Requesting Advice: Long awaited AR-15 build:

[mikeasu]

Nice - thanks all for the links and info so far. I'm eying the (upcoming?) relaxing of the AWB and wondering how that might impact my choices, but currently, leaning on a pre-built upper, and building my own lower. Maybe the best of both worlds for my first AR - build a bit, with the least extra tool investment, from the looks of it.

 

[Ponder_MD]

I suppose the next question - I know I said I want to build one - what's the cost savings (if any)? Not averse to just buying outright, I'd have it to the range sooner, esp. if there really isn't much savings to building one from parts vs buying a complete rifle (or near complete).

I recently completed mine. The building process is extremely rewarding and educational. There's nothing else that will make you more intimately familiar with your rifle and how it works. It's worth the delay in getting to the range.

I reviewed my receipts and I built mine for around $590 out of mid-quality parts. It's a 1.9 MOA rifle. If I replace the crappy trigger group, it'll be a 1 MOA rifle. If I could do it all over again, the only things I would change is buying a better trigger from the beginning and a White Oak barrel (even though mine really is fine).

Like you, I was hot to go .223 Wylde. Due to money and parts availability at the time, I ended up going with 5.56. I've discovered that it shoots 5.56 and .223 perfectly fine.

 

[5string]

A 20" Shilen can....

Truth, and mine came with a bolt so no worries about proper headspace.

 

[Bountied]

White oak sells matched bolts to their barrels. I bought a 20" fluted SS barrel and it's 1/2MOA with Black Hills 77gr OTM and about the same with 77gr FGGM. You need to break it in with a hundred rounds or so. I also have a harmonic tuner on it that shrinks groups pretty well, you need to tweak it to your round but after that it's GTG. American Gold trigger, Magpul MOE rifle stock, Vortex PST gen-1 6-24X FFP in a Larue 1 piece mount. The only thing I cheaped out on was the handguard because all I need to to do is hold the bipod, it's a free float thing can't remember the brand. It has rail sections and came with a few rails.

White oak is solid for the price, there are custom barrels that will be better but cost more.

 

[thedutchtouch]

Apologies to OP for slight thread drift, but do you all have any recommendations for resources for AR beginners? There is just so much information out there it's hard to know where to begin re: interchangeability of components, what to look for in a build, pros/cons for different setups or components etc, or even some baseline under that of "AR building 101" would be great. It seems that OP is a bit further along than I am so I look forward to reading along but would appreciate a link or PM if anyone's willing to share. I'll fade back to reading along now...

 

[outrider58]

Apologies to OP for slight thread drift, but do you all have any recommendations for resources for AR beginners? There is just so much information out there it's hard to know where to begin re: interchangeability of components, what to look for in a build, pros/cons for different setups or components etc, or even some baseline under that of "AR building 101" would be great. It seems that OP is a bit further along than I am so I look forward to reading along but would appreciate a link or PM if anyone's willing to share. I'll fade back to reading along now...

Most people start out by buying an AR, then little by little, customizing them. That gives you a chance to familiarize yourself to the inner workings of the platform.

As you said, there is a lot of print about them and there is no 'one size fits all' solution. Try to stick to more current publications when reading up on them.

 

[DaemonAssassin]

Truth, and mine came with a bolt so no worries about proper headspace.

Mine came with a matched and headspaced bolt with serial number matching the serial number on the barrel.

 

[DaemonAssassin]

White oak sells matched bolts to their barrels. I bought a 20" fluted SS barrel and it's 1/2MOA with Black Hills 77gr OTM and about the same with 77gr FGGM. You need to break it in with a hundred rounds or so. I also have a harmonic tuner on it that shrinks groups pretty well, you need to tweak it to your round but after that it's GTG. American Gold trigger, Magpul MOE rifle stock, Vortex PST gen-1 6-24X FFP in a Larue 1 piece mount. The only thing I cheaped out on was the handguard because all I need to to do is hold the bipod, it's a free float thing can't remember the brand. It has rail sections and came with a few rails.

White oak is solid for the price, there are custom barrels that will be better but cost more.

I was running federal XM193 and getting 1/2 MOA with a 20" Shilen barrel with a 1:8 5R .223 Wylde. With match/hunting ammo, I'll hold 1/4 MOA or better with that barrel.

I used that AR to drop a coyote at 400 yards. Drilled it through the left eye and out the back of its head.

 

[INMY01TA]

I use the Magpul PRS stock on my SPR build and went with a Seekins stainless 18” 223 wylde 1/8 barrel.