Building an AR-15

So, I want to build an AR-15.

I know next to nothing about this platform.

All I know about what I want is the following:
1. Collapsible stock
2. Bayonet lug
3. Option for left hand pistol grip on rail (hopefully one that has the ability to light up a flashlight with pressure)
4. Lots of room for accessories.
5. A barrel long enough to make this a good varmint gun.
6. I don't know if this is possible... but I want to have backup iron sights in addition to some good optics. At the same time.

Backup iron sights in addition to good optics at the same time is easy. That's what backup irons are for.

If you want a varmenter, that's one thing.

If you want a good all around AR, that might be another. What do you plan for this gun to be...exactly?

My primary purpose for this gun is to survive an incursion by multiple assailants.

Secondary purpose: To kill coyotes on my farm.

Piece of cake, especially in a non-AWB state.

1-4,6: Look at Rock River Arms' website and pick out an M4-style AR, one with rails on the handguard. It will have collapsing stock, bayonet lug, a place to mount a forward pistol grip and accessories, and a flat-top rail that you can mount a scope and pop-up backup sights on.

5: Varmint guns often have really long barrels; if a 16" carbine barrel is too short, consider an upper like these.

If you want the collapsing stock and a long barrel (a strange combination, methinks), you can buy the lower receiver (the part with the serial number) and get all the other parts to "build it yourself."

FWIW, here's exactly the AR that I have, and you have shot.

-Stag Arms stripped lower
-Rock River Arms lower parts kit (don't ask me why)
-Rock River Arms adjustable stock
-CMMG complete flat top upper, 16" barrel, midlength gas system with a government profile barrel
-DPMS removable carry handle

That's the basic rifle. I've since added...

-Surefire mid length rails
-Surefire G2 flashlight
-Tango Down verticle forward grip

Do you like your lower? That's what I would have to buy from someone with an FFL, right?

Useful links:

Rock River Arms

Stag Arms

DPMS

CMMG

Just my own personal opinion, but I don't like a bunch of extras hanging off my rifle. Iron sights work fine for me for the ranges a AR15 is effectively going to hit anyways. If I need to shoot something at 600 yards, my deer rifle in 30-06 will work better than .223 anyways.

Yes. Although for the most part, a lower is a lower is a lower. It's the upper that you have to worry about quality wise.

Yes. You can have a complete upper shipped right to your door.

Can't go wrong with RRA. Have an M4-type myself.

...and it looks like they just started shipping their .308 AR models a few days ago!

A .308 AR doesn't interest me since I have one of these.

I'll tell you what I'd rather have though. I'm going to sell my SOCOM II. Already got a buyer lined up. As soon as the IRS sends him his tax refund, he's spending it on my rifle

Then, when the finances are ready again, I'm going to buy the full length National Match rifle (synthetic furniture/stainless steel barrel) and buy the SOCOM II's rails directly from Springfield (~$300+ s/h) and mount 'em up.

I've already got a spare bipod and Leupold Mark 4 6.5x20 LR/T ready for it.

The two AR15s that I own right now are stock, without any doodads hanging off them. If I get another one this year, though, it'll be a flattop M4 clone and I'm going to buy an EOTech sight for it.

I did mine up thusly:

Stock Colt A-2 frame
Quality Parts 24" Heavy Target Barrel/Upper ass'y.
Choate E-2 Sniper-style Buttstock.
9x - 24X scope.



Aside from giving in to "just wanting it to look nasty," my main purpose was to make it a varmint gun for woodchucks up at my folks' property.

NJ passed their ban on the fucking thing only a couple of years afterward, and I sold to a dealer for about 1/4 its value.

And yes, my finger IS on the goddamn trigger, and I don't care!

Any way to get an M14?

Yish.

I've heard nothing but good things about Fulton Armory.

Springfield Armory sells one they call the M1A.

Interesting... But with a barrel so short, why no collapsing butt stock?

Is that a normal price for such a weapon or is it just early bidding?

Damn, you could saw firewood with that top rail!

Not to speak for Elwood, but I'd imagine it's to absorb some recoil.

I'd hate to fire that beastie with a little CAR-15/M4 stock.

I had the notion to sell the little one to help defray the cost of getting the M4, but it's a pretty cool little rifle. It's got a 10.5" barrel with a 5.5" flash hider permanently attached to keep it legal. I haven't seen many of those around.

Plus it was the first rifle I ever bought (and still the best deal I've ever gotten on a gun).

She's a little thumper.

Anc, as to price. That's a little on the early side.

Realistic wholesale on a NIB SOCOM II is right around $2,000.

Can't be that bad. Alot of AKs only have fold able stocks (if any).

Well that sucks.

7.62x51NATO > 7.62x39

I forget the exact figures, but the felt recoil is about twice that of the smaller cartridge.

It's all in what you want. One reason I'm selling mine is because it's just so damned heavy. Unloaded, it weighs more than my loaded AR with everything on it. Lemme put it this way, I wouldn't want to carry it through the woods all day when hunting. It's also expensive as shit to feed. Even when reloading 7.62x51NATO ammo is just over three times the price of 5.56mm NATO.

That's why I want a full-length rifle with rails. If I'm just gonna plink, I want to do some very long range plinking.

Having fired my best friend's M1A during the same shooting sessions that I shot his and my own AKs, I concur.

I was Googling for the difference in the powder loads between the two, but couldn't find any consistent numbers for the Russian round.

I've thought about that, too. It's one of the reasons for my decision to get an M4. [I've actually been toying with the idea for a few years, but the potential for AWB IIa--and seeing all the M4 porn in this forum--has lit a fire under me. ]

I've read similar things about M16 MV versus M4 MV, with the latter not having quite the "oomph" of the longer weapon.

Given the nature of the conflict there, however, the M4s handiness is probably worth the tradeoff.

The shorter M-4 barrel reduces the velocity, and with reduced velocity comes a reduced fragmentation range...and fragmentation is what gives the 5.56N it's "oomph".