I built my first AR/M4 last night

[drmitchgibson]

Del-Ton upper, Spike's lower, DPMS small parts kit, unknown stock. It all seems like really good quality. The stencil for automatic fire on the lower is kinda cool, too.

I got this kit from Cold Hand, and it was interesting to put together. Steve was out of rear sights, which kind of stunk, but selling out your inventory means business is good, so no real complaints. He didn't have too much to say about the chrome-lined vs. chrome-moly barrel, except that chrome-moly lasts longer, so that's what I got. It was also $50 cheaper, and that helped, too. I also got two windowed PMAGs, in spite of the trend back toward metal mags. The AR15.com build page was lacking big-time with regard to assembling the trigger and hammer assemblies and their pin orientation, but I also found a link there to a lower receiver breakdown guide. Being a skull man, I liked that the only lowers Steve had were engraved and filled with the Punisher skull. Cold Hand is a nice little place, and I'm going back in the future.

Guess it's time to get some AR tools. And shoot this thing!

 

[jtischauser]

Nice build!!!

Next time your at Cold Hand Arms tell Steve you would like to see him on Boomer Shooter too please

 

[ocphy]

looks good! I love putting lowers together

 

[drmitchgibson]

Nice build!!!

Next time your at Cold Hand Arms tell Steve you would like to see him on Boomer Shooter too please

I did name drop BoomerShooter while there, because I haven't seen him here either. Told him this is where I got the encouragement to do the build for an entry 3Gun rifle. Segue, I'll probably just use my Saiga 12 when I start in, since I have 3 mags, the other two guns required, and nobody seems to want to part with an M1/M2.

 

[csiedmond1]

Nice shooter/build. I just built one myself a couple weeks ago!

 

[jtischauser]

and nobody seems to want to part with an M1/M2.

I have a full race packaged M1 in the safe that may be looking for a new home and I have a 21" M1 on the UPS truck that definately needs a new home. How soon do you need one?

 

[Matthew77]

Plus one for ColdHandArms Steve defiantly has the a good shop and customer service.

 

[Matt1911]

Steve at Cold Hand Arms is an asshole........ He won't let my wallet keep money inside of it.

 

[drmitchgibson]

I have a full race packaged M1 in the safe that may be looking for a new home and I have a 21" M1 on the UPS truck that definately needs a new home. How soon do you need one?

Don't know. I posted my Saiga 12 on OSA to trade or help fund one, but the ad got deleted during the outage, as well as some of my PMs. I can't afford one without selling or trading my Saiga 12. I haven't relisted it yet there or here. I'm also waiting on my FM-90 to be sighted-in to post for sale/trade as well.

 

[jtischauser]

Don't know. I posted my Saiga 12 on OSA to trade or help fund one, but the ad got deleted during the outage, as well as some of my PMs. I can't afford one without selling or trading my Saiga 12. I haven't relisted it yet there or here. I'm also waiting on my FM-90 to be sighted-in to post for sale/trade as well.

Keep me posted.

 

[Pliskin]

Looks good! Assembling your own lower is very rewarding and fun. I should have my first AR done tomorrow. It's a 16" spikes mid length, an RRA lower/LPK, CTR stock, and Magpul BUIS. I highly recommend the Magpul rear sight. Check out joeboboutfitters.com for AR parts they have great prices and fast shipping. Boomer shooter members get 5% off the entire order and orders over $90 get free shipping.

 

[drmitchgibson]

Thanks for the tip on BoomerShooter discounts. It's range report time: 40 rounds, to sight-in, at H&H, 30 yards. I got a YHM BUIS from my brother, and the gun started out shooting 7-1/2" low @ 30 yds. I didn't have a front sight tool (big mistake, get one when you buy your first AR) and had to use two cartridges to adjust the sight (total suckbomb). Ran the front sight down a small handful of turns over-all. Ended up @ 2-1/2" low @ 30yds, and decided to keep going to zero @ 30. Why? Because I have no idea what the average shot distance is in 3Gun, and it seemed reasonable. I'll find out later whether this needs changing. Ol' Mitchy Mitch hasn't been too comfortable using peep sights thus far, but I did get used to it after several rounds experimenting with stock position/cheek weld. Still not sure what stock position I'll use. I purchased windowed PMAGs with the rifle, and they performed very well, although it was severely disappointing not to load them chock full of bullets.
I did stop by Cold Hand to ask about AR tools and a heat shield. Steve checked my handguards, tightened my stock nut, and we shot the breeze for a bit with another shooter. Name-dropped BoomerShooter a crapload of times for my fellow gun people.

 

[redneck1861]

You are gonna end up hating that AR, there are way too many accessories that you are gonna want to buy. and then you are gonna have to feed it alot.

Glad to see you took it out to shoot as soon as you built it.