You can complete a lower with nothing more than a pair of standard large size vice grips with the jaws wrapped in electrical tape.

I press in my roll pins, instead of driving them with a hammer. I also use some electrical tape to prevent from gouging the lower receiver.

You will maybe need a castle nut wrench if you get a standard 6 position stock. Aftermarket stocks can often be installed with a standard socket set and ratchet.

This would be a good choice for a standard general purpose upper half:


http://palmettostatearmory.com...e-11-kmod-upper.html

quote:

Originally posted by IndianaBoy:
This would be a good choice for a standard general purpose upper half:

http://palmettostatearmory.com...e-11-kmod-upper.html

I was poking around that website. In the interest of Keeping It Simple, what I would be looking for is the shortest legal non-NFA barrel, iron sights, with the ability to add a light and maybe a moderate cost red dot sight. I don't think I want anything fancier / more complicated than that, for the first AR.

This would fit the bill:

http://palmettostatearmory.com...cg-ch-516445358.html



Downside of a fixed front sight is they get in the way if you ever mount a magnified optic. They can be simply cut off and you retain the lower portion as a very sturdy pinned gas block at that point.

I think you can get a flashlight that mounts to the magpul handguards but I am not certain on that.

You could go shop for an Aimpoint PRO on black friday deals and not hassle with the iron sights. I am using a Vortex SparcAR and it is proving to be very rugged, time will tell on the battery life, I am still on my original battery.

You could go with a pinned 14.7 or 14.5 barrel and get a shorter NFA legal package. IMHO that is splitting a pretty fine hair and it makes it more difficult to change out equipment at a later date if you choose to.

But there would certainly be nothing wrong with such a setup for your purposes. Palmetto doesn't currently have any complete uppers in stock with a 14.7 barrel.

I have an AR pistol for HD that I like but I only use it as such because I own a suppressor.

I can't imagine pulling the trigger on that thing inside a house without the can in place.

I'm a big fan of .300 blk, especially for home defense.

The only time I find 556 better than 300 blk is when you want to shoot 300 yards and beyond. I find that 300 blk is my round of choice for everything inside of that range.

Given that I rarely shoot beyond 300 yards...you see where I'm going here.

30 caliber bullet at 2,200 fps is a lot of "get off ma' lawn!"

quote:

Originally posted by esdunbar:
I'm a big fan of .300 blk, especially for home defense.

The only time I find 556 better than 300 blk is when you want to shoot 300 yards and beyond. I find that 300 blk is my round of choice for everything inside of that range.

Given that I rarely shoot beyond 300 yards...you see where I'm going here.

30 caliber bullet at 2,200 fps is a lot of "get off ma' lawn!"

5.56 is ALWAYS the correct answer for a FIRST AR platform rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

...iron sights...

If you're looking for something with an A2 handle those are REAL hard to find.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

...iron sights...

If you're looking for something with an A2 handle those are REAL hard to find.

As I said, I have zero knowledge. When I saw your post I googled "A2 handle" and found this.

Is that what you're talking about?

I wouldn't get a detachable A2 handle. It is bulky and if you add an optic down the road, it becomes useless. A back up rear iron sight can stay on if you add a scope later.

I was so glad when they stopped issuing the carry handles with my Army M4s, I didn't want to have to keep track of the stupid thing I never use.

^ yep.

I highly recommend this rear sight: Daniel Defense A1.5 to use with standard front sights. They also make a front sight to go with the 1.5 rear if you get an upper with no front sight.

I put irons on my AR-15’s even with an Aimpoint.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

...iron sights...

If you're looking for something with an A2 handle those are REAL hard to find.

As I said, I have zero knowledge. When I saw your post I googled "A2 handle" and found this.

Is that what you're talking about?

I should have written FIXED A2 handle. Those are scarce. Like this:

https://www.bing.com/images/se...edIndex=0&ajaxhist=0

My vote would go for a 16" mid-length pencil barrel with a set of Magpul MBUS (or equivalent)

Seems like there is a slightly noticeable lighter recoil as compared to my brother-in-law's carbine length DPMS.

I may have a few spare parts available depending on what/if you come up short anywhere in your build.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
I may have a few spare parts available depending on what/if you come up short anywhere in your build.

I have no idea what I'll need, but if I do need anything, I will consider partial payment towards a BMW motorcycle.

Current status: I have received the lower with the stripped hole for the pistol grip, from dwd1985. Preliminary assessment, bearing in mind that I am NOT a metalworker, indicates that I'll need a 17/64" drill bit to clean out the hole and prep it for a helicoil so that an original size 1/4" 28 pitch machine screw can be used, as AR intended, for the pistol grip.

Forum member Riley emailed me today, indicating that the lower parts kit that he is donating to the project should arrive at my box at The UPS Store in Apopka this coming Monday.

I did stop in at Spike's Tactical, a bit far for me to walk, but easy bicycle distance if I chose to travel that way, to inquire about upper assemblies. Their lowest cost entry level upper is in the neighborhood of six hundred bucks, plus 6.5% Florida sales tax, so I don't thing that's going to happen. Of course there's a lottery drawing tonight, so you never know.

Several of you have mentioned Palmetto State Armory. I looked at the website and I see that their upper assemblies start around $250 and go up from there.

We'll take it one step at a time, and I'll continue to post here with progress reports, and the inevitable questions.

I probably have a 17/64ths drill. I can bring it by next time I see you.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
Easy. You go right on down to your local gun store, and you buy one of the Ruger or Smith & Wesson AR15 rifles that sells for about $500-$550. You take the gun to the range, you shoot it, you learn how to clean it and take it apart, and then, after about a year of that, you formulate what to do with your lower. And then you buy the parts needed to build your lower into a gun that you have spec'd out, after playing with a entry level gun for a while.

I can't think of this as a bad idea. I was glad to get some experience with a complete rifle before deciding to [ask a knowledgeable friend to help me] build a lower on my own.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:
I probably have a 17/64ths drill. I can bring it by next time I see you.

I'ma touch base with Amos tomorrow. He might be able to deal with the problem, but I'll keep you posted. Martin and I will be at the hangar tomorrow, maybe go to the range in the afternoon if we get the truck ready for the next store trip. There will probably be pizza involvement. Pipe Smoker posted in The Lounge, re the health benefits of mushrooms.

Ok. I have to go to Eustis on Sunday to have the damned picture taken...

This may be an option. Brownells usually makes decent stuff, other members may know more. Brownells Upper