Build or Buy AR - Page 2 - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Odin · 03-23-2007, 12:18 PM

Build your lower and buy your upper. Lower is really easy to put together as there are hardly any parts to it. Watchout for the small detents and springs. It can be assembled with simple had tools.

With the upper, you will need special tools to put it together.

bteague2 · 06-10-2007, 07:25 PM

what type of tools do you need to assemble an upper? an armorers tool and some kind of vise for the barrel right?

hikeeba · 06-11-2007, 07:24 AM

ts1313, if you're interested in a 9mm AR-15, Olympic Arms makes a 9mm upper that is designed to be used with any milspec lower - no special hammer or buffer needed. The Olympic 9mm system uses a Sten gun magazine with a block welded to it, allowing it to fit properly in the lower's mag well. There are a few manufacturers out there that make mag blocks so you can use a plain Sten magazine. Sten magazines can be found for $5-$10 a piece. The Olympic modded mags are a little pricey at $65 each.

Oly tends to get a bad rap from a lot of people, but these people never cite examples for their angst. I have not read a bad word about the Oly 9mm setups; eother withthe factory mags or aftermarket mag blocks. Everyone that has one seems to swear on their reliability with all types of ammo.

I thought about getting a 9mm upper for the same reasons you mentioned, mainly that it can be used at just about any indoor/outdoor range. The indoor range I visit every 1-2 weeks has an Olympic K9 complete 9mm carbine. They say it is one of their most-rented guns, and although they've had the gun for more than a year, they've only cleaned it 2-3 times. Depite the lack of decent maintenance, they claim the gun has never had a hiccup, and has been 100% reliable. I rented it once a few months ago, just out of curiosity. I now have an Olympic Arms 9mm upper on order.

FYI, so as not to make this post seem like a giant infomercial for Olympic Arms, I have read good things about RRA 9mm rifles, too. And Colt, if you can find and afford one. RRA seems to be a popular brand for the 9mm platform. Bushmaster also makes a 9mm. I haven't seen much on the Bushy, but I believe it is based on the Colt pattern, as is the RRA.

Good luck with your quest!

aubie515 · 06-11-2007, 06:29 PM

I agree that some people's definition of a "build" means buying a complete upper and complete lower and pushing two pins together. While, others build from the ground up. If you want an AR15 with specific requirements, I would recommend building from the ground up. If you can buy a complete upper and a complete lower...go that route. In any case it's pretty simple.

03-23-2007, 12:18 PM	#11
Odin XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 555	Build your lower and buy your upper. Lower is really easy to put together as there are hardly any parts to it. Watchout for the small detents and springs. It can be assembled with simple had tools. With the upper, you will need special tools to put it together. __________________ MK12 Mod1 SPR XD45 Tactical XD9 Service

06-10-2007, 07:25 PM	#12
bteague2 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Knoxville/Nashville, TN Posts: 255	what type of tools do you need to assemble an upper? an armorers tool and some kind of vise for the barrel right? __________________ Mind over matter, if you don't mind it won't matter. -Remington 1100 20 ga -Henry Lever Action .22 -Surefire M4-CB

06-11-2007, 07:24 AM	#13
hikeeba XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SE WI Posts: 240	ts1313, if you're interested in a 9mm AR-15, Olympic Arms makes a 9mm upper that is designed to be used with any milspec lower - no special hammer or buffer needed. The Olympic 9mm system uses a Sten gun magazine with a block welded to it, allowing it to fit properly in the lower's mag well. There are a few manufacturers out there that make mag blocks so you can use a plain Sten magazine. Sten magazines can be found for $5-$10 a piece. The Olympic modded mags are a little pricey at $65 each. Oly tends to get a bad rap from a lot of people, but these people never cite examples for their angst. I have not read a bad word about the Oly 9mm setups; eother withthe factory mags or aftermarket mag blocks. Everyone that has one seems to swear on their reliability with all types of ammo. I thought about getting a 9mm upper for the same reasons you mentioned, mainly that it can be used at just about any indoor/outdoor range. The indoor range I visit every 1-2 weeks has an Olympic K9 complete 9mm carbine. They say it is one of their most-rented guns, and although they've had the gun for more than a year, they've only cleaned it 2-3 times. Depite the lack of decent maintenance, they claim the gun has never had a hiccup, and has been 100% reliable. I rented it once a few months ago, just out of curiosity. I now have an Olympic Arms 9mm upper on order. FYI, so as not to make this post seem like a giant infomercial for Olympic Arms, I have read good things about RRA 9mm rifles, too. And Colt, if you can find and afford one. RRA seems to be a popular brand for the 9mm platform. Bushmaster also makes a 9mm. I haven't seen much on the Bushy, but I believe it is based on the Colt pattern, as is the RRA. Good luck with your quest! __________________ XD-9 Blacktical Melange still races...

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06-11-2007, 06:29 PM	#14
aubie515 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pottstown, PA Posts: 182	I agree that some people's definition of a "build" means buying a complete upper and complete lower and pushing two pins together. While, others build from the ground up. If you want an AR15 with specific requirements, I would recommend building from the ground up. If you can buy a complete upper and a complete lower...go that route. In any case it's pretty simple.