Build or buy?

72 AMC Javelin AMX

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Build or buy that is the question? Before you answer, here are some things that I am ultimately looking for in my PCC firearm
- Having a Law Tactical folding stock or something similar,
- Being able to easily swap out barrels using dolos or frontier tactical,
- running a can on all the barrels,
- uses an ar15 recipe or so I could convert to a 5,56 rifle caliber in the future,
- uses Glock mags or is capable of using different mags,
- quiet operation, bolt noise, etc,
- light weight and
- reliable.

Now some things you should know about me:
- I am 64. Years old,
- legally blind due to. A generic eye disease that causes lost of perpehial vision , loss of night vision and color blindness. I have corrected 20/60 and 20/80 in my left and right eyes respectively and my left eye is my dominant eye.
- I am left handed,
- I am a novice when it comes to firearms,
- would prefer to buy but the thought of building one exactly like I want entices me.
- when trying to determine what parts manufacturer or rifle manufacturer to use, I am at a lost!
- also not sure which would be most cost effective!

Looking forward to everyone’s input! Thanks in advance!
 
What do you mean uses an AR15 recipe? Bullet recipe?

When using a subsonic load, low noise is quite achievable.

If building one excites you, then there’s your answer. MAS Defense in Charlotte has the right stuff to get you in the right direction.
 
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I don't know of any PCC that can be converted to 5.56 besides one made from an AR with a mag block, and then you'd have to replace the entire upper along with the buffer, spring, and maybe more in the lower. It's just not feasible IMO.

The problem is that 5.56 like most rifle calibers requires a delayed blowback operation due to the high pressures involved, while most PCCs run on straight blowback operation because it's simpler and cheaper. They are effectively apples and oranges. :)
 
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Build or buy that is the question? Before you answer, here are some things that I am ultimately looking for in my PCC firearm
- Having a Law Tactical folding stock or something similar,
- Being able to easily swap out barrels using dolos or frontier tactical,
- running a can on all the barrels,
- uses an ar15 recipe or so I could convert to a 5,56 rifle caliber in the future,
- uses Glock mags or is capable of using different mags,
- quiet operation, bolt noise, etc,
- light weight and
- reliable.

Now some things you should know about me:
- I am 64. Years old,
- legally blind due to. A generic eye disease that causes lost of perpehial vision , loss of night vision and color blindness. I have corrected 20/60 and 20/80 in my left and right eyes respectively and my left eye is my dominant eye.
- I am left handed,
- I am a novice when it comes to firearms,
- would prefer to buy but the thought of building one exactly like I want entices me.
- when trying to determine what parts manufacturer or rifle manufacturer to use, I am at a lost!
- also not sure which would be most cost effective!

Looking forward to everyone’s input! Thanks in advance!

If you are a complete novice IMO you should buy from a reputable manufacturer. Would you buy a gun from someone else that has zero firearm experience? Buy one, learn to safely handle and operate it. Learn to disassemble, cleana and maintain it. Learn how it works. Then later decide if you are up for a build.
 
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If you don't know what your are doing building or don't exactly know what you like....find a factory rifle that closest fits your needs and go from there.
 
I built my first AR15, never have even shot one.

I'd build a dedicated PCC platform and do a separate 5.56 gun. Also, build your lower and buy a complete upper. Do a side charging upper with left hand ejection since you're a lefty. I think Matrix makes one? Where the hell is @Slacker?
 
I built my first AR15, never have even shot one.

I'd build a dedicated PCC platform and do a separate 5.56 gun. Also, build your lower and buy a complete upper. Do a side charging upper with left hand ejection since you're a lefty. I think Matrix makes one? Where the hell is @Slacker?

10 foot pole Sir.
 
Buy one of those clearance uppers from PSA if they're in stock. Uppers are stupid simple (not interesting) to assemble and require specialized tools and vice blocks.

Build you lower since you want the folder thing. I think there's only one Glock mag block adapter and reports are it's not great IIRC, better to go dedicated with the G requirement.

Colt lowers typically run fine with blocks, some swap out easier than others. Colt mags are pretty cheap. You can set the buffer assembly up so all you have to do is remove a spacer for 223/5.56, but for the price and ease of changing buffer assemblies it makes sense to optimize for each.

ETA I guess that quick change barrel set up would require building your upper too. I know nothing about that.
 
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I built a 9mm PCC on a QC10 lower. Had never built an AR platform rifle before, or since actually but that’s going to change soon.

Tools and process are pretty straightforward. You all need a vise and a handful of tools, if you think you’ll only do this once you may be able to borrow them or someone close to you may offer to help with your build.

Picking parts is the hardest part, it’s like choosing a holster. I ended up with 3 barrels, a couple lower parts kits, and a few recoil assemblies of various weights and designs. I also spent a few months getting to run right, which actually involved shipping the whole thing to another member who volunteered to troubleshoot it for me.

All that said, when I built it prices for complete guns were sky high. If I was doing it again today I think I’d buy something close and modify it later.

FWIW, I went with a slick sided upper, no brass deflector and no forward assist, and don’t think that the brass would eject into my face if shooting it left handed, but I wouldn’t want to shoot it suppressed and get all the gas and carbon in the face with each shot.

I don’t think I’ve been very helpful, but I do wish you the best of luck!
Jim
 
Gibbz is the company that makes the left packages with upper, BCG, and lower. Throw on a Faxon or BA barrel, your choice of handguard, and all of the lower stuff.
 
I would like to thank everyone for their input. It has given me a lot to think about. I have decided to go with a PCC and a separate AR15 platforms. For the PCC platform, I am leaning for one based on using 9mm Glock mags because I believe I will be buying that as my primary handgun. Any thoughts on that?
 
I think that is a good decision (two guns) personally. Hard to beat prices of PSA if you are on a budget.

Budget is going to drive a lot of the responses. You can spend between 500$ and 2500$ or more if you wish. Per gun.
 
I hate the look of a 9mm mag sticking out of a full size mag well
 
I think that is a good decision (two guns) personally. Hard to beat prices of PSA if you are on a budget.

Budget is going to drive a lot of the responses. You can spend between 500$ and 2500$ or more if you wish. Per gun.

Yeah I chased sales and built my PCC upper with bolt for about $335, coulda saved about $60 with a cheaper barrel.
PSA rep on some forum said they'll be clearancing more 9mm guns and uppers, I think due to a new line in the works.

Went Colt pattern so I could stab a block in an existing lower. Someday, possibly this weekend, I'll see if it runs, I expect headaches a plenty.

I hate the look of a 9mm mag sticking out of a full size mag well

No way man, it's 80s TV SWAT hotness, I'm still fighting an urge to move my parts to an A2 upper and somehow mounting an FSB.
 
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Yeah I chased sales and built my PCC upper with bolt for about $335, coulda saved about $60 with a cheaper barrel.
PSA rep on some forum said they'll be clearancing more 9mm guns and uppers, I think due to a new line in the works.

Went Colt pattern so I could stab a block in an existing lower. Someday, possibly this weekend, I'll see if it runs, I expect headaches a plenty

I expect to have all the parts for one this week.
I got lower from someone who couldn’t get it to run. So that was smart.
 
I'd do the Gibbz package since you're a lefty. Side charging too. Not cheap though.
 
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