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AR-15 Upper question

GreatBeefalo
hey guys (and gals too)
I was cruising the auctions on GB and have seen many single uppers for AR-15s. I know that most are not complete, but what would I need to complete one if I bought it? and is it more economical to buy a new AR-15 in pieces?
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • Laredo Lefty
    Many uppers are sold minus the bolt carrier, bolt and charge handle.
    You would be better off buying a complete gun already assembled as opposed to buying parts.
    It would overall be cheaper and you dont have to put it together.

    "Never let school interfere with your education"
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  • MVP
    You can save a lot of money building your own and configure it to exactly what you want. When you buy a barelled upper make sure the bolt has been headspaced. Check out these guyshttp://www.jtdistributing.com/
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  • calamitywood
    i agree with mvp but to save money you need to know where to get the best deals on parts and this changes constantly. you won't save money by purchasing parts on the auction site (usually and i'm talking about buying parts here) also if you are wanting to build a complete matching ar-15 i.e. colt or bushmaster you would probably be better off buying the complete gun. i have built very good ar's out of various manufactures parts and saved money overall.
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  • nmyers
    If you buy everything as parts, then you will need tools (vise, wrench, headspace gauges) & a manual to assemble the upper, & the rifle will then cost more than buying one NIB. If you buy a barrelled upper, you won't save as much money.

    In any case, most of the savings in building a gun from parts comes from avoiding the 10% Federal Excise Tax on complete firearms. That may be offset by the lack of a warranty that would come with a NIB gun, & lower resale value. And, while some folks take pride in the building of their own gun, others are embarrassed when people make fun of their Mixed Parts Mongrel.

    If this is your first AR, I recommend buying one NIB; you can select the exact configuration you want.

    Oh, you can't buy a new AR-15. This name is owned by Colt, & they don't make them any longer. What you want is "AR-15 clone".

    Neal
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  • easygo6
    Uppers are most often sold to buyers that have a complete rifle and want the option of a second configuration for their rifle. You can alter the caliber, barrel lengths, sighting set-up, varmint/tactical, etc.

    It is a great rifle! Listen to Neal and the other posters recommemding, at the least, 1) buying a complete upper and a complete lower at a different date; or 2) buy a complete rifle.

    Assembling rifles from parts is for the experienced, experience a complete rifle before building one. Buying the rifle in two parts (upper, then lower) will alow you to spread the purchase but you are buying complete ready-to-fire components.

    By the way. If kerry is elected another ban will be on the way... buy a lower first as it is the serialized component that requires an FFL transfer ...and it is the least costly of the two halves as well.

    "They're in front of us, they're behind us, they're to our left and to our right...they can't get away now." Chesty Puller

    SEMPER FI
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  • wm69
    You can get a complete kit from JT for $450, and a stripped lower for around $100 (you'll have to get an FFL to order it for you). The JT kits have a great reputation and get a good reputable lower (Rock River Arms, Bushmaster, Olympic Arms, there are others on www.ar15.com). The JT kit comes with the upper half already assembled and ready to go, and the lower parts go into the stripped lower pretty easily (the first one I did took about an hour). There are directions on the ar15 website. Figure that and you can get a GOOD rifle for under $600. Stay away from the cheap complete AR's out there now. Most are made by Vulcan/Hesse and are crap. Check around on AR15.com before you buy as there are kit manufacturers to avoid also (such as American Spirit Arms/ ASA).
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  • Muffinman
    quote:Originally posted by wm69
    You can get a complete kit from JT for $450, and a stripped lower for around $100 (you'll have to get an FFL to order it for you).

    Did I miss something. Since when do you need a FFL to order a Upper for a AR? It has no numbers on it. You must mean the Lower.
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  • calamitywood
    muffin the way i'm reading it he does mean the lower. i must admit i'm not an english teacher but it looks like he is saying you can get a stripped lower for one hundred dollars but you will need an ffl holder to order it for you. mho
    on by the way, Neal, i stand corrected about the AR usage. I throw that word around too much and it isn't correct. thank you
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  • wm69
    Yep, meant the lower on the FFL needed thing. JT also offers 5% discount to military/leo if that applies to you......
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