AR-15 BS Thread

Has anyone not torqued a barrel nut, but tightened it by hand enough to know it was past 30 ft/lbs? I’ve got a crows foot ordered to torque it with, but I know the nut is tightened to at least 30 ft/lbs. Just curious! I wish all these barrel nuts were the same size.

 

I've never actually torqued an AR barrel nut. 30ft-lbs really is not much so it's not hard to know you are past it. Get it snugged up by hand and it's not much more to hit 30.

What nut are you doing that needs a crows foot? All the ones I've used had a tool with a 1/2" drive square cut in them

 

I don’t know the brand of the hand guard, but it needs a 1 3/16” wrench to tighten the nut. I don’t have the tool, so I’m gonna use one of these with a torque wrench.

 

Me neither. I could probably get them within the 30-80 foot pound "milspec" window using my feet.

 

Interesting. But least the crows foot isnt to expensive! I'd personally only use the torque wrench to hit the 30ft-lb if you so choose. Then just a regular 1/2" drive ratchet/breaker bar to line it up. Well assuming you are needing to line up holes for the gas tube. If not then it doesnt matter to much lol.

 

Afternoon all...
I apologize but I'm gonna do it...
I would like to get an AR15. I don't know much, and I've dove into this thread just to peek around.
I've shot one once or twice a few years back and loved it.
I got a little cash burning a hole in my pocket and was debating some interior mods on my Taco, then thought... I could get an AR!?
Is there anything on the market in the $500 range that you think would be worth it, or should I shimmy away another $500 before I look into getting one.

I'd really like to customize it slowly and really like the desert sand color...
I dont know much about which brand is best, mid and bottom, so thought I'd just throw out my idea and see what bites I get.

Smooches.

 

If you're looking for something inexpensive, go for a PSA. You can get a lower from anywhere if you want to build over buy. I'd get a Lewis lower and BCM upper if I were to build one. That being said, I have DD for mine. They all go bang. Just depends on the level of finish you want.

 

$500 is going to be a tough target to hit IMO.

But you could grab a Palmetto State Armory basic AR for 500-550. You'd still need (maybe) a sight and then taxes and transfer fee.

But your best bet....go to your local gun store and check out what they have. Talk to them and they can order you something. If you dont know on brand just take down the model number and brand and ask here.

 

Get a good quality lower ASAP. Since it is the only serialized part, requiring papers and da' gubment. You don't need to spend a ton to get one with all the bell's and whistles. I get the impression that you aren't in any gigantic hurry to complete the project. Get the redtape out of the way and just hunt deals on really nice components to complete. You would be surprised how inexpensively you can build a high end custom unit to your own specs and know every part in it. M2C's

 

Thank you, that is very helpful, this is a concept I can get behind.

 

Might check your local pawn shops as well. I actually use a local one to ship lowers to, and they always have plenty in stock, most looking relatively new or well cared for. Might depend on your location, but I'd think Idaho would have a good selection. I have some PSA pistol builds that probably came out in the $600-ish range without optics.

 

• $370 for the entire upper, lower parts kit, and furniture: https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...o-1-7-nitride-moe-fde-rifle-kit-77932973.html
• $50 for the lower receiver (note this will require shipment to an FFL): https://palmettostatearmory.com/pa-15/blem-psa-ar-15-m4-carbine-stripped-lower-receiver.html
• $90 for a decent red dot sight: https://palmettostatearmory.com/sig-sauer-romeo-msr-2moa-red-dot-black-sor72001.html
• $12 for a magazine: https://palmettostatearmory.com/magpul-pmag-30-5-56x45-magazine-mag571-blk.html
• $8 for a box of ammo: https://palmettostatearmory.com/pmc-223a-55gr-fmj-20rd-box.html

You're shooting at the range for $530. Figure between $20-$30 for your FFL transfer and those costs above don't include tax or shipping. Also you'd definitely want more than 1 mag and 1 box of ammo, but I just included them for comparison sake.

PSA is good stuff. Definitely not top of the line, but comes with a lifetime warranty and I've never had any issues out of the ~4 of them I've helped assemble over the years.

 

PSA has some deals on their classic M4 kits right now. $350 gets you a basic rifle kit minus rear sight and stripped lower. $410 will get you a similar kit with all Magpul furniture and a rear sight.

I've built a number of PSA rifle kits on Aero and S&W lowers. All shoot fine, if not as well as Colts and BCMs I've had in the past. Definitely better than any $1500 Sig rifle I've ever owned. PSA is considered a budget/entry level offering, but MAC (Military Arms Channel on YouTube) did a factory tour recently and he was legitimately impressed. Their quality control equipment and procedures are beyond what most other manufacturers use.

 

Appreciate this.

 

PSA sounds like the way to go for my budget and novice expertise. Thank you for this.

 

Careful. I started with a PSA upper and built out a stripped lower. Then another one. Then a full build with much more expensive hand-picked parts.

 

Yeah. PSA is a gateway drug

 

And down the rabbit hole he goes.

 

Look at Radical Firearms also. They got a bad wrap in the beginning but doing most everything in house now and QC has been way upgraded. Look at a RF15 it was my first AR I have about 1000 rounds through it so far and no issues.

 

Depending on your state, private purchase is really the way to go if you want most bang for your buck (literally and figuratively). In Georgia we have TheOutdoorsTrader.com that makes it extremely easy to B/S/T locally, i’ve done over 20+ local deals myself through that website alone. Also, no FFL fee or gubmit nonsense when purchasing privately.