I have been close to pulling the trigger on buying a Rock River Predator Pursuit or a Bushmaster predator model. I can get a Rock River fore around 900.00. at www.model1sales.com I can get a rifle kit with an E.R. Shaw barrel which with a separate stripped lower will get me into a flattop for around 660.00. Is there any reason to buy a completed rifle meaning are they more likely to be more accurate than one I build from parts?

I'm curious to see if anyone has built their own AR-15 and what their experiences are. It's definitely a way to save money but I don't know if that is money WELL saved.

Thanks

Hi H380, My experience with building an AR.

I bought the kit from model 1 a few years ago and I love mine, it is a great shooter and when friends saw and shot mine I have built over 6 guns from them now.

Mine was a varmint rifle, with Er Shaw

I bought lower reciever thru gun shop, mine was Star from Winchester Ky and I have had no problems with. 2 Ar's I have built, the guys were talked into buying the poly lowers and at first I didn't think that was a good idea and I don't believe anyone from AR15 thought so either but that was what they wanted so that was what they got, but now after a year they have not had any problems with them.


I printed how to assemble lower from AR15.com, gives pretty good details.

Before I assembled, I polished most parts with Dremel and flitz.

When I first put mine together and shot, the trigger was pretty stout, felt like 10 plus pounds so I bought the 3-4 lb trigger spring kit from JP Enterprises on the internet for like $10.00 and a bottle of their rycon grease and trigger is extremely smooth and easy to pull that I have never considered buying an aftermarket trigger.

Good Luck

kinda depends on your skill level at putting things together. AR's aren't that complicated, but if you have 9 or 10 thumbs then it's better to buy complete. Quality wise - I really think that todays AR's have been so refined over the years that you'd have to look hard to find a bad one. One are super refined like JP's but you pay another grand for them. Have fun and when you're done send zumbo a picture of it

If RR has what you want, go for it. If you want some specialty item or junk tree, do it yourself. Anyone can build one. They are very easy. I built mine. If I can do it anyone can.

Thanks for the responses.

Also, I was curious if companies do anything to accurizing to their their rifles. Meaning, am I missing out on accuracy by buying components from Model 1 sales and putting them together? Or is Rock River simple doing the same thing as I am (buying/making parts and assembling them) and charging us for it.

H380

I couldn't say about manufacture's assymbled guns, I don't think I haver ever seen an AR not shoot good. On the 20th I was testing a new load for my AR at 100yds and shot a 5 shot group .553" using used brass and the cheap winchester 55gr bullets.

sccm1,

What powder do you find to be the best? I'm thinking varget, benchmark, or one of the Ramshot powders

H380, that particular load on the 20th, was using 25.5gr of Varget, but it was also with military brass so I kept it tuned down. I am now trying to duplicate groups using Fed brass but with fed brass @ 25.5gr I had powder burns all over outside case, I'm now up to 25.8gr testing with fed brass and groups looking alot better.

I mostly use Benchmark with 40gr bullets.

25.5gr of Benchmark with 55gr Ballistic Tips. Great load for varmint popping.