Want an AR, but am overwhelmed at the way to go about it...

[pbwalker]

I'd like to take the leap into the AR-15 family as I always loved the M-16 when I was in the Service and was a pretty good shot with it.

My issues though is funds.

From my research, I see I can get a quality AR for $800 and up. I have read to stay away from Olympic Arms as well. It looks as though I could save money is I were to build my own and I see there are kits available online (such as http://www.del-ton.com/Rifle_Kit_p/rkt102.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) . If I were to buy something like that, would I just then need a complete lower receiver? (http://www.del-ton.com/Del_Ton_Lower_Re ... /lr101.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

Can anyone lend any assistance as to where my best avenue of approach may be? Build or buy? New or used? Good places to check out?

Thanks in advance!

-Brian

[TexasComputerDude]

I don't pretend to know anything about AR's but i'm looking to buy one myself.

I was sent a PM that directed me to this website:

http://forums.officer.com/showthread.php?t=81462

enjoy and hope it helps.

[propellerhead]

When you read that thread linked above, pay particular attention to this one statement.

This is my stab at a complete AR-15 buyer's guide for the "non-gunny" officer, looking to buy a patrol rifle. If that's not you, this may not be very applicable, but I hope you can get something out of it.

That thread is geared for someone building an AR to use while kicking doors down in hazardous areas. For the rest of us who will be plinking at the range on weekends, a rifle kit from Del-ton and a stripped (not complete) lower receiver is just fine. It's easy to build one for $650. The easy build options are:

1. Complete upper (barrel, handguards, upper receiver, front sight) + complete lower (pistol grip, stock, lower parts kit, lower receiver) + magazine

2. Rifle kit (everything but the stripped lower receiver) + stripped lower receiver + magazine

If you get a flat top upper, you'll need a rear sight. If you get the one with the carrying handle, it will have a rear sight built in.

[TexasComputerDude]

thats true, I buy mine for plinking/self defense/ if they ever ban them I expect to sell it for A LOT of money kind of thing.

[TexasComputerDude]

I also posted it cause it explains alot about how AR's work and what the different parts are called.

[Pinkycatcher]

I just bought a RRA AR-15 (entry level tacticooooool) for 950 (inc. tax) at the Ft worth gun show 2 weeks ago, I knew I could probably get a better deal building my own or what not, I liked the RRA rifle (the trigger makes me want to dance everytime I pull it) it had everything I wanted (Flat top rail, w/ A3 Carry handle, and 6-position stock) and it's gotten good reviews from people.

I didn't want to build one, it would be my first (real, not .22) rifle I've owned and figured if I buy one later, I'll have this one to use as a template. Plus I love it, it is so much fun to shoot, and for me it was worth it.

Just write down what you want, such as quad-rails, carry handle, flat top etc. if you're getting your first AR, I'd suggest getting the flat top so you can easily add optics if you want to, unless you want something like a M16-A2 clone, or whatever.

[Moezilla]

What's so bad about Olympic Arms AR's?

[bdickens]

I just went with an A2. I bought the complete lower at one gun show and the complete upper at another.

[John]

OK... Your first link is for a complete kit minus a "stripped" lower. The second link you provided is for a "complete" lower. You can pick up a "stripped" lower at a gun show for about $100-$120. Bear in mind too that the $465 price on the fist link includes a flat top upper and no carry handle, so you will not have a rear sight or a carry handle, but that's ok if you are putting some sort of optics on instead. See this link for a carry handle: http://www.del-ton.com/DPMS_Carrying_Ha ... mt1019.htm They run $85 on that sight. See this link for the correct lower http://www.del-ton.com/Del_Ton_Lower_Re ... /lr100.htm $105.

So really, from that site, the price is 465 + 105 + 85 or $655. The stripped lower would have to be shipped to an FFL, so you would be better off buying that at a gun show.

I've only built one AR so am not an expert, but believe the above to be accurate. Know nothing about del-tron.

-John

[stroo]

I have built a Del-ton kit on a DPMS stripped lower. I just plink with it but haven't had issues with about 300 rounds through it so far. Shoots more accurately than I do as well. Don't know that I would trust my own work if I planned to use it for serious self defence.

[HankB]

I've heard these folks are pretty decent . . . and there's quite a bit of info at the website. (Make due allowance for the fact that they sell parts, so allow for advertising hype.)

http://www.mapartsinc.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ForTehNguyen]

delton is a great company to order from, real good customer service. I would recommend a carry handle from http://www.aimsurplus.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; as its only $31.50:
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/AR15 ... andle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TheArmedFarmer]

Based on this thread, I ordered a rifle kit from Del-Ton. The order was placed on November 3rd and it was shipped on 11/21. Pretty decent turnaround time; I can't wait until it gets here. I have a stripped lower ready to go.

Here's what I got:

20" Rifle Kit:
Barrel: 20" DTI 1X9 Chrome Molly
Gas Tubes: Standard Gas Tube
Handguards: YHM 4 Rail FF Tube
BC: Standard Bolt & Carrier
Buttstock: M4 Buttstock - Black
Grips: Ergo Sure Grip -Right hand
Carrying Handle: None
Flash Hiders: A2 Flash Hider
Gas Blocks: YHM Flip Up Front Gas Block
Lower Parts: Standard Lower Parts
T Handle: Standard Charging Handle
Uppers: Flat Top Upper with T-Marks

That along with a few extra detents and springs that I already needed, total was $684.60. Add the cost of my lower (obtained earlier this year) and I got a pretty nice AR for around $800. This is going to be a varmint rifle for me. My carbines are for fun and for group therapy sessions in case of a zombie outbreak or should the evil day ever arrive.

[nitrogen]

I have built a Del-ton kit on a DPMS stripped lower. I just plink with it but haven't had issues with about 300 rounds through it so far. Shoots more accurately than I do as well. Don't know that I would trust my own work if I planned to use it for serious self defence.

Hey stroo, I am doing the EXACT same thing, and am hoping the delton kit works well. Think you could see your way clear to letting me shoot yours sometime?

ArmedFarmer, I got the same only 16" rifle kit. (The one that WASNT the M4 kit. I'm a stereotypical cheap Jew, and the $20 meant an extra box of ammo! lol)

The AR-15 was designed and made for grunts to use. G-d love 'em but many of them are not the smartest people in the world, and the rifle was designed so they could maintain and even repair most of it. Anyone in this forum could put the parts together. The hardest part is fitting a barrel onto a stripped upper, and if you've gotten a complete upper, thats not a problem.

Headspace isnt a problem, because it's all done in the upper.

Then again, I ordered my upper on the 8th, so hopefully mine comes soon.

[killerfly128]

delton is a great company to order from, real good customer service. I would recommend a carry handle from http://www.aimsurplus.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; as its only $31.50:
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/AR15 ... andle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have this carry handle .... I sugest you pay a little more for a better one.