New to the game

[Tony138]

So long story short i got in some legal trouble in my early 20s. I got my rights taken away. 11 long years later after fighting the system with lawyers and what not I have finally just gotten my rights back and feel like a true American again.

The point of this post is I am going to do an AR 15 build for my first long gun before California makes/changes more laws that only keep us law abiding citizens down. don't know if I'm posting this in the correct thread but I'm just looking for advice in the whole process. I plan on going featureless 16" barrel and that's about as far as I have gotten. Any pictures of your builds or advice will be much appreciated.

 

[sleeplz]

So long story short i got in some legal trouble in my early 20s. I got my rights taken away. 11 long years later after fighting the system with lawyers and what not I have finally just gotten my rights back and feel like a true American again.

The point of this post is I am going to do an AR 15 build for my first long gun before California makes/changes more laws that only keep us law abiding citizens down. don't know if I'm posting this in the correct thread but I'm just looking for advice in the whole process. I plan on going featureless 16" barrel and that's about as far as I have gotten. Any pictures of your builds or advice will be much appreciated.

Go to ar15.com, tons of photos and great builds.

 

[E-Tool]

Yea this is probably a better site if you want to do a long range rifle. Ar15 has all kinds of threads dedicated to AR buikds.

 

[Tony138]

I am doing the AR first before the laws change again. I then plan on getting a Tikka tac A-1 in 6.5 creedmoore because it seems like the best bang for my buck for a new in box rifle. I will do my research and reach out once that day comes. Until then i will check out some ar forums to get going in the right direction.

 

[Bantam1]

Just get a lower for now. Anything AR related will be tough to find in stock due to panic buying, at least for quality parts. Calguns has a lot of info for your CA legal build info. No matter what you have to get the lame neutered version with either a locked mag or a fin type grip.

 

[bonifacio]

Just get a lower for now. Anything AR related will be tough to find in stock due to panic buying, at least for quality parts. Calguns has a lot of info for your CA legal build info. No matter what you have to get the lame neutered version with either a locked mag or a fin type grip.

I've actually found that decent parts aren't too hard to come by and some things are even on sale. It's mostly the run of the mill"mil-spec" parts are marked up. The average fairly priced quality stuff is still the same pricing. Toolcraft BCG's have doubled in price. Where branded nicer BCG's remained the same price. Decent lowers are the hardest to find right now IMO. Big companies are taking backorders, but who knows for sure how long that would be. Small places marked them up.

 

[Tony138]

Im still looking for a lower. i have found just about everything else i need. i just got my first package today so everyday feels like Christmas for the next week or two. Prices seem fairly normal in my opinion. I had originally ordered thru Opticsplanet.com and they would not send me an upper because i live in CA. so i canceled my whole order and went elsewhere. I ended up finding better stuff anyway so its their loss. I will never order thru them again. it is hard enough living in CA following the lame laws in place but for a company to not ship something to me that i am legally aloud to own according to my state laws is just wrong in my opinion. They should be supporting us in or oppressive state instead of keeping us down. Also they took my money first and it has been a hassle trying to get a refund. I will post a picture of my build when its all said and done but i think i am on the right track for a first timer.

 

[RTH1800]

Really why not simply purchase an entry level Stag or equivalent? Your near complete lack of experience with AR’s makes this an obvious choice.
Shoot it, modify it, learn what you like or don’t like then do a build with experience behind you.

 

[Tony138]

Really why not simply purchase an entry level Stag or equivalent? Your near complete lack of experience with AR’s makes this an obvious choice.
Shoot it, modify it, learn what you like or don’t like then do a build with experience behind you.

I wouldnt say i have no experience i have just never built one for myself. I thought about buying one off the shelf but i figured if i am going to upgrade it down the road anyway i might as well just start off buying parts I know I would want to change anyway. Also i will feel a sense of satisfaction knowing i picked every pin, spring, and part in the entire rifle rather than just buying one off the shelf. It didnt make sense to me to have a drawer full of factory parts i would never use after making upgrades i know i wanted.

 

[bonifacio]

Im still looking for a lower. i have found just about everything else i need. i just got my first package today so everyday feels like Christmas for the next week or two. Prices seem fairly normal in my opinion. I had originally ordered thru Opticsplanet.com and they would not send me an upper because i live in CA. so i canceled my whole order and went elsewhere. I ended up finding better stuff anyway so its their loss. I will never order thru them again. it is hard enough living in CA following the lame laws in place but for a company to not ship something to me that i am legally aloud to own according to my state laws is just wrong in my opinion. They should be supporting us in or oppressive state instead of keeping us down. Also they took my money first and it has been a hassle trying to get a refund. I will post a picture of my build when its all said and done but i think i am on the right track for a first timer.

Have a budget in mind? I'm not too familiar with CA limitations. Just know they suck. Can give better guidance knowing your budget. It's a wide range.

 

[Tony138]

Have a budget in mind? I'm not too familiar with CA limitations. Just know they suck. Can give better guidance knowing your budget. It's a wide range.

so i didnt have a set budget when i started. I will list what i have gotten so far that i remember off the top of my head. If a part is worth it i will get it.

BCM 16" upper with BCM BCG
radian raptor charging handle
phase 5 extended bolt release
odin extended mag release
hiperfire reflex hiper touch trigger
anderson LPK
KNS anti roll pin
extended take down pins
JP silent captured system
magpul fixed stock
daniel defense carbine butter tube

Thats all i can remember right now. CA requires a featureless AR platform in order to have a standard mag release and standard mag.
If you want features you need a "bullet button" you have to seperate the upper from the lower for the mag to drop. and you can only use a 10 rd mag.
16" min barrel, 30" min overall length. No flash hider. im sure there is much more thats just all i remember off the top of my head.

 

[bonifacio]

You definitely want to have a budget in mind.
Are you looking to spend $1000? $2000? $3000? With/without optic?
Any must haves? Even check out IG and look at CA builds.

Judging by the upper, trigger and buffer, I'm assuming you'll have a decent budget.
Those are pretty decent parts so I'd skip these crossed out. Having a budget in mind will really help dial things in.
Could be a $150 Aero Upper/Lower (Acceptable) or $500 for names or billet.
I'd say build one every time.

BCM 16" upper with BCM BCG
radian raptor charging handle
phase 5 extended bolt release
odin extended mag release
hiperfire reflex hiper touch trigger
anderson LPK
KNS anti roll pin
extended take down pins
JP silent captured system
magpul fixed stock
daniel defense carbine butter tube

 

[Jsp556]

Congrats on the restoration of your rights.

 

[Tony138]

Congrats on the restoration of your rights.

Thank you. It still doesnt fell real. I took a shitty deal with a public defender that almost ruined my life.
i have a springfeild operator TRP on the way so that should make it feel real here pretty soon.

 

[Tony138]

You definitely want to have a budget in mind.
Are you looking to spend $1000? $2000? $3000? With/without optic?
Any must haves? Even check out IG and look at CA builds.

Judging by the upper, trigger and buffer, I'm assuming you'll have a decent budget.
Those are pretty decent parts so I'd skip these crossed out. Having a budget in mind will really help dial things in.
Could be a $150 Aero Upper/Lower (Acceptable) or $500 for names or billet.
I'd say build one every time.

3-3.5k with an optic sounds good to me. why would you cross those items off the list? I plan on going with a billet lower but it all depends on what i can find on the market right now which isn't much. Im trying my best to build a gun that will preform top notch without any question but not just buy everything with the highest price tag. that being said tho if it has a good purpose and will increase the performance of the rifle i will buy it.

Optics i was looking at is an ACOG with a RMR attached or a EOTECH with a magnifier. I have never used an EOTECH with a magnifier tho so im going purely off of internet reviews on that one.

 

[CaptMerica60]

Welcome back and good luck dealing with CA laws.

 

[bonifacio]

3-3.5k with an optic sounds good to me. why would you cross those items off the list? I plan on going with a billet lower but it all depends on what i can find on the market right now which isn't much. Im trying my best to build a gun that will preform top notch without any question but not just buy everything with the highest price tag. that being said tho if it has a good purpose and will increase the performance of the rifle i will buy it.

Optics i was looking at is an ACOG with a RMR attached or a EOTECH with a magnifier. I have never used an EOTECH with a magnifier tho so im going purely off of internet reviews on that one.

If you're building...
Anderson is just straight poop. Grab a SOLGW. Honestly you'll really only need a spring kit. Every upgrade will come with new hardware.
Companies like Phase 5 and Odin just make corny bling.
KNS isn't needed. Quality trigger should come with precision ground pins. To me Hiperfire is just in the middle somewhere. Grab a Geissele, ATC Gold or Trigger Tech. If you're gonna go billet and have that for a budget go with a billet set. SLR makes a nice one. I have one. Super light. Can't go wrong with buying everything Forward Control Design offers. Modlite if you want a light. Scalarworks or Geissele for optic mount. JP SCS is second to the VLTOR A5 System. PWS makes a nice buffer tube if you want to go JP SCS. Hit up Scott for a barrel. He gets Criterions in pretty frequently. I always like to match the rail to the receiver set. If not go Geissele. If you want to get fancy, build slow and hunt down rare/discontinued parts. This is all my preferences and opinions.