Bought a stripped lower

[DocV]

After reading so many AR posts on this forum I developed a hankering for a stripped lower. I managed to stave off most of my cravings until I noticed a poor, lonely, stripped lower sitting on the bottom shelf of one of the local gun stores. Turns out the store had several lowers to offer. I opted for a DPMS that was $10 cheaper than an S&W and 40 smackers less than a Stag. So much for careful well-thought-out research. I then sallied over to MidwayUSA and picked up a DPMS lower parts kit for around $50.

Now that I have plunged, I am bound and determined to spec out the remainder of this beast that I hope to build. Naturally, I hope to take advantage of the expertise of the resident AR-grey-beards.

My immediate goal is to finish the lower. I figure I will, eventually, need a buffer tube to do so. I really like the looks of the Larue Mil Spec kit. Are there other mil-spec buffers that I should put on my list, such as Colt, etc?

My plan is a 5.56 build with a 16 or 18 inch barrel, depending on what I can find. 1 in 7 twist. Krieger's are a bit out of my reach. Daniel Defense seems to make nice products but there are several other options. I appreciate any clues folks are willing to pass my way.

[pbwalker]

What wil be the primary use of the rifle? Tack driver? Truck gun? Hunting? I generally will build around the main use of the rifle. For example, I'm not going to put a Noveske barrel on a truck gun. But for a tack driver I would.

As for the buffer tube, honestly...I've always gone with the best priced milspec I could find, or got a kit that had the stock and tube assembly. It isn't an area I've concentrated funds. I will usually put the extra $$ toward a better trigger and barrel (and sometimes cool furniture...hey, they weren't lying when they said these are Barbies for guys! )

Let me know how the lower assembly goes for you. There are a ton of resources out there for builders. I used this link (http://www.ar15.com/content/guides/assembly/lower/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) and the folks here when I built out my first.

[pbwalker]

Oh, and if you can, assemble the detent pins in a ziploc bag, or maybe a parts washer...they take off like rockets when you don't hold them down. I speak from experience.

I've gotten to the point where I use a box cutter blade and some weird hand contortion to hold the spring and pin down.

[DocV]

No tack will be safe once I have this one complete. Actually, given I will be the one who is shooting, I expect the tacks will be laughing while I am at the range.

Good point on the triggers. I was drooling over the trigger selections and would rather push my dollars towards the trigger and front of the gun.

Ah, ziplocks. Yes, I know them well. My workshop is covered in leopard spotted carpet that my daughter had to have. Finding any lost parts is a miracle.

[cyphur]

After reading so many AR posts on this forum I developed a hankering for a stripped lower. I managed to stave off most of my cravings until I noticed a poor, lonely, stripped lower sitting on the bottom shelf of one of the local gun stores. Turns out the store had several lowers to offer. I opted for a DPMS that was $10 cheaper than an S&W and 40 smackers less than a Stag. So much for careful well-thought-out research. I then sallied over to MidwayUSA and picked up a DPMS lower parts kit for around $50.

Now that I have plunged, I am bound and determined to spec out the remainder of this beast that I hope to build. Naturally, I hope to take advantage of the expertise of the resident AR-grey-beards.

My immediate goal is to finish the lower. I figure I will, eventually, need a buffer tube to do so. I really like the looks of the Larue Mil Spec kit. Are there other mil-spec buffers that I should put on my list, such as Colt, etc?

My plan is a 5.56 build with a 16 or 18 inch barrel, depending on what I can find. 1 in 7 twist. Krieger's are a bit out of my reach. Daniel Defense seems to make nice products but there are several other options. I appreciate any clues folks are willing to pass my way.

Things to focus funds on for tack driver:
Barrel +bolt
FGA(aka trigger)
Upper - a tight fit to lower removes inconsistencies.
Handguards. They don't need to be $$$ but they need to free float.


The rest is up to your budget.

[el_chupo_]

DSG arms has good pricing on stock kits from Magpul. I think I gave $85 for a Milspec buffer tube, buffer, spring, and CTR stock in black, and around $130 for an ACS "kit" with the same items.

Palmetto State armory also does a stock kit on sale regularly, and I think they have one with a 7000 series alu tube that is a bit lighter weight.

[Sidro]

McCormick trigger, I have 4 and like them very much. http://stores.cmctriggers.com/StoreFront.bok" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OldCannon]

Oh, and if you can, assemble the detent pins in a ziploc bag, or maybe a parts washer...they take off like rockets when you don't hold them down. I speak from experience.

I've gotten to the point where I use a box cutter blade and some weird hand contortion to hold the spring and pin down.

You might want to look at my videos on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSBCYDp ... CAQQwRs%3D" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Look at the one on "AR-15 Pivot Pin Install" (and don't kick yourself after you watch it )

[10Shooter]

McCormick trigger, I have 4 and like them very much. http://stores.cmctriggers.com/StoreFront.bok" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I agree, I have 1 and think it's great.

[DocV]

All great advice! I wandered into the gun shop today and plopped down a deposit on a Henry Golden Boy 22 LR for FSI's christmas present. (In hopes that giving him some shiny gold colored metal will start his creative thought processes) I then asked the sales folks if they had any receiver extensions. They gave me a steep discount on one that was missing a castle nut. Made it out the door for less than shipping would have cost.

[cyphur]

All great advice! I wandered into the gun shop today and plopped down a deposit on a Henry Golden Boy 22 LR for FSI's christmas present. (In hopes that giving him some shiny gold colored metal will start his creative thought processes) I then asked the sales folks if they had any receiver extensions. They gave me a steep discount on one that was missing a castle nut. Made it out the door for less than shipping would have cost.

Great! Little deals like that can make your day.


As far as triggers go, Timney makes the best AR trigger I have seen thus far.

[DocV]

I put the lower together the other day. I watched the Brownell videos and wandered through the ar15 site. I made do with a plastic mallet, a roll pin punch, a lot of masking tape and a lot of blind luck. No scratches or broken parts. No stray pins or springs. Wasn't even tempted to use anything other than polite language. I have not yet ordered a new trigger but installed a DPMS trigger and hammer several times for the sake of practice.

Bought a buffer and some other things from DSG and was pleased with the transaction, low shipping cost and will use them again. I found a lonely castle nut wrench over at the gun store and gave it a new home. Now I am doing serious thinking about the trigger and upper but am taking my time as there is only so much gun stuff I can carry past Mrs DocV in any given month

[Sputz]

Oh, and if you can, assemble the detent pins in a ziploc bag, or maybe a parts washer...they take off like rockets when you don't hold them down. I speak from experience.

I've gotten to the point where I use a box cutter blade and some weird hand contortion to hold the spring and pin down.

+1 Or I suggest you Just order spares before you start your build. Its frustrating to stop your build because one flew across the room. I use a punch and fast switch to get mine in.

Sputz

[DocV]

Oh, and if you can, assemble the detent pins in a ziploc bag, or maybe a parts washer...they take off like rockets when you don't hold them down. I speak from experience.

I've gotten to the point where I use a box cutter blade and some weird hand contortion to hold the spring and pin down.

+1 Or I suggest you Just order spares before you start your build. Its frustrating to stop your build because one flew across the room. I use a punch and fast switch to get mine in.

Sputz

Spares are a good idea. I almost mangled the roll pins as I do not have any roll pin holders. Necessity motivated me to use a lot of that masking tape to fasten the roll pins on my roll pin punches. Several other other sets of hands would have been a good idea. One set to do pounding, a set to hold things together and, yet another set to unstick the lower and me from all of that tape.

I am an old hand at having detents go zooming across the room into the great unknown. There is also a rather nice divot in the ceiling that is a perfect match to a 1911 recoil spring plug. Dont' ask. This time I had a clevis pin on hand for the pivot spring.

That milspec trigger certainly is rough. If I didn't know better I would guess the FCG was filled with sand.