Build VS Buying

[analogwars]

Can an AR self build be as good as a factory build?

 

[JEBland]

Can it? Sure.
Will it be (vs. mid- to upper- tier ARs)? Almost certainly not.

Do I ever plan to push the one I built hard enough to really know? Not really.

 

[Mgderf]

Can it? Sure.
Will it be (vs. mid- to upper- tier ARs)? Almost certainly not.

Do I ever plan to push the one I built hard enough to really know? Not really.

A hand build can most assuredly be MUCH better than a factory "off the shelf" offering, but you may not be able to afford it.
Quality is a relative term.
It has a different meaning to different people.

Some believe Colt are "quality" factory offerings, while others will scoff at the notion.

 

[1nderbeard]

Just remember "factory" builds are build in masse and attention to detail may not be what you'd do to your own build. I'm not saying my stuff is as good as any factory trained gunsmith, just something to keep in mind.

 

[Leo]

Sure, if you assemble it correctly with quality components. Another problem I have seen a lot of times is too many "improved" bling parts on a build that are not compatible. A gun that has lots of bragging rights on fancy parts that does not run is not much fun.

The weak point is if you want to resell. If you bought a Custom from Compass Lake Engineering and went to sell it to some Camp Perry competitors, it would fetch a good price. If you put a similar rifle together yourself, it will not bring the same money.

 

[DadSmith]

Can an AR self build be as good as a factory build?

You can shoot 600+ rds through a budget build AR in one day without problems. Not many people will ever do that even with their top tier AR's.
Now with the cost of ammunition it will be rarely done.

 

[BigRed3588]

I trust my builds just as much as the couple of factory builds I haven’t sold off, and probably won’t purchase another factory build. My bargain Aero build has far more mileage on it than my DD V7 Pro and was less than half the price. At this point, I just don’t see any sense in purchasing something I’m going to modify when I can tailor it to my preferences from the start.

That said, it’s far easier to get your money back on a factory build. If you want to get into building your own, make sure you’re getting what you want because you may be stuck with it. And if you can sell it, you’re gonna take a loss.

 

[Gabriel]

The weak point is if you want to resell.

This if you ever want to sell it. When I see built guns in the classifieds, they are rifles I wouldn't even consider buying (and don't get me started on the BCM title just to click on it and find out it's a PSA kit build with two BCM roll pins).

 

[BigRed3588]

Sure, if you assemble it correctly with quality components. Another problem I have seen a lot of times is too many "improved" bling parts on a build that are not compatible. A gun that has lots of bragging The weak point is if you want to resell. If you bought a Custom from Compass Lake Engineering and went to sell it to some Camp Perry competitors, it would fetch a good price. If you put a similar rifle together yourself, it will not bring the same money.

Sure, if you assemble it correctly with quality components. Another problem I have seen a lot of times is too many "improved" bling parts on a build that are not compatible. A gun that has lots of bragging rights on fancy parts that does not run is not much fun.

The weak point is if you want to resell. If you bought a Custom from Compass Lake Engineering and went to sell it to some Camp Perry competitors, it would fetch a good price. If you put a similar rifle together yourself, it will not bring the same money.

You just beat me to it on resale value.

The “bling parts” crack me up. The ranges I shoot at are frequented by the Boca Raton crowd and some of the things they come in with are priceless. A guy once paid me $20 to sight in his Aimpoint and had an IR laser mounted to his rail (along with just about every other accessory you can think of).

 

[snapping turtle]

Back in the olden times(pre ban)There used to be three quality ar’s and you could call them the ABC’s.

Armalight bushmaster and colt.

The others were just ar’s like a build. Now the ABC’s are not what they once were unless you get lucky and find and old one. And you can now spend whatever you like on an AR. Most will work as well to better than the old ABC’s.

I like my AK’s but have an AR so I can be compatible with my MAG members. Got lucky and just had to replace a couple parts.
Trigger sucked now it does not.

And they are not really builds. I will go for assembly but not really a build. AK’s from a parts kit are a build. Ar’s are not.

 

[BigRed3588]

This if you ever want to sell it. When I see built guns in the classifieds, they are rifles I wouldn't even consider buying (and don't get me started on the BCM title just to click on it and find out it's a PSA kit build with two BCM roll pins).

I have a pretty sweet LMT you should take a look at .

I generally look at guns as a hobby that double as an investment, but I don’t start a build before accepting it as nothing more than an expenditure.

 

[DadSmith]

Buy a good quality barrel, gas block, buffer, buffer spring, fcg, and bcg. The rest is pretty standard as long as it is to spec.

 

[BigRed3588]

Buy a good quality barrel, gas block, buffer, buffer spring, fcg, and bcg. The rest is pretty standard as long as it is to spec.

And extra gas tube roll pins lol. I’m either incredibly unlucky, or the alignment on damn near every gas tube is off by just enough to ruin the roll pin it ships with.

 

[tcecil88]

I have bought 4 factory rifles, a post ban Bushmaster back in the 90's, then a Sig M400 in 2011, a Windham Weaponry MPC, and a Colt 6920 during the early 2010's. The Sig is the nicest of the 4, and the Windham is my favorite. I also bought a 20" Franken rifle, YHM upper on a S&W MP15 lower with a Daniel Defense BCG. It shoots good and I built it up into a pseudo DMR rifle. I learned how to take the factory guns apart, modify them to my particular wants or needs, and then started to build my own.
Since then I have built out about a dozen or so rifles and pistols. I would rather do that than buy factory. I can control the parts and QC how I want and make adjustments as necessary to get them how I want them. I can't really do that with a factory gun without ripping them apart and putting more money into them than I would ever get back out if I ever decided to sell them.
If you plan to only own one, buy a quality rifle from a reputable manufacturer. Learn it's ins and outs and shoot the snot out of it. I will warn you, AR's are addictive and they tend to multiply.

 

[BigRed3588]

I have bought 4 factory rifles, a post ban Bushmaster back in the 90's, then a Sig M400 in 2011, a Windham Weaponry MPC, and a Colt 6920 during the early 2010's. The Sig is the nicest of the 4, and the Windham is my favorite. I also bought a 20" Franken rifle, YHM upper on a S&W MP15 lower with a Daniel Defense BCG. It shoots good and I built it up into a pseudo DMR rifle. I learned how to take the factory guns apart, modify them to my particular wants or needs, and then started to build my own.
Since then I have built out about a dozen or so rifles and pistols. I would rather do that than buy factory. I can control the parts and QC how I want and make adjustments as necessary to get them how I want them. I can't really do that with a factory gun without ripping them apart and putting more money into them than I would ever get back out if I ever decided to sell them.
If you plan to only own one, buy a quality rifle from a reputable manufacturer. Learn it's ins and outs and shoot the snot out of it. I will warn you, AR's are addictive and they tend to multiply.

OP, I second tCecil’s motion on buying factory if you only want one. The amount of money you’ll spend on the tools to do it right is only justifiable if you intend to build a few. A set of headspace gauges alone are $60-$70 and literally only serve one function.

I say get the tools and dive in head first! Start with a bargain build or two, get the hang of it, and then start experimenting until you find that perfect combination. Personally, my favorite setup in 5.56/.223 is a 16” pencil barrel and muzzle brake, a mid-length gas system, bleed-off gas block, 1.5” ext. diameter handguard, lightweight BCG, and standard buffer/spring. Light as a feather and the recoil is almost nonexistent. It makes my factory LE6940 feel like an overweight, over-gassed POS.

 

[DadSmith]

And extra gas tube roll pins lol. I’m either incredibly unlucky, or the alignment on damn near every gas tube is off by just enough to ruin the roll pin it ships with.

A little secret that makes it very easy. Worth every penny. It's for low profile gas blocks.

GAS BLOCK FIXTURE WITH ROLL PIN STARTER PUNCH AR15, AR10

GAS BLOCK FIXTURE WITH ROLL PIN STARTER PUNCH AR15, AR10 Installing roll pins has never been easier. This Jig allows you to hold the gas block in place whiled inserting the roll pin. Includes: Gas Block Fixture Roll Pin Starter Punch

www.masdefense.com

 

[BigRed3588]

A little secret that makes it very easy. Worth every penny. It's for low profile gas blocks.

GAS BLOCK FIXTURE WITH ROLL PIN STARTER PUNCH AR15, AR10

GAS BLOCK FIXTURE WITH ROLL PIN STARTER PUNCH AR15, AR10 Installing roll pins has never been easier. This Jig allows you to hold the gas block in place whiled inserting the roll pin. Includes: Gas Block Fixture Roll Pin Starter Punch

www.masdefense.com

Well…I hadn’t planned to assemble the 5.56 upper for my SBR host just yet but now I have to find out if this thing works…

 

[BiscuitsandGravy]

Well…I hadn’t planned to assemble the 5.56 upper for my SBR host just yet but now I have to find out if this thing works…

It does work and will save a bit of cussing.

 

[ditcherman]

…A set of headspace gauges alone are $60-$70 and literally only serve one function.

Wait I thought we were talking about AR’s?

 

[Hop]

Isn't the old AR15 saying "buy your 1st, build the rest "?

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