Building your own AR-15 has been a thing for some time now. Sometimes the process is referred to as Legos for adults — which isn’t exactly accurate — and sometimes it’s considered a rite of passage. As a result, even if you’re not a hardcore fan of the AR-15 you might be considering building one. We’re going to talk about the pros and cons of building your own AR-15 and when it’s worth it — as well as when it’s worth a pass.
How hard is it to build an AR-15?
The answers you’ll get regarding how hard it is to build an AR-15 are going to vary from extremely easy to pretty simple. Basically, no one is going to come out and say it might be tough. But the reality is that there are certain parameters that must be met, especially for it to be a functional, reliable AR-15. While you could just sit down and throw a gun together with a wrench, channel locks, and a rag for padding, it’s not recommended. Here’s the truth about the difficulty of building one of these rifles.
To build a safe, reliable gun that’s worth the investment, you’re going to need to have the correct tools and do your homework. All components are not created equally. You really shouldn’t get parts like a barrel nut or trigger pins from just any manufacturer. You want your build to last and to stand up to dedicated use, right? That means that while the basics of assembly are not particularly challenging, doing it correctly takes a little more know-how and a better collection of tools and parts. It’s not a great plan to cut corners on your AR build.
What does it mean to build an AR-15?
What it really means to build an AR-15 might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised. There are some who believe buying pre-assembled upper and lower receivers and simply connecting them is building an AR-15 (spoiler alert: it’s not). You don’t necessarily need to start with an 80% lower — although that doesn’t hurt — but at the least, you’re going to want to begin with a stripped upper and lower. That means installing all those tiny pins and springs yourself. Once you get the hang of it, the process speeds up, but it still takes attention to detail. It also requires things like a torque wrench and, hopefully, a good vise with an AR mag block so you can properly secure the gun during the build.
What is an AR-15 build used for?
You can use your AR-15 build for anything. They’re great for hunting, training, range time, and even home defense. Just keep in mind that if you intend to use them for self-defense purposes, you need to take that into consideration as you buy parts. It might sound boring, but it’s wise to consider how a certain feature would look if it became an exhibit in court. This goes for extremely light triggers, too. If your AR-15 build is going to be for defensive use, try to stick to a trigger pull weight along the lines of what you’d get from the factory version.
Is it cheaper to build an AR-15?
Generally speaking, no, it’s not cheaper to build an AR-15 rather than buying one that’s ready to go out of the box. When you build, you’re paying for every tiny piece, one at a time, and you’re probably going to end up wanting higher-end parts for the sake of quality. You might save money buying one from the factory unless we’re talking about custom ARs that naturally cost quite a bit more to begin with. Of course, even if you justify the expense by saying it’s no worse than a custom build from a manufacturer, remember, you’re going to have to send that gun out for a Cerakote finish when you’re done (assuming the snazzy finish was part of the appeal for you).
Of course, when you build it yourself you’re getting the exact gun you want. When you buy one from the factory, you’re far more likely to end up swapping out parts, even when it’s technically a custom rifle.
What are the pros of building your own AR-15?
We feel there are too many pros of building an AR-15 to even list, but we took a shot at compiling a list. These are some of the pros of taking the time, energy, and investment of money to build your own AR-15:
- You can get exactly the gun you want.
- You are able to choose each and every part, one by one, right down to the pins.
- As you go, you will learn more about the platform.
- Building your own firearm is satisfying.
- You can change your mind along the way.
- It’s easy to swap out parts after the fact because you know how it’s done.
- You can choose whatever caliber you want with whatever features you prefer.
- You can make your gun for a niche purpose.
There are a lot of pros to making your own AR-15, but that doesn’t mean it’s all good.
What are some of the cons of making your own AR-15?
Yes, we must admit there are a few downsides to building an AR-15. Here are some of the cons:
- Parts can become cost-prohibitive.
- Building an AR-15 requires an investment in an assortment of tools you only use for this purpose.
- The project is best done in a designated spot, so you need room for a vise, among other things.
- You do need an understanding of how it all fits together.
- It is time-consuming compared to one that is ready to go out of a box.
Should you build your own AR-15?
For the most part, the pros outweigh the cons of building your own AR-15. If you’re willing to invest the time and money into it, building your own gun is rewarding. Sure, it takes some research and know-how, but the end result is worth it. Of course, if you prefer to just get a gun that’s ready to shoot out of the box, we understand that, too. Building an AR-15 isn’t for everyone.
Why build an AR-15?
This might seem like a continuation of the pros of building an AR-15, and in some ways it is. You can benefit quite a bit from building an AR-15 yourself. When you build something from the start, you gain a far greater understanding of how it works, and that means it’s a lot easier to fix it if something goes wrong. The fact that it also gives you the ability to choose all your parts is fantastic because it removes the need for all those aftermarket accessories you mess with on a new rifle. There’s also no timeline on a build. It can take you one month or one year, it’s entirely your choice. If you’d like to put together a high-end build, you can just do it piece by piece until you have everything you need on hand.
When you build your own AR-15, the sky is the limit for features. You can create a hunting rifle, range gun, precision rifle — you can build it for whatever you need the gun to do.
Have you built your own AR-15? Share your experiences in the comments.
