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Researching for a build

TLaude

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 14, 2009
15
3
36
North Dakota
I would like to build a rifle or two. As I start my researching, I’m wondering what resources you folks use to read up on?

I’d hate to *think* I’m buying a great product, only to find out it’s a “Dollar General” quality and not an actual higher quality.

I’m eager to learn! Let me know any pointers you have.
 
I would like to build a rifle or two. As I start my researching, I’m wondering what resources you folks use to read up on?

I’d hate to *think* I’m buying a great product, only to find out it’s a “Dollar General” quality and not an actual higher quality.

I’m eager to learn! Let me know any pointers you
black Friday will be the day to buy your parts.

list what you want to do with the rifle and we can help with quality parts
 
Depends on your budget. Lone peak/Impact actions are great, MDT will have an awesome black friday sale for Chassis/mags/rings, so get ready to make your credit card cry, and any variant of 6mm will set you up for "PRS" shooting
What does any of that have to do with semi-automatic rifles?

...
 
The best place to "read up" is right here... Do a search with your keyword. Read the postings. If you have a question, post it at the bottom of the discussion you have read. That will give us an idea of where you are headed.
 
I would like to build a rifle or two. As I start my researching, I’m wondering what resources you folks use to read up on?

I’d hate to *think* I’m buying a great product, only to find out it’s a “Dollar General” quality and not an actual higher quality.

I’m eager to learn! Let me know any pointers you have.
First step, IMO, is to determine the caliber of round you desire to shoot. From there, you can begin to build in that foundation, identifying upper, lower, barrel, gas system, etc.

This forum and .308AR are excellent resources for knowledge!
 
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You are going to get 50 different answers. We need more info. Intended purpose? Budget? Large frame? Small frame?
I think for my first build, I'm going to start off lower budget to learn about the processes and all that stuff. I'd say $1500-$2000 tops. Intended purpose will be target shooting. I'll likely use it for hunting as well. But 90% of use will be shooting at paper. I'm looking more of an AR-type frame (I'm assuming that would be considered a "small frame", but I'm not sure?)

To shoot with?
I was thinking to club a mother fucker trying to break into my house.

Depends on your budget. Lone peak/Impact actions are great, MDT will have an awesome black friday sale for Chassis/mags/rings, so get ready to make your credit card cry, and any variant of 6mm will set you up for "PRS" shooting.
1500-2000 tops; cheaper the better for my first build, but I don't want to build a pile of crap.
black Friday will be the day to buy your parts.

list what you want to do with the rifle and we can help with quality parts
Target shoot, I'll probably bring it with for deer hunting when walking and I don't want to carry my 6.5CM. I'm also toying with the idea of getting into some coyote hunting so I'd likely use it for that too.

The best place to "read up" is right here... Do a search with your keyword. Read the postings. If you have a question, post it at the bottom of the discussion you have read. That will give us an idea of where you are headed.
Thanks!

First step, IMO, is to determine the caliber of round you desire to shoot. From there, you can begin to build in that foundation, identifying upper, lower, barrel, gas system, etc.

This forum and .308AR are excellent resources for knowledge!
Identifying the parts and knowing what's worth buying and what's not is where I'm at. I'm going to build a 5.56.
 
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Identifying the parts and knowing what's worth buying and what's not is where I'm at. I'm going to build a 5.56.

The most important selection that you need to make first is the barrel; and don't cheap-out here. Decide what length you want, what chamber you want, what twist rate you want, what length gas system you want, what contour you want, what metal you want the barrel made from, what if any lining you want and what if any exterior finish you want.

Secondly, choose the upper receiver that you want. After that, almost everything else is easily changeable as you narrow down your needs and preferences after spending time shooting with your new build.


..
 
I think for my first build, I'm going to start off lower budget to learn about the processes and all that stuff. I'd say $1500-$2000 tops. Intended purpose will be target shooting. I'll likely use it for hunting as well. But 90% of use will be shooting at paper. I'm looking more of an AR-type frame (I'm assuming that would be considered a "small frame", but I'm not sure?)


I was thinking to club a mother fucker trying to break into my house.


1500-2000 tops; cheaper the better for my first build, but I don't want to build a pile of crap.

Target shoot, I'll probably bring it with for deer hunting when walking and I don't want to carry my 6.5CM. I'm also toying with the idea of getting into some coyote hunting so I'd likely use it for that too.


Thanks!


Identifying the parts and knowing what's worth buying and what's not is where I'm at. I'm going to build a 5.56.

Me personally, I bought a Radian Model 1 Builder Kit for $1,000, although you can buy a Aero Precision Builder Kit for less than half that at around $450 and be happy with it, or even a BCM Upper and Lower (complete or just the parts) and be happy with it. Next is your barrel of choice and Molon covered that part pretty well, there are plenty of really good brands to go with. Next is your choice of Bolt Carrier Group, maybe the firing pin, buffer system, trigger, and gas system and I've started a thread with that that you might want to follow. I think, and I might be wrong, but the least important part of your build is your lower receiver and the lower small parts, so that should get the least amount of your budget, unless you want a gucci build then buy the lower receiver of your heart's content.
 
The most important selection that you need to make first is the barrel; and don't cheap-out here. Decide what length you want, what chamber you want, what twist rate you want, what length gas system you want, what contour you want, what metal you want the barrel made from, what if any lining you want and what if any exterior finish you want.

Secondly, choose the upper receiver that you want. After that, almost everything else is easily changeable as you narrow down your needs and preferences after spending time shooting with your new build.


..
Thank you sir!
Me personally, I bought a Radian Model 1 Builder Kit for $1,000, although you can buy a Aero Precision Builder Kit for less than half that at around $450 and be happy with it, or even a BCM Upper and Lower (complete or just the parts) and be happy with it. Next is your barrel of choice and Molon covered that part pretty well, there are plenty of really good brands to go with. Next is your choice of Bolt Carrier Group, maybe the firing pin, buffer system, trigger, and gas system and I've started a thread with that that you might want to follow. I think, and I might be wrong, but the least important part of your build is your lower receiver and the lower small parts, so that should get the least amount of your budget, unless you want a gucci build then buy the lower receiver of your heart's content.
Thank you! I'll check out your post and see where it takes me!
 
like molan said the barrel and upper receiver is the most important.

Barrels, bartlin, krieger, shilen, Douglas, Lilja spun by the below company’s and buy a matched bolt with the barrel.
CLE
WOA

buy a matched receiver set (under 200 on Black Friday)
Receiver set

Rails are around 150 on bf
Rail

Watch this site for bf sales
 
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I'd say again, buy a good barrel and a good trigger, but definitely get a good barrel. That's where the accuracy is. Buying a bolt matched barrel is ideal.

CLE is known to be solid and you can get a kreiger or bartlien bolt matched barrel from them, that's what I'd do.
 
intended purpose? home defense, CQB type? use at the local shooting range? hunting? long-distance precision shooting/plinking? you mentioned target shooting, and possibly hunting... also narrowed it down to 5.56.

purpose will determine your barrel qualities, and type of optic. also influence your choice of buttstock, and rail or handguard.

once you identify purpose, the rest of the fill-in-the-blanks gets a lot easier, narrowed down.

target shooting, with possibly hunting, JMHO, translates to a 16" to 20" quality barrel and a decent scope. in addition to the quality brands mentioned above, Criterion provides cost effective quality barrels, again, JMHO. Brownells is a good source for those, in addition to the Criterion website directly.
 
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I'd start here:

I don't think you will find a set cheaper and Aero Precision is pretty decent.
 
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