.223

[Geor!]

Have a few questions concerning building an AR.

Basically, what parts do I need besides and upper and lower receiver? What's a "stripped lower" and why does everyone seem to want a stripped lower receiver as opposed to the fully clothed version?

Can you purchase all of the necessary components on-line, or do I need to go through a dealer at a gun show or have a transfer to someone with an FFL?

[Chopped54]

Get a stripped lower, and an assembled rifle kit.
Easiest and cheapest way to go.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782

[slow06]

I'm not really sure how to explain a stripped lower, other than it is what the upper receiver attaches to and it houses the lower parts kit (Trigger, safety selector ect.)

A "fully clothed" or complete lower is a stripped lower with a lower parts kit installed. LPK includes the trigger group and hammer, pistol grip, bolt catch, magazine release, safety selector, buffer, recoil spring and stock. (I'm sure I missed a couple of things)

Some people prefer buying a stripped lower and putting it together because it is typically cheaper and fun.

After you have a completed lower you would need a complete upper. You can get all of this online (I did), or at a gun show. If you want to build an AR this century you are better off at a gun show.

If you were to order online, only the lower receiver (stripped or otherwise) would need to be shipped to an FFL, everything else can be shipped directly to you. The lower receiver is the part with the serial number on it, and is the only part registered.

Edit: Good point jakesford, you can build the upper also. I bought my upper assembled from Del-Ton, so I don't know how to put one together. I would love to try it if it weren't so expensive/hard to find parts these days.

[jakesford]

The lower whether stripped or complete will have to go to an ffl since it carries the serial number... Stripped lowers have none of the internals: trigger assembly, buffer, grip, stock etc. Or you can buy them complete or in various stages of completion. The assembled upper has the barrel, carrier, bolt, gas system, grip, sites, etc. and as with the lower you can buy the uppers as complete units or stripped.

[jakesford]

I'm not really sure how to explain a stripped lower, other than it is what the upper receiver attaches to and it houses the lower parts kit (Trigger, safety selector ect.)

A "fully clothed" or complete lower is a stripped lower with a lower parts kit installed. LPK includes the trigger group and hammer, pistol grip, bolt catch, magazine release, safety selector, buffer, recoil spring and stock. (I'm sure I missed a couple of things)

Some people prefer buying a stripped lower and putting it together because it is typically cheaper and fun.

After you have a completed lower you would need a complete upper. You can get all of this online (I did), or at a gun show. If you want to build an AR this century you are better off at a gun show.

If you were to order online, only the lower receiver (stripped or otherwise) would need to be shipped to an FFL, everything else can be shipped directly to you. The lower receiver is the part with the serial number on it, and is the only part registered.

beat me to it

[bronco71]

As above, you can save money by using a stripped lower and putting it together yourself, you can also save more by getting a stripped upper reciever and building it the way you want instead of buying a complete upper and changing it later....

Instructions to put it together are on the internet and it is quite easy. The main tool needed if you go with a stripped upper is a vice block to protect the upper reciever when the barrel is screwed in; they are about $25 and worth it if you think you may be building more in the future. Several board members have the block, including me....

I would look around at the various options available to try to decide how I want to build it, there are many different versions to build all based on the same lower reciever. Here are some I have done; the first is a 6.8 SPC caliber, the second is a 5.56.....

[GT Dan]

propellerhead had a thread that covered his build with lots of good information. (The first picture in his thread is a stripped lower)

http://www.dfwstangs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=357138

I would also offer this link to educate yourself on several different aspects of the AR.

http://forums.officer.com/showthread.php?t=81462

Have Fun!

[Geor!]

Thank you all for the information and resources. It seems as if these things are quite easy to mod/swap components out on.

[Stephen]

Thank you all for the information and resources. It seems as if these things are quite easy to mod/swap components out on.

Duh!! you dumbfuck!! search is your friend pussy boy.....


<----------- has posted many threads without searching!!! FTP (I'm Drunk lol)

seriously talk to mike (driveway guy) if you want to do a build on one of these

[Jedi]

If you go for building, make sure that you build toward the 5.56 caliber and don't limit yourself to a .223.

You can shoot .223 in a 5.56 but not the other way around.

[GT Dan]

Thank you all for the information and resources. It seems as if these things are quite easy to mod/swap components out on.

It sounds intimidating but its really easy... Brownells has an entire line of videos online that show how to build from the ground up...

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/GunTech/NewsletterArchive.aspx?x=v&p=0&t=1&i=1103