Why Build an AR-15?

I joined the military when I was 17 years old. That was also how old I was the first time I shot a real firearm. At 20 years old I purchased my first firearm. It was a bolt action rifle because I wanted a “hunting gun”. I love that rifle, but that was foolish reasoning. You can hunt in most places with an AR platform. More experience and knowledge has given me an appreciation for the AR platform. 

The AR is one of the most customizable platforms in the firearms industry to date. You don’t like your forend? Buy a new one. You don’t like your trigger? Buy a new one. Most parts on an AR can be easily changed and replaced. There is also, currently, no shortage of companies that make parts for it. Outside of major issues, you don’t need to be a gunsmith to work on this rifle. All you need is the ability to read or follow instructions. 

The AR-15 can be a very accurate rifle for low cost. At the time I built my AR-15 it cost me $600. That includes the $200 optic I put on the rifle. I wasn’t too concerned about it being the best rifle. I just wanted it for rifle competitions where the farthest target would be 100 yards. When I brought it out to test fire in after 2 years in my safe, I did see it was shooting high at 100 yards. It still shot a nice group. It shot a nicer group after I adjusted my sights. 

One of the biggest advantages to building an AR-15 is spreading out the cost. I purchased my stripped lower 2 years before I finished the rifle. I was still on the fence about making one. After about a year and a half I built up the lower. A few months later I got the upper together. I slowly got the accessories I needed for the rifle after that. Getting exactly what I wanted for the rifle while budgeting. You don’t have to spread out the purchases as much as I did, but you also don’t have to get it all at once.

The AR-15 is well known for being 5.56 or .223 Remington. However, the AR-15 can be chambered in over 50 different calibers. This can give you a lot of variety with just one lower receiver. You can buy or build new upper receivers to get a different function or focus out of the rifle. Just swap between them. Granted, all of the upper receivers can also be the same caliber. I have only seen Thompson Center offer a similar experience, and those are all single shots. Building an AR-15 is not your only option with ARs. I personally think it is your best option for getting the AR-15 exactly the way you want it at the best price.