Build An AR

Last year I was talking with master barrel maker Paul Craddock of Craddock Precision about Projekt 457. He mentioned a new barrel and gas system he had created specifically for SBR length-suppressed AR-15s. It sounded perfect for the Civilian Defensive Rifle and I was intrigued.

“Retro” ARs are neat rifles, and very interesting to research and build. Brownells did a really good job creating their likeness of the original AR-10. You can buy a complete BRN-10 rifle from them, should you prefer. But then you don’t have the fun of putting one together.

Virtually any part or component of an AR-15 can affect accuracy. Some will affect it more than others, but it can be tough to know where to start. In this article, I spell out six strategies for accurizing your AR-15.

If you have been hesitant to build an AR pistol, I hope this helps. Never have so many parts been available, and at mostly reasonable prices. I recommend you get yours ASAP, before the ATF figures out a way to reclassify them all as SBR’s.

Timney has been the top dog in providing quality replacement triggers for more than 71 years and I admit to being a fan. I haven’t taken a survey but I’d be willing to bet that more gunsmiths use Timney triggers than any other brand. They’re just that good. Timney has made another breakthrough in precision triggers with the custom fit of their Calvin Elite.

When deciding on the perfect optic for your AR build, the very first thing you need to do is match the performance window of the optic with the performance window of your rifle. And we’re here to help. Here’s a guide designed for those building their own AR-15s.

Proof that the AR-15 can be almost anything you want is easy to see in the wide selection of available stocks. Fixed? Adjustable? Minimalist? The choice is up to you. We’re here with some tips that will help you narrow down the list, and we’ll lay out everything you need to know when you build an AR-15.

In many ways, the upper and lower receivers on an AR-15 are just shells that hold pieces and parts together. But the barrel? Now we’re getting complex. How much you can expect from your rifle depends in large part on its barrel. Here are some things to look for and some answers to the complicated questions.

I’ve had lots of conversations with gun-geeks about barrels and lowers. We can talk triggers until we’re blue in the face. But I’ve yet to anyone truly debate the AR upper. Uppers are just not that sexy. But this is a crucial aluminum shell that holds some of the AR’s most active components. It can’t be overlooked!