Nuggz' AR-15 Build Thread

[NuggzTheNinja]

OK guys here's the deal: I got sick of my old AR and I did the unthinkable: I sold it.

So, I'm gonna build a new one. What I know so far is that I'm looking at either using an RRA or a Stag arms lower. I'm not sure what upper I'm looking for and I'm trying to avoid Bushmaster.

Unfortunately, Bushmaster is the only one that makes what I'm looking for: an A2 upper with carbine-length foregrips, M4 profile barrel with either an A2 or a Vortex flash hider. Preferably Vortex.

As this rifle comes together, I'm going to post pictures here.

So, Stag arms lower. I'm going to add to the upper an MI carbine+ rail system pictured below...and it's going to be sexy. Dead sexy. On the rail I'm going to cowitness my EOtech.

http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/17x_bg.jpg

[blood vs. water]

build 2 and ill come pick mine up when it's done. thanks bro

[NuggzTheNinja]

build 2 and ill come pick mine up when it's done. thanks bro

If you're serious, I can build you one.

[AccountantGuy]

If you're serious, I can build you one.

What does one of these penis sticks cost by the way to custom build like this? I am moving to an AW friendly state very soon.

[NuggzTheNinja]

What does one of these penis sticks cost by the way to custom build like this? I am moving to an AW friendly state very soon.

Depends how build-ey you're trying to get. You can start with stripped uppers and lowers, then headspace the barrel yourself, assemble the upper and lower from parts kits, etc.

Or you can buy a fully assembled upper and a stripped lower, assemble the lower, and then just slap the upper on that beeyotch plus whatever accessories you want. I'm doing the latter. To buy what I want new, it'd cost me about 1200. To make this thing, all together it'll be like 7-9, somewhere in that ballpark, but I already have some of the components from my last rifle. Well, I have a stock, that's what I'm starting with. :D

[Geno]

What does one of these penis sticks cost by the way to custom build like this? I am moving to an AW friendly state very soon.

I know you are on the right side so please don't take offense at the following rant - but I'm going to pick nits with you for a minute here. There is no such animal as an assault weapon, that name was invented by the gun grabbers to scare people.

This is a combat rifle. Actually the m-4 (or class III) version would be a combat rifle and this is the emasculated version. The m249 and m60 are light machine guns. The m2 is a machine gun. The mp5 and other "looks like a little rifle but shoots a pistol round" ilk are submachine guns. The winchester lever action single shot .22 is a plinker.

I can "assualt" someone with any of the above and drop them like a stone, dead before they hit the ground - every single time. I can also assault them with a vehicle, a ball bat, a rock, a decent stick, brick or block and have the same effect.

Rant over - damn I hate accutaine - I have no patience whatsoever.

[Snoopis]

Have you checked Model 1 (http://www.model1sales.com/) for uppers? They always have a pretty big selection at gun shows around here, lots of variety, although I can't say I remember seeing exactly what you're looking for. I read a little about them on Arfcom, sounds like they had some quality issues early on, but have improved.

[guest89]

After reading the above post about model 1 I remembered www.del-ton.com.

Has uppers, lowers, and complete kits along with other stuff. I've never heard of anything negative about del-ton yet.

I've also heard alot of good things about http://www.jtdistributing.com/.




As for other people interested in building an AR it can be done for pretty cheap sometimes. I've seen many cheap builds for under 500$ ( buying off ARFCOM, running into good deals, buying used parts ect.)

And also if you go with a kit from Model 1 or Del-ton you can get a decent kit AR for around 600$ ( gotta buy the stripped lower receiver it doesnt come in a kit).

Of course by the time you put optics, BUIS, and get done customizing it chances are it'll be a good deal more. But the best thing about buildings is you get what YOU WANT HOW YOU WANT IT on your AR.




Oh BTW its best to go with a chrome lined barrel, for better accuracy, easier cleaning and less Failure to feed and such extra money for it but well worth it.

[AccountantGuy]

I know you are on the right side so please don't take offense at the following rant - but I'm going to pick nits with you for a minute here. There is no such animal as an assault weapon, that name was invented by the gun grabbers to scare people.

This is a combat rifle. Actually the m-4 (or class III) version would be a combat rifle and this is the emasculated version. The m249 and m60 are light machine guns. The m2 is a machine gun. The mp5 and other "looks like a little rifle but shoots a pistol round" ilk are submachine guns. The winchester lever action single shot .22 is a plinker.

I can "assualt" someone with any of the above and drop them like a stone, dead before they hit the ground - every single time. I can also assault them with a vehicle, a ball bat, a rock, a decent stick, brick or block and have the same effect.

Rant over - damn I hate accutaine - I have no patience whatsoever.


I know all about that stuff.....NRA member here. But I am in CA now and we have an AW ban. Moving to a nice southern state soon that doesn't have those laws. I know the term is made up, but I unfortunatley have to use it when gun shopping because it is a legal term still in some states.

[NuggzTheNinja]

Have you checked Model 1 (http://www.model1sales.com/) for uppers? They always have a pretty big selection at gun shows around here, lots of variety, although I can't say I remember seeing exactly what you're looking for. I read a little about them on Arfcom, sounds like they had some quality issues early on, but have improved.

Model 1 makes cool stuff, unfortunately it seems as if they have some quality control issues.

I'd also like to avoid Bushmaster.

Probably end up going with a DPMS upper or something of the sort.

[NuggzTheNinja]

BTW: question.

If I get a 16" M4 profile threaded barrel and want to switch the A2 hider for a Vortex, assuming that it's not permanently attached as it's 16", do I have to time it properly or adjust anything, or I just unscrew it and screw the new one on?

[Geno]

Model 1 makes cool stuff, unfortunately it seems as if they have some quality control issues.

I'd also like to avoid Bushmaster.

Probably end up going with a DPMS upper or something of the sort.


Model 1 still has some quality control issues.

Why are you avoiding Bushmaster? Just curious, I have 2 of their guns and am completely pleased.

DPMS has been banned from use by several leo departments for quality control issues with their class III stuff - I haven't seen much bad press on their semi guns or parts.

[Geno]

BTW: question.

If I get a 16" M4 profile threaded barrel and want to switch the A2 hider for a Vortex, assuming that it's not permanently attached as it's 16", do I have to time it properly or adjust anything, or I just unscrew it and screw the new one on?

Screw on.

[NuggzTheNinja]

I checked out model 1 sales. Apparently a bunch of people have had cracked BOLTS because they make their bolts from CASTINGS.

Yeah...f-ck that. I'll spend the extra 20 or so dollars and get something that isn't going to die on me and injure me in the process.

I'm hitting the show saturday like I said.

I really like the Dissapator style AR's: full length handguards with a 16" barrel so only a little barrel pokes out the end of the handguards. They look sick with a nasty FH. Though I think that this might be too damn heavy with a rifle-length rail system and the collapsible stock.

Hmmmm, I'll have to feel one.

Update tomorrow when I do some more investigation but it's a toss up between an M4 16" temp attached upper, and a dissapator upper.

[guest89]

I checked out model 1 sales. Apparently a bunch of people have had cracked BOLTS because they make their bolts from CASTINGS.

Yeah...f-ck that. I'll spend the extra 20 or so dollars and get something that isn't going to die on me and injure me in the process.

I'm hitting the show saturday like I said.

I really like the Dissapator style AR's: full length handguards with a 16" barrel so only a little barrel pokes out the end of the handguards. They look sick with a nasty FH. Though I think that this might be too damn heavy with a rifle-length rail system and the collapsible stock.

Hmmmm, I'll have to feel one.

Update tomorrow when I do some more investigation but it's a toss up between an M4 16" temp attached upper, and a dissapator upper.

A good thing about a dissy is if you fire alot of rounds you wont accidently touch your barrel and get a burn ;) + if you have rails theres more room to hang stuff :D


Not sure about the weight on emm though.

[NuggzTheNinja]

A good thing about a dissy is if you fire alot of rounds you wont accidently touch your barrel and get a burn ;) + if you have rails theres more room to hang stuff :D


Not sure about the weight on emm though.

I decided against the disappator after reading around.

Not only is it frontheavy with normal handguards, but throw rifle-length rails on that bitch and you're looking at serious frontheaviness.

I think I'm going to retract my original claim with Bushmaster. They offer chrome bore and chamber, which is hella nice. I'll play with 'em.

Tomorrow's the big day! :D

[BlueBayou]

Cant wait till its all done Nuggz!

I'm looking at an AR of some sorts (was considering possibly Rock River Arms) in the near future. I've got a bunch of .223 rounds from back when I had my mini-14- even got some tracers, and also I just want an AR.

Getting a G19 next week, BTW. Cant wait; I dont own and havent owned a single nine-milli yet. Maybe going with factory NS but may opt for the Tru Glo TFO's, if youve heard of them. Probably be stockin it with Speer GD 124+P.

[guest89]

Cant wait till its all done Nuggz!



Getting a G19 next week, BTW. Cant wait; I dont own and havent owned a single nine-milli yet. Maybe going with factory NS but may opt for the Tru Glo TFO's, if youve heard of them. Probably be stockin it with Speer GD 124+P.

Nice you gonna CCW? I was looking at a G19 yesterday.

[NuggzTheNinja]

Cant wait till its all done Nuggz!

I'm looking at an AR of some sorts (was considering possibly Rock River Arms) in the near future. I've got a bunch of .223 rounds from back when I had my mini-14- even got some tracers, and also I just want an AR.

Getting a G19 next week, BTW. Cant wait; I dont own and havent owned a single nine-milli yet. Maybe going with factory NS but may opt for the Tru Glo TFO's, if youve heard of them. Probably be stockin it with Speer GD 124+P.

It's done!

I went with a Stag upper. I bit the bullet and went with the ARMS #40 flip up BUIS, because the A2 actually started to piss me off getting in the way of my eotech. For a lower, I actually went with Olympic Arms.

The reason for the Olympic lower is that it fit my upper very tight without overtightening, and it was right there. I wanted it today. I probably could have gone DPMS, but these f-ckheads wanted 165 for a stripped lower. Yeah right. I picked this one up for 200 assembled.

For rails, I went with Surefire's new M37, which BTW looks dead sexy and installs without even having to f-ck around with the delta ring (thank god) and comes with rail covers.

Right now I'm rolling with an A2 hider, but that's fine for now.

I need to pick up a TG vertical grip, a better flash hider, a bayonet, and a light system. Right now I've got a xenon scorpion, which is pretty good, but I could do better.

Pics when I get back from the ballgame!

[BlueBayou]

Nice you gonna CCW? I was looking at a G19 yesterday.

I have my CCW and carry a G27 now. I just want a 9mm Glock and a 45 Glock and settled on the G19 and G30 as my next handgun purchases. I still plan on my G27 being my primary carry, that is- unless the G19 or G30 highly impresses me over the G27.
Here is a poll at Glocktalk showing the members' favorite Glock models. The G19 is the hands down winner in this poll. It has a lot of followers:
http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=514014

[NuggzTheNinja]

BTW, I hate to be a shameless plug, but Dan over at Area51 Tactical is just about the coolest motherf-cker I've ever met at a gunshow.

Great guy to deal with. And BTW, if interested, inquire about Surefire rail systems. They undercut everybody else.

www.blackrifles.com

[Snoopis]

Pics? Range report? Don't leave us hangin! :D

[GREENFEATHER]

Nuggs, I have a Bushmaster M-16A3 somewhere in the safe at the shop. It's the best one I own and I have 2 Colts. Gimme a Garand anyday and I'm a happy camper. I think I was born 50 years too late for my tastes in weaponry.

[NuggzTheNinja]

Pics? Range report? Don't leave us hangin! :D

Range report coming when uh...I have money.

I'll try to take some pics tomorrow night. :D

[BMcBjooberson]

Your build sounds pretty sweet man. I've played around with a lot of AR's with Stag parts and they are great.

Here's my 2 AR builds. Got my long range marksman build and my CQB tactical baby down below, I'm gonna get a handguard rail for it soon so I can throw on a surefire I think.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/DDegenhardt/guns004.jpg

[NuggzTheNinja]

Some teasers for you whiney bitches that can't wait for the full range report + pics + video. :D

Just joking. The last picture is one of my summertime carry setup. My winter carry setup is similar but includes other items.

[guest89]

Nice setup man. I've always liked surefire products, you you gonna go with a surefire light system? If I remember correctly I think they make a VFG+Light combo, not sure if you like its configuratiion though.



GREENFEATHER

I like Garands too, I need to get one for a range toy. I wanna get a Garand + a matching WWII style 1911. Its somewhere on my list :D

[notorius1]

Just joking. The last picture is one of my summertime carry setup. My winter carry setup is similar but includes other items.


So you got rid of the shoulder rig setup,eh Nuggz?

[NuggzTheNinja]

So you got rid of the shoulder rig setup,eh Nuggz?

I still rock it from time to time. :)

[NuggzTheNinja]

OK range report time folks!

Put about 200 rounds through it last night. First impressions:

I need to stake the stock badly. It loosens up.

This thing is extremely accurate. I put 3 rounds in a group the size of a qtr at 25 yards with the EOtech. It's more accurate than I am.

No FTE/FTF with good ammo (LC M193 / Win Q3131 WWB).

Had ONE FTE on the first round of Guatemalan M193 I put through it. After that, no problems at all. Guat. M193 is DIRTY as hell.

Had a funny moment: I was shooting, you know, as in pulling the tigger. Last 3 in the mag I pull the trigger, *click*. WTF?

So I look to see if it jammed. Nope, no jam. I look to see if it fed a round. Round fed. I look at the trigger. Ahh, there's the problem.




Being the genius I am, I installed the hammer spring backwards. The pin that holds FC in place fell out. I tapped the pin, flipped it around, and now it's no longer loose. Yay!!!





All in all, excellent rifle, excellent price. I highly recommend Stag.



On the downside, it gets hot, QUICKLY. The Surefire rails don't have the full magpul covers on them, but rather the little stock "sit inside the rail" covers which leaves a lot of exposed metal. I'm glad that I put the Tango Down verticle grip on it, or I'd be burning the hell out of my hands.




Another problem: the EOtech sight isn't doing it for me. I'm left eye dominant but right handed. When I shoot both eyes open, the EOtech blurs. To remedy this, I'm going to have to train my right eye, but supposedly it can be done.




All in all, I learned some things: Stag kicks ass, always install your hammer spring properly or risk looking like an idiot, and shooting things is fun.

[Snoopis]

Sounds good! At least you didn't get kicked out of the range for "automatic fire" due to some sketchy trigger set-up or light-trigger bump firing. I've heard of more than a few people being kicked out of ranges for stuff like that on new builds or newly adjusted triggers.

I'm taking a work-related trip for about 6 weeks this summer, if I make out ok on that I'll probably be deciding between a new M4(ish) or taking a precision shooting class somewhere.

Do you have new mags, or are you using the mags you had from the previous AR? If they're the same mags you had before, did you ever have any FTF or FTE issues when using them with the other AR?

[NuggzTheNinja]

Sounds good! At least you didn't get kicked out of the range for "automatic fire" due to some sketchy trigger set-up or light-trigger bump firing. I've heard of more than a few people being kicked out of ranges for stuff like that on new builds or newly adjusted triggers.

I'm taking a work-related trip for about 6 weeks this summer, if I make out ok on that I'll probably be deciding between a new M4(ish) or taking a precision shooting class somewhere.

Do you have new mags, or are you using the mags you had from the previous AR? If they're the same mags you had before, did you ever have any FTF or FTE issues when using them with the other AR?

Used the exactly same mags, no problems really.

The only FTF I had was the first shot of Guat M193, which made me think "aw crap, I'm gonna have to manually charge for the next 720 shots..." but that didn't happen.

It fed LC M193, WWB just fine with the old mags. They're Bravo Company USGI's. www.bravocompany.com

[NuggzTheNinja]

Took the AR out today. Range report.

Sighted in the with EOtech. When I shoot both eyes open, I can't hit much at 100 yards. BUT...

One eye closed just using my right eye, I was tagging a small rock (probably 6 MOA long, so 6" long, roughly 6" high) over and over, no problem at all, probably .3 sec in between shots, at 150 yards.

Definately a good shooter.

BTW, the 5.56 cracked the rock after a couple shots. My friend and I were shooting at it with a Garand and the AR.

Not a single malfunction with roughly 250 rounds of Guatemalan surplus, spot on the whole time.

[Hartski]

Hey Nuggz, you surviving the floods okay?

[NuggzTheNinja]

Hey Nuggz, you surviving the floods okay?

Thanks for the concern bro. My area hasn't been hit too hard.

Been sleeping with the burner though in case somebody is "looking for a place to stay". :)

[guest89]

Another problem: the EOtech sight isn't doing it for me. I'm left eye dominant but right handed. When I shoot both eyes open, the EOtech blurs. To remedy this, I'm going to have to train my right eye, but supposedly it can be done.




That sucks I guess, is it really that big a difference for you? Im right handed /right eye "dominant" but can shoot left handed or with my left eye with no problems. Or I can shoot with both eyes open with no problems.

None of that stuff seems to affect my accuracy.

[NuggzTheNinja]

That sucks I guess, is it really that big a difference for you? Im right handed /right eye "dominant" but can shoot left handed or with my left eye with no problems. Or I can shoot with both eyes open with no problems.

None of that stuff seems to affect my accuracy.

I shoot with the EO one eye closed for 100 yard shots. I can do up to 50 yards with precision with both eyes open, it's just not as easy.

[NuggzTheNinja]

That sucks I guess, is it really that big a difference for you? Im right handed /right eye "dominant" but can shoot left handed or with my left eye with no problems. Or I can shoot with both eyes open with no problems.

None of that stuff seems to affect my accuracy.

I shoot with the EO one eye closed for 100 yard shots. I can do up to 50 yards with precision with both eyes open, it's just not as easy.

[Hartski]

I shoot with the EO one eye closed for 100 yard shots. I can do up to 50 yards with precision with both eyes open, it's just not as easy.

Somehow, I can shoot right or left-handed with no problem with both eyes open, with scopes or open sights. Or I can close one eye like everyone else. I guess my brain can just accept both images at once and still process them seperately or something.