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AR build help

410smallbore

Silver $$ Contributor
I am looking for some help in my first AR build
I am a bolt guy for the most part. At one time I had a Remington R15 chambered in 204. I just never got used to it and didn't like the way it shot. It always seemed to jump around when I shot it, so couldn't stay on target when making a follow up shot. The trigger was not great but was serviceable after a good trigger job. Accuracy was fair at best. And this may sound weird but every time I shot it I could hear like a compressing spring sound that drove me nuts so I ended up sending it down the road.
With all that said I would like to try to build a good AR style varmint rifle. I would like it chambered in 204 and I want it to function smoothly to help with the muzzle jump. I do a lot of walking so I am thinking a 20 inch barrel preferably in stainless to keep the weight under control.. I am hoping you guys could give me some recommendations on what to purchase for parts. And any tips or tricks you have would be greatly appreciated. I have little to no experience with ARs so please bear with me if I ask stupid questions.
One other thing to mention is I own an APF chambered in 300 blackout, it is the pistol style with the arm strap so I could use that lower if you would recommend it.
Thanks in advance everyone.
 
I would look to see if Rock River has a complete rifle already built that you could use. There are lots of little things that need to be right to get a real accurate AR. The buffer spring noise is easy to fix. Put a small finger of grease in the tube and shoot it a dozen times to spread it out.
 
White Oak Armament makes a 204R Predator upper with a 20" barrel. I have one from them in .223 Rem. as I wanted a 12 twist and they were about the only one I could find that did a 12 twist .223 Rem. Real happy with how it shoots. As for the buffer spring, I have set most of my AR's up with the Armaspec Stealth recoil springs. I have gone down the rabbit hole with AR triggers as well and have Trigger Tech, Velocity, Geissele and Rock River. I find it hard to beat the Rock River Varmint trigger and you can find them on sale for less than $100 at times.
 
When you say build, do you mean you want to assemble or purchase an upper/lower? Really only way to get the whole rifle the way you want it is assemble from scratch(very easy). Correct magazine is a minor issue with 204R in an AR. A side charger billet upper is very nice for hunting/scope use, especially in Mn winters. I also prefer non adjustable skeleton stocks for hunting.
 
When I said build I did mean to buy the components and assemble it myself. I have been told that they are easy to build and components are plentiful so I thought it would be the cheaper way to go. Also it would be more customized to my liking. My confusion comes from there being so many options when it comes to components.
I see lowers for 50 buck and then some for 150. I do hunt Minnesota so cold climate operation is a must. And of course I want it to be accurate.
Thanks for all the responses and I will definitely look into the upper options suggested.
 
Start with YouTube; I personally would recommend the American Gunsmithing Institute videos to start. I just googled "AGI build AR" and they pop up right away.

Getting it to function smoothly and accurately is more of an advanced course. Acquiring an upper from those places already mentioned (+1 to White Oak) and most of that knowledge is already in the assembly.

If you really want to build your own; here's what I'd recommend: 1 know the difference between a $50 lower and a $150 lower. This one isn't easy, some $150 lowers are just the $50 lower with some cool skulls and flames engraved. It's all in the manufacturing process and fit to the upper. "mil-spec" has some wide allowable tolerances that will ensure function, so learn how to fit the upper to the lower, either with good components or with advanced assembly tweaks; I use an Accu-wedge on my match rifle, others bed upper to lower, other methods are out there.

With a good upper to lower fit; you need a good barrel to upper fit AND a good handguard / barrel nut system. Just about every manufacturer has a new way to solve this. Google is your friend, are you wanting 1/4 MOA groups from your AR? Google way more and good luck; wanting sub-moa? You've got some good recommendations of sources already.

I think that the final part selection recommendations are for the lower. Trigger, honestly is personal preference, but don't expect a $15 mil-spec trigger to be as good as aftermarket without some work.

There are some parts you may want to 'upgrade' to such as adjustable gas block to improve the ability to tuning.

There's no one answer, so in summary, start with the bigger picture and parts and then we'll have our recommendations for each.

-Mac
 
Aero Precision matched upper and lower. Convert to side charging. Kreiger or Bartlien barrel. Whatever weight and length you want. Magpul fixed buttstock. Tigger Tech or Timney trigger. clamp on gas block Non adjustable. Blue lock tite for barrel extention into upper receiver.
Find ammo that gun likes! Go have fun with it!
Also have front of upper receiver lapped square before putting on barrel
 
Easy route buy a BCA complete side charger upper in 223W. Pull the barrel, pull the bolt from bcg. Send bolt to barrel manufacturer, bolt will be headspace to new barrel. Will give you time to put together a lower the way you want it. Sell 223 barrel if you don't need a 223. Selling the barrel leaves you with receiver, side charger bcg, hand guard, gas block/tube for about the price of a standard bcg.
 
I would second what Walt said with a slight different option. With all the competition in the AR15 market and because 'assemblers' can get volume discounts on parts, there isn't much difference in cost to the buyer between DIY vs off the shelf.

Get a fully assembled lower from Rock River ~ $440. Get a fully assembled upper from WOA in 20 practical for $845.
If you're dead set on 204, get a complete upper assembly from WOA, one of their 204 Ruger barrels and a varmint handguard [total upper price is within a few dollars of a complete upper].

After you've shot it a bit, if you're not happy with the RR trigger you can easily replace it.
 
^^^^^ This is what I would do. I have an ffl and can buy all the parts at wholesale. I dont anymore. I buy complete lowers or uppers or firearms.
 
I'd get a WOA complete upper they are superb very accurate and well built. Then I'd get a JP silent capture spring. That will eliminate your spring sounding problem. Then finish it off with a trigger tech diamond trigger. Then pretty much any lower that's in spec will do. Those those you'd have a great set up in my opinion.
 
If your not looking to get into building them, just buy an upper or complete gun. You will not gain anything from just putting things together. Just go to White oak and spend the money and be done with it. Anything past that, you should be looking to work with someone that actually understands this platform and can actually do a custom build for you. Theres also a decent chance that an upper from White oak might be just as good or better than a true custom.
 
For your upper, call White Oak Armament and buy what they recommend. I don't believe they sell lowers themselves, but they should be able to advise on options to help with the spring sound. They sell every part except the lower itself, too.
 
Building an AR is fairly easy but there are pricy tools needed that you may only use once… Building a super accurate AR is best left to the pros… Once you have the gun you want, you can always tinker around with different parts such as trigger, etc to get it to your specifications.
 
410smallbore said:
I am looking for some help in my first AR build
I am a bolt guy for the most part. At one time I had a Remington R15 chambered in 204. I just never got used to it and didn't like the way it shot. It always seemed to jump around when I shot it, so couldn't stay on target when making a follow up shot. The trigger was not great but was serviceable after a good trigger job. Accuracy was fair at best. And this may sound weird but every time I shot it I could hear like a compressing spring sound that drove me nuts so I ended up sending it down the road.
With all that said I would like to try to build a good AR style varmint rifle. I would like it chambered in 204 and I want it to function smoothly to help with the muzzle jump. I do a lot of walking so I am thinking a 20 inch barrel preferably in stainless to keep the weight under control.. I am hoping you guys could give me some recommendations on what to purchase for parts. And any tips or tricks you have would be greatly appreciated. I have little to no experience with ARs so please bear with me if I ask stupid questions.
One other thing to mention is I own an APF chambered in 300 blackout, it is the pistol style with the arm strap so I could use that lower if you would recommend it.
Thanks in advance everyone.
Click to expand...
+1 on the WOA complete upper. Here's a link to their 204 complete uppers, they have 20", 22", etc.. Slap the upper onto your existing lower and you're good to go. I would upgrade the trigger on the lower if you haven't done so already (Geissele if on sale, TriggerTech, etc.).

Shop .20 Caliber Varmint Uppers | White Oak Armament

Find the best selection and prices on in-stock .20 Caliber Varmint Uppers.
www.whiteoakarmament.com www.whiteoakarmament.com
 
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