If I am going to buy my first AR...

[FCuomo]

Am I going to be better off finding a dealer that sells a complete NY-compliant or putting one together myself? I have ZERO experience with this stuff, but browsing around it seems like it's all about putting one together on your own.

I watched a few videos and it seems a bit above my mechanical skill set. The rifle has to have a detachable mag, I really don't like top loading.

Thoughts? Other than happy thoughts of the repeal of the SAFE act lol

 

[togmaster]

Easy as can be to build one yourself. Check out @Bullet Guy for components or even a complete rifle.

 

[Darth]

What is your intended use?

 

[dsdmmat]

Well without buying the tools needed to put an upper together you are just going to buy someone else's complete upper.

Contact @Bullet Guy he is a vendor and a site sponsor. Tell him what you want and he can build it for you. That way you get what you want, exactly how you want it from a guy who knows his stuff.

 

[dwa12479]

Build it. No other way. There's tons of threads on this site that will guide you.

 

[FCuomo]

What is your intended use?

Range 99%, 1% home defense (hopefully never needed)

 

[dwa12479]

Range 99%, 1% home defense (hopefully never needed)

In that case.......Build it. No other way. There's tons of threads on this site that will guide you.

 

[Podmonkey]

Actually I'd buy the first one so you have a warranty to fall back on. Build the second one after you've gained insight to the platform.

 

[Mk44]

I watched a few videos and it seems a bit above my mechanical skill set.

You know yourself best. Buy your first AR15 and learn by taking it down for cleaning.
Everyone has different skill sets ( I know a few guys that are very smart, but have no mechanical skills.)

 

[Podmonkey]

Not to mention you won't necassarily know what your preferences are right off the bat. Get something basic, dabble witha few upgrades, figure out what works for you and what doesn't and then build your "perfect" AR. As much as it could be in NYS anyway.

 

[FCuomo]

Awesome advice everyone, thank you! I will hit up Bullet Guy and check out my options. 2 of my co-workers are enthusiasts also, so hopefully I can hit them up tomorrow (one is a safety instructor as well, I should probably take his course).

 

[Blimey]

It isn't nearly so hard as it looks at first with the videos before you know what you're looking at. You could always buy a completed upper, which in some cases means merely that the barrel is attached to the upper. The lower parts kit you can put in following some detailed youtube videos about it while drinking a beer.

 

[Vapor]

Ruger AR-556 Black 5.56 NATO / .223 Rem 16-inch 10rd Fixed Stock

I think you would still need the cap welded.


Stag and del ton also make Ny rilfes.

 

[Camaro45th]

I have a Stag featureless rifle. It was my first AR. I also have a DSI fixed mag that I bought used for a decent price. I have recently purchased a lower to build my own. I figure I’ll take my time and wait for parts to go on sale and assemble it at my own rate.

I’ve never built one, but I enjoy taking my stuff apart to clean them and reassemble them. Doesn’t seem that difficult.

 

[Camaro45th]

Double post

 

[Jem45472]

A lower is relatively easy to build, but he had stated he's already worried about his skill set. I've done several with only a couple wrong sized punches, hammer, pliers, but it can be difficult and frustrating without the right tools for the job. I think you're best off buying your first, then get a lower and parts kit for ballpark $100 and put together your second lower. It's addicting, and doesn't hurt to see how things work.

 

[Bananabandit]

Build it! Its just like legos

 

[Vapor]

If you do build, vice grips, some brass punches, an ar wrench, and a rubber mallet are all highly suggested.

 

[Saltwater60]

It isn't nearly so hard as it looks at first with the videos before you know what you're looking at. You could always buy a completed upper, which in some cases means merely that the barrel is attached to the upper. The lower parts kit you can put in following some detailed youtube videos about it while drinking a beer.

That’s what I did. It was easy.

 

[STS556]

You will be surprised how easy an AR is to build. There are plenty of videos out there to show you how. After a building a few, you can build one on a snack table while sitting on the couch and watching TV. When you build one, you will get exactly what parts you want on the rifle and know how it works. I have noticed when some people buy a complete AR, they will soon tear it apart to change half the parts on it. That's a waste of money. Post #18 lists the tools needed to build and I would also include a drill press vice bolted to a 1" thick piece of wood for maneuverability and a mag well vice block.

 

[Sixbennetts]

Rent, buy, or borrow a torque wrench and buy vice blocks and an armorer's wrench. If you get into the AR platform, you'll use them often.

I personally built my AR pistol from scratch. It's a great way to learn your weapon, and allows you to choose your parts. It's great fun! Plus, if you remember GI Joes at all, it's like that swapping parts around!

Doo eet....

 

[FCuomo]

Spoke with Bullet Guy, I'm going to hit up the shop next time I am upstate (usually once a month) and try out some stuff before he does a build for me. I'm really concerned about the grips, they all look incredibly uncomfortable with the NY compliance.

 

[JamieZ]

Not for nothing but if you are using it for the range and home defense you can have a 10rnd mag pinned in. Then you can build them anyway you want. Adjustable stock, pistol grip, muzzle brake. None of mine have any of those squirrelly parts on them and I use mine for hunting, the range and home defense.

 

[Catskillkid]

I used to be intimidated about building them just like you and was a slow convert. Now I have built 3 and if funds allowed I'd build more! I can honestly say that anyone who takes there time, watches some videos and reads a few tutorials can do it. The upfront cost of buying the proper equipment can be a bit hefty but if you decide to do more down the road you have them. Plus almost none of the tools are AR specific can be used for any number of projects firearm related or not. I have a cousin who is a machinist and he always say you can never go wrong with buying tools and having them (kind of like guns...better to have and not need than need and not have).

It's not a terrible thing to get a complete one first before toying around with one. My first "AR" if you want to call it that was an Ares SCR which got me experience with the platform. Whatever way you choose you can't go wrong.

 

[David D]

What I find real interesting is how these dealers can actually say that a particular AR is NY compliant. I am sure that the NY AG or the SP didn't give their blessing to what is a go or a no go. Just because it has a spur instead of a pistol grip? or the AR has one of those devices that prevent you from removing the mag while the gun is operational? These dealers are taking it upon themselves to say that their AR's are compliant when in reality, they received no guidance from either the AG or SP. I don't know of any cases where anyone has been arrested for having a so called compliant AR but that doesn't mean that they are. Just my $.02

 

[GOPerfect]

Each and every AR that I own was built complete by someone else. I have a few store bought guns and a few from local gun makers. I have never had an issue with them.

My last AR, I bought from a builder in Dansville. I told him what I wanted, he built it. As I researched costs, I would have saved about $45 if I did everything myself/

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

If I had an AR I would have built it myself .

If your on a budget there are so many cheap and decent quality "rifle kits" you can buy online and get shipped directly to your house.

I would buy a pre assembled upper. I wouldn't trust myself to not screw up the barrel or gas tube since I'm not very experienced.

But I can tell you with certainty a noob knowing nothing can absolutely assemble a stripped lower and lower parts kit. There are hundreds you "how to" YouTube videos (err there were before they started pushing gun videos)

And if you were to assemble your stripped lower with a lower parts kit never doing it before you could do it in around an hour +/- a little. Its not overwhelming and you will learn more about the rifle .

Check online for "rifle kits" a ton of companies sell them. Palmettostatearmory.com is low prices and decent "introduction builds".

Not counting the stripped lower, you can spend anywhere from 299$- thousands on an AR build


Since I'm sure your going for ny safe compliance, You just have to decide if you want a fixed mag option or to go featureless. Fixed mag will be cheaper if that matters.


In ny since we have to deal with the ny safe act if you buy a gun from a dealer it will cost more than what you are on the cheap online places like budsguns. That's why it's become very common for us here in occupied territory to build our own.

 

[FCuomo]

That ruger 556 looks pretty nice for a starter rifle. Does anyone know if it is factory NY compliant or is that an aftermarket mod by the seller?

 

[Jem45472]

That ruger 556 looks pretty nice for a starter rifle. Does anyone know if it is factory NY compliant or is that an aftermarket mod by the seller?

Nothing I know of is factory ny compliant. Usually it's the local dealers doing the mods.

 

[FCuomo]

Nothing I know of is factory ny compliant. Usually it's the local dealers doing the mods.

I had a feeling, that would most likely void the factory warranty. I sent the shop (linked earlier in this thread) an email to confirm and see what the story is.