What drives your "build"?

[rob_s]

I'm curious to hear folks take on what motivates/drives their selections when assembling an AR or modifying an AR they already own. Are you still motivated today by the things that drove your choices when you started? Do the reasons you choose parts for a "build" today match the reasons you bought your first AR, or first gun in general?

My first AR was a "build" of sorts, given that I ordered a complete upper and complete lower seperately from Bushmaster because I couldn't afford both at once. My upper got sent to GG&G to have their flipup front-sight/gas-block installed. This would have been sometime in 1998 or 1999, I think. The only "midlength" back then was the Armalite, and the only rails I knew of were the KAC and they were most certainly not free-floated. My uncle, who at the time was my inspiration for just about all things firearm since he worked at Gunsite, was doing an AR "Scout" rifle using an armalite, and I decided to follow his lead with a Bushmaster. I had to use a giant rail which attached to the flat-top upper (a relative new and novel thing at the time, at least where I lived), then rings, then the Burris Scout scope I was using (again, couldn't afford the Leupold my uncle used).

That was a hard lesson. What I found out was that for my kind of shooting (primarily plinking at cans and other found objects and targets at 50 yards), the Scout AR was useless. My roommate's Bushmaster Dissipator with A2 carry handle was way faster and a lot more fun. So I bought an AK for $400 and never shot the Scout AR much.

Then I found AR15.com, and my head exploded. Look at all these cool guns with all these cool gizmos and doo-dads! And all these people getting props form other strangers on the internet for their awesome builds! And the hierarchy of who "likes" your "build" seeming to matter to a whole lot of people. If a forum expert liked your gun, you were bigkingdingaling.

So I built up TWO guns with all the hot-snot parts of the day. 12.0 Larue handguards on one, shorter DD on the other. Vltor stock on one, Magpul on the other. Tango Down grip on one, Ergo on the other. Aimpoint on one, Eotech on the other. You get the idea. Looked for the top hot-snot parts, picked the "best" two, and put one on each gun.

I hated both guns, when I got them to the range. But one, the Larue/Aimpoint one, got all the encouraging comments on the internet!

So I sold them both. and I bought two Colt 6520s (there were no 6720s at the time). Did a flattop conversion on one, and put the best parts from each of the two test-bed guns on it, and kept the other one stock.

What I learned from all of that is that, while "building" is fun, if the mishmash of parts doesn't help me at the range, with the kind of shooting I do, then all the pretty in the world doesn't matter. coated this, painted that, various aesthetic machining, etc. Part selection, for me, is often based on "looks", but only insofar as it may "look" like it would work better for me on the range because of one physical feature or another. if it looks stupid but it works, it's not stupid.

So my fiddle-fart now is restricted to trying new things, and never on my "go to" guns. You'd think that after all this time I'd have learned, since that original 6520 has changed almost none, and the follow-on copycat 6933 hasn't changed much either. but I still trudge away, I think largely because I'm male and males like fiddle-farting. that's why every dude has a list of mods the day he drives the car off the lot. That's why every motorcycle forum is full of "the first mods you have to make" threads for every bike.

So what's your motivation? Use? Fiddle-Fart? Aesthetics? Some combination thereof? What percentage? I'd give mine a 75% use, 25% fiddle fart (in a vain attempt to improve use), and 0% aesthetics.

[Naytwan]

My last build was out of the pure joy of building them and the coolness of the M4E1 upper. The build I had before that was a purpose driven build. I decided I wanted a home defense gun so all my part selections were geared toward that. Even choosing a keymod rail, the idea was to keep the profile of the rifle as low as possible.

[Deckard]

My motivations on a build is what I'm building it for (Use). Right now I'm building a lightweight "do it all" carbine, it's not a home defense rifle so I can "fiddle-fart" a little. Since I don't have a ton of money to spend I usually have to research before I buy anything. Looks may play a small role but function trumps it. If I had the money I'd probably mess around with a bunch of parts but I can't, which is the whole purpose of forums. You all test parts for me and I'll just choose what seems to be the best for its intended purpose. The biggest thing I've taken away from reading a lot is shoot first buy components later, parts are not just parts, go train, and think about need vs want. I'd say I'm 80% use, 15% aesthetic, and 5% fiddle.

[MoxyDave]

Great question Rob. I've been building ARs for 20 years and my motivations and interests have changed quite a bit. I started out with a Bushmaster Dissipator flattop way back in the day and I've built pretty much every variety of AR possible. I've been through every phase of "ooh shiny!" and managed to put just about every sight, light and other doo-dad on my guns at one point or another.

Throughout that time I did not spend a lot of time shooting. For me it was mostly a hobby of building stuff. So I was continually fascinated by the latest gizmo to come out. Now there are far too many gizmos for me to keep up as the market has completely exploded over the past several years. So I did not get a feel for what really is important, it was all just a fantasy in my mind of what *probably works or not. I did some shooting, but not enough to really understand why or why not to use a particular part.

Within the past couple of years I've become far more interested in shooting than building ARs. I've focused entirely on that skill set and it's taught me quite a few things. My favorite build now is a lot different than it was years ago. Now instead of all the whiz-bang junk I tend to focus on simplicity and weight. My favorite builds now have a pencil barrel, a red dot and not much else. Maybe a small light if the intended use is defense rather than competition or plinking. I enjoy the ergonomic accessories such as a 45 degree safety, the increased vertical angle of the newer grips, that sort of thing ... but it's much easier for me to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, when I see a new gizmo on one of the various forums.

I'm not sure I could have gotten to this point without doing all these builds, and lately spending more time shooting than building. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to build this long list of various type ARs and learn directly from my own experience. Unlike some things, where I can learn from the experience of others this is something I just had to learn for myself.

Recently I went shooting with an old friend who is relatively new to ARs. He picked up my lightweight AR and absolutely loved it. The look on his face when he first grabbed it was priceless! He ended up shooting mine all day instead of the one he brought. That's been my experience every single time I bring out the lightweight, simple build.

So long story short, after building ARs for 20 years here is my favorite setup:

- Lightweight hammer-forged "pencil" barrel with mid-length gas system
- Battlecomp or similar muzzle device to almost completely eliminate muzzle rise
- Chrome Silicon springs to eliminate the typical M4 "Twang!"
- CTR or similar simple, adjustable stock
- The lightest 10" rail I can find
- Standard forged upper & lower (lighter and stronger than billet)
- Good trigger (ALG QMS or better)
- Grip with more vertical angle such as UC Grip 23
- 45 degree selector
- High-quality red dot with commonly available battery that lasts at least one year
- Metal back up sights

There are a shitload of parts out there that meet these specs so I use whatever's cheapest nowadays. Wait for the $50 PSA lower deals, that sort of thing ... but you just can't expect good performance from cheap optics so you always have to spend some cash to get the good stuff there.

My motivations now are all about light weight, ruggedness and simplicity. Back in the day it was all about shiny & cool because I didn't know any better.

I suspect once anyone begins shooting more than wrenching they will come to the same conclusions. Maybe it won't take them as much time & money as it did for me (although I have enjoyed the process)

[Ride4frnt]

Simple answer as to why I build mine is that Maryland is trying to make them illegal.

My very first was a HBAR bushmaster that i paid $400 for. No frills, carry handle, m4 stock, a2 front post, hand guard. Used that to plink with til I turned 21.

My first "build" was a stripped spikes lower that I built with a mil spec parts kit and CTR stock. Bought a complete spikes 14.5" mid upper w/pinned dynacomp with a magpul handguard and a vortex sparc. That's the gun I use primarily for range use and the HD gun.

Then built a 16" noveske barreled .300blk to be used for deer hunting. Wanted something a little beefier to carry around in the woods and get dinged up. Uses a magpul STR stock with a 12" seekins BAR and an AAC blackout flash hider for eventual suppressor use. This gun needs new optics as the scope it had wasn't cutting it.

Last build was a 18" build on a seekins billet lower and CMT billet upper. Use that as a mid-long range plinker/varmint gun when I take out groundhogs at the local ski resort (park truck at bottom of the mountain and lay in the bed and shoot up the mountain all day, dad is a manager there, that's how I swing that). The gun features a 18" black hole weaponry polygonal 5 groove rifling, geissele ssa-e trigger and rainier RAC brake with a 15" rainier force rail. Currently has a a2 stock but that will change when I decide on a different fixed stock, likely just a MOE fixed stock, maybe a LUTH stock.

Currently I'm in the middle of building a budget pistol. Anderson stripped lower, aero upper. Hex 2 buffer system and sb15 brace. Still need a barrel and hand guard, but the idea behind it is to do it as cheap as possible but still use quality parts. Right now I'm looking at about $800 when said and done. Will use a 10.5" barrel and kak flash can. Most likely a primary arms advanced micro dot with fortis mount. Will probably take the place as my main range plinker and hd gun depending on performance, and then I will do some modifications on the 14.5" spikes.

[mustangfreek]

What motivates me...hummm...just cruising thru this forum is all i need....

I might have a problem...lol

[Cobalt]

I sold my first "beginners" AR a couple of years go. Then built a setup just as "supposed" to be a top tier. (That was a load of BS). So I recently bought a BCM BFH 16in with the 13in KMR and now my AR is close to where I want it to be. Just need to pickup an Aimpoint H-1 in a LaRaue Mount and B5 Bravo in Wolf Gray.

[Cobalt]

What motivates me...hummm...just cruising thru this forum is all i need....

I might have a problem...lol

Don't we all?

[schambers]

I always start with a set of minimum requirements that I want a build to meet and work from there. In my latest build for example, I wanted a short rifle that had little recoil, little to no muzzle flash and reduced side concussion. This eventually lead me to the LVOA upper. Along with the SBR tax stamp I paid more than I really wanted to, but it fulfilled all the requirements better than any other setup I could find or put together. It's also locally made so I figured follow on support would be good as well.

I also aim to keep as many similarities as I can between systems and I usually buy from manufacturers that I'm familiar with. I try to keep an open mind towards new things or ideas but after buying, being issued or trying out more parts and systems than I can count, I've found what basic configurations work best for me.

This has eventually lead me to end up with DI gas systems, reasonably priced receivers, Bravo barrels, B5 butt stocks, Magpul pistol grips and Geiselle triggers in all my builds... With the exception of the LVOA build, I decided to put in a heavier single stage CMC trigger (I don't yet feel comfortable moving around in confined spaces with a light two stage).

I don't mean to sound like an ass but the majority of new attachments and bits don't get me very excited so once my builds are done they generally stay static, with the exception of optics. I mess with those a lot.


Fiddle-fart

[Calengor]

I will admit to aesthetics being original drivers on my early buys and builds. As time has progressed and I've learned things / matured, aesthetics still play a part in it, but form should follow function, and if it can do the job AND look good, then I'm all for it. If something looks awesome but doesn't do the job or doesn't do the job as well as something else, it's not getting used.

First Buy:

LWRCI M6A3. Heavy, threw every magpul thing I could find on it, didn't do anything a lighter, more balanced, DI rifle would do. Eventually sold it to buy a SCAR16, another rifle which wasn't doing anything for me personally that a DI AR could, that eventually got sold as well.

First Build:

Spikes Lower, used some take-off parts from the M6A3, an LWRCI LPK, and added a BCM Lightweight upper. The scope on it in this picture was just to demonstrate something to someone, it usually had an H1 on it. This was a step towards function only, but perhaps it lacked some aesthetics for my liking at the time. Sold this guy to get into a LaRue PredatAR in an effort to go as light weight as possible, but got laid off the day I sold it, so kept the money and didn't get the LaRue (I'd probably still be waiting for it several years later...)

Second Build 1.0:

Engage Armament Lower with LWRCI LPK, Centurion Arms upper. I took my first carbine class with this rifle. Still fairly KISS, preferred the rail to the MOE handguards, went down to 14.5" with pinned BC 1.5 for some recoil alleviation and OAL management. Sold this upper in order to get something without a fixed front sight.

Second Build 2.0:

Moved into a Geissele MK4 handguard for lighter weight and keeping rails only where I needed them, as well as getting rid of the fixed front sight. I never fired this upper and it's in the process of being sold. I regretted going from the awesome centurion barrel at 14.5" to an FN government profile 16" barrel. It also has a NiBor BCG, but I wasn't sure I needed it, since my regular BCM and CA BCGs do their job just fine.

Second Build 3.0:

14.5" ELW-F KMR upper from BCM. This will get the sling, T1, and a light pretty soon. The light weight of the KMR and ELW-F barrel make it very easy to point, less tiring, etc. The slim KMR profile is great for my hand size as well. The Gunfighter comp I got to try out recently and like how it felt plus it not being like most brakes. I don't think this rifle will change any more. Aesthetically, the KMR really had to grow on me, but after getting it in my hands and using it at an EAG tactical class it sold itself (even if I'd bought my upper almost immediately before leaving for class)

Two offshots:

First Built SBR, wanted something handier for inside the house that was also reliable. Went with Centurion Arms MK18 upper on a lower I put together myself. I sometimes wish I'd gone with an 11.5" upper instead of 10.5", but I wont be getting rid of the MK18 upper unless someone makes me a retarded high offer. The Geissele SD-C trigger is phenomenal, and eventually I plan on putting one of these in all of my rifles.


First bought SBR. Impulse purchase. Retarded short. Piston gun because at 8" DI isn't very reliable. Bought it mostly because it looks cool, coincidentally it also works well, so it has that going for it.


Where to go from here? Unfortunately in MD I can no longer build new ARs with anything other than a heavy barrel unless they're SBRs, so it's unlikely I'll build another rifle from scratch. I will eventually get a BCM pistol lower (still allowed, go figure) and throw an 11.5" KMR upper on it, mostly for ease of interstate travel vs. my SBRs.

[Ride4frnt]

I will admit to aesthetics being original drivers on my early buys and builds. As time has progressed and I've learned things / matured, aesthetics still play a part in it, but form should follow function, and if it can do the job AND look good, then I'm all for it. If something looks awesome but doesn't do the job or doesn't do the job as well as something else, it's not getting used.

First Buy:

LWRCI M6A3. Heavy, threw every magpul thing I could find on it, didn't do anything a lighter, more balanced, DI rifle would do. Eventually sold it to buy a SCAR16, another rifle which wasn't doing anything for me personally that a DI AR could, that eventually got sold as well.

First Build:

Spikes Lower, used some take-off parts from the M6A3, an LWRCI LPK, and added a BCM Lightweight upper. The scope on it in this picture was just to demonstrate something to someone, it usually had an H1 on it. This was a step towards function only, but perhaps it lacked some aesthetics for my liking at the time. Sold this guy to get into a LaRue PredatAR in an effort to go as light weight as possible, but got laid off the day I sold it, so kept the money and didn't get the LaRue (I'd probably still be waiting for it several years later...)

Second Build 1.0:

Engage Armament Lower with LWRCI LPK, Centurion Arms upper. I took my first carbine class with this rifle. Still fairly KISS, preferred the rail to the MOE handguards, went down to 14.5" with pinned BC 1.5 for some recoil alleviation and OAL management. Sold this upper in order to get something without a fixed front sight.

Second Build 2.0:

Moved into a Geissele MK4 handguard for lighter weight and keeping rails only where I needed them, as well as getting rid of the fixed front sight. I never fired this upper and it's in the process of being sold. I regretted going from the awesome centurion barrel at 14.5" to an FN government profile 16" barrel. It also has a NiBor BCG, but I wasn't sure I needed it, since my regular BCM and CA BCGs do their job just fine.

Second Build 3.0:

14.5" ELW-F KMR upper from BCM. This will get the sling, T1, and a light pretty soon. The light weight of the KMR and ELW-F barrel make it very easy to point, less tiring, etc. The slim KMR profile is great for my hand size as well. The Gunfighter comp I got to try out recently and like how it felt plus it not being like most brakes. I don't think this rifle will change any more. Aesthetically, the KMR really had to grow on me, but after getting it in my hands and using it at an EAG tactical class it sold itself (even if I'd bought my upper almost immediately before leaving for class)

Two offshots:

First Built SBR, wanted something handier for inside the house that was also reliable. Went with Centurion Arms MK18 upper on a lower I put together myself. I sometimes wish I'd gone with an 11.5" upper instead of 10.5", but I wont be getting rid of the MK18 upper unless someone makes me a retarded high offer. The Geissele SD-C trigger is phenomenal, and eventually I plan on putting one of these in all of my rifles.

First bought SBR. Impulse purchase. Retarded short. Piston gun because at 8" DI isn't very reliable. Bought it mostly because it looks cool, coincidentally it also works well, so it has that going for it.

Where to go from here? Unfortunately in MD I can no longer build new ARs with anything other than a heavy barrel unless they're SBRs, so it's unlikely I'll build another rifle from scratch. I will eventually get a BCM pistol lower (still allowed, go figure) and throw an 11.5" KMR upper on it, mostly for ease of interstate travel vs. my SBRs.

That has been a fine collection

[Cobalt]

I love my KMR, I hope to take my BCM Upper to the range here soon and test it out. I've never shot a midlength with a comp before. used to carbine length and a2 flash hider.

[rob_s]

One thing that stands out to me as a common thread here is how people' striving force changes when they go from safe-stuffer or model-builder to shooter. Some think that only means because:gunfight, but there are lots of different types of shooters, even when it comes to the AR. there's hunters, linkers, action competition shooters, bench rest (competition and just for fun) shooters, professional users (like active-duty cops and military), etc.

Having been around a lot of shooters for quite a long time, I have actually witnessed the transformation firsthand in a LOT of guys. Guys that come out to their first match wanting to show off their Multicam, NIB parts, and the skulls-head mag release button that very quickly start to seek out the better performing shooters and ask questions about the guns and gear that help them achieve those results.

I think building strictly for looks, or for something to do, or just to have something else in the safe is cool, it's just not for me. Sometimes it's hard to tell where one falls on the spectrum when they post "this is my SHTFantasy ulti-build" and then got on to list a bunch of parts that just don't meet with that goal.

[Computalotapus]

My first rifle was issued to me back in 92. Carried a M-203 for 4 years. In my eyes nothing will ever replace that weapon. But I am a civilian now and have no need for anything like that haha. For years I have wanted to get something similar to the 203 I carried while I was enlisted, but other things had priority and an AR was just a want. My wife knew I wanted another rifle and in 2013 for Father's Day I was given my S&W M&P 15 Mid Magpul MOE rifle. I had grand ideas of reliving my military years...those ideas were short lived. So I spent time re-familiarizing myself with the platform. During this time of re-familiarizing myself with the platform my wife showed interest and I had an interest in building a rifle.

So our first build was killing 2 birds with one stone so to speak. The rifle for her the joy of the build for me. We did a lot of research and asked what was the intended use of the rifle and what requirements needed to be met for her to be able to manipulate the weapon system. My wife is short 5' to be exact. So something compact and lightweight was in order. The intended use was something she could bench shoot at the range. UCWRG receiver set, BCM Lightweight Mid 14.5" barrel, Phase 5 Muzzle Brake to help with recoil and muzzle rise, CTR stock and a Phase 5 13" rail. Lightweight and compact. This has a 3x9 optic that we are T&E'n and will probably get a Harris Bi-Pod. But this is now her rifle to make the changes to.

With my build experience I was ready to look at what I wanted to try. I thought I would try my hand at some competition shooting and looked into what was available in my area. Current build is exactly for this purpose with a secondary purpose as my T&E platform for trying new things. We have 2 more builds that we want to do after this one. The wife would like a pistol build and I want to do an SBR/PDW build.

These forums are a huge source of information on new product and product reviews. The bloggers that frequent here motivate me to educate myself on products before jumping in with both feet. Other members here make me ask myself "do I need this or do I just want it, what purpose will it serve and does it improve performance and reliability".

When people ask me about building a rifle I direct them to WEVO and tell them before buying anything do your homework and that these forums are a huge source of knowledge.

[jim.bell]

I worked in a shop part time and bought a Bushy M-4 with an Aimpoint. I like it. Never had any issues with it, but admittedly I don't have 20,000 round through it. After the AWB expired, I installed a collapsing stock, and had the muzzle threaded for a flash suppressor. Why did I buy it? Well, 'cause I wanted it, all the other kids had one and I always wanted to be a cool kid.

Since my daughter was born 11 years ago, I've been slowly stashing parts away and building the rifle I wanted. Still a carbine, this time with a scope and float tube. One more month and it should be done except for deciding on the scope. Why this build? Well, because I want it. I want a rifle that I could use for moderated ranged varmints, range time, and daughter training. I think once this is complete, the bushy will get a rework, and maybe a .300 will be next. Wouldn't be a bad whitetail rifle...

The current build is how I found this place, a buddy showed me a Stickman picture and that led me to follow his page, which lead me to a link to this place, which lead me to...

I think I am saying that Stickman's images are a gateway drug...