Late to the AR game help...

[Maui-diver]

Hey guys, after shooting a friends AR the other day I'm sold. I know nothing....I mean NOTHIN at all about the M4's. He built his own and said this is the best way to learn your rifle. With that said I would love to build one keeping it under $1200 or so. This would be one that I could eventually put a supresser on and shooting no father then 100 yards.

Is there a good reference source I could read about building one with as much of Tx made parts as you suggest. Any good sources on lowers etc that I can start with? Money is tight so this will take me a while to build, so what to start with first and so on.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Mesquite Archer]

It's called BRD, black rifle disease, and sounds like you caught it. A lot of info on the web on how to assemble everything you might want to check out AR-15.com. You can build a pretty sweet rifle with a $1,200.00 budget.

[Maui-diver]

Yup, caught it for sure, I'll start there.

[HelmCrusher]

I'm also late to the AR game, got mine 2 weeks ago. During my research I found it is important to know what you are doing with the rifle. Once you know what you will be doing with it you will be able to sift out the parts/gear you don't need. If you are going to be on the move shooting close range don't get a 20/24" barrel. Keep weight in mind while building it, do you really need that super thick bull barrel. Watch some of Nutnfancy's videos on youtube, I know they can be long but he has very good points.

[Maui-diver]

Helm, congrats on your baby. Ha! I definitely think it's going to be a close shooting on the move kinda thing, maybe some hunting, but honestly doubt that. If I could occasionally shoot 100yrds great. Well, I think I'm starting...haha

[hellbndr23]

16" barrel get a mid length gas, 18" get rifle length gas. You don't need near as heavy of a barrel as you might think. I run a 16" heavier than pencil but lighter than government as my 3 gun rifle. Accuracy is acceptable out to 500 yards hot or cold.

Lower recievers don't matter, you are paying for the logo design that's on the side. Middle of the road barrel, a good comp, free float handguard, adjustable gas block and a good trigger and it will do anything you could ever want it to.

Other than that I would skip the Texas made part. There are so many parts out there, you would really be limiting yourself. There's a thread in the other side of the ranch. AR tacticool thread of awesomeness, or something like that. Go through and look at all the pictures and find the stock and handguard you like.

Don't get stuck on name brands.

[Maui-diver]

This is perfect.

[HelmCrusher]

Thanks, its my new favorite. 300 Blackout SS 16" Heavy barrel 1:8 twist with pistol gas system 15" aluminum free floating keymod handgaurd, Anderson lower, DPMS trigger. I had a coworker who happens to be a gunsmith build it for me, so I don't know the make of the barrel or the buttstock. Dedicated hog gun. I will be upgrading the trigger to a Larue, they are a texas company a bit pricey but worth the money. Still trying to figure out what scope to put on it.

HellBndr23 is spot on also.

[Maui-diver]

Unfortunately Larue is 6 minutes from my house....

[JustinJ]

Gonna be tough to build a completely Texas made rifle (if not impossible) and you would be extremely limited.

There are tons of great resources and they're dang fun to build. Larry potter field has a good assembly video, but he uses a lot of specialized parts that you don't really need.

[4xBuilder]

There are many ar forums and YouTube videos.

[BLACKFINTURKEY]

16" barrel get a mid length gas, 18" get rifle length gas. You don't need near as heavy of a barrel as you might think. I run a 16" heavier than pencil but lighter than government as my 3 gun rifle. Accuracy is acceptable out to 500 yards hot or cold.

Lower recievers don't matter, you are paying for the logo design that's on the side. Middle of the road barrel, a good comp, free float handguard, adjustable gas block and a good trigger and it will do anything you could ever want it to.

Other than that I would skip the Texas made part. There are so many parts out there, you would really be limiting yourself. There's a thread in the other side of the ranch. AR tacticool thread of awesomeness, or something like that. Go through and look at all the pictures and find the stock and handguard you like.

Don't get stuck on name brands.

X2

[BLACKFINTURKEY]

Unfortunately Larue is 6 minutes from my house....

If you want to shoot several different style/configurations of ars shoot me a pm I have 3 ars and 1 ar10, my brother has a few also that are different from mine your more than welcome to come and shoot them. I'm just out side of San Antonio near seguin.

[Leverhunter]

Been shooting a Rock River for several years and it's a great quality gun. Also check out the Springfield Saint. I looked at one last week and really liked it, mid length gas system. Either gun can be bought for around $800 and leave you funds for an optic.

[talleywack97]

If money is a lil tight, larue tactical aint for you amigo. Thas why i built me a psa for around 600 without my cmc trigger, and my ar-10 is a bushmaster that i kinda tricked out. Im sure Larue makes good stuff but they're in the same league as p.o.f. lmt noveske. Just not my cup of tea. Some of the people that own those kind of brands think my brands are junk. Hahaha