Building vs Buying Your First AR-15

Building vs Buying Your First AR-15

When entering the market for an AR-15 for the first time, there are two options you’re usually faced with regarding the approach. You can either buy a complete rifle built by a manufacturer or you can assemble a rifle by acquiring all of the necessary components. There are pros and cons to each option which makes the decision even more difficult for those without any knowledge of the AR-15 platform. Many will say buying a complete rifle provides enhanced reliability. Others will say you can save a lot of money by building your own. And perhaps both are true. But there is more to it than that, which is the point of this article. My goal is to help make that decision easier for anyone who is not sure which way to go.

Buying Your First AR-15

Buying your first AR-15 is the most common and practical approach for most people. You purchase the rifle, open the box, attach optics or sights if needed, and you’re immediately ready to hit the shooting range. This approach is generally what I would suggest to anyone without any knowledge of the platform, as it requires the least amount of research beforehand. Here are some pros and cons to this approach:

Pros

• Buying a complete rifle from a reputable manufacturer usually comes with a higher chance of reliability and a factory warranty in case anything goes wrong.
• You don’t need to purchase special AR-15 tools or learn how to install AR-15 parts before being able to get out and start shooting.
• The purchasing process is simplified and requires less research before deciding. The brunt of the research would be related to manufacturer quality, feature sets, and value.
• Manufacturers follow a set standard of specifications using specialized tools that generally ensure a rifle will be durable and have increased longevity.   

Cons

• Buying a complete rifle is generally more expensive than building your own (with a caveat), especially when parts quality is equal.
• Without the tools and skills to work on a factory rifle, you are limited on what modifications you can make, which means settling for whatever features the rifle has.
• If there are any issues regarding reliability, you’ll have to return your rifle to the factory for warranty work. Having to send your rifle off for an uncertain period of time can be stressful if it’s your only form of self-defense.
• If you’re not comfortable with purchasing a rifle online, then you are stuck with whatever AR-15s are on your local gun store’s shelf.

Although there are some cons to purchasing a complete rifle over building one yourself, it is still what I suggest to anyone new to all of this. There are some great rifles of all budget ranges sold by reputable manufacturers that I highly recommend. Here are some examples of rifles that would serve a new owner well:

• Budget Friendly, High Value: Smith & Wesson M&P Sport III
• Mid-Tier, Enhanced Features: Sig Sauer M400 Tread 2.0
• High End, Right Before Diminished Returns: BCM RECCE-16

Those examples would serve a new AR-15 owner well, depending on budget. I would personally have no issue relying on any of the aforementioned rifles for self-defense if need be. The more you spend, the more you receive regarding features, quality control, and component materials. However, there are exceptions to that which is why I felt the need to make these recommendations. There are cheaper, budget-friendly rifles that may not hold up or be reliable. There are also more expensive rifles that aren’t actually adding any additional value to the purchase. So, make sure you do your research before making a decision and get the most for your money based on your budget range. Now, let’s discuss building your first AR-15.

Building Your First AR-15

Building your first AR-15 is something I hear suggested constantly to new gun owners as a more economical approach. While there is some truth to this, especially regarding getting higher quality components for less money, there are many hidden costs to building an AR-15 that many do not factor in. My first AR-15 was one that I built based on this same advice. However, looking back on it now, I would have been better off buying a factory-completed rifle. To explain that properly, let’s discuss the pros and cons of this option:

Pros

• You can save money compared to a factory-built rifle of equal quality regarding the price of all parts.
• During the build process, you have direct control of ensuring the parts are properly installed and torqued to the correct specifications.
• The tools and skills required to build an AR-15 will ensure you can work on, maintain, and upgrade your rifle in the future.
• Choosing each component allows you to allocate your money to the parts you believe to be the most important while providing all of the desired features you prefer (such as ambidextrous controls, adjustable gas systems, etc.). 

Cons

• You have to source everything yourself. Only the lower receiver has to go through an FFL. Everything else opens the door to limitless options, including deciding between a complete upper receiver or a stripped one you’ll have to build out. This can be confusing for a new AR-15 owner.
• The tools required are expensive and add to the overall cost of the build if you don’t already own them. You’ll need a bench vise, AR-15 armorer’s tool, torque wrench, receiver blocks, and more. Just these tools alone can cost $170+ and that’s not including pin punch sets or any of the other tools required. An armorer's tool kit can help you get started and will contain many, though not all, of the tools you need.
• Troubleshooting can be difficult without a decent knowledge of the platform if there are any problems once everything is put together. Without a warranty, you’re responsible for fixing any reliability issues. One can end up spending more money and time before having a rifle capable of self-defense.
• Proper assembly requires a lot of learning, which will involve time and trial and error. Often, a certain part may not fit properly or be compatible with something else due to a lack of understanding of minute details (such as gas block size versus barrel profile).

Although there are more cons to building versus buying your first AR-15 (at least in my opinion and experience), there are some benefits that come with it that every AR-15 owner will eventually need, such as acquiring the tools and knowledge to properly repair and maintain your rifle. Building an AR-15 also teaches you about the importance of certain components and what the differences are compared to all of the available options on the market (such as bolt carrier group quality and design). In fact, after you buy a factory-completed rifle, I highly recommend building your next to truly understand the simplicity and universality of the AR-15. Here are some additional suggestions once you have purchased your lower receiver and want to start building:

• If this is your first AR-15 and you’re building to save money, buy a complete upper receiver with a bolt carrier group and charging handle. This is slightly more expensive but will save you in other areas. For example, you won’t need a torque wrench or an upper receiver block. The installation process of a barrel and a handguard is more advanced, and installing a gas block incorrectly will lead to reliability issues. Buying a complete upper receiver from a reputable factory often helps increase reliability, as all components are selected to function together properly.
• If you decide to build your own upper receiver, do not cheap out on the bolt carrier group or the barrel. If you want to save money on your build, there are better places to do that. The bolt carrier group will have a huge effect on overall reliability, and your barrel dictates accuracy and longevity.
• Don’t be too concerned with fancy gimmicks, as this is where a lot of money that could have been saved tends to disappear. Adding ambidextrous controls, adjustable gas blocks, folding stock adapters, tunable bolt carrier groups, or hydraulic buffers can seem like a good idea from a less experienced perspective. However, you’ll often see that some of these upgrades were not needed and possibly even hurt the overall reliability of the rifle. This is where many first-time builders make the rifle more expensive than it would have been had they bought a factory-complete rifle. 

I think either approach is worth trying for anyone who wants to get in the door of AR-15 ownership. I would never discourage anyone from buying or building once they’ve made their decision, but some real considerations need to be made before doing so to get the best value while also accomplishing your overall goal. If self-defense is the goal, you should prioritize reliability and immediacy of use. If learning the ins and outs of the gun is the desired outcome and maybe you’re already on the handy side, then building provides a ton of knowledge during the process. In the end, I am just glad more people are getting into AR-15s, and I hope this information helps them make the best decision for them.

--Magic Prepper