thanks all, this has been a good discussion.
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thanks all, this has been a good discussion.
--I can use the quality components that I know and trust.
--I can use configurations that aren't available from any mfg as a single rifle.
--If I assembled it, I can readily disassemble it for repairs or changes.
Pretty much a combination of everything above. I guess my big points are:
1. Its rewarding to do; I also have more faith in my own assembly abilities than someone elses; its very nice to know exactly how it went together, exactly what torque is on that barrel nut and that it is properly greased, that the rail is painstakingly perfectly aligned, etc.
2. You can cherrypick every individual part exactly as you want it, and you can shop for the best prices on those parts. You can also often find the parts you need (or a near substitute) when already assembled uppers/lowers/rifles are out of stock/backordered/waitlist.
3. If necessary I can spend less on the stuff I feel you afford to do so with, and spend more on the bits that really matter. A lot of the time high end factory rifles are high end through and through, and as such can be very expensive. I do think the more high end rifle you are building, the more money you can actually save by doing it yourself. Mass produced basic rifles....you don't save anything at all.
I want a gun set up in one very specific way. No one sells the combination I want, it's cheaper to build exactly what I want.
I would rather build my truck how I want and need, than go out and but it after someone else do the work.
Same goes with an old muscle car, would you rather buy it, or customize to the specs you want.
Also, like above posts mention, its harder to pay a huge lump sum all at once...its easier to buy as you go, IMHO
I built mine because no one offered the Battle Comp perm welded on a 14.5 barrel from the factory.
So rather than shell out the $ all at once, I decided to assemble the parts I wanted. Which parts? Spent lots of time reading the M4 and Lightfighter posts getting info, formed my own conclusions, had the retail $'s in my head and began to post for WTB. Takes time but since I didn't need or care if it was new, sooner or later the part shows up. Having built AR's before, I was confident that assembling quality parts would allow me to do more for slightly less. Plus have the fun of the hunt (after all, that's the interesting part). Almost done, just deciding on which of the parts what to go on what, I'll post the completed asembled list with prices just to show what can be done with what. Nothing earthshattering for the crew on this list but it may benefit a new member thinking that they have to go low end to get an AR. Buy in haste, regret at leasure.
I built my first AR to get exactly what I wanted, or at least as close to what I wanted as practical. I like working with my hands. I'm also a cheap bastard. I'd rather do the work myself than pay someone else who might not get it right. I can't claim to have saved any money, though.
I've built aircraft, cars, Jeeps, and other items, why not a rifle? I'd already torn down and built a FAL, which was easier than expected. The AR was even easier than the FAL.
I like designing, creating and making things. Stories for my kids, drawings, carvings- I like working with my hands. It's very satisfying to tackle a trail in a Jeep I built and step out with a rifle made with my own hands to shoot the reloads I assembled for it. The research and experienced gained stimulates my mind and builds confidence.
My next AR will be configured as a fighting carbine. Not that it won't be used for other types of shooting, such as chasing varmints, busting dirt clods and a carbine class when I have the time & money. I like to shoot.
When my sons come home from overseas (neither are in a war zone), I'll teach them to build rifles as well
Last, but not least in addition to all the above, when you buy your upper and lower separate, you save the Federal Excise Tax, which is 11% on assembled firearms.
Pretty much the same for me...
I can build it right the first time without having to pay to swap out stuff I don't want. For example, the very first rifle I built from the ground up so to speak was a Noveske barreled Recce with a Lite rail, not something you could/can get off the shelf. Only thing I've ever ended up changing was the VFG to a handstop. In the end I got exactly what I wanted, saved money over paying someone to build it or replacing parts on a factory gun, and got the satisfaction of putting it together myself. Plus you learn a lot about the platform in the process.
That said these days with the myriad factory built upper configurations from the likes of BCM, DD and Noveske the urge to roll my own is somewhat diminished, but even still certain projects I want to do I will have to build to get exactly what I want.