Thoughts on building your own AR or AK

[Live_2_Ride]

Hi Everyone: I want to get an AR or AK rifle. Buying the lower and a parts kit to complete is really appealing, as I would literally know the gun inside and out. My LGS has the lowers but is currently out of Del-Ton kits for the AR. Does anyone have experience assembling either, have a preference, or should I not bother and just by the whole gun?

Adding to the challenge is the fact I live in the People's Republic of California. I live in the gorgeous part of the state, refuse to abandon it to idiots, and hope we can restore the 2nd Amendment in my lifetime.

Input greatly appreciated!

[ponycarman]

Go for it! I had a blast building my ar. They are very easy to build. I built the lower and just bought the upper. Delton makes good stuff. I think I built my while lower with just a couple tools.

Ak's are more difficult to build. I'm about to convert a saiga but that isn't a total build. To build one from a parts kit takes alot of tool that get kinda costly. I would like to get them and build a complete rifle from a parts kit sometime. But thats down the road.

They are both great rifles! Get one of each . Just make sure to follow the california rules and regulations.

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[Live_2_Ride]

Thanks for the fast response, Ponycarman, definitely appreciate that the AR is easier to build! Yes, I would like at least one of each. Lots of paper targets to ventilate and friends to introduce to the fun of target shooting.

[Darryl]

http://blog.riflegear.com/articles/buil ... rifle.aspx

http://www.calguns.net/caawid/flowchart.pdf

There are hundreds of videos and how to build a AR15 lower on You Tube and all over the internet.. It is easy. There are a few tools that make it easier to do also. but all the how tos show you.

Just keep it California legal (see top link)


Before videos! this is the link I used to build mine. Detailed and very good instructions
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/226782_.html

Dolk



Left handed upper!

[ponycarman]

Yeah I watched a couple youtube videos before I put mine together. And I kept my computer handy if I had any question of what to do. I put mine together in the living room haha. The only tool I bought was a castle nut wrench for installing the buffer tube. And it was cheap haha. Everything else I used was stuff I had already. Just basic tools. A punch, hammer, screwdriver. Stuff like that. It didn't take too long either. Took me about 30-45 minutes all together.

I'm not set-up yet for a complete ak build. It's good to have a shop press for that and you need all the tooling for squashing the rivets. It could probably be done without but it would be much harder. So for the ak family of rifles, I just bought a saiga. I can handle a conversion. The main rifle is done, I'm just going to be changing some of it's configuration. Also be aware with an ak rifle build and any imported rifle builds you must keep it compliant to 922r regulations.

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[Live_2_Ride]

Thanks for the links and photos, Dolk. Looks like I'll have an AR puzzle under the tree for Christmas. Will definitely keep it Cal legal - too much to lose.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I have done it before with the AR, it's not hard to put parts together, go for it.

[Simo]

I only do AR builds, only ever bought 1 complete and it was a Colt that didn't like to work..... figure that one out

As for building ARs you can't go wrong it is easier that making mac n cheese and you can build to suit you and only you. Building AKs? well it was awesome when they could be built for less than $225 total but I don't find the price hike worth it and will just save a good chunk of cash by buying one.

[ponycarman]

Here is a pic of my ar15. Built it early this year. Its made with palmetto state armory stuff and magpul.

I have installed a magpul moe grip since these pics. It made a big difference in the feel of the rifle.





And here is the saiga I'm going to convert. Right now it is still in the neutered sporter rifle configuration. I've been doing a ton of pricing for parts. It is probably more cost effective to buy a rifle. Even if it is an arsenal. You don't save much. But I like to tinker and learn about how the rifles work so I think it will be pretty fun

[Live_2_Ride]

Excellent! Thanks for the photos, BrokeDad & Ponycarman! Checked Palmetto Armory, but they are out of kits. Strange...

"Easier to make than mac and cheese" - that's about my speed! Thanks for the info and encouragement, Ponycarman, Dolk, JYD, BrokeDad & Simo. Got some more reading and watching videos, then off to my favorite LGS tomorrow and, hopefully, have good news to report.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I didn't say the AK was hard to put together, the AR on the other hand is easy. Any tools you need can be had, no welding, no rivets, no cutting or bending. Kind of like putting together one of the plastic model car kits, attach part A to part B shit, the AR anyway. If you buy the upper with barrel installed then the only tool you need is the wrench for the buttstock nut.

[Ban-One]

Checked Palmetto Armory, but they are out of kits. Strange...

Palmetto State Armory is a great place to get kits, uppers, lowers...whatever. They have a great rep and lots of choices. Check out Del-ton as well. Unfortunately, being an election year, everyone is out of AR kits and parts and from what I hear they will be out for awhile trying to supply their distributors first. Take a look at Palmetto's uppers as some are still in stock. Be careful though as they are listed as being without the BCG or charging handle. Check out Classic arms as they list some complete Windham Weaponry uppers in the Accessories section. Our sponser, Cope's Distributing, has a complete DPMS upper listed as well.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Same thing happened after the Clinton crime bill passed.

[ponycarman]

Yeah I've noticed pallmetto state had trouble keeping things in stock. They have been having alot of sales and selling alot of stuff. Especially with the election and holidays. Their stuff has been doing great for me. Been functioning perfect even with cheap steel cased stuff. But I will say you have to be patient with them on shipping. They take a little while but I haven't had any issues yet with them. I've heard a little about some communication issues. They answered my emails. I never tried to call them. They also answer pretty well when you contact them on ar15.com. Uppers take a little while to ship because they build them to each order. I would and probably will buy from them again even with the little faults haha.

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[WeldonHunter]

Look through the lists here http://gun-deals.com/index.php?dealtype=arms&category=3 and check the various vendors sites. Even if something insignificant is listed go to the site and check the other stuff they have. There's a lot not listed on gun-deals.

On a side note. Here's a complete armorers kit for AK's. http://store.mckay-ent.com/featured/com ... l-kit.html I've heard of guys having building party's and maybe because the tools are so expensive.

[ponycarman]

Yikes that kit is way high. I've seen the riveting tools for around $400-500. I've seen some guys make their own tooling for much less though.

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[pacolo90]

Here's mine, some of you might of seen it already, but if not here ya go... Colt LE6920 with some accessories

[WeldonHunter]

Yikes that kit is way high. I've seen the riveting tools for around $400-500. I've seen some guys make their own tooling for much less though.

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Yeah it is high. I thought it's more a curiosity than anything else. It is the whole armorers kit though down to the magazine shaping mandrel. It has stuff that's not just for building them but also repairing exsisting parts that might be damaged.

[ponycarman]

Thats kinda neat. But I won't be buying one haha

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[WeldonHunter]

This is something that was just dropped off to me yesterday. It's my buddy's son's Christmas present. He was looking at a S&W MP15 but mama vetoed that as to expensive at about $924 and he decided to go with this, a DPMS Panther RFLP-WCP for $599. It's a good entry level AR for a 16 year old. I ordered optics for it a few minutes ago. It's 5.56 1:9 twist with adjustable telescopic stock. I've only ever held 3 ARs in my life one being this. I've only ever shot one and that's Fred_G's. I'm going to field strip this one and lube it up for the kid and maybe sight it in once the optics arrive so he can shoot it straight from the box. Then it's going to live here until Christmas. This will be somewhat of a learning experience but I've already been reading the manual and done some intial stripping. These are not very complicated really. I'm going to familiarize myself with it and then show the boy what I've learned. I think he'll love it.