Builds, if sufficiently tacky enough, is indistinguishable from quality.

pinkbunny

pinkbunny

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Never built an AR before. I fell in love with the Hera CQR stock. I know people think the stocks are ugly and cheap, but I like them.

What's a sufficiently kitschy lower, to be good enough? Anderson? PSA? Aero M4E1? I see some amazing prices for PSA lowers. Wanted some advice for my first build.
 
Check out righttobear.com with their daily deals. I've bought several items from them with zero issues. Veteran owned also
 
If you plan on swapping triggers, get whatever you want. If you don't and are sticking to a budget, I like the PSA lowers with the EPT triggers - I find them to be worth the extra few bucks over the typical mil spec.
 
Alright, here's my thought:
Stock: Hera, already have
Pistol Grip: See above
Thingamabob to make it look like the inbred cousin of a FN P90: Gotcha.
Lower: PSA
Trigger: LaRue Mbt-2s. Straight, cause it looks more Gecko45.
Magazine : The Hera magazines that have terrible reviews. The back of the brass casings shows, so rule of cool.
BCG: I'm thinking Chrome or TiN, for the contrast/garishness
Upper: Lazy, so I'll just get https://www.armorally.com/shop/aero...k-side-atlas-s-one-slick-side-complete-upper/
16" to stay safe of the law, pencil, no forward assist, and no picatinny for a good chunk of the top rail for moderate weight savings, that also add to the bizarre aesthetic.


Thoughts?
 
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C-doodle said:
The m4e1 is a good choice. It has a cap screw in place of one of the more challenging roll pins.

Nothing wrong with a psa or an Anderson but I think the aero is worth the difference.
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I'll never forget my first Aero lower. Got it specifically for that reason. Then during the build turned right around and used the roll pins. Realized right after it what I had done.
 
pinkbunny said:
Alright, here's my thought:
Stock: Hera, already have
Pistol Grip: See above
Thingamabob to make it look like the inbred cousin of a FN P90: Gotcha.
Lower: PSA
Trigger: LaRue Mbt-2s. Straight, cause it looks more Gecko45.
Magazine : The Hera magazines that have terrible reviews. The back of the brass casings shows, so rule of cool.
BCG: I'm thinking Chrome or TiN, for the contrast/garishness
Upper: Lazy, so I'll just get https://www.armorally.com/shop/aero...k-side-atlas-s-one-slick-side-complete-upper/
16" to stay safe of the law, pencil, no forward assist, and no picatinny for a good chunk of the top rail for moderate weight savings, that also add to the bizarre aesthetic.


Thoughts?
Click to expand...
If we're going inbred cousin of a P90, why not get a BCA side charging upper?
 
pinkbunny said:
Never built an AR before. I fell in love with the Hera CQR stock. I know people think the stocks are ugly and cheap, but I like them.

What's a sufficiently kitschy lower, to be good enough? Anderson? PSA? Aero M4E1? I see some amazing prices for PSA lowers. Wanted some advice for my first build.
Click to expand...
FWIW, Also never built one and like the CQR though not the fore grip. Might get one to build a rifle.
 
To be honest, the style of gun never made my naughty bits quiver, but given their versatility, every red blooded patriotic American should own one and some will take on the skill of building them. So kudos for stepping up.

I'm sure I'm oversimplifying, but I've had a gut full of cobbling rifles together courtesy of Uncle Sam and no shortage of friends and family have asked me for help putting together their newest bling magnet.

For me, it all seems to come down to the guts.

Although side charging uppers would have made life mo better back in the day. 🤔


If you want tacky, get rid of that stylish serial number and do an 80% lower...
 
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53251678-57FB-4D58-9756-FEA53DEDCC7F.gif

I like Combat Armory Lowers because you don't have to install a trigger guard.

IMG_20230302_175940583.jpg


If you don't go with a CQR foregrip, these Kriss ones are very HKish

store.kriss-usa.com

Vertical Foregrip with Integrated Finger Stop

the kriss vertical foregrip is a secure and safe solution for a forward grip mounted to a picatinny rail section
store.kriss-usa.com store.kriss-usa.com
 
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So, a few follow up questions:

Armorally had good reviews, so I chose to shop there. I have tried over the past two days to purchase from the site. Firefox and Chrome, Visa and Amex, VPN and no VPN. Regardless, when I get to checkout, it won't accept my card to let me pay.
Can only put in a ticket, no calling. Shipping is super expensive, even though they are a local company I can just drive to. And now the site is down for maintenance.
Is it a bad idea to buy from them? What are y'alls thoughts?


Second, I like the cut of this uppers jib:
www.armorally.com

Aero Precision 5.56 NATO AR15 ATLAS S-ONE Slick Side Complete Upper

5.56 AR15 ATLAS S-ONE Slick Side Complete Upper. Assenbked w=Ready to bolt on to your lower receiver in seconds. We stock it, we ship it quick! APAR610505M7
www.armorally.com

But its backordered, same directly through Aero Precision. Never tried to get a backordered gun part, usually only buy what's available, so have no exerience. When it's backordered, is that like, 'it'll be back in a month,' or, 'best move along, this ain't coming back?'
 
Me. said:
Back ordered can go either way.

If it’s OpticsPlanet…. give up. I‘ll never order from them again.

From Brownell’s? It will eventually come back and your order will be fulfilled.

Directly from Aero? I’d trust them. They know what’s coming back and what isn’t.


From a site that you’ve never heard of, that can’t keep the server running? I’d be cancelling the charge and having the credit card company take care of it for me.
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Heh, I can't even get them to make the charge. :p
Tons of good reviews on them, just never used them myself.
 
Me. said:
Hurry! They are back up!

View attachment 630909



Decent prices for sure. I was looking at the link when you posted Sunday. Pretty tempted.
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Nah, pencil profile, which is the one I want for weight savings, is on waitlist.

1686702253186.png

I view it list a rapier, I want the majority of the wait to be at the handle(stock), rather than forward on the barrel, to make handling better.
 
pinkbunny said:
Nah, pencil profile, which is the one I want for weight savings, is on waitlist.

View attachment 630913

I view it list a rapier, I want the majority of the wait to be at the handle(stock), rather than forward on the barrel, to make handling better.
Click to expand...

Just my opinion:

That's a good choice. Can't possibly beat it for the money.
 
pinkbunny said:
Howd you get the light, btw?
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The magic of EL wire. Some runs off 2aa batteries, or a 12v supply. You can also get ribbon or sheet but those aren't nearly as flexible and best used for flat applications. If you had a hollow stock you could totally use the super bright 12v stuff and run it off 3 or 4 CR123s in a battery cage for max brightness.

The barrel is just wrapped with the wire and I fished the power plug out the side of the handguard. I then wrapped it in translucent tape to break up the outline of the wire for a broader glow.

The magazine is just a little string of leds with a coin cell battery pack held on with a strap until I fab a proper baseplate to hold everything.

Screenshot_20230614-102606-208.png
 
NCLivingBrit said:
The magic of EL wire. Some runs off 2aa batteries, or a 12v supply. You can also get ribbon or sheet but those aren't nearly as flexible and best used for flat applications. If you had a hollow stock you could totally use the super bright 12v stuff and run it off 3 or 4 CR123s in a battery cage for max brightness.

The barrel is just wrapped with the wire and I fished the power plug out the side of the handguard. I then wrapped it in translucent tape to break up the outline of the wire for a broader glow.

The magazine is just a little string of leds with a coin cell battery pack held on with a strap until I fab a proper baseplate to hold everything.

View attachment 631133
Click to expand...


Ah. Is that why you went with 22lr, because of concerns of overheating and melting the wire with .223?
 
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Chuckman said:
A lower is a lower is a lower is a lower. If it's in spec, the only thing that makes a whit of importance is if you like whatever marks are engraved on the side.
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I like your thinking. In "Spec" and go. plain ole lower, just like buying car..options, options..
Got ole Sendra "XM15, M15" lowers, they all work. ..don't really care who makes them, even 80% lowers
Anchor Harvey, Cerro (are my goto forgings)

As far as vendors / lowers:
Right to Bear Arms
Aero
BkingsFirearms
Anderson
there are others...

Someone had some "blemished lowers" for $29.99, don't remember who, and no wasn't a "fly by night" place

PSA has Nodak spud lowers H&R markings little to much for me for just some markings but nice
for some retro work

-Snoopz
 
pinkbunny said:
Ah. Is that why you went with 22lr, because of concerns of overheating and melting the wire with .223?
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No, if you melt it a little it still works fine lol

I went with 22lr because it's my favourite calibre and you can just plink away all day for sane money. Also anything bigger would probably destroy that carry handle airsoft optic I have janked on there.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
No, if you melt it a little it still works fine lol

I went with 22lr because it's my favourite calibre and you can just plink away all day for sane money. Also anything bigger would probably destroy that carry handle airsoft optic I have janked on there.
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Calibre is an ebook library app, get it right.

calibre - E-book management

calibre: The one stop solution for all your e-book needs. Comprehensive e-book software.
calibre-ebook.com calibre-ebook.com

:p
 
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pinkbunny said:
Calibre is an ebook library app, get it right.

calibre - E-book management

calibre: The one stop solution for all your e-book needs. Comprehensive e-book software.
calibre-ebook.com calibre-ebook.com

:p
Click to expand...
but colibri is a type of ammo
www.aguilaammo.com

22 LR COLIBRI

SILENCE IS DEADLY. Perfect for hunting and target shooting at close range, this specialized powderless round is ultra-quiet and eliminates the trouble and investment of using a suppressor. It’s great for young shooters, thanks to its lack of recoil. Designed for bolt-action or revolver platforms.
www.aguilaammo.com www.aguilaammo.com
 
Me. said:
Holy Cow! Blast from the past!

Remember Nesard and Senrda from the Shotgun News (1980s)? They were essentially the same company formed by Gerald Drasen (rearrange the last name to get the business names).


When you think of "constructive intent" his case is one of the main ones that comes into play.

United States v. Drasen, 845 - Google Search

www.google.com


Essentially, he bought a bunch of surplus parts, and sold them as kits. Never assembled, but kits. The ATF hung their hat on him possessing and selling unregistered SBRs and machine guns. It's an interesting story of how we got where we are today. A whole lot of people did their first AR builds from his kits from back when there were very few options. In 1987 there were what?... maybe five makes of AR lower receivers that didn't say "Colt" on the side of them.
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good one.. Yeah Shotgun News was my "Wish Book"
Drasen..yep remember that all too well. I believe also, now I may be wrong. Model 1 Sales and another company that sold parts (just now drew a blank)
they both advertised in Shotgun News later on. Something to do with all the same family.

Then you had Colt and Rock Island Armory.. something like Colt says you got to stop selling lowers (Sendra) and that's where
I got all the lowers from RIA had to get rid of them. Quality Gun Parts is where I bought 99.5% of my stuff Colt Chrome Bolt Carrier
groups, XM177 barrels and uppers, Colt Uppers, all kinds of parts. UPS loved me.. We talk about good ole days over and over.
Rdias, Lightning links, Fleming, and look what they go for now... around 20 bucks back then then the early 80's hit. What was funny
about Shotgun News and companies back then was, You could get Mac parts from one place, the flats from another, Sonics parts
the same way..

little off topic same with 1911 parts, Crown City Arms, Vega, and another company, gonna have to "dig" my receipts out
Sarco was another place back then.... flashbacks.

what got me "hooked on Shotgun News was there was a copy in my favorite GS. laying behind the counter, they let me read it
"kid in candy store time" they said see anything you like?? said sure I'll get as list together (that needed FFL). and so it began

-Snoopz
 
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Alright, picking up the lower and stuff from Beltway Pawn today, the LaRue trigger I bought off 11cib is coming in today.
Already have the Hera parts, only bit remaining is the Upper to get back in stock.

I'm also gonnna get these:

MA Loader for AR-15 | Mean Arms

#META-TITLE#
www.meanarms.com

The tackiness of side loading an AR fits with this build, and when taking people out shooting, quickly loading 10 rounds for them to use is actually really convenient, if they're new shooters.
 
Me. said:
Or this?

ar15discounts.com

- Aero Precision M4E1 Threaded Complete Upper, 16" 5.56 Mid Pencil Length Barrel, 15" M-LOK ATLAS S-ONE Handguard - Anodized Black - AR15Discounts

This 5.56 NATO Aero Precision complete upper features a Midlength gas system and 1-7 twist rate. The BCG / Charging Handle is Not Included. Buy with confidence, all complete uppers are backed by our satisfaction and low price guarantee. Get it now!
ar15discounts.com ar15discounts.com



Oh wait… you wanted the slab-side. Oh well… here’s a deal in case you just can’t wait.



View attachment 632514
Click to expand...
 
Me. said:
What?!?!

Call them. They are right here in Raleigh.
Click to expand...
Live chat that they advertise is broken.
The link to get them to call takes 1+ business days.
Found their phone number by googling, no one picks up, left a message, don't expect them to call back.

Was able to get in touch via email. They said that their antifraud thing flagged me, and they tried texting me(they didn't). Purchasing again in a different browser with the VPN off, with a different phone number. Guess I'll find out again in a day or two if they cancel it.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Me.
I've shopped with them but it's been a few years. No issues back when I did order from them.

I don't think I would try so hard to give my money to a company that makes it that difficult.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Me.
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