AR Debate

[xd shooter]

I am thinking pretty hard of building an AR. The thing is i am not going to jump in head first, or try not to anyway. Thinking of doing the Johnny Cash way 1 peice at a time (fits the budget better). 1/st question lower recivers DPMS,Bushmaster, or Saber? Maybe something different. Look forward to hearing what you have to say. Thanks.

[Smith]

Get the cheapest lower you can they are basically all the same and don't really do anything as far as making the rifle better or worse. Spend on the barrel and upper, that's where it will show up.

[xd shooter]

I have also heard that you need to possibly use the same namebrand upper & lower. Any truth to this? I f not what brand is worth the money in an upper?

[Guest EasilyObsessed]

I have also heard that you need to possibly use the same namebrand upper & lower. Any truth to this?

No.

[Smith]

del-ton.com has really good deals on complete uppers. I have been well pleased with their company.

[The Rabbi]

Get the cheapest lower you can they are basically all the same and don't really do anything as far as making the rifle better or worse. Spend on the barrel and upper, that's where it will show up.

+1.

Also the trigger as a place to spend money.

[xd shooter]

Have you ever thought of building a stripped lower? I think it looks very interesting to me.

[Guest c.a.s.]

I've heard good about Rock River Arms.

[xd shooter]

Hey Rabbi sorry i didn't make it out today to look at that , maybe in a day or two depends on my day at work.

[Smith]

Have you ever thought of building a stripped lower? I think it looks very interesting to me.

That is what we are talking about. It is not very hard. I had the same questions on my first one and it did take me a lot longer than the second, but it was still very easy and no special tools are required.

The lowers Rabbi has now are good ones and you can't beat the price.

[xd shooter]

Thanks all for the info that's a great start for me . Maybe i will think of some more by the time I get home.

[Guest sling]

Take a look at Sabre Defense's stripped lowers. They're the same price as any other but they're made locally here in Nashville. Reloaders Bench carries them and I know Academy of Self Defense up in Joelton carries them. Spend your money on a good upper and trigger. What kind of AR are you looking to build? Varminter, carbine, pistol, etc.

[xd shooter]

Varminter, probably 20" I was kinda thinking of the Saber lower since they were local. You know the price range of a Saber stripped? I guess any stripped lower prices?

[Guest sling]

I believe they'll typically run ya 130 bucks after the background check and tax at most places. As for uppers, depending on your price range, look at DPMS. Really good product. You might also consider what kind of ammo you're going to be shooting down the pipe to determine chamber. 5.56 or .223. For plinking i'd go with a 5.56 chamber so you can shoot military ammo without having to have a possible kaboom.

Trigger wise...once again depending on how much you want to spend... look at bushmasters drop in 2 stage or the chip mccormick. Stock AR trigger pulls blow.

[xd shooter]

What do you mean about possible kaboom? I was thinking of .223 for ammo price.

[Guest utarch00]

Our own Frank from ETS also sells Sabre lowers.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

Our own Frank from ETS also sells Sabre lowers.

+1

Throw some business towards a guy that supports this site...and you'll get great service after the sale.

[Guest dotsun]

What do you mean about possible kaboom? I was thinking of .223 for ammo price.

Get it chambered in 5.56 and you can shoot either one.

[xd shooter]

I already have my starting point. Looks like I will go sick up a stripped lower from The Rabbi tomorow. Thanks Guys. Now have to look for a lower kit(but not in big hurry).

[Smith]

He's got the DPMS kits in there as well. I think they were around $60. I've used them in the last two and have been fine. One had a better trigger than the other, but I intend to get a RRA replacement anyway.

[Guest sling]

XDshooter,

The kaboom i'm talking about is the different pressure levels of the .223 v.s the 5.56.

5.56 being military naturally has a hotter load than commerical ammo thus higher pressures. You can shoot .223 in a 5.56 chambered gun but i wouldnt recommend the other way around.

[molonlabetn]

XDshooter,

The kaboom i'm talking about is the different pressure levels of the .223 v.s the 5.56.

5.56 being military naturally has a hotter load than commerical ammo thus higher pressures. You can shoot .223 in a 5.56 chambered gun but i wouldnt recommend the other way around.

The differences in the 5.56mm and .223 chamberings aren't due as much to the pressure of the cartridges as it is the leade (gap from the chamber to the rifling lands), and the chamber tolerances. The cartridges are identical, for all intents and purposes... but .223 chambers are set up for greater accuracy. The baseline pressure differences aren't enough to case a kaboom... however using milsurp ammo loaded with bullets which have a long ogive and looser case tolerances can lead to poor accuracy at least, and stuck/out-of-battery cases leading to case-head separation at worst.

[Guest sling]

Specs i've seen indicate that loads for 5.56 are much hotter than commercial .223. Not to mention the reduced case capacity due to thicker walls.

http://www.winchester.com/lawenforcement/news/newsview.aspx?storyid=11

Quote:

The 5.56 round, loaded to Military Specification, typically has higher velocity and chamber pressure than the .223 Rem.

I dont think a company like winchester would say it if it wasnt necessarily true.

Also, being NATO, those rounds can be made anywhere with different components\loads.

Granted your correct about the leade but pressure is an issue as well.

Edited March 28, 2008 by sling
bad spelling

[xd shooter]

About how much accuracy will you be sacrificing using .223 in 5.56 chamberd gun? I was leanning for the .223? but like any gun I want it to be as accurate as i can get it.

[molonlabetn]

A .223 chamber using .223 ammo is the most accurate... some manufacturers offer a match chamber (which has close tolerances).