Building an AR

[turkeytalker]

Has anyone done this?I'm thinking of a long range groundhog/target variety and was wondering if anyone had built on from the ground up.I know of the other websites but was looking for someone around herefor advice.

[WhiteRubi]

Shoot me a PM or just let me know what you are looking for. I've built more than a few. ;)

[moreammoplz]

You can save a few $$$ building your own, but not much. You can get a Double Star complete gun from www.centerfiresystems.com for $699. Whittakers in Owensboro also has some AR's pretty cheap.

If you want to build you can get instructions from www.ar15.com. I have built two lowers myself and it takes less than an hour.

Centerfire has the lowers from Double Star Stripped for around $110, parts kit will run you about $60 and then a stock. $30 for cheap 6 position or around $40 for fixed.

Uppers come in many flavors, most large gunshows have Model 1 sales, J&T and others. I prefer the Chrome Barrels, they are easier to clean.

If you are looking for a target gun I would go with 20 inch barrel with a flat top upper.

Good Luck.

[turkeytalker]

My biggest concern is value.If i can't build one that shoots better than a factory and save some money then i wouldn't believe it's prudent.

My factory CAR's will shoot 2" at 100yds,dang well enough for any coyote.I was just wondering in the same price range if i could get better accuracy cheaper by building one.

[GunCat]

A few ideas to wring the most accuracy out of your AR:

Use good optics

Shoot high quality factory ammo or handloads (not FMJ / ball ammo)

A good trigger (my personal 3-gun match AR has a JP adjustable trigger and speed hammer - I Like it! :D )

A free floating forearm

Shoot me a PM or email if you have any specific questions.

[moreammoplz]

I bought a used 20 in Bushmaster upper flat top and mounted a 8x24 scope on it. My lower is a store bought Double Star. I usually take it to Knob Creek and shoot clay birds or bowling pins target at 300 yard with ease. :) (Wolf ammo)

You could take you stock gun and maybe improve your optics and trigger to tighten up your groups.

My dad has a $1,900 set up in his AR and it is nice, but for what I do mine works fine and was about half the cost.

[turkeytalker]

300-500 yrds. is what i m looking for.Iwill not speak of my 16"'s in this regard because they drop off big time.

I'm looking probaly at a 20 or 22,just wondering if the bull barrels are any better.I am used to the NM RR trigger and would probaly go with that,although i hear the Jewel was named properly.


I have a 4x Nikon on one and a Burris red dot on the other and can tell little difference vs. range in them for my present guns.100- and i'll take the dot 100+ i'll take the nikon.

If i had a true 400+ gun i'd surely up the optics

[WhiteRubi]

I built one for my dad with the RRA varmint upper (20"). It shoots clover leaf groups @ 100 yards. I would bet that it will do what you want. If money is no object, you can do better.
If I was building a no-budget long range AR it would be:

RRA lower
Jewel trigger
Magpul PRS stock
RRA upper
18" Noveske barrel (1 in 7" for the heavier 77gr bullets)
MSTN QC brake
Larue or Troy free float forend
and some high end optics (Nightforce, Leupold, US Optics)

If you did your part, you would certainly be sub-MOA with this set-up.

[Josh7.62x54]

For the people that don't know this already....DoubleStar is a Kentucky gun company. They're made in Winchester. So thats who I'll be using next time! I think they sell through J&T distributing.

[WhiteRubi]

I don't know from personal experience, but have heard and read numerous times...DoubleStar doesn't have the best reputation in the industry. If you want to cut cost, DoubleStar is an option. If you want something to run reliably, I would look elsewhere. Again, no personal experience. I've got a few RRA's and never had a problem. ;)

[Josh7.62x54]

I've read nothing but good things about DS on www.ar15.com . They're pretty much equal to anything else. If you want one of the best lowers, go with Lewis Machine Tool. They're about double the price, but they look thicker.

[moreammoplz]

Double Star only Assembles Rifles in Winchester, I have seen the plant.

They are buying lowers and other parts from some of the same manufactures as the other guys. Fit and finish there isn't any difference with Double Star vs Bushmaster or Colt. They also use quality barrels. One reason a Double Star is less expensive is that they don't advertise as much as the big guys, you don't suffer quality.

Also, Double Stars service is TOP notch, I know I had to call them for something I screwed up and they fixed the problem at no charge.

[turkeytalker]

On their website (Doublestar)they say pre-ban options are only available to law enforcement.Like a 6 position stock,muzzle brake,bayonet lug.Why is this?

[WhiteRubi]

Double Star only Assembles Rifles in Winchester, I have seen the plant.

They are buying lowers and other parts from some of the same manufactures as the other guys. Fit and finish there isn't any difference with Double Star vs Bushmaster or Colt. They also use quality barrels. One reason a Double Star is less expensive is that they don't advertise as much as the big guys, you don't suffer quality.

Also, Double Stars service is TOP notch, I know I had to call them for something I screwed up and they fixed the problem at no charge.

Upon further investigation, it appears the DoubleStar is using either Wilson or Shaw barrels. Not a bad thing at all. MANY Mfg's use them. Apparently they have stepped up to the plate and become a serious contender in the AR-15 market. Within the past 5 years, I had read things that weren't necessarily bad, but they weren't good either. Maybe they've had a change in management and/or suppliers. Maybe people have actually given a small company a fighting chance. Either way, good for them.

It certainly offers a low(er) cost alternative to the bigger names. I stand by my RRA, and some swear by Bushy's, and you will always have the Colt loyalists. At the end of the day, many barrels come from the same place. Many RAW FORGINGS of upper and lower receivers come from the same place. It's the machining and finish that come into question then. The small parts are key for reliability. Don't get cheap here.

I'd be willing to give DoubleStar a shot if I was building another AR-15. If I can only have one, I'll stick to my RRA. ;)

[Auk1124]

Anyone ever built one of these in a non-traditional caliber, as in other than 223 or 308?

Just curious, cause I read somewhere about someone trying to build one of these things in 6mmBR, which totally blew my mind.

[turkeytalker]

I've nevr built one yet of any caliber but they can be built using any calibers that would fit inside of the lower.

[WhiteRubi]

The lower receiver for the .308 is different. MOST (not all) parts are interchangeable. You can build one in a variety of calibers, but to keep all the .223 parts interchangeable you'll need to pick a caliber that works with that lower reciever. Ones that come to mind that are the most common are the 6.8mm SPC, 6.5 Grendel, and the trusty 7.62x39.

Lots of others out there with very specific end uses. The big plus of the .223 was the availibility of surplus ammo = cheap(er) ammo. Not gonna happen when you start getting exotic.

[killinmammals]

I have 2 Doublestar lowers...both pistol lowers. Once is in the process of being put together.