Essential The Official Coli Gun Owners Thread

[east]

‘Defend yourself’: the Memphis gun club educating Black women and children on firearm safety

A Tennessee chapter of the National African American Gun Association (Naaga) is teaching their community self-defense as more Black adults in US become firearm owners

www.theguardian.com

 

[OSUBaneBrowns]

Has anyone built a AR15 before? I just brought a lower and trying to decide what items can I buy for cheap on and which stuff that I need to pay good $$$ for? My budget is around $700 to $1000ish depending on how good that I can make it run. I'm in CA so I can't have a lot of goodies on it per state law .

 

[OneManGang]

Has anyone built a AR15 before? I just brought a lower and trying to decide what items can I buy for cheap on and which stuff that I need to pay good $$$ for? My budget is around $700 to $1000ish depending on how good that I can make it run. I'm in CA so I can't have a lot of goodies on it per state law .

Go on YouTube, a ton of budget builds. Some even have creator codes for parts.

 

[Bunchy Carter]

Has anyone built a AR15 before? I just brought a lower and trying to decide what items can I buy for cheap on and which stuff that I need to pay good $$$ for? My budget is around $700 to $1000ish depending on how good that I can make it run. I'm in CA so I can't have a lot of goodies on it per state law .

@Stir Fry has built CA AR-15.

I'm in CA also, but I am an AK guy and the things you have to do for an AR, you do not have to do for an AK.

 

[KillerB88]

Has anyone built a AR15 before? I just brought a lower and trying to decide what items can I buy for cheap on and which stuff that I need to pay good $$$ for? My budget is around $700 to $1000ish depending on how good that I can make it run. I'm in CA so I can't have a lot of goodies on it per state law .

Yes, my build is a page back or so. Why not save more money for better parts? You dont even have to buy all of the part at once. I put my most recent one together over three months and bought top-shelf parts.

 

[BlkAxeMan]

Has anyone built a AR15 before? I just brought a lower and trying to decide what items can I buy for cheap on and which stuff that I need to pay good $$$ for? My budget is around $700 to $1000ish depending on how good that I can make it run. I'm in CA so I can't have a lot of goodies on it per state law .

Don't scrimp on the bolt or the barrel.

 

[east]

Has anyone built a AR15 before? I just brought a lower and trying to decide what items can I buy for cheap on and which stuff that I need to pay good $$$ for? My budget is around $700 to $1000ish depending on how good that I can make it run. I'm in CA so I can't have a lot of goodies on it per state law .

some cheap parts are really gonna be JustAsGood™ although they might not feel as nice (lower, lpk, upk, fcg, ch, muzzle device - the $5 a2 birdcage is still the best performer lol), others you should never compromise on (bcg, barrel). good inexpensive bcgs are toolcraft/microbest's mid-tier models, for barrels avoid rosco/ba.

if you're price sensitive ion recommend building the upper, you'll need a vise/tq wrench/armorer's wrench/reaction rod/specialty greases/etc. which you'll likely never use again. you can pick up an inexpensive psa which will come with a good fn barrel and high-tier toolcraft bcg, but the way they assemble them precludes you from ever doing any real customization.

nobody's buying shyt rn and dealers are desperate to move stock, you can legit put together three serviceable ar-15s with a $1k budget

 

[OSUBaneBrowns]

Go on YouTube, a ton of budget builds. Some even have creator codes for parts.

I found a link on Brownells that goes over how to build one. I don't want to spend mad money on a part or two where I can get something cheaper that is just as good.

@Stir Fry has built CA AR-15.

I'm in CA also, but I am an AK guy and the things you have to do for an AR, you do not have to do for an AK.

I have a AR10 now but I'm getting tired of paying 308 prices. I like the platform but want to shoot a cheaper caliber.

Yes, my build is a page back or so. Why not save more money for better parts? You dont even have to buy all of the part at once. I put my most recent one together over three months and bought top-shelf parts.

I'm not rushing to build it, I just want to be smart with money and parts. My goal is to be done with it within a couple of months.

Don't scrimp on the bolt or the barrel.

Thanks. I'm still unsure if I also want to build the upper from scratch or just buy a complete one and just handle the lower by myself.

 

[Bunchy Carter]

I have a AR10 now but I'm getting tired of paying 308 prices. I like the platform but want to shoot a cheaper caliber.

I understand, I have a AR10 (Sig716) but I stocked up on ammo before things went left in CA.

 

[OSUBaneBrowns]

Was able to snag a Anderson Manufacturing lower parts kit from a LGS for $60. Comes with a grip and a trigger. Figure that I can replace both if I don't like them overtime. I don't want to overdue it on my first build and learn what I do and don't like over time.

 

[Wildin]

Spoiler

Has anyone built a AR15 before? I just brought a lower and trying to decide what items can I buy for cheap on and which stuff that I need to pay good $$$ for? My budget is around $700 to $1000ish depending on how good that I can make it run. I'm in CA so I can't have a lot of goodies on it per state law .

Go on YouTube, a ton of budget builds. Some even have creator codes for parts.

@Stir Fry has built CA AR-15.

I'm in CA also, but I am an AK guy and the things you have to do for an AR, you do not have to do for an AK.

Yes, my build is a page back or so. Why not save more money for better parts? You dont even have to buy all of the part at once. I put my most recent one together over three months and bought top-shelf parts.

Don't scrimp on the bolt or the barrel.

some cheap parts are really gonna be JustAsGood™ although they might not feel as nice (lower, lpk, upk, fcg, ch, muzzle device - the $5 a2 birdcage is still the best performer lol), others you should never compromise on (bcg, barrel). good inexpensive bcgs are toolcraft/microbest's mid-tier models, for barrels avoid rosco/ba.

if you're price sensitive ion recommend building the upper, you'll need a vise/tq wrench/armorer's wrench/reaction rod/specialty greases/etc. which you'll likely never use again. you can pick up an inexpensive psa which will come with a good fn barrel and high-tier toolcraft bcg, but the way they assemble them precludes you from ever doing any real customization.

nobody's buying shyt rn and dealers are desperate to move stock, you can legit put together three serviceable ar-15s with a $1k budget

AR 15 Builder

AR-15 Builder to help assemble your parts list. Use Gunpartpicker to get realtime update pricing and inventory.

gunpartpicker.net

I have another site that's better than this one. It's in my bookmarks somewhere.

But it's the same concept. It has a slot for everything you need, you can click and find the one you want with the price and at the end it'll tell you the price of your build.

And you can save it too so if you buy and upper then come back in a month and buy a lower or a bolt, just chip away at your list.

 

[east]

@OSUBaneBrowns the only undesirable thing about this is that it's 1:9 twist, but goddamn is it a deal

https://ar15discounts.com/products/nbs-16%e2%80%b3-5-56-phosphate-midlength-m-lok-lightweight-upper-assembly/

AR 15 Builder

AR-15 Builder to help assemble your parts list. Use Gunpartpicker to get realtime update pricing and inventory.

gunpartpicker.net

do they only index primary arms? gun.deals and wikiarms seem strictly better then...

 

[OSUBaneBrowns]

@OSUBaneBrowns the only undesirable thing about this is that it's 1:9 twist, but goddamn is it a deal

https://ar15discounts.com/products/nbs-16%e2%80%b3-5-56-phosphate-midlength-m-lok-lightweight-upper-assembly/

do they only index primary arms? gun.deals and wikiarms seem strictly better then...

What is a 1:9 twist? Also, is ar15discounts a good website to find uppers, BCG and charging handles?

 

[east]

What is a 1:9 twist?

twist rate measures the spin of the barrel's rifling (1 full rotation every 9"). 55gr bullets are ok out of a 1:9 but once you get to heavier stuff like 75gr+ (a typical defensive load) you'll have problems.

Spoiler: big chart, nerd shyt

Also, is ar15discounts a good website to find uppers, BCG and charging handles?

the upper i linked is their house brand "no bullshyt," i'd say it's anderson/psa-tier. i think their barrels are made by outerwild mfg, they have a really good rep in the ar9 community.

they have toolcraft bcgs for the low, this is a solid one: https://ar15discounts.com/products/...m16-profile-bolt-carrier-group-black-nitride/

this toolcraft has a superior finish and materials, but psa sells it for less cause their logo devalues it https://palmettostatearmory.com/pal...remium-full-auto-bolt-carrier-group-8779.html

microbest is another option: https://ar15discounts.com/products/microbest-c158-hpt-mpi-5-56-bolt-carrier-group-black-nitride/

i source a lot of my bcgs from wcarmory.com, they carry both of those brands. ao precision and azimuth are other good bcg makers to look out for. the bcg's the heart of your rifle, you REALLY wanna get the best one you can afford.

 

[OSUBaneBrowns]

twist rate measures the spin of the barrel's rifling (1 full rotation every 9"). 55gr bullets are ok out of a 1:9 but once you get to heavier stuff like 75gr+ (a typical defensive load) you'll have problems.

Spoiler: big chart, nerd shyt

the upper i linked is their house brand "no bullshyt," i'd say it's anderson/psa-tier. i think their barrels are made by outerwild mfg, they have a really good rep in the ar9 community.

they have toolcraft bcgs for the low, this is a solid one: https://ar15discounts.com/products/...m16-profile-bolt-carrier-group-black-nitride/

this toolcraft has a superior finish and materials, but psa sells it for less cause their logo devalues it https://palmettostatearmory.com/pal...remium-full-auto-bolt-carrier-group-8779.html

microbest is another option: https://ar15discounts.com/products/microbest-c158-hpt-mpi-5-56-bolt-carrier-group-black-nitride/

i source a lot of my bcgs from wcarmory.com, they carry both of those brands. ao precision and azimuth are other good bcg makers to look out for. the bcg's the heart of your rifle, you REALLY wanna get the best one you can afford.

Thanks.

I have no issue with spending $ on the BCG. I just don't want to spend $$$ on items that has nothing to do with performance or longevity of the rifle.