proposed lately. As the election cycle heats up, Presidential hopefuls are making big promises about banning guns, gunsmithing kits, and of course, the venerable and much-loved AR-15.
I'm taking a small departure from the regular newsreel and discussions about gun control, to instead talk about something a little more fun in the blog section: Anti-gun control. Politicians have said too much, and you want to build an AR-15 from scratch. You might have no idea where to begin. This guide's going to teach you everything you need to know to get started.
The rifle we’re piecing together in this guide is a typical AR-15 with a 16" barrel, chambered in 5.56/.223. That’s the gold standard for nearly all black rifles (you can customize later). If you want to keep your rifle un-registered (which is perfectly legal in most states), you'll also want to consider an 80 percent lower - a receiver blank with no serial number. First, we’ll look at the relevant gun laws and answer some questions you probably have. Next, we’ll explain every part you need to build your own AR-15 kit, including which parts are best for a well-rounded, affordable rifle.
Lastly, we’ll go over the different types of ARs and calibers you can build (a rifle, pistol, or a short-barreled rifle/SBR). If you're interested, keep reading. Questions? Feel free to comment and I'll do my best to help you out and answer any questions you might have.
556, obviously.
It's the biggest.
🙄
Thanks for posting this!
What ammo is easier to purchase and cheaper?
That question can be answered in about three volumes...
If your question is serious and not just fishing, the the mil standard ar15 will be 223/5.56 or some cartridge of length that will fit in the same size magazine. 308 will not.
A 308 will fit in an ar10 chambered in 308. There is no mil spec on the ar10 so you just have to make sure parts are compatible.
Best caliber? Depends on what you want it to do. Could easily take volumes to answer that.
Trying to get by with standard shop tools will leave you frustrated and regretful.
Remanufactured 223/556 can be had for ~30 cents a round. 308 will be about 3 times that. Both are plentiful at the moment.
5.56mm is the cheapest, especially in the clones of military M193 and M855. You can get it anywhere. Even Walmart has some Federal XM855 ammo boxes that I like.
Someone would have to be a fool to order the kits online and pay with their credit card.
Now, somebody who bought a few dozen, and sold them for cash at a gun show, might make a premium from allowing anonymous purchasing...
My neighbor has one chambered for 9mm. That way his ammo will fit both the handgun and the rifle, and 9mm ammo is real cheap and available.
Obviously it won’t puncture a tank at 300 yards but I suspect that if its people on the other end, they won’t be checking the caliber as the bullets fly by.
Not a bad idea ...
Bookmark
I am looking at building a tool that fits the purpose of the second amendment, and of course some fun times at the range and out on the desert. Thank you for replying. It sounds like .556 fills the bill. Of course the lobbying by some random .556 fan on FR for years helps.
I have built about a dozen AR15 variants over the last 15 years. Many are ‘tactical’, light weight (since I’m of small build myself), shortest barrels I can get without going SBR, and they are all accurate for 100 yards or less tactical work. That’s the fun stuff anyway😀
I have a few with heavier and longer barrels for accuracy at distance, but there are so many small variations in the chamber cuts between SAAMI 223, 556 NATO, Wylde, etc, and there are different specs for 556 Ammo, it’s really hard for an AR15 to compete with a dedicated precision rifle consistently in the ‘accuracy’ category. By consistent I mean sub MOA every time. If all I need to do is hit a body size target, the AR15 is good out to about 300 yards, arguably stretching to be effective beyond that. That’s the barrel, not the optic or the shooters skill.
Any serious long range precision shooting I do is 308 or bigger. My performance bar is set at 1” groups at 300 yards in these calibers, 1/3 MOA. If I’m not getting that then I know I’m not doing something right.
> Which means I can’t be buying these things on line with a credit card...
Paranoid can be good.
Go to almost any store and buy a prepaid Visa or MasterCard. With cash of course. I think there’s about a $5 fee on a $100 card.
The thing not discussed is that a lot of gun stores have “build classes” where if you buy your parts from the store, they will hold a class and you can use their tools to complete your lower and/or upper.
Another thing not discussed is the Delta ring that holds the stock AR upper and lower handguard together. You really need a friend or a special tool to take it off. I have gotten one off with a vinyl padded jar opener, but they have better tools.
The problem with the AR is that you will likely spend a fortune customizing it.
I’ve used a drill press to great effect, to complete my 80% lowers. Most jigs require you to use either a handheld router or a drill press/mill. You can also use a handheld router, but this requires more time and is less accurate/controllable.
Obviously, a mill is preferred but a drill press will work just fine. You first have to drill pilot holes through the top of the receiver, where the fire control group cavity will be made. Drilling these pilot holes eliminates most of the raw aluminum inside.
Some thinner aluminum strips and pockets will remain, but these can be easily cut out using and end mill bit and drill press. You just need to take your time and ensure you’re not applying excessive pressure to the drill press or chuck (they’re not intended to have large amounts of lateral load placed on the chuck/bearings).
Once the FCG is milled out, all you need to do is drill the hammer, trigger, and safety selector lever holes.
One sticks out. The casting with resin. That sounds so simple a Geico caveman could do it. Normally I wouldn’t be thrilled with a resin lower but you could make several in a short period of time with few skills and tools. Thanks for the info.
To each their own. Folks could talk calibers all day and have good reasons for each. To be honest my shtf gun is the 5.56 simply because of the abundance of ammo. The best rifle in the world is junk of you don’t have bullets.
Thanks.
L
Good idea to stash away for later
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