Build or Buy first AR15

[Magnumite]

Not advocating one way or the other. Isaw this and trust this guy…

 

[rob.mwp]

Not advocating one way or the other. Isaw this and trust this guy…

Appreciate the suggestion. I think for me buying something that might be hit or miss for my 1st AR is just asking for a headache. I'd be chasing my tail wondering if it's me or the rifle because I just don't know enough. Buying something well built so I can learn and try to understand what's going on seems like a better move.

If I had 10 and was just looking to play with something new, sure.. Bear Creek would probably fit the bill.

That guy also did a video on the IWI. I watched last night. Pretty impressive.

 

[FZRracer400!]

We’ve got a few psa freedoms “build”……pin togethers. One BCA, and a couple high end pieces. We do a LOT of shooting especially now with our own place to shoot. Our psa freedom carbines have become our go to’s. They are accurate and reliable, and right now will run you just under 400. Our BCA took some fixing right from the factory, and they were no help getting it fixed. I’d personally take a psa over BCA if going for a one and done on a budget.

 

[clandestine]

Colt is a safe bet. They inspect 300 plus areas of the weapon. Beyond FN govt contract guns, and some BCM's no one comes close to that level of QC.

Suggestions from people who bought a particular isn't always the best advice to follow. People like to defend what they bought, even if they don't have a lot of trigger time with their choice.

 

[Bountied]

Colt is a safe bet. They inspect 300 plus areas of the weapon. Beyond FN govt contract guns, and some BCM's no one comes close to that level of QC.

Suggestions from people who bought a particular isn't always the best advice to follow. People like to defend what they bought, even if they don't have a lot of trigger time with their choice.

Ugh Colt...

 

[FZRracer400!]

Colt is a safe bet. They inspect 300 plus areas of the weapon. Beyond FN govt contract guns, and some BCM's no one comes close to that level of QC.

Suggestions from people who bought a particular isn't always the best advice to follow. People like to defend what they bought, even if they don't have a lot of trigger time with their choice.

I think there’s “some” truth to that in regards to people staunchly standing by their purchases but very little trigger time, and put through some paces. I do agree there. For me, I’ve got anything from a poverty pony-various psa’s-aero-to one KA that I was only able to acquire because of a real estate deal gave me some f-u play money. I’ve run all of them, some more than others. It just boiled down to the inexpensive psa’s just work and I don’t feel bad dragging them around our new tactifool field/woods range. They get dirty, scratched, dropped, flung, whatever. basically run through their paces more than just bench shooting. These were originally just going to be “loaners” for friends and family because of low price etc, but they just work. I will say though, our first psa was a mid-length upper. I don’t really care for that one as much…….not sure what it is, just don’t like it as much. Then we picked up the 2nd freedom, this time a carbine length, while Black Friday shopping at a Palmetto store a couple years ago. Then a 3rd because I had a lower that needed an upper and it was another online sale, so just did it because it drives me nuts having stripped lowers sitting around lonely without an upper. Not justifying my garbage ……..just saying from really running different makes now, and empathizing with “new to AR guys/gals” that feel lost in a great ocean of opinions, my personal experiences. We’ve all been there. Here, opinions were asked, and opinions have been given.

 

[rob.mwp]

Not justifying my garbage ……..just saying from really running different makes now, and empathizing with “new to AR guys/gals” that feel lost in a great ocean of opinions, my personal experiences. We’ve all been there. Here, opinions were asked, and opinions have been given.

That's all I am asking for... it's up to me to sift through the BS, lol.

PSA "kits" don't have any descriptions about the H-bar that I would need in MD (in fact most just say lightweight)? I wouldn't mind putting one together, I have a cousin that has all the tools. I really try to refrain from asking for his advise because he's biased about brands, ammo, holsters, ways to carry, etc. Good dude, but I can only take so much of "his way". I'm just here to get along.

 

[rob.mwp]

To add to that.... I don't really want to or feel confident buying parts from all over the internet to build one. If someone said "here's a bag with everything you need" I'm pretty confident I could pull that off.

Still leaning towards the IWI, that looks like a well put together piece (from everything I've read). Want to go check out Jlowe's and see it in person 1st.

I also have a friend of the family that's offered to pull his AR's out and go over them, I think we're doing dinner next Thurs.

I'm not rushing any of this... I don't need an AR this month or even this quarter. Learning a lot from you all though.

 

[Bountied]

To add to that.... I don't really want to or feel confident buying parts from all over the internet to build one. If someone said "here's a bag with everything you need" I'm pretty confident I could pull that off.

Still leaning towards the IWI, that looks like a well put together piece (from everything I've read). Want to go check out Jlowe's and see it in person 1st.

I also have a friend of the family that's offered to pull his AR's out and go over them, I think we're doing dinner next Thurs.

I'm not rushing any of this... I don't need an AR this month or even this quarter. Learning a lot from you all though.

The biggest take away from MDS is that if you ask a question and 100 people respond you will get 100 different answers. Then look for a trend and make an educated best guess. The best ways to learn are to ask, or try doing it yourself and figure it out the hard way. Let us know how it goes.

 

[FZRracer400!]

That's all I am asking for... it's up to me to sift through the BS, lol.

PSA "kits" don't have any descriptions about the H-bar that I would need in MD (in fact most just say lightweight)? I wouldn't mind putting one together, I have a cousin that has all the tools. I really try to refrain from asking for his advise because he's biased about brands, ammo, holsters, ways to carry, etc. Good dude, but I can only take so much of "his way". I'm just here to get along.

PSA will only sell stripped lowers to MD, I believe.So you’d need a lower build kit if you went their route.The uppers not being hbar…….no comment. But they will sell any upper right to your door. I’m halfway in VA now, so no longer worried about the barrel. I’ve taken mine to MD ranges with officers there shooting right alongside me, and none cared I had a profiled barrel. They knew it, and even talked about hbar being bs. Buuuuut roll your own dice there, and you know take opinions with a grain of salt You’re a citizen not a subject!

 

[rob.mwp]

PSA will only sell stripped lowers to MD, I believe.So you’d need a lower build kit if you went their route.The uppers not being hbar…….no comment. But they will sell any upper right to your door. I’m halfway in VA now, so no longer worried about the barrel. I’ve taken mine to MD ranges with officers there shooting right alongside me, and none cared I had a profiled barrel. They knew it, and even talked about hbar being bs. Buuuuut roll your own dice there, and you know take opinions with a grain of salt You’re a citizen not a subject!

How could they know if it's something stamped or documentation with the gun? I am still confused about the whole H-bar thing (it sounds so childish), but it's not easy to spot on an AR... is it? I mean you would have to tell someone it was or wasn't for them to know? Otherwise side by side it just looks like another AR?

 

[FZRracer400!]

The biggest take away from MDS is that if you ask a question and 100 people respond you will get 100 different answers. Then look for a trend and make an educated best guess. The best ways to learn are to ask, or try doing it yourself and figure it out the hard way. Let us know how it goes.

I’m a newbie here and will confirm But it’s like any hobby/activity etc……….I’m a Yamaha racer and will tell anybody that wants to race, get a Yammi. The Kawasaki guys will say get a Kawwi, and so on and so on……

 

[Bountied]

How could they know if it's something stamped or documentation with the gun? I am still confused about the whole H-bar thing (it sounds so childish), but it's not easy to spot on an AR... is it? I mean you would have to tell someone it was or wasn't for them to know? Otherwise side by side it just looks like another AR?

It has to be stamped which will be on the barrel and may or may not be visible depending on the handguard, or it has to be marketed as a heavy profile barrel by the manufacturer. The website should/will say. Just stay away from pencil profiles and government profile barrels.

 

[Squaregrouper]

How could they know if it's something stamped or documentation with the gun? I am still confused about the whole H-bar thing (it sounds so childish), but it's not easy to spot on an AR... is it? I mean you would have to tell someone it was or wasn't for them to know? Otherwise side by side it just looks like another AR?

It needs to be stamped or marketed by the manufacturer as a heavy barrel. There is nothing in the law about the actual profile and or dimensions.
Yes, I know Maryland gun laws make no sense.

 

[rob.mwp]

It has to be stamped which will be on the barrel and may or may not be visible depending on the handguard, or it has to be marketed as a heavy profile barrel by the manufacturer. The website should/will say. Just stay away from pencil profiles and government profile barrels.

It needs to be stamped or marketed by the manufacturer as a heavy barrel. There is nothing in the law about the actual profile and or dimensions.
Yes, I know Maryland gun laws make no sense.

Yes Sirs.. that's why I asked the question to @FZRracer400! how anyone on the line would know what he had. Nothing about an AR visually screams one way or the other... right? He said;

I’ve taken mine to MD ranges with officers there shooting right alongside me, and none cared I had a profiled barrel. They knew it, and even talked about hbar being bs.

I have zero intension of breaking any laws even if they are dumb. That's not a headache or a worry I want in my life. Still like learning about it though.

 

[MattFinals718]

To add to that.... I don't really want to or feel confident buying parts from all over the internet to build one. If someone said "here's a bag with everything you need" I'm pretty confident I could pull that off.

Still leaning towards the IWI, that looks like a well put together piece (from everything I've read). Want to go check out Jlowe's and see it in person 1st.

I also have a friend of the family that's offered to pull his AR's out and go over them, I think we're doing dinner next Thurs.

I'm not rushing any of this... I don't need an AR this month or even this quarter. Learning a lot from you all though.

At the risk of offering a dissenting opinion: In general, you will save a lot of money on ARs if you buy the parts and assemble them yourself. At the very least, if you buy the lower and upper separately, you'll probably save $100. (Watch MrGunsNGear's YouTube video where he talks about the "assembly tax" that most AR makers slap on complete rifles.) With the exception of my Daniel Defense, none of my ARs were purchased as complete builds - all of mine are parts guns.

I also think that if your heart is set on a particular brand of upper, it makes sense to buy it separately and then take it to a local gunsmith (e.g., Engage Armament, who did barrel swaps on several of my uppers) to have an MD-compliant barrel installed. My BCM did not have an MD-compliant barrel (I owned it when I lived in VA), but I purchased a new gas block and muzzle device, and had them install those on one of their own MD-compliant barrels so that I could legally run the upper here in MD.

 

[DaemonAssassin]

It needs to be stamped or marketed by the manufacturer as a heavy barrel. There is nothing in the law about the actual profile and or dimensions.
Yes, I know Maryland gun laws make no sense.

And even that is just a MSP Advisory that carries zero force of law.

 

[Terps2003]

Lots of good arguements here for building vs. buying. If you decide to build, save yourself $70 and get this: https://palmettostatearmory.com/blem-psa-ar-15-lower-safe-fire.html

 

[Bountied]

At the risk of offering a dissenting opinion: In general, you will save a lot of money on ARs if you buy the parts and assemble them yourself. At the very least, if you buy the lower and upper separately, you'll probably save $100. (Watch MrGunsNGear's YouTube video where he talks about the "assembly tax" that most AR makers slap on complete rifles.) With the exception of my Daniel Defense, none of my ARs were purchased as complete builds - all of mine are parts guns.

I also think that if your heart is set on a particular brand of upper, it makes sense to buy it separately and then take it to a local gunsmith (e.g., Engage Armament, who did barrel swaps on several of my uppers) to have an MD-compliant barrel installed. My BCM did not have an MD-compliant barrel (I owned it when I lived in VA), but I purchased a new gas block and muzzle device, and had them install those on one of their own MD-compliant barrels so that I could legally run the upper here in MD.

Here comes the carousel going back around again.

 

[clandestine]

I'm approaching 20k AR's that have come across my bench or have been through my classes. Colts rarely have problems that were not created by someone messing with them.

Colt AR's have consistently efficient gas system components and their chamber and BCG are extremely consistent.

I have over 100k in tooling and gauges for just the AR. If I had none of that and had to pick one AR to blindly trust it would be a Colt.

They are not always the prettiest, but they are consistently good.

Colts also have fantastic resale value.