Building a High Quality Low Cost AR15

Most of the sources on AR15's that I have seen on the internet would give you the impression that if you want to buy or build a decent AR15, you are going to be spending about $1,000 or more.  They will caution you that you can build them cheaper, but your rifle will be crap.  I have found that you can actually build a high quality rifle for about $600 + $25 or so worth of tools, and I'll tell you how.

A great source for high quality, low cost parts is Palmetto State Armory (PSA) in South Carolina.  I have no relationship to them other than being a satisfied customer.  They are located just down the road from the Fabrique National - Herstal factory.  If you buy a barrel from PSA that is marked "CHF"  or is marketed as "Machine Gun Steel" it is a cold hammer forged barrel made by FN.  These are high quality long lasting barrels.  The same ones the military uses.  John Browning worked for FN, so they have been at it a while.  They know how to make barrels.

The bolts that PSA uses are 158 Carpenter steel, high pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected.  The gas keys are properly staked.  You can buy quality parts from other companies like BCM or Daniel Defense, but I don't think you are getting anything extra for your money.

PSA is currently selling an M4 style rifle parts kit with all the above features for $499 w/ free shipping.  Everything you need minus the lower receiver, rear sight and magazine.  The downside to PSA is that they are frequently out of stock of various items.  Frequently the one that you want.  You might have to wait a month or two for that item to be back in stock.  I think they are worth the wait.  They have frequent deals, so if you watch and wait, you can save big.

You can find some deals on lower receivers from PSA, but you will have to go through an FFL (your local gun shop / LGS) and pay a transfer fee.  My LGS charges $30 for this.  You might as well just buy the lower receiver from your LGS.  This will set you back about $100.  Most lower receivers out there are made by a handful of manufacturers (LMT, LAR, CMT, or MMS) that all make high quality mil-spec receivers.  These are just rebranded with a logo.  For example:  Stag, Rock River, and Colt are all made by CMT.  Bushmaster, Spikes and CMMG are all made by LAR.  You get the idea.  There are a few names that I have been told to avoid.  They are Hesse, Vulcan and Blackthorne.  Word on the street is that this is all the same company that just keeps renaming itself, and they have a reputation for making cheap crap that breaks.

You can build the upper yourself, but you will have to buy a bunch of expensive tools (barrel nut wrench, torque wrench, upper action block, etc.)  You will not save much or anything building the upper yourself.  Better to buy a complete upper.  If you buy a complete upper that includes the bolt, then you don't have to worry about the headspacing either.

The real savings comes form building the lower yourself.  It is easy to do, and requires only a few specialized tools that are not expensive.  There are online videos that will walk you through it.  See my next post for a discussion on the tools that you will need.