Nowadays, AR15 is one of the most popular weapons for firearm community in the US. The primary reason is that you can build one right in your home with a simple instruction downloaded from the internet.
Before building one, you have to balance out all of your bills or else, so that you can save enough for all the parts. But, are you sure you even know exactly how much should you save? Because the amount of money you should spend on a rifle is usually up entirely to your choice of weapon.
So, for an AR15, ARFCOM has approved the budget for two kinds of high-end builds, that’s what we will spread out in this piece.
Components For Building Your Own AR15
In the course of choosing parts for your rifle, it would be beneficial for you if you have a complete list of everything you could need to build. Whether you pick some parts or not, knowing thoroughly about your firearms would prove their worth in the future, especially after your first rifle, and you decide to build the next one.
- Stripped Lower Receiver
- Lower Parts Kit
- Pistol Grip
- Fire Control Group (Trigger)
- Selector
- Bolt Catch
- Magazine Release
- Bolt Carrier Group
- Buffer
- Buffer Tube
- Buffer Spring
- Barrel
- Barrel Nut
- Gas Block
- Upper Receiver
- Upper Receiver Parts Kit
- Charging Handle
- Gas Tube
- Stock
- Handguards
- Delta Ring Assembly
- Sights
- Handguard Cap
- Muzzle Device
- Magazines
- Optics
- Extras
The Cost Of Building An AR15
(according to the ARFCOM)
For A Lower High-end Build
- Cold metal transfer (CMT) Stag Arms/Denny’s GTS: it costs $105
- Stag arms lower parts kit: you can get this in your local store at around $65
- Vltor carbine mods stock kit: the price can vary from $155 to $197 depends on which website you order it from
- MagPul Mission ADaptable (MIAD) grip: it can cost around $45
Therefore, the total amount of money you should spend on building a lower high-end AR15 is $370 - $412. Also, for this kind of build, you can check out some complete kit, as it often costs under $600, and you don’t have to worry about choosing correct parts.
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For An Upper High-end Build
- (CMT) Stag upper receiver: it comes at surprisingly $95
- High-end quality 4150 steel, chrome lined mil-spec barrel: this part is usually among the expensive ones, so you will have to spend at least $325
- CMT or Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) Machine Pistol (MP) tested Bolt Carrier Group (BCG): these can cost up to $130
- LaRue or Daniel Defense 4 rail handguard: (another more expensive parts) $300
- Troy rear Back Up Iron Sight (BUIS): $120
- 512 EoTech Holographic weapon sight (HWS): non-night vision HWS, which costs $350
- Miscellaneous parts (pistol-grip firearms, starter guns, and firearm frames and receivers, etc.): you should expect it a bit over $200
ARFCOM concluded the total at approx. $1520 for an upper high-end AR15.
Must-have Parts
Although building your own rifle means you get to decide how much you want to spend on the parts you will use to assemble, that still doesn’t deny the truth that some components are not interchangeable, including:
Barrel
Considering which kinds of barrels to use for your rifle can be confusing, especially for beginners.
Not just having the comfortable feeling in your hands, but it also has to meet all requirements for the model of AR15 you want to build. Therefore, spending time finding the right barrel would serve you well in the future.
The prices for regular models vary from $80 to $1000, depending on what you’re looking for in your rifle.
Trigger
Technically, the trigger should be the first thing you look at when building a rifle since it is the part giving you the control and feels. Finding the right trigger, which can cost up to $500, is crucial to rifle enthusiasts.
In The End, It’s Up To You
I can go on and on and on about the pros and cons of building and buying an AR15, and the cost of building it. But, you know what, in the end, it’s still your choice. You’ve got to do what you think is right.
So, what will you choose? Tell us more in the comments below!
I am Jerry Gonzalez, and my heart beats for the great outdoors, especially in the breathtaking landscapes of Helena, Montana. Engaging with fellow enthusiasts online and at local hunting clubs has been a rewarding experience, and I find great joy in sharing knowledge and experiences with like-minded individuals. My goal is to empower my fellow hunters with well-informed choices, regardless of their experience level.