What is the next step from a cheap home built AR15?

[Kinked_Chrome]

I only have cheap home built Ar15s in my collection of black rifles. They have served me well and I have thoroughly enjoyed shooting and tinkering with them. Although I feel the time has come for me to add something a bit higher quality to the stable. I'm looking for a high quality carbine. I was thinking BCM or LMT, but wasn't sure what else was out there that I may not have heard of.

Any and all input would be appreciated.

[QuietM4]

Why? If it aint broke, don't fix it.

In my experience (20+ years working in the firearms industry) you are only paying for the roll mark. Is an Anderson lower ugly? Maybe. Is an Knights Armament lower inherently better than an Aero Precision. No.

Find an upper/lower combo that you like the looks of...Aero, LMT, BCM, Colt, Daniel Defense, Anderson, Palmetto, whatever...they all accomplish the same thing. Just know that they all do the same thing, and you are only paying for their marketing department. My $400 Anderson/Palmetto build truck gun accomplished the same tasks as my $3,000 Knights SR-15 Mod 0 or my $3,000 Noveske Leonidas.

Don't buy anything plastic/polymer.

Spend your money on the components. Trigger, BCG, barrel, hand guard, recoil system, sights/optics....That is what actually makes a difference.

[Flash]

Well put, QuietM4

[tubfixer]

We'll put and agree a 100%, they all do the same thing.

[Kinked_Chrome]

Why? If it aint broke, don't fix it.

In my experience (20+ years working in the firearms industry) you are only paying for the roll mark. Is an Anderson lower ugly? Maybe. Is an Knights Armament lower inherently better than an Aero Precision. No.

Find an upper/lower combo that you like the looks of...Aero, LMT, BCM, Colt, Daniel Defense, Anderson, Palmetto, whatever...they all accomplish the same thing. Just know that they all do the same thing, and you are only paying for their marketing department. My $400 Anderson/Palmetto build truck gun accomplished the same tasks as my $3,000 Knights SR-15 Mod 0 or my $3,000 Noveske Leonidas.

Don't buy anything plastic/polymer.

Spend your money on the components. Trigger, BCG, barrel, hand guard, recoil system, sights/optics....That is what actually makes a difference.

My main reason is related to you last statement. I thought I could get better components going to something name brand.

I had also just considered getting a name brand complete upper and a nice trigger. Seems to me that most places have no problem producing good fit/finish on a lower receiver, but that chambering a barrel and machining an upper receiver is more of a challenge.

That or I need some new ideas on what to spend this years gun budget on. I was kind of set on a mid-upper tier AR, but now you guys have me half convinced to get something else.

[TacMedic]

QuietM4 hit the nail squarely on the head...gun goes pew and just because you pay more for it does not mean it’s a better pew.

Now if your built ones have accuracy issues than that is a different discussion.

I’ve never bought a built 5.56 myself (just bought a 9mm one) and probably never will.

When I build mine, I just buy the components that I want, even the upper end type of components.

[QuietM4]

Here is my advice. Find a version of an upper/lower combo that you like HOW IT LOOKS. Some Mfg's get a little crazy with embellishments/design, some less so. They all take the same magazine and internal parts; they all produce the same result on paper. If you want to support a local biz, check out Quentin Defense in Gilbert. They are one of the few mfgs who actually make their own product. They start with a 8' long extruded aluminum block, then cut and mill everything in house. It's cool to watch.

Personally, I like the look of Aero Precision. They make a clean lower, nothing crazy, well priced...but they look good. Find one of their American Flag lowers if you want something different. Get a tan one if that floats your boat. (IMO, don't get a colored lower...they scratch easily and won't look good after hard use...if how it looks in important to you).

Start picking your parts. The parts you've always wanted in a gun. Barrel, handguard, trigger, stock, buffer tube, buffer, etc. It can get expensive very quickly. The last rifle I built from an Aero Precision upper/lower ended up costing about $2,150 when I was done.

One of the best online resources I can think of is the AR15.Com Gunstruction site.
https://www.ar15.com/gunstruction/

If you want to go the easy route, check out the LaRue Ultimate Upper Kit. If you buy one of the upper kits, they will also sell you a Larue lower. This is probably the best bang for your buck.

[Bard]

I think most of us here have a homebuilt. if for not other reason hat she changed out handguards, stocks, triggers, etc.
QuietM4 is spot on. If your build gun goes bang every time, it is a keeper

[Jack Dupp]

Also agree with QM4.

My best shooting and most reliable AR has a cheap lower from a garbage company (the defunct Ameetec Arms) with a DPMS parts kit, Geisele trigger, commercial buffer tube without staked castle nut, CTR commercial stock, CMT upper receiver, Ameetec BCG WITHOUT properly staked gas key, Sabre Defence (another defunct company) midlength barrel, and giant YHM quad rail. I cobbled this thing together over 15 years ago. It would be considered a crap AR by today's standards in looks and tacticool guy factor. But it shoots 1-1.5MOA with my Hornady 55gr FMJ reloads and has never bobbled. It has outshot many a LMT, DD, BCM, Colt, etc. And has many rounds through it.

Sure, I get AR envy every once in a while when I see a super cool one. But bottom line is they don't work any better.

[Crippledtrigger]

I only have cheap home built Ar15s in my collection of black rifles. They have served me well and I have thoroughly enjoyed shooting and tinkering with them. Although I feel the time has come for me to add something a bit higher quality to the stable. I'm looking for a high quality carbine. I was thinking BCM or LMT, but wasn't sure what else was out there that I may not have heard of.

Any and all input would be appreciated.

Premium bolt carrier group and ensuring proper finish and assembly.

[Joelgas1]

BCG, trigger, barrel I believe are the most important components to your build. Also a comfortable stock with a good check weld makes shooting a lot more enjoyable

[FireArmTom]

Well said!

Why? If it aint broke, don't fix it.

In my experience (20+ years working in the firearms industry) you are only paying for the roll mark. Is an Anderson lower ugly? Maybe. Is an Knights Armament lower inherently better than an Aero Precision. No.

Find an upper/lower combo that you like the looks of...Aero, LMT, BCM, Colt, Daniel Defense, Anderson, Palmetto, whatever...they all accomplish the same thing. Just know that they all do the same thing, and you are only paying for their marketing department. My $400 Anderson/Palmetto build truck gun accomplished the same tasks as my $3,000 Knights SR-15 Mod 0 or my $3,000 Noveske Leonidas.

Don't buy anything plastic/polymer.

Spend your money on the components. Trigger, BCG, barrel, hand guard, recoil system, sights/optics....That is what actually makes a difference.

[Flash]

BCG, trigger, barrel I believe are the most important components to your build.

Larry Potterfield, owner and CEO of Midway USA, said exactly the same thing in a video on Gun TV a few weeks ago. I agreed then and I agree now.

[Kinked_Chrome]

Thanks for your input guys. I think deep down, I knew that was the answer.

I've always had more accuracy problems than my rifles. So practically speaking, I don't really need a higher rifle. I've just always wanted something nicer, or at least cooler looking.

I guess it's time to go shopping for parts. Hopefully there is still some stuff left in stock.

[QuietM4]

I've seen this pattern constantly in the gun world;

New buyer wants the latest and greatest firearm because it was on the cover of Guns & Ammo, or he saw it in a movie/tv show. He pays top dollar for the newest gizmo rifle. Buys the newest shinny, wiz-bang firearm, along with an Aimpoint T2 Micro, and 100 rounds of ammo; spends $2,800. See the guy on the range and his target looks like a shotgun pattern; target was shot at 30 feet.

What should have happened; Guy spends $800 on a S&W M&P15, $350 on a Holosun/Vortex/Sig red dot, $400 on a case of ammo, and $500 on a 2-day training course. Spends significantly less money, but the knowledge gained is priceless.

Since you are searching for parts, check out these as long as you are spending money;

Geissele triggers. Worth every penny. I'm a fan of the Super Dynamic 3-Gun trigger. The Super Dynamic Combat trigger is also excellent. Geiselle also makes great other products; rails, charging handles, misc. other parts.

LaRue MBT triggers. Less money than the Geiselle, but still excellent. I recommend the flat trigger face (for any trigger).

JP Silent Capture Recoil Spring. Worth their weight in gold. Gets rid of that annoying spring sound of a standard recoil spring, lessens recoil and smooths out the recoil impulse. Spring noise may not seem like a big deal, but not having it makes you realize how annoying it is.

There should still be plenty of parts online to find. Most of the buying panic has been first time buyers, and they aren't into building their own guns yet.