My first AR15 build - parts list

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

I’m going to buy individual parts for my first AR and first build. I have a friend who is a gun smith who will help me out. The more I shop the more excited I get :slight_smile:

Here’s the list so far:

Updated Build:
Deleted
Lower Parts Kit from G&R Tactical - $82
BCM M4 stock kit - $74.95
H-Buffer - $22.95
=$179.9

Added:
MOE Lower build kit - $149
YHM Lightweight Tactical Free Float - Carbine - $99.95

Changed:
Handguard cap [to] round

Build Components

Definite parts (but still open to other suggestions):
Stripped lower:
Spikes Tactical stripped lower- $100.50 (shipping included)

Barrel
Daniel Defense M4 Carbine 16" Cut Rifled Barrel (1:7) - $169.99
** Chrome lined, 4150, 1:7 twist

BCM handguard cap - Round - $3
** Delete if Free Float is chosen

MOE Lower build kit - $149
**Includes Mil-Spec MOE Stock, MOE grip, MOE Trigger Guard, CMMG Lowers Parts Kit and Mil-Spec buffer tube assembly.

BCM forward assist assembly - $13.95

BCM ejection port cover assembly - $5.95

BCM AR-15 charging handle - $22.95

BCM barrel nut - $8.95
**Delete if Free Float is chosen

BCM delta ring assembly - $10.50
** Delete if Free Float is chosen

BCM gas tube (Carbine length)- $13

BCM crush washer - $2.25 (currently out of stock)

Sights:
Magpul MBUS REAR Back Up Iron Sight - BLACK - $55.05
Magpul MBUS FRONT Back Up Iron Sight - BLACK - $37.95

Upper:
BCM stripped upper receiver w/ M4 feed ramp - $85.95

Flash hiders:
BCM flash hider - $8

Undecided:

Bolt Carrier Group:
BCM full-auto BCG - $139.95
** BCM AR15 Bolt Assembly (MPI) - $69.95 + BCM Carrier Assemly with Gas Key - Auto ($69.00) = 138.95
**LMT Bolt Carrier Groups - Auto ($130) (out of stock)
**Automatic BCG is more durable and reliable.

Rails/handguards:
BCM handguards - $22.95
**Magpul MOE Enhanced Handguard($28.49)
Free-Floating options
YHM Lightweight Tactical Free Float - Carbine $99.95
**add YHM handguard cap if chosen
**** Do I need the YHM-9484-A End Cap for YHM Free Floats 15/16" or the YHM-9484-A End Cap for YHM Free Floats 1-1/16"?

UTG Quad Rail Handguard - $59.95
**10% OFF ALL PRODUCTS! Use " stimulus " As Coupon Code On Your Order Form.
KZ M73 Picatinny Forend - $50

Gas Block (w/rail):
NEEDED

Grand total = ???

Plus shipping…

Question:
Am I missing anything?

Notes:

To make things cheaper, look at the [Aero Precision lower/DPMS parts kit](https://surplusammo.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=33&products_id=502) $119.99
+ Mil spec buffer tube assembly, MOE stock, grip, and trigger guard. 

VS

Mil-Spec MOE Stock, MOE grip, MOE Trigger Guard, CMMG Lowers Parts Kit and Mil-Spec buffer tube assembly. - $149
Spikes Tactical - $89

Getting rid of the delta ring ($10.50), barrel nut ($8.95), and the handguard cap ($3) would give me $22.45 + the MOE handguard ($28.49) = $50.94. For $49.01 more I could have the YHM Lightweight Tactical Free Float + $18.95 for the cap.

2

del-ton is good to go. I have a delton middy hasnt had any problems. However my only complaint is they do use heavy barrel profile, I believe RRA does as well.

3

Welcome to the forum.

I hate to say this, but you should really spend some time browsing through the stickys as the top of each section and use the search function.

That said, Del-ton is not held in high regard around here.

4

Del-Ton isn’t a good choice. SAW did have Colt LPK’s for $200. May be too much for you.

5

why not contact one of our site sponsers about putting you together an appropiate package for your needs of dependable parts ?

ya know, buy once, cry once kinda deal ?

6

Depending on the intended use, Del-Ton has been a good service company for me and the parts were good for the intended use, casual shooting, target, ect.

7

In a midlength, Delton has a decent reputation as a plinker. For long term, high round count reliability, you can do better, their prices are low for a reason.

BCM makes high quality uppers and they have lower kits that will serve you well.

8

That’s a pretty good idea. For the price the RRA rifle kit seems like a better option. $200 more than the del ton and $750-$800 for a full RRA is pretty cheap… I think.

That’s another good idea.

Secretly, I was hoping everyone on here would say Del-ton was great. :stuck_out_tongue:

Why is a heavy barrel profile bad?

9

Not to sound like a jerk, but for that kind of money you should be able to purchase most, if not all, the quality parts you need to make a Tier 1 rifle.

Any particular reason you want to go with a kit as opposed to purchasing an already assembled rifle?

10

I don’t know why you’d pay that much for a “parts kit” when you can get a NIB Colt for a few hundred more, and then sell the take off’s off it, and recoup at least $100 if not more.

If funds are an issue save another month or whatever and get something built with quality not some lumped together parts kit with who knows what quality parts. It just doesnt make sense to me to skimp out when you are already spending that kind of money. But its your gun so do whatever you want.

11

I want to learn how to build one. I don’t necessarily want a $1500 first rifle. Money is an issue, sure. I want a budget AR as a first rifle so I can abuse it and learn from my mistakes. I’m a total noob when it comes to ARs and I expect to make some boo-boos.

I want a budget AR. I want to put everything together with a friend of mine so I can learn about ARs. At this point I don’t know what parts are better or why. I still have some time to research so that’s what I’m doing :slight_smile:

As far as del-ton quality, I’ve heard good things. It’s not going to be as good as a $2000 build but I hear that del-ton parts are of average quality. I’ve not been able to search much on this site due to search problems. I’ve been researching elsewhere.

12

For $1500, you can buy a Noveske. If you pay $1500 for a parts kit, you’re being ripped off.

Let’s build you a quality rifle and see how much it will cost… I may leave out a part here and there…

MEGA stripped lower receiver from Rainier Arms - $125
Lower Parts Kit from G&R Tactical - $82
BCM M4 stock kit w/ H-buffer - $95
BCM stripped upper receiver - $80
BCM forward assist assembly - $14
BCM ejection port cover assembly - $6
BCM AR-15 charging handle - $23
BCM full-auto BCG - $140
DD 16" barrel from Brownells - $170
BCM barrel nut - $9
BCM delta ring assembly - $11
BCM gas tube - $13
BCM handguard cap - $3
BCM F-marked front sight base - $30
BCM crush washer - $3
BCM flash hider - $8
BCM handguards - $23

Grand total? $835

Put all of that together and you’ll have yourself one hell of a carbine.

13

Which could be a big reason for the mis-information. I would stay away from Delton as there are better options out there. If you don’t want to pay SAW prices for Colt parts, I’ve had good luck with Stag/CMT LPKs.

If you are looking for a parts kit rifle then I have another suggestion…

Buy a BCM lower and a BCM midlength upper then when you get it in you can watch the Internet videos and spreadsheets about how to take it apart and put it back together. That way at the end of the day you still have high quality parts and the knowledge of how it all works together. The next rifle you get you can piece together and if you continue to read here you will quickly learn what make a quality part “quality.”

14

What parts are missing? Seems like it’s all there to me but… I’m a noob.

I’d like to modify your build slightly:
Spikes Tactical stripped lower - $100.50
Lower Parts Kit from G&R Tactical - $82
BCM M4 stock kit w/ H-buffer - $95
BCM stripped upper receiver - $80
BCM forward assist assembly - $14
BCM ejection port cover assembly - $6
BCM AR-15 charging handle - $23
BCM full-auto BCG - $140
DD 16" barrel from Brownells - $170
BCM barrel nut - $9
BCM delta ring assembly - $11
BCM gas tube - $13
BCM handguard cap - $3
BCM F-marked front sight base - $30
BCM crush washer - $3
BCM flash hider - $8
BCM handguards - $23

Grand total? $810

Plus shipping… what, $30?

Not a bad setup. My biggest fear is ruining a nice AR though.

That’s another good idea. I’m going to be going with the cheapest option that gives me the best quality. For some reason I have it in my head that I can build one from the ground up for cheaper than I can buy one fully assembled. I have to do more research and shopping around.

What are the components that are most likely to fail?
Which should you invest more in to avoid breakage?
What composition BCG is best? TiN, chrome?
Do you prefer chrome lined barrels or chrome moly? Why?

15

You should take a look at this article by member rob_s. It’s geared specifically to those who would rather build than buy.

http://www.tacticalyellowvisor.net/8343/25301.html

16

Sounds good to me! I haven’t heard anything negative about Spike’s Tactical lowers. Anybody heard differently?

That’s another good idea. I’m going to be going with the cheapest option that gives me the best quality. For some reason I have it in my head that I can build one from the ground up for cheaper than I can buy one fully assembled. I have to do more research and shopping around.

This is basically true unless you start skimping on features. I think for the price point we’re talking about with the parts listed above, the best rifle you could buy would probably be a S&W M&P 15, so I think you’ll get a better rifle this way. The list that I built took me 5 minutes to research.

What are the components that are most likely to fail?
Which should you invest more in to avoid breakage?
What composition BCG is best? TiN, chrome?
Do you prefer chrome lined barrels or chrome moly? Why?

I strongly suggest you read the knowledge base threads on this site, as well all the information from The Chart so you can make an informed decision regarding this.

17

what he said ,I ended up Buying twice after getting on here and listen to all the Tier 1 guys so I went with a Colt defense Lower and a colt m4 upper I had to pin the extended FH .But ALAbama is about to change the SBR law here so I plan to SBR her

18

Going to add links, fix prices, add notes/questions to this build.

Spikes Tactical stripped lower- $100.50 (shipping included)

Lower Parts Kit from G&R Tactical - $82

BCM M4 stock kit - $74.95

H-buffer - $22.95
** Why H-buffer($22.95) over Carbine Buffer($11)?

BCM stripped upper receiver - $79.95
**(M4 feed ramps worth the extra $6?)BCM stripped upper receiver w/ M4 feed ramp - $85.95

BCM forward assist assembly - $13.95

BCM ejection port cover assembly - $5.95

BCM AR-15 charging handle - $22.95

BCM full-auto BCG - $139.95
** BCM AR15 Bolt Assembly (MPI) - $69.95 + BCM Carrier Assemly with Gas Key - Auto ($69.00) = 138.95
**LMT Bolt Carrier Groups - Auto ($130) (out of stock)
**

BCM barrel nut - $8.95

BCM delta ring assembly - $10.50

BCM gas tube (Carbine length)- $13
**Mid length and rifle length currently out of stock

BCM handguard cap - $3
**Whats the difference between triangle, round, and round notched?

BCM F-marked front sight base - $29.95

BCM crush washer - $2.25 (currently out of stock)

BCM flash hider - $8
**Phantom - 5C2 ($24.99)
**Phantom - Original 4 Port ($24.99)

BCM handguards - $22.95
**Magpul MOE Enhanced Handguard ($28.49)
**Daniel Defense Omega Rail 7 Carbine ($246.00)
**Free-Floating options

Daniel Defense M4 Carbine 16" Cut Rifled Barrel (1:7) - $169.99
** Is this barrel chrome lined or chrome moly?
** 1:7 is better for heavier rounds, right? 1:9 is able to fire a larger variety of common .223?

Grand total = about $811

Plus shipping…

Am I missing anything?

19

An H-buffer on a carbine length gas system aids in extraction.

BCM stripped upper receiver - $79.95
**(M4 feed ramps worth the extra $6?)
BCM stripped upper receiver w/ M4 feed ramp - $85.95

Definitely go with the M4 feed ramps if you’re using a DD barrel. Arguably M4 feed ramps increase reliability with certain kinds magazines.

BCM handguard cap - $3
**Whats the difference between triangle, round, and round notched?

Round go on carbines, triangle go on midlength and rifle length, and round notched are for carbines with grenade launchers.

Daniel Defense M4 Carbine 16" Cut Rifled Barrel (1:7) - $169.99
** Is this barrel chrome lined or chrome moly?
** 1:7 is better for heavier rounds, right? 1:9 is able to fire a larger variety of common .223?

The DD barrel is chrome-lined.

1:7 is arguably better all-around than a 1:9. There’s no sense in wasting your money for a 1:9, in my opinion.

All of this info can be found on this site using the search function.

20

Thanks a lot for clearing that up. I do have 3-4 m4carbine pages open about the 1:7 barrel. My problem is I know nothing so researching each part takes a while :slight_smile: I do have a lot of time so I’m going to keep working on this build.

I’ve tried to use the search on here but for some reason it’s not working for me. The search feature itself doesn’t work.

I appreciate all of the help. I’m going to read up on these items that I have questions about and update this accordingly.

Thanks!