Palmetto State Armory has sales daily. Let me know when you are ready to build. I may be able to help you out with tools. Also my last few builds have used vice grips to squeeze pins in instead of pounding. A bunch easier and less chance for damage.

https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/ar1...-receiver-blem


https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m4e...-anodized-blem

If you have time you can wait for blemished parts and save a bunch. The first scratch during assembly will be more noticeable than any blemish.

Also they have some dirt cheap prices on blowout keymod handrails.

Plus you can get 10% off your first order. I believe free shipping over $100.

Not too much. Another "financial" obstacle has come up, But I think I have decided on an Anderson Upper/lower combo, and the Gieselle trigger group. Still undecided on BCGs, and other parts.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/palm...roup-8779.html

BCG $69.99

I can understand, just checking in. As you can see, when the times right you have a wealth of knowledge and all the help you'll need from some great members here !! :cool:

Tools are funny. I had a set of Lyman punches already, I had an old beam style torque wrench but that would work just fine. I never used a magwell block and found it easier to squeeze the pins in and flip the receiver as I built it. I researched the crap out of how to use wood blocks to hold the upper receiver instead of an AR specific vice block. Barrel nut wrench was going to be the only tools I really needed to buy. I was very reluctant to buy specific tools because I was only going to build one AR. Before the first was finished, I had already started on the second. But I still didn’t want to buy the tools because I didn’t need more than the two because they were different calibers so I had all my bases covered. After I had torqued barrels close to a dozen times from building and swapping barrels, that the gas tube was a bitch to align every time, I cracked an upper receiver. So those free wood blocks cost me a $79 upper and hours of frustration. The next day I ordered the upper vice block with the alignment tool. It made all the other assemblies a thousand times easier. I got a DPMS barrel wrench that only did barrel nuts. $20. A do it all wrench would have been around $50. I still cringe when tightening the castle nut because I am not using the correct tool for the job and they do loosen up on me because I never really get them tightened appropriately.

So just a suggestion, buy the tools you need. If later on you don’t find yourself building six or seven more then you can always sell them off. If you are sure you won’t be building more then I can loan you some of mine. I will pay to ship them over and when you are done just ship them back. Probably a Priority Mail box will do it so $12-$15. Also AR15.com has a tool lending section if you need tools I don’t have. As mentioned you can borrow a torque wrench from an auto supply but some hand guards don’t require the nut to be torqued. Some even have proprietary nuts that need proprietary tools. You won’t know till you start buying parts. Start listing the parts you are going to used so we can get an idea of the tools you may need.

Let us know when you start the build

I will. In another two months or so, I should be able to get the lower/upper combo. THen I'll start getting pieces a bit at a time.

Damn, I’ve never had any issues lining up the gas tube and/or cracking an upper......even with wood blocks (been there done that). But, I do recommend the upper and lower vice blocks for proper torque. Every hand guard will come with its own nut so, one tool might not fit them all. My last build I used a crescent wrench. I’ve torqued enough of these to feel it by hand and be within the range.


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:cool:..http://www.cotep.org/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif
As you can see, you'll have the back up/resources from a few of the COTEP family when you're ready. ;)

Aero Precision Presidents’ Day sale!

$20 off $100 purchase combined with free shipping and Keymod blowout sale and I just ordered a 15” Quantum anodized handguard and threw in a gas tube just to get over $100 so both delivered are under $84.

Any progress

Update:

All - So sorry it has taken so long for me to get the ball rolling on this, but I am pleased to say that both my financial issues and Covid-19 are well behind me, and I am ready now to move forward (Covid-19 wasn't really an issue, but...).


Well, maybe Covid-19 is having a little impact in re: the shortages of supplies and gear. Certainly in re: manufactured inventory (everyone seems to be "out of stock" due to the demands). I'm not sure, frankly, if I should now wait until after the elections to do my shopping. If Pres. Trump wins, I'm sure the prices will probably go down.... If Biden wins, I don't even want to think about it....


Thus, I think I will go ahead and, at least, get a couple of lowers to work on. Thankfully, you gave me the link to "PrimaryArms" above because that's one of the few places I've actually found product "in stock." I see an Aero Precision ME41 lower for $89.24. I may get two of them for that price. I also see a deal on the site for discounted Geissele trigger groups:


1) Geissele Automatics G2S Two Stage AR-15 Trigger .154" $129.99

2) Geissele Automatics Super Semi-Automatic Enhanced SSA-E Two Stage AR-15 Trigger .154" $199.99


I was always leaning toward Geissele triggers. Now comes the upper and the BCGs. Not sure which of those yet but the first priority is securing the lowers and before the election..



After that, I'll look at some other things (maybe a Rock Island Armory 1911 .45acp and I'll get the extra grips. Then get another Mossberg 930 JM Pro. But we'll see.


But first things first.... those lowers.... Caleb, I'll be looking to your for help in building the list of all the parts I need. I'll get back to you shortly with what I see as that list.



Thanks all. Look forward to getting this thing going!


:flagwave:

I’m ready when you are.


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Well, we are on our way. Two lowers ordered.



1) Anderson Manufacturing - AR-15-A3 AR-15 Stripped Lower receiver


2) Radical Firearms Forged Stripped AR-15 Stripped Lower Receiver (RF-FL).


Plus some spare parts including:


1) Geissele Automatics G2S Two Stage AR-15 Trigger .154"




Expect shipping to my FFL in 5 business days. We'll see. But now I have to look at all the other parts, including the uppers.

You say that to all the boys...

$20 is $20


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Wait..What??? I owe him $20.00??? :D


Seriously, the two lowers are on order, waiting for shipment to my FFL. Could take as little as 5 and as much as 10 bus. days, since they have to verify my FFL. Now, I'm piecing together the other parts lists I need, including the tools, etc. I think the toughest thing so far is attempting to find matching uppers (and in stock) for the two lowers I ordered (see above for details).



We'll see.

By the way...... you really don’t need anti-walk pins for the trigger group. If you want a safety net, then get them. I have never had pins walk out on me.


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Fair enough.... Thanks. I have one trigger group on order (Geissele) but I don't know what extra it needs. I'll keep that in mind.

Quick Question - Do I want to purchase a stripped upper or an assembled one (i.e. with dust cover, forward assist, charging handle and BCG). I see Anderson Mfg. is offering such an upper for about $300.00 (MSRP on their website) and about $260.00 on Gun Broker. And that should pair well with the Anderson Lower I have. Then it becomes a matter of assembling the stocks, barrel, gas system, trigger group, and the other furniture.



Or do you prefer to build your own uppers?

Considering the price difference, I always buy complete upper receivers (with FA & dust covers installed).

Personal preference really and price savings. If you planned on installing an upgraded FA or dust cover , then go with stripped.


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I like Strike Industries products..... check them out, they have well made upgrades for reasonable prices.


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To be honest, I don't have enough expertise to know if I want specialized individual parts or can accept the standard parts for them. I suppose, for example, if the standard dust cover were to 'stick" on occasion, causing an FTE or worse, then I'd probably want a specialized part. Same with the FA. I just don't know. Maybe it's the kind of thing you learn with experience... Sometimes, failures are the best teaching tool.... and "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."



For now, I think I'm going with the "assembled" upper...

A dust cover has a chance of causing a FTE only if you close it with a chambered round then shoot said round. Even then your failure rate will depend on how much crud or dirt or whatever is on the ejection port to cause the cover to stick. The bolt is what opens that cover and when fired, that bolt has some force. Standard Mil-spec parts work great. Upgrades are more for aesthetics and modularity to be honest. Unless you are upgrading your firing group, gas system, or BCG and buffer. Ect.......


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Assembled upper purchased for $260.00 Includes CH, FA, DC and BCG.

Cool. I just ordered some parts to put together a pistol upper.


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Update: Having some issues trying to get a lot of the individual parts and many of the sources are still "out of stock" and/or highly priced. Brownell's is an example of this. Primary Arms is also "out of stock" on a lot of the parts like barrels, stock kits, etc. I do see that Midway USA has in stock parts but mostly their house brand "AR-Stoner."


Has anyone had experienced these parts and are they good? Or should I wait for other places to get parts back in stock?

No experience with the AR Stoner products. I personally would wait and get on the “notification list” on different parts suppliers.


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I see no reason to use AR Stoner pars on anything but a bare bones budget build.

Fair enough. I will get on the mailing list for the needed parts.

What exactly do you need? Put up a parts list and I’ll keep an eye out for ya.


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Here's what I've purchased so far:


1) Andersen Mfg. Stripped lower;


which came with:


a) Geissele Automatics G2S Two Stage AR-15 Trigger group
b) Expo Arms AR-15 Upper Receiver Parts Kit (Not really needed, see below);
c) Geissele Automatics Ultra Duty Checkered Takedown Pin Set


2) Radical Firearms Forged Stripped AR-15 Lower Receiver (saving for another day);


3) Andersen Mfg. "assembled" Upper Receiver (including CH, FA, DC and BCG);




So I'll need everything else, including:


1) Barrel (and support parts like Barrel nut, flash suppressor, etc. etc.);
2) Gas system (line and block);
3) Rear Stock tube, spring, etc.

4) Lower Receiver Kit (minus trigger group, or I'll save it for the other lower);
5) Furniture (I want MAGPUL MOE furtniture).


And anything else, you can think of.


I haven't yet begun to work on the tools, yet either. I'm looking for Vice blocks, but I also need to find a vice Grip I can anchor to a large block of plywood, as I don't have a table on which I an anchor a vice grip. I think I saw some of those where you could screw it into a large block of wood (in my case, particle board) and it would work just as well.

Now I know what to look for. I’ll let you know if I find a good deal.


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Maybe you could tell me where you're looking, because where I'm looking, almost everything is out of stock. And the things that aren't are way overpriced.


It's a huge balancing act. And, sadly, it depends on the election. If Pres. Trump wins, I suspect the prices will go way down and supplies will replenish ASAP. If he loses, God knows what will happen to pricing. So, do I buy stuff now, or do I wait until after the election? I figured I'd buy the lowers now, as I gather they'd go after those first. Then, I'll work on my pistols and then my shotguns. Perhaps, I'll get my $500.00 1911 now, and maybe a Shield for backup EDC, now (I still have my P320... which I'll get "upgraded"). If Trump is re-elected, I'd wait on the other stuff, as, hopefully, prices will go down. But we'll see. Hope so!

Just the usual places.

Joe bob outfitters

Palmetto state armory

Primary arms

MidwayUSA

Brownells

Aim surplus

Classic firearms (hate giving them $$$ tho)

Optics planet

Mounts plus

Rainier Arms

Sportsman’s Outdoors

Bravo Company Manufacturing

Aero Precision

Stag Arms

Academy

Del-Ton

Ect.........


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What barrel specs are you after? Length, twist, gas system, material?


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Carbine length (16") 5.56 milspec 1:7 twist black finish...

I've been looking at most of these, but you've given me some new one's to consider... Thx! :)