Build Thread Nothing was expensive build.

[Member 34319]

I rarely "NEED" much these days. I enjoy a project more than just about anything. So piecing this together was pretty fun as always. With that said, my unneeded ventures are often priced in a way that reflects their unnecessariness.

I am amazed at the time we live in at times. The quantity of options out there these days is pretty astounding. I have the internet, and with it I can order barrels, and other parts all over the web and have them delivered to my door. Never has there been a better time for this sort of thing.

On top of that, the market is so saturated that parts can be had for remarkable prices. Stuff by Anderson Machining alone makes me smile. The shear quantity of lowers the make and sell is a monumental sign that our second amendment is stronger than ever. They are like Oprah, but with AR15s. Where else on earth can you buy a "receiver " which is recognized as the gun for $40? Then a upper receiver for $30? Much less a barrel for $100? BCG for $50? Main parts of the rifle for under $300. Sure there are lesser expensive options. Hell Black Friday is around the corner and I imagine PSA will have a rifle kit at or under $300. If they have one for $250 I'm not going to buy at least 1!!!

Anyways, I often float the web for deals that pop up that seem too good to be true. One for a $100 stainless steel 24" bull barrel popped up and I jumped. It was via classic firearms, which I've ordered from before, but never for parts. This was a no names barrel that started this build off. From there I just kept my eyes online till I sourced or found a deal on the next part. Someone was selling PSA brand BCGs for $50 shipped so I bought a few spares. One went to this guy. Aim Surplus had a sale on Anderson uppers for $25 or so. Came to $30 shipped. I might have added the gas block and tube on that order.

If anything I'm dubbing this one the "because I can" build as much as it is the "nothing was expensive" build. Perhaps the "Pony that could"!

Details:

Anderson milled guard lower. $40
CMMG parts kit minus trigger. $30
AIM surplus drop in single stage. $80
Buffer kit with MOE fixed Carbine stock. $60
Swift vert grip. $10

Lower = $220

Anderson zero frills upper. $30
PSA BCG $50
Classic Firearms 24" 1-8t 223 Wilde stainless barrel (no name supposedly military contract maker) $100
Most expensive part, 20" MLok rail from Sanders Armory $135
Aim surplus gas block and tube $25

Upper = $340


Arken SH4 6-24x50 FFP 34mm MIL reticle in their 20mm offset mount. $320

And this scope, or I should say scopes by Arken in general, are truly what have made this sort of shooting an enjoyable thing. These things cost way less than they are worth in my opinion. Clear glass, great reticle, solid large and easy to read turrets, illuminated reticle, a functional zero stop that is dead Simple to set up. I'm a novice at best an amateur, these scopes can make you an operator. They even come with a free tactician license for operating heavy armchairs and other various chairs.

All kidding aside, it shoots! Or I should say it shoots as well as I could considering I completely forgot my rear bag at home. So I was using a folded up jacket instead. I definitely noticed the unstable nature of my set up in my groups. This barrel will do just fine! I'll be back at it with a proper rest and hopefully shrink these groups!

So, how about it?

Is budget stupid or worthy?

If you didn't notice, I left out the running total, it's $880

Add the UTG bipod in the picture, yet another "not expensive option" which I use regularly on most of my guns, it goes up to $930.

I will be working on this review as I do more with this one. I'll finalize a load for it and then take it out to some various distances to see how well it does.

Thanks for reading my nonsense!

Reno

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[Yarome]

Just to expand on the theme... in the techno age... the freedom of information for the DIY'er makes it painlessly possible for just about any average Joe/Jane to fine tune a budget build into quite a fine and reliable shooter.

From spec availability, parts quirks/tips/tricks/mods to fitting and tuning proceedures right down to dedicated tool substitutions. If you don't know how to do it... "someone" "somewhere" does... and the combined brain power is at your fingertips.

Not to mention a plefora of inexpensive DIY tools from all over the world to get'er'done. IE., It may be a little finicky and take more time than a gunsmiths $200 dedicated tool, but for what you might pay for a nice lunch and a little patience... it'll do.

If you stay in the game long enough a frankenbuild is all but inevitable, IMHO.

 

[Caveman Jim]

Very nice project Reno. Thrifty can also be respected with groups like that!!!
I just finished a budget upper build (have plenty of lowers optics). The 20" Gov Ballistic Advantage barrel was on sale $138.

My eyesight prevented me from placing good groups (like yours) on paper but I was ringing steel at 185 yards yesterday, so I'm happy.

 

[Tarawa86]

Nice!!

 

[nwslopoke]

I think the finger that pulls also has a lot to do with it. My old eyes demand magnification. Even at 100 yards, 4x barely cuts it. Apparently porn does make you go blind.

My surprise build was from a PSA stainless upper. I can't recall if it was $180 or $280, but paired with a fancy lower I had and a Leopold from another rifle I was shooting moa with BiMart ammo.

 

[arakboss]

The AR15 is the King of cheap variety in firearms. I love them and I also picked up a cheap 24" Bull Barrel (unthreaded) but haven't mounted it yet. I got mine for about $105 shipped from CBC Industries during a sale. My markmanship skills are not great so Gucci barrels are wasted on me.

 

[Koda]

Is budget stupid or worthy?

worthy,
but the only time I built an AR it went from "nothing was expensive" build to F* it thats what I want now build...

 

[Member 34319]

worthy,
but the only time I built an AR it went from "nothing was expensive" build to F* it thats what I want now build...

I did that with the rail. I wanted the longer rail, it wasn't the most budget option though. There are rails out there now for $50ish that are actually quite nice.

 

[Yarome]

but the only time I built an AR it went from "nothing was expensive" build to F* it thats what I want now build...

Or my favorite... give it a few years and when you go back to it... "What was I thinking?!? That'll never do!!" and you end up dumping a wad back into it.

I really should consider using my engraver to clearly print on the side, "My name is frankenbuild. Don't touch me." Or... maybe just "Inappropriate touching will be reported"

 

[thorborg]

Cheap is right, I bought this for less than fifty bucks delivered to my door with ammo! :


For those who think WOW!--------------- Look again.

For those that weren't deceived, Its fun to look at, and doesn't take up much room.
I've been downsizing, which is very hard to do after a lifetime of firearm enthusiasm, so I felt the literal "downsize" was appropriate irony while still maintaining a little dignity for my lifetime hobby.

 

[Koda]

I did that with the rail. I wanted the longer rail, it wasn't the most budget option though. There are rails out there now for $50ish that are actually quite nice.

I noticed the longer rail, I thought it looked great and was an appropriate choice for the longer barrel.

I always tell myself I want a true "budget" build (rifle or pistol or whatever) but if it comes to building it myself it always steps up a notch into the "nothing was expensive" category, (or higher).... it starts with that "one exception" part then spirals downhill. (or is it "uphill" $$...?)

 

[ma96782]

That being said.....
IMHO......
As long as it's LEGAL. Build what you like and how you like it. "It's YOUR money" and besides "It's ONLY money". Cough, cough.....

Aloha, Mark

PS.......

 

[Koda]

Or my favorite... give it a few years and when you go back to it... "What was I thinking?!? That'll never do!!" and you end up dumping a wad back into it.

Thats also what happened to me, now I technically have 1.75 AR15s.... lol.

 

[Yarome]

Thats also what happened to me, now I technically have 1.75 AR15s.... lol.

Any "extra" parts in the bin are dangerous. They are a gateway drug.....

Pretty soon you find youself up at 2am cruising the parts & accessories classifieds telling yourself, "well.. I DO have that spare gas block."

 

[Member 34319]

My problem is the damn deals that pop up on my radar from time to time.

It's something that has always amazed me, the shear quantity out there. Not just that, but the shear quantity at prices that one would usually not think of quality. That's just not the case anymore, our machining has gotten so advanced that just about any small shop, pick one of many that started here in the PNW, can crank out highly precise instruments at pretty amazing prices. Aero alone is a huge example. They were a freaking airplane parts company! Now one of the largest in the country.

Then the larger ones like PSA, Bear Creek and whoever made this barrel. Where they crank out so many freaking parts and such that they overwhelm the machines and quality can obscure. Yet, even with a certain percentage that might be deemed acceptable crap product, an overwhelmingly large amount of them are machined at high levels of precision.

That's just cool to me.

 

[Koda]

It's something that has always amazed me, the shear quantity out there. Not just that, but the shear quantity at prices that one would usually not think of quality.

its even more interesting when you think about it with all the impacts covid has had on production.

 

[Nosferatu]

Well, now you have to do an "everything was expensive" build and compare the outcome of both. You know, for science.

 

[Koda]

 

[Member 34319]

Well, now you have to do an "everything was expensive" build and compare the outcome of both. You know, for science.

I'm slowly getting there with a 457.