Giving (or getting) quality Ammo for Christmas is not a bad idea. Having enough ammo to defend their family from a home invasion could be a life saver some day. Ammo Prices are coming down, yet many calibers are still hard to find. So if you have a few extra boxes of 30-30 or 410 (shotgun) ammo for example, giving one to a hunter friend could be a great gift.
Our 2020 Gift Ideas and Prepper Gift list are still worth considering, but with an emphasis on Ammo as a valuable gift for 2021.
From Cheaper Than Dirt: https://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/definitive-guide-building-ar-15/
This is a complete list of everything you need tobuild an AR-15 rifle. Underneath each component is a suggestion of products theCheaper Than Dirt! experts use or have used in the past on various builds for DIY ARs.
Of course, our recommendations are not exhaustive. There are so many different ways to configure an AR-15, from mass-produced cheap polymer lowers to mom-and-pop shops machining custom competition, match-grade parts.
Each AR-15 build is going to vary, depending on your reason for building the rifle. Be it a 9mm carbine, destroyer of pigs, long-range precision or simply just a fun firearm, this guide will lead you in the right direction.
The 27 Parts Needed for DIY ARs
Here’s an infographic that quickly shows the parts needed to build an AR. Read more details about each component below (orclick here to skip the infographic).
1. Stripped Lower Receiver
Thestripped lower receiveris the serial numbered part of the firearm. Buying the lower receiver works the exact same way as buying a completed firearm. AR-15 stripped lower receivers must ship to an FFL dealer. You will have to pass the federal background check before taking possession of a stripped lower.
To assemble the AR-15 stripped lower, you will need 31 different parts, including the trigger, bolt catch, springs, pivot and takedown down pins, selector switch and hammer. The most convenient way to get all of these parts is by purchasing a full AR-15 lower parts kit.
The kits include all 31 items, including a pistol grip and trigger. However, some items you will probably want to discard from the pre-packaged kit and purchase as separate upgrades.
Located behind the trigger guard and at the back of the rifle is thepistol grip. You grasp this with one hand to aid in shooting the rifle. A basic pistol grip is usually included in the lower parts kit, but many find aftermarket grips fit their hand better.
You may use a fully contained trigger unit or individual parts. Fire control group parts are included in the basic lower parts kits. Our experts like to replace the standard trigger group with a match-quality trigger.
Thebolt carrier group holds and moves the bolt. It also resets the hammer. The bolt carrier group includes the bolt carrier, complete bolt, firing pin, carrier pin and gas key.
The gas key feeds gas from the gas tube into the carrier and bolt. The bolt carrier group holds the majority of the gas pressure when the AR-15 is fired. It is what makes the AR-15 function and an essential, if overlooked piece. Read more about the bolt carrier group here.
Here’s a video example of field stripping the bolt carrier group:
9. Buffer
The buffer slows down the bolt on the AR-15, absorbs recoil and reduces wear on the rifle. Buffers come in two different sizes, either rifle or carbine and in four different weights from lightest—the standard—to the heaviest, called an H3 buffer. For an AR-15 chambered in .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO, use the heaviest buffer that allows your rifle to function and consistently lock the rifle’s bolt back.
The type of stock you chose for your AR will determine the size of the buffer you buy. For an A1/A2 fixed stock, purchase a rifle buffer. For a collapsible or adjustable stock, buy a carbine buffer. If you are building your AR in 9mm, you will need to buy a 9mm-specific buffer assembly.
The buffer tube holds the buffer spring and buffer. Buffer tubes come in three sizes—rifle, MIL-SPEC carbine and commercial carbine. Choose the right size for your DIY ARs’ stock.
The buffer tube holds the buffer spring and buffer — essential for DIY ARs.
Here’s a video example of installing the buffer tube:
11. Buffer Spring
The buffer spring brings the bolt of the rifle forward, allowing the gun to fire follow-up shots. Rifle stocks—A1 and A2—as well as carbine buffer springs, are different sizes.
Thegas blockdirects gases from the barrel to the gas tube and back into the AR-15’s receiver, allowing it to complete the cycling process so another round will fire.
Gases are directed from the gas block to the bolt carrier via thegas tubes. Gas tubes vary in length, coming in rifle, mid-length, carbine and pistol lengths.
16. Upper Receiver
TheAR-15 upper receiverholds the forward assist, spring and pin, the ejection port cover, the charging handle, barrel and bolt carrier group. There are many choices when it comes to putting together your upper receiver for DIY ARs.
You can purchase a complete upper receiver assembly that includes the barrel, an upper receiver that has no barrel, but includes the ejection port cover and forward assist, or you can buy a stripped upper receiver that is just the metal housing for all the parts.
The upper receiver parts kit includes the ejection port door, spring, forward assist parts and sometimes the charging handle. It typically does not include the bolt or carrier.
Thecharging handle moves the bolt carrier that is inside the upper receiver. Its primary function is to pull the bolt carrier back or to aid in clearing a malfunction.
AR-15 stocksare either adjustable or fixed. Depending on where you live, an adjustable or collapsible stock is illegal. The AR-15 stock goes on the back of the rifle and allowing you to shoulder it.
Thehandguards go around the barrel of the AR-15. It is where you can add accessories and grip your rifle. Handguards are also referred to as the forend, foregrip or forearm. They protect your hands from burning on a hot barrel.
Handguards come in different sizes according to the gas system you choose for your AR-15—rifle, mid-length, carbine and pistol length handguards. When picking out the parts for your rifle, the gas tube will also come in rifle, mid-length, carbine or pistol lengths. Whichever your gas tube is, buy that size handguard.
There are free-float and standard handguards.Standard handguardswill touch the rifle’s barrel, whilefree-floating handguardswill not. Free-floating handguards are more difficult to install than standard, but you will get slightly better accuracy at longer distances using free-float handguards.
They also are either smooth or have rails on them.Handguardsserve a valid function, however, and many people buy them purely on their aesthetic value.
The delta ring assembly includes the delta ring, weld spring and snap ring. If you choose free-float handguards, you will not need a delta ring assembly.
AR-15 upper receiverscome in two different types, either an A2 or A3 (flat top). Its fixed carry handle with integratediron sightscharacterizes the A2 upper receiver.
The A3 flat top upper has no carry handle, but does have a Picatinny rail installed. The A3 flat top upper allows you to add sights and optics, while the A2 (carry handle upper) does not.
There are two types ofmuzzle devices. You may put either a muzzle brake—sometimes called a compensator—or flash suppressor/flash hider on your rifle.
The muzzle brake helps reduce recoil and muzzle rise while the flash hider suppresses the visible flash from the barrel when the rifle is fired. Some states restrict flash suppressors for DIY ARs, but may allow muzzle brakes. Check your local laws before ordering.
