I just got my first AR about a month and a half ago, so I am no expert on the platform
this is more of a newbie's experience with building a basic AR
so if you were thinking about building one, it wasn't that hard, didn't need a lot of tools, just took some patients was all
parts are:
Aero precision lower
PSA lower build kit
upper is a 16" barrel with 13" keymod rail, free floated.
BCG is spikes tactical
generic charging handle

as you can tell, its not a precision build
I just want it to function well, and be a back up AR
I have 2 more lowers, this one is just the one I'm doing first.
I'm just building the lower and dropping in a built upper, so thats my focus.

Pic of all the parts


I am using this as a reference:
http://quarterbore.com/library/pdf_files/assemblealower.pdf
nice to have something on paper, it is very informative

also using this from youtube.
this was more inforormative.  nothing beats video for instruction.








instructions say it takes 30-60 minutes to build the lower.  haha, not this time.
most of my time was looking on the ground for the spring and detent which flew across the room a few times
also using painters tape on the lower to protect it against scratches was a smart move.

first I installed the mag release, bolt catch/release, trigger guard, and pivot pin.
trigger guard and pivot pin took some time.
that pivot pin spring and detent was a SOB to get in there without it flying across the room.




finished everything yesterday
heres pics of how it progressed
next time should be way easier bc now i kind of know what to expect
I have the magpul pop up sights and an optic to put on
just need to clean the barrel and bolt a little and install the optics and i'm ready to shoot!!!
everything functions perfectly, I'm very satisfied with my first build!









List of AR parts and weights
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_118/638524_Lightweight_Parts_List_with_WEIGHTS__AR_15_.html

Bolt catch install with pliers instead of pin punch

SNIP

instructions say it takes 30-60 minutes to build the lower.  haha, not this time.
most of my time was looking on the ground for the spring and detent which flew across the room a few times
also using painters tape on the lower to protect it against scratches was a smart move.

I was warned about that when I built my first lower.  Luckily, the only thing that happened when I built my lower was a detent pin rolled off the counter my buddy and I were working on.  His wife heard the sound of metal hitting the floor and was like "uh oh, did you lose a piece?".  Found out that my buddy had launched a pin or two on a previous build.   

Like you said, having gone through it once, you certainly know a few tricks and stuff to make things easier the next go around.   

battle arms pins come with little magnets. those help. after the 5th or 6th lower i just started using bamboo skewers instead of a metal punch.the thin tip has just enough give to let the pin slide over the detent enough. also doesnt scratch the pin or the lower like a punch would.

battle arms pins come with little magnets. those help. after the 5th or 6th lower i just started using bamboo skewers instead of a metal punch.the thin tip has just enough give to let the pin slide over the detent enough. also doesnt scratch the pin or the lower like a punch would.

bamboo skewers is a good idea.

Good job! Looks nice!!

I bought a no mar upper receiver holder thing for a vise. It has these pins that go into the receiver to lock it down. I used those to install my pivot receiver pin thingy. Hard to explain how I did it by typing. Basically insert the no mar pin through, then through the hole on the pin, I put the spring and detent in with a punch. After I  rotated the no mar pins to hold it in place then slid the regular pin on. There's a YouTube video somewhere where u use a special screw with holes. Can get it at Home Depot for under a dollar I believe but I just used what I had lol. It took me 1 minute for 1 then less than 10 seconds for the other lowers I made after I knew what I was doing. I pieced 3 complete lowers and kept exchanging parts. And made 4 uppers. All have been sold except my newest x39 ar15. I enjoyed it. Fun ain't it?


Edit: it's called a Clevis pin from Home Depot and it's about 2 bucks. The no mar upper receiver holder comes with something similar to that so it was cherry. I don't remember if I opened the hole up for it just a bit. It's been a while.. Anyways the video is by readygunner on YouTube. Title was ... Quick and easy install pivot receiver pin. Sorry I can't paste the vid via my phone. Don't see any url from YouTube app. Lol. Damn old iPhone ! If you do plan on getting it you need the upper receiver holder. Cause it acts like a lower receiver. Just an FYI and hope this helps you or anyone else who wants to make life easier where it can be made..

Nice looking rifle and good job on assembling the lower.   
I'm waiting on 2 lowers myself so good to see your thread.   I'll also remember the bamboo skewer sticks for the bolt catch install, thanks.

Nice work!  I really enjoyed putting my AR together.  I somehow managed not to launch any pins, but I did get a couple of them confused and had a pretty squishy safety detent until I figured it out.

Now I'm getting the itch to start another one.  .308, maybe...?   

added magpul backup sights, and primary arms 5x prism scope with acss reticle

 

What additions or mods do you have in mind? 

...that pivot pin spring and detent was a SOB to get in there without it flying across the room.

I keep a gallon size ziploc in my toolbox for this very reason.  Even while using a dedicated tool to install the spring, detent, and pin, I still do the entire process inside of the ziploc, which has saved me at least once from launching the spring and detent into oblivion.  I also picked up a spare parts kit off amazon, just in case, and it came with the tool that I use.  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B019YPZPQK/?tag=2ahawaii-20.  Great job with the assembly and nice rifle!   

What additions or mods do you have in mind?

which upper did you use, stang?

which upper did you use, stang?

its a Radical FIrearms 16" socom upper, with 13" Seekins free float keymod rail
was on sale during Christmas time, for $299 without BCG and CH
i added spikes BCG, with generic charging handle.  which were also on sale at the time.
we'll see what it does at the range

What additions or mods do you have in mind? 

not much more, maybe a bipod.
i also have a griffin armament muzzle brake that i want to put on, or might save it for another build.  can use griffin suppressor that just snaps onto the griffin muzzle brake, but can't use that here anyway. 
the muzzle brake alone looks pretty nice, and supposed to help with muzzle rise a little better, although 556 isnt too bad anyways, I'll admit its mostly for the looks.   
but i dont want too much on the rifle. i like it simple and light.

I keep a gallon size ziploc in my toolbox for this very reason.  Even while using a dedicated tool to install the spring, detent, and pin, I still do the entire process inside of the ziploc, which has saved me at least once from launching the spring and detent into oblivion.  I also picked up a spare parts kit off amazon, just in case, and it came with the tool that I use.  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B019YPZPQK/?tag=2ahawaii-20.  Great job with the assembly and nice rifle!   

good idea with the ziploc.
i also thought of doing that part inside a big box, so it'll hold the spring inside if it gets loose, but hopefully it wont get loose

I'd like to see a review and your thoughts on that primary arms scope after you use it for a while. 

I'd like to see a review and your thoughts on that primary arms scope after you use it for a while.

I have the primary arms 1-6x24 on my other AR
had it for over a month, shot it a few times
I really like the acss reticle:  BDC, distance estimation, adjustment for wind and for moving targets, illuminated
distance is based on the height of a human (5'10", or shoulder width 18")
calibrated for 556, 308, 5.45
no need to do any math for mils, all the adjustments are right on the reticle
its so good, trijicon is going to use the acss reticle as one of their options on their new acog's
the primary arms one, at less than $300 is a bargain.  the glass looks pretty good too, its not top of the line leupold glass, but at that price it'll be very tough to match

but I'll give a better review after i shoot it more, and give a comparison between the 1-6 and the fixed power 5x prism scope
but overall i'm diggin' the acss reticle, very user friendly.

a couple of vids that explain the acss reticle very well:

I have been thinking about getting a Primary Arms Micro Dot for a beater AR or AK.  They seem to get decent reviews.  A buddy has one on his AR in 300 BLKOUT, but I haven't shot it much. 

I have been thinking about getting a Primary Arms Micro Dot for a beater AR or AK.  They seem to get decent reviews.  A buddy has one on his AR in 300 BLKOUT, but I haven't shot it much.

I have their micro dot on my arsenal AK, with a RS scope mount, and its screwed into the mount.
that thing holds zero great.
I like that red dot a lot.

I have their micro dot on my arsenal AK, with a RS scope mount, and its screwed into the mount.
that thing holds zero great.
I like that red dot a lot.

I have a SM-13 mount for my Arsenal AK that is awaiting an optic.  So would be pretty much the same setup.  Damn you!  You're inspiring me to bring that project back to the front burner!   

I toyed around with an EoTech 512 that I had that wasn't on a gun and it was too high for using with the standard/stock buttstock.  That's when I started looking into something more low profile.  I have Aimpoint micros on a couple other ARs, but I didn't want to spend the $500-600 on one for my AK.  I should just spring for the Aimpoint micro for the AK, but at $100-200 range for the Primary Arms micro dots, they seem more and more attractive. 

I'd like to see a review and your thoughts on that primary arms scope after you use it for a while.

went to Kokohead today, tested out the rifle and the optic, and backup iron sights
rifle functioned perfectly, as far as shooting at kokohead goes
I didn't put it through a torture test, but seems to run good

as far as the optic goes:
i really like the acss reticle.  i'm somewhat familiar with it from my other rifle with the 1-6x24 primary arms.
reticle works the same, and its about just as accurate as the other scope
but, i prefer the 1-6x 24 bc of the longer eye relief
this 5x prism scope has a shorter relief, about 2 inches, whereas the 1-6x24 has about 3-3.5 inch relief which really makes a big difference to me
and how the 1-6 sits on the rifle puts it slightly rearward vs the 5x prism scope so I have to come up closer to view the sight picture, its a little un-natural to me.
it still works well and is accurate, i just prefer the 1-6 much better

heres a couple pics from the range today
I am no sharpshooter, and accuracy isn't what this build is about, but you gotta sight in your rifle so this is what i got today
from 50 yards while still adjusting the scope:


average groups were around 3 inches or so, mostly using 55 grain FMJ 5.56 magtech ammo
best group at 100 yard was this one using 62 grain green tips, disgard the left shot, doesn't count.   



overall i'm very satisfied with the build, works perfectly
just need to sight it in better and get used to shooting it
and see if the scope holds zero over time

update:
spent a little time yesterday during superbowl commercials to shoulder the rifle and practice with the optic
and its not bad at all, just a slightly shorter relief than my other scope
i gues i got spoiled bc the other scope has a nice long relief
but this one is pretty good too, just needed some practice was all. 

forgot to specify the above 2nd pic is from 100 yards, while the 1st pic is 50 yards