- Messages
- 19
- Reactions
- 9
JavaScript is disabled
Our website requires JavaScript to function properly. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings before proceeding.
Newbie AR15 Question
- Thread Starter billdotcom
- Start date
- Messages
- 912
- Reactions
- 943
YouTube is your friend... Not to be confused with YouPorn which is your mistress.
- Messages
- 11,211
- Reactions
- 40,982
they are modular guns which is why they are so popular IMO. Also, aftermarket modifications are endless basically. you can make it unique to YOUR needs. there are lots of members here including myself who have built a few/owned a few and have lots of info. just ask and/or use the search. anyone here is happy to help!
- Messages
- 3,991
- Reactions
- 7,983
Hi Bill, I was like you 3 years ago.... never saw the need until some folks vehemently declared I didn't need one nor should ever be allowed one. Now I have a couple I think. Built the first my self. They are fun to shoot and fund to build or "accessorize." I may build another one or two as well.
Brutus Out
Brutus Out
- Messages
- 5,752
- Reactions
- 18,159
Think of the AR 15 platform as a car where you have a frame and engine and then have thousands of interchangeable parts that all can fit pretty much together on the frame. There are different doors, wheels, chairs, steering wheels, etc to choose from and for the most part they all fit up together. You can buy thousands of different pre-made ones or build your own unique one from scratch.
To start, you can go out and buy a basic AR15 complete rifle. Then have pretty much endless possibility of custom accessories to add to it. You can change the handguard, the pistol grip, the sights, the buttstock, magazines, the trigger, etc etc. There are a huge market for parts for the platform.
The next step would be to buy the main components of the rifle separate. You can buy a completed receiver ( the "lower") from one company and then the barrel assembly (the "upper") from another company. Since they are all based on the same schematics they will hook up and work just fine (for the most part)
Once you get used to that, you can purchase all the separate parts and start to build them yourself. You can get a stripped lower receiver and then buy your own trigger, pins, springs, etc and build the receiver with very simple tools (a pin punch is about the most specialized tool you need for a lower). Uppers are a little more complex and until you are more experienced most usually buy them complete and just change the handguards or sights
after that, you may want to go a little further and finish an 80% lower receiver. Its not yet considered a firearm when 80% finished so that means no FFL. There are a ton of different jigs to finish them at home with basically simple shop tools (drill press, hand held router). Want the satisfaction of building a firearm in your garage and have it work great at the range? AR15 is perfect for that.
When you are ready to build your own upper, then you get to choose your own barrels and can get into really fancy hand guards and bolt carrier groups with specialized coatings. You can try to build a very light gun using titanium parts or make one that is for distance shooting.
Once you get bored with all that you can look into different calibers. You can run almost everything from 22LR to a 50BMG on a AR15 receiver. handgun ammo? sure 458 socom? sure. belt fed 9mm upper? sure. You can even get an upper that shoots beer cans.
It just goes on and on and on. There is just an endless string of customization at all levels of skill that can happen on the AR15 platform.
To start, you can go out and buy a basic AR15 complete rifle. Then have pretty much endless possibility of custom accessories to add to it. You can change the handguard, the pistol grip, the sights, the buttstock, magazines, the trigger, etc etc. There are a huge market for parts for the platform.
The next step would be to buy the main components of the rifle separate. You can buy a completed receiver ( the "lower") from one company and then the barrel assembly (the "upper") from another company. Since they are all based on the same schematics they will hook up and work just fine (for the most part)
Once you get used to that, you can purchase all the separate parts and start to build them yourself. You can get a stripped lower receiver and then buy your own trigger, pins, springs, etc and build the receiver with very simple tools (a pin punch is about the most specialized tool you need for a lower). Uppers are a little more complex and until you are more experienced most usually buy them complete and just change the handguards or sights
after that, you may want to go a little further and finish an 80% lower receiver. Its not yet considered a firearm when 80% finished so that means no FFL. There are a ton of different jigs to finish them at home with basically simple shop tools (drill press, hand held router). Want the satisfaction of building a firearm in your garage and have it work great at the range? AR15 is perfect for that.
When you are ready to build your own upper, then you get to choose your own barrels and can get into really fancy hand guards and bolt carrier groups with specialized coatings. You can try to build a very light gun using titanium parts or make one that is for distance shooting.
Once you get bored with all that you can look into different calibers. You can run almost everything from 22LR to a 50BMG on a AR15 receiver. handgun ammo? sure 458 socom? sure. belt fed 9mm upper? sure. You can even get an upper that shoots beer cans.
It just goes on and on and on. There is just an endless string of customization at all levels of skill that can happen on the AR15 platform.
- Messages
- 6,244
- Reactions
- 7,104
- Messages
- 5,133
- Reactions
- 9,171
There is so much information out there, that when you open the tap, you may think that you're trying to drink from a fire hose. Take your time and absorb what you can. You can build at your comfort level and mechanical ability so decide what you think you want to tackle. Be aware that because of the popularity, there are as many low quality parts out there as high quality. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
- Messages
- 5,752
- Reactions
- 18,159
- Messages
- 27,716
- Reactions
- 74,155
There are lots of videos on YouTube on how to assemble an AR from parts. Here's how it runs.
When you pull the trigger, the trigger and hammer, which meet at the sear, slip past each other. This releases the hammer.
The hammer strikes the firing pin.
The firing pin strikes the primer in the cartridge, and the fun begins. The powder in the cartridge expands to about 7000 times its original volume, which encourages the bullet to leave the vicinity post haste. The bullet travels down the barrel past a tiny hole a few inches from the end of the barrel. This is called the gas port. Once the bullet passes the gas port, the pressure behind it forces gas down a tube (called a gas tube) that goes back to the chamber.
The tube sticks partway into the receiver and into the gas key on the top of the bolt carrier.
The pressure from the gas pushes the bolt carrier back. The bolt, which is locked into the chamber in order to hold the pressure, can't come out until it turns a little bit.
There is a cam in the bolt that rides in a slot in the bolt carrier. When the bolt moves backward, the slot and cam force the bolt to turn, which unlocks it.
The carrier continues backward, carrying the bolt with it. On its way back, it runs into the hammer, and pushes it back into position so that you can pull the trigger again. The carrier is pressing against the buffer, which is in front of a big spring in the buffer tube.
Somewhere about now (or maybe a little earlier), the bullet has cleared the end of the barrel, which reduces the pressure in the gas tube. That, and the buffer spring, cause the bolt carrier to slow and then stop. The buffer spring can now push the bolt carrier forward again, stripping another round from the magazine and pushing it into the chamber.
The bolt turns a little once it's inside the chamber, which locks it in place again. And you're ready to fire again. As well you should.
When you pull the trigger, the trigger and hammer, which meet at the sear, slip past each other. This releases the hammer.
The hammer strikes the firing pin.
The firing pin strikes the primer in the cartridge, and the fun begins. The powder in the cartridge expands to about 7000 times its original volume, which encourages the bullet to leave the vicinity post haste. The bullet travels down the barrel past a tiny hole a few inches from the end of the barrel. This is called the gas port. Once the bullet passes the gas port, the pressure behind it forces gas down a tube (called a gas tube) that goes back to the chamber.
The tube sticks partway into the receiver and into the gas key on the top of the bolt carrier.
The pressure from the gas pushes the bolt carrier back. The bolt, which is locked into the chamber in order to hold the pressure, can't come out until it turns a little bit.
There is a cam in the bolt that rides in a slot in the bolt carrier. When the bolt moves backward, the slot and cam force the bolt to turn, which unlocks it.
The carrier continues backward, carrying the bolt with it. On its way back, it runs into the hammer, and pushes it back into position so that you can pull the trigger again. The carrier is pressing against the buffer, which is in front of a big spring in the buffer tube.
Somewhere about now (or maybe a little earlier), the bullet has cleared the end of the barrel, which reduces the pressure in the gas tube. That, and the buffer spring, cause the bolt carrier to slow and then stop. The buffer spring can now push the bolt carrier forward again, stripping another round from the magazine and pushing it into the chamber.
The bolt turns a little once it's inside the chamber, which locks it in place again. And you're ready to fire again. As well you should.
Last Edited:
- Messages
- 3,609
- Reactions
- 12,222
https://www.northwestfirearms.com/threads/post-your-ars-expected-to-be-pic-heavy.211122/
Check out this thread for over hundred ideas of what you can build/buy. You can contact any of the posters for details.
Check out this thread for over hundred ideas of what you can build/buy. You can contact any of the posters for details.
- Messages
- 6,244
- Reactions
- 7,104
You guys are WAAY too helpful. When I was a kid all we had was picture books! I had to join the Army to access the info you guys put-out fer free! Shame on you!
Oh BTW, of no particular interest to anyone besides MOI, I think my old man signed those enlistment waivers in the hopes he's collect a death benefit, I'm purtty sure the only reason I made it to 16YO was because of my mum! Thanks Mum!
Oh BTW, of no particular interest to anyone besides MOI, I think my old man signed those enlistment waivers in the hopes he's collect a death benefit, I'm purtty sure the only reason I made it to 16YO was because of my mum! Thanks Mum!
Last Edited:
Actually, the best reason is they are a lot of fun to shoot!!!
You can buy or build an M-4 or a superlative varmint rifle, my Colt HBAR shoots 1/2MOA, or anything in between! A real fun gun!
As to a good book, "Gunsmithing the AR-15" by Patrick Sweeney, everything you need to know. Have fun!
- Messages
- 9,382
- Reactions
- 17,960
That's what brought me over to the dark side. Used to hate ARs, now I love em. Can't imagine myself ever not having an AR now.
As pointed out earlier, accurate. But another thing in addition to that, is that it isn't maintenance heavy in order to keep accurate.
- Messages
- 6,244
- Reactions
- 7,104
As I've said many times I have personal favorite rifles but the AR is unique in firearms history in that it can be tailored to any need from 22LR up to 50 BMG, there has been no design that is so adaptable, to so many roles as the AR platform is. A person can have a M-4 type AR as a home defense firearm and then, at their choice, can turn it into a tack driver target/varmint rifle in a range of 556 based calibers. In my youth there was no choice but to build an entire separate rifle at signifgant expense The one thing that reinforces the AR's dominance is the fact that manufacture's have abandoned traditional euro/sino platforms and have recreated their national flagship rifles to mirror the, now ancient AR platform, simply because it has been proven for decades and improved upon by 1000s of free American inventors all with an eye towards filling a need, to make the platform 'better'.
This sort of Grass Roots generated re-invention has never happened, never been possible before, this is revolutionary moment for firearms development.
Grab a board, find a wave and enjoy the ride!
This sort of Grass Roots generated re-invention has never happened, never been possible before, this is revolutionary moment for firearms development.
Grab a board, find a wave and enjoy the ride!
Last Edited:
- Messages
- 831
- Reactions
- 1,278
Low recoil unless you put a .50 beowulf on it
- Messages
- 4,070
- Reactions
- 9,371
Just go put a few mags through one , and you will agree it is by far the most fun firearm you will ever shoot. I have put one in the hands of a second time shooter and they fell in love with it. My 30 something DIL's just love shooting them, the wife loves them
Also one of the best personal defense platforms ever. I had several guys standing in my driveway late one night acting like they were up to no good, and when I lit them up with the rail light and started issuing commands to get off my property, one got a bit mouthy and when I told him he had no idea what was behind that light and he had better get his fing axx off my property, the situation was immediately resolved. I reach for that one before anything else anymore if I have a night time security situation.
Also one of the best personal defense platforms ever. I had several guys standing in my driveway late one night acting like they were up to no good, and when I lit them up with the rail light and started issuing commands to get off my property, one got a bit mouthy and when I told him he had no idea what was behind that light and he had better get his fing axx off my property, the situation was immediately resolved. I reach for that one before anything else anymore if I have a night time security situation.
- Messages
- 745
- Reactions
- 654
AR stands for accessory ready. Think of them as Barbie dolls for men. . .
- Messages
- 5,133
- Reactions
- 9,171
Shhh, trying not to scare him away!
Upcoming Events
New Classified Ads
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
22LR, Torkarev, 380, 40, 357sig Spring Cleaning- Started by coltemp
- Replies: 0
-
-
WW1 colt 1911 cyanide dipped magazine 75.00
- Started by Xrperry
- Replies: 0
-
Promoted Ruger New Vaquero 357 magnum with quick draw hammer- Started by 808hondacrguy
- Replies: 1