New Build -- Father-In-Law's Christmas Gift

[COBrien]

My apologies, in advance, for a long post...

Shortly after I completed my wife's patrol rifle, my in-laws came down and stayed with us for a week or so. After handling her new rifle, my father-in-law started asking questions about the process of building an AR-15. Things like, "How much would a similar rifle cost to build?" "Where does one find stripped receivers?" "How much time does it take to put everything together?" Then, the evening before they left to return to Colorado, "What do you know about 80% receivers?"

A week or so after they left, my wife and I were discussing Christmas gift options for various family members. I remembered the conversations her dad and I had had while they were here, and decided then to build him a rifle. Now, it would have been easy to buy a stripped receiver and assemble it, then give him the completed rifle in a box. But, for various reasons, I think he'd enjoy building it together just as much (if not more than) having the rifle. So, I decided we'll try our hands at an 80% receiver. He'll do the machining, and I'll provide assistance with the remainder of the build process.

This rifle will be extremely similar to my wife's patrol rifle. He seemed to like that rifle much more than any other AR we have in our safe, and certainly better than his S&W Sport.

My intention is to use this thread as a depository for pics, etc. of this build.

So far, here's the highlights of my parts list:

1. Cerro forged receivers, lower 80% (will be blasted and Cerakoted Graphite Black);
2. Luth-AR upper, lower, and receiver extension parts kits;
3. Faxon 16" Gunner barrel, 5.56 chamber, mid-gas;
4. Troy SOCC Battlerail, rifle length;
5. MagPul SL-K buttstock, MOE grip, MOE polymer trigger guard, MBUS, B.A.D. lever, and Enhanced Mag Release (he likes MagPul, gadgets, and doo-dads...);
6. LaRue MBT; and
7. ToolCraft phosphate BCG w/ C158 bolt.

With the exception of the MBT -- which will be ordered later this month -- I've got everything needed to make this a rifle.

Parts-only cost is a hair over $800. My Excel spreadsheet (I know, I'm a nerd...) shows this rifle should tip the scales at 5.86 lbs. without sights, 6.02 lbs. with sights.

For comparison, my wife's rifle cost me right at $1,200, because (1) I was in a hurry, and (2) I used all Fulton Armory small parts (same parts, higher price, as far as I can tell...). With a Criterion Hybrid barrel and MFT Minimalist stock, my spreadsheet showed her rifle should weigh 6.45 lbs. It came out to exactly 6.25 lbs.

Edited October 1, 2018 by COBrien

[98Z5V]

That will be a great project - for both of you!  That's awesome.  

[COBrien]

Well, gents, the Old Man finally made it down to OK. He started on his 80% lower Sunday afternoon and it was going extremely well. “This is ridiculously easy!” he said. Then Murphy showed up. 

Turns out it REALLY DOES MATTER that you check the end mill and the collet on the router every few passes. 4 passes from being done with milling, the end mill decided to walk itself right out. Nice little paperweight he has now. 

We were both upset, but he was almost beside himself. He cleaned up the garage and went to go back in the house. “Where you going?” I asked. “Inside to order another 80%.” “Well, the lower is toast. But we still have all these parts for the upper. Let’s got to assembling!” His face lit up. 

Next day, I e-mailed Right To Bear and explained what happened. I placed an order for another 80%, and Rob made sure it made it out the same day. It showed up Wednesday, and the FIL began carefully doing the work. Got it all done Wednesday after dinner. 

We began assembling the lower last night, and hit a snag. The selector lever hole is 0.375”, and the Luth-AR lever was 0.379”. After some careful filing, test-fitting, filing, and test-fitting, we got it into place this evening. Installed the MBT and buffer tube, and all checks out fine. 

I’d bought an MFT Minimalist buttstock and a MagPul SL-K, as well as a MagPul MOE grip and an assortment of LaRue A-PEGs for him to try out. He settled on the SL-K and rough black A-PEG. A good little combination!

Altogether, with the BA Modern 16” middy, she weighs 6.006 lbs. He’s damn pleased!

Forgive the terrible pics — it’s late, and I’ll try to get some better ones tomorrow before they head out. 

[COBrien]

So... it’s late. That’s a Faxon Gunner 16” middy...

[Armed Eye Doc]

Great job 

[mrraley]

Looks good. 

[jtallen83]

 Planning the next one yet?

[COBrien]

Thanks for the kind words, fellas. 

@jtallen83 while we were getting it all together last night, he looks at me and says, “I think I wanna build a 9mm AR for the wife.”

Right. “For the wife.”

[unforgiven]

Very cool brother ?

[DNP]

"The wife" needs a lot of things. He's a very thoughtful man. 

 

That turned out really nice, and definitely was a great memory to make with the man.  

[sketch]

I like the stick! glad it worked out! I have a hankering for a .9mm but reality is a . 45 build i want. maybe this will help with the .9mm build? 

https://www.meanarms.com/products/detail/endomag-9mm