I’ve been lurking for a few weeks now. I’ve been wanting to buy/build my first AR for sometime now. When it comes to firearms I usually try to research and buy the best once instead of the worst twice. I’m on a limited budget and will be building the lower myself probably piece by piece as the money is available. I do have some experience with working on firearms though not AR’s. My parts list for the lower so far is: Magpul CTR stock, spikes buffer, stag LR or other LR that I can find at a reasonable price, and possibly a LPK (stag?). Is this a good starting point for my first lower? Are there other possibilities to take a look at? I don’t wanna spend a ton of money but I would like it to be solid and reliable.
As for the upper I want something with a freefloat rail. The stag 2ht is along the lines of what i would be wanting. But I have lately been wondering if it would be a better idea to simply buy an upper like a BCM and then add a higher rated BCG and charging handle since these don’t seem to come complete like the stag does. Are the other uppers and parts worth the money?
I’ll bite…
Read more.
There are many, many, many, many threads on this very subject. They come down to this:
Building a rifle will only save you money if you buy low quality parts. A simple, effective rifle can now be had for about $1000 (BCM, DD, S&w all come to mind)
Wanting a free float rail is all well and good, but buying from a reputable brand would be better. Stag, I believe, is not listed among these.
As far as a lower goes… If you DO choose to build your lower yourself, almost any lower within spec will work. I, personally, would only buy from BCM, LMT, Colt, DD, S&W, but that’s just me.
PR,
Your choices in manufacturers are very very good. Spikes, Stag, BCM----they all make excellent rifles.
Find your lower that has the rollmark you like. Most, not all, but most lowers are pretty much the same. Put a milspec buffer tube on it. Thank M4C for that later.
I get my 5pos milspec tubes from jsesurplus.com----they seem to have them cheaper than everyone else and they fit my LMT SOPMOD stocks perfectly. Castle nuts are also $4 there.
A freefloat rail system is something I’ll always do on my future ARs—I just like having the peace of mind that anything I put on that rail isn’t dragging on the barrel. Ever.
As far as CH/BCGs go, LMT, YM, BCM—they’re all excellent. Not sure about Stag’s uppers as I’ve never shot one, but if you’re going for a LH, they’re the one you want. I personally don’t like the LH uppers because I’m LH and like to not have to look over the weapon to check it for clear or C1—I simply pull the CH back and see the readiness of the weapon without leaning over it. Right side ejection is something I’m used to.
If you’re planning on running this gun past 300, look at a 18" bbl’d weapon or even 20" which will likely have a rifle length gas system and give you more “rail estate” to put a bipod on. I couldn’t handle having a bipod on my LMT w/carbine length Omega before I chopped the FSB, and a rifle length Troy went on it after I did. My other AR is a 20" Grendel and it sports a JP/VTac rifle length rail as well. Works marvelously.
Other experts will chime in here, give you more useful info than I have, but you’re on the right path asking questions here. People here are very friendly and knowledgeable. Welcome aboard.