Posted on 02/28/2013 3:00:27 PM PST by RoosterRedux
I have had a Windham Weaponry AR-15 on order with an old friend who has a gun shop but prospects are looking slim.
You can buy an Upper Receiver direct from Windham (shipment on delay, but not out of stock).
Is it possible to buy an Upper from Windham and a Lower Receiver and Buttstock (I like the Magpul) from another manufacturer and supplier and simply assemble the pieces or is that impossible?
The problem is not ability, but supply. It’s tough to get some of the bits and pieces; could take months to gather everything.
Also, check your private messages.
Curious if anyone’s found an “affordable” (I realize that’s a relative term since Sandy Hook) source for decent barrels. That seems to be the single largest expense putting an AR together.
It’s so easy a metrosexual caveman can do it.
A couple of sites that have instructional videos you will find very useful – the first one is especially useful in that is has a series of short instructional videos of the whole assembly process.
How to Build An AR-15 Video
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11004/guntechdetail/How_to_Build_An_AR-15_Video
Build Your Own Custom AR-15: Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfH9sRLdRwc&feature=player_detailpage
Yes, AR parts are interchangeable. But keep one thing in mind, viz. if you ever want to sell your piecemeal AR (in a normal economy), make sure your frankenAR is assembled with brand name recognizable components. I notice that such weapons on Armslist, etc, don’t get sold as well as others.
With the exception of Colt and their idiot large pin receivers. But that only affects the trigger group I believe. Eithe rpin size is readkily available, so no worries there. No one buy Colt lowers anyway.
This is all true for the small caliber (.223/5.56 NATO) AR series. When you get into the big stuf (.308/7.62 NATO) things get a bit murkier but still manageable.
I’m thinking about doing this. I might buy a complete rifle if I can get the right price. If not, I’m going to build one. There are a lot of videos on YouTube on how to do this. Anyone can do it with just a few tools.
Don’t pay what people asking for stripped lowers right now. I think they’ll be available for regular prices soon. I’ve been watching “slick guns” and they show up on there from time to time. There was a PSA lower for 119.00 yesterday but they sold out as I was putting my CC info in.
No way! There’s no way to buy them. The site is a tease!
As long as the front and rear takedown pins match on the top and bottom receivers, you’re good.
There are “large pin” and “small pin” lower receivers, but if the pin diameters for the hammer and trigger are different, that’s shouldn’t have any bearing on the upper receiver.
Where you find a difference between uppers and lowers from different manufactures is in the AR-10/LR-308 product space. AR-10 lowers accept only AR-10 uppers, and LR-308 lowers can take many different uppers (that are compatible with LR-308 lowers). If you’re ever looking at building a .308 AR, I’d recommend you look strongly at the LR-308 (ie, DPMS) design, not the Armalite AR-10 design.
Where you need to exercise some caution is in the area of bolts and barrel extensions, since that’s where the headspace issue comes to bear. But most people don’t put on their own barrel extension (if you do, follow the torque specs of 150 ft-lbs for how firmly you torque on the extension onto the barrel) and check the bolt for headspace with a “go” gage.
Lots of luck finding a stripped lower anywhere.
If you do, lower parts kits and bolt carrier assemblies are also impossible to find.
I doubt that Windham Weapondry has many full uppers avilable right now, either.
Your best bet is to continue to stay on your gun shop buddy’s good side.
And thx for your good work at Poitiers a few years back...sure saved our derrieres.;-)
Not quite. I've made my own from kits, but there are issues with fit. Not usually bad, but you will often get less than a tight fit of upper and lower.
This is fixable by:
1. not carring about accuracy.
2. fitting a shim in front of the mag well
3. using an oversized or sleeve shimmed pin
4. redrilling the hinge pin holes and using an oversized pin
I have found #2 to be cheap and easy.
Check out AR15.com for anything and everything about building your own.
Also check out Palmetto State Armory. They sell everything and are very reasonably priced. I bought a complete upper and their lower parts kit for my carbine. Their cold hammer forged barrels are made by FN.
Actually, you can make a lower receiver.
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Well, maybe YOU and others can MAKE a lower receiver...
LOL
That tells me that Grab a Gun is gouging. Ruger will sell ya the whole damned gun for $1375.00. Go figure.
all this talk about upper receivers, lower receivers and buttstocks is starting to sound really gay.
//sarcasm
It was expensive, but I own Rugers and have studied the SSR-556. I trust Ruger.
I think my stupid joke killed the thread
He's probably sexting Reggie right now...telling him to head over to FR.
I'll bet Reggie's Secret Service nickname is "Buttstock."
My understanding is that there is now law preventing anyone from manufacturing their own gun, including the lower receiver, from scratch. (No numbers needed)
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