AR15 Forums banner

Building my own gun (1911, AR-15, etc) from scratch?

17900 Views 9 Replies 0 Participants Last post by  Figgy1682
G
I've been hankering for a project (other than my XDs ;)), so I started to look into building my own gun. I found quite a few places with parts, kits, and instructions for AR-15, 1911 and 10/22 builds, but then I stumbled upon this whole "80% frame" thing and I got to thinking.

For those of you not familiar with the 80% frame, these are regular frames that are, well, 80% complete. The manufacturer leaves the frames unfinished (holes yet to be drilled, slide rails left to be cut, etc), but because they are 80%, there is no serial number, no FFL required, etc, etc. You can finish these guns and, as long as you never sell them, they are completely legal for personal use.

Now, my father has been a precision machinist for his whole life, and he has a full shop of equipment (CNC everything, EDM, etc, etc). I would bet that with a set of blueprints, he could custom make me a complete gun. Barring that though, I could have him do the last 20% on my 80% frame and assemble a truely hand-built firearm of my own.

The question is, wht the hell do I get? I realize that it will probably end up costing me more than just buying a gun, but then I wouldn't have built it myself.

Has anyone ever tried this? Any suggestions?
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
G
Check out this site and their forum. http://www.roderuscustom.com/ It's been a while since I posted on there but lots of good info and people.
G
Hooz said:
I've been hankering for a project (other than my XDs ;)), so I started to look into building my own gun. I found quite a few places with parts, kits, and instructions for AR-15, 1911 and 10/22 builds, but then I stumbled upon this whole "80% frame" thing and I got to thinking.

For those of you not familiar with the 80% frame, these are regular frames that are, well, 80% complete. The manufacturer leaves the frames unfinished (holes yet to be drilled, slide rails left to be cut, etc), but because they are 80%, there is no serial number, no FFL required, etc, etc. You can finish these guns and, as long as you never sell them, they are completely legal for personal use.

Now, my father has been a precision machinist for his whole life, and he has a full shop of equipment (CNC everything, EDM, etc, etc). I would bet that with a set of blueprints, he could custom make me a complete gun. Barring that though, I could have him do the last 20% on my 80% frame and assemble a truely hand-built firearm of my own.

The question is, wht the hell do I get? I realize that it will probably end up costing me more than just buying a gun, but then I wouldn't have built it myself.

Has anyone ever tried this? Any suggestions?
Oh man, it's amazing what can be done these days Hooz, I have an aquantance who is a CnC Machinist and I wonder how skilled he really is! This is a stupid noob question, but is an AR-15 a rifle or is it considered a pistol?
G
Oni said:
AR-15 a rifle or is it considered a pistol?
It's a rifle, check this link out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15

or the short barreled Carbine version:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_Carbine
G
http://www.homegunsmith.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi
check out this link. they gave me some instructions on building my G3 and many of them actually build whole guns from blocks of steel. they machine their own receivers and all the parts. They are very helpful.
G
Hooz said:
Barring that though, I could have him do the last 20% on my 80% frame and assemble a truely hand-built firearm of my own.
Just a note of advice... weather your father actually performs the work or not... you did this yourself with out his help... You have to complete the last 20 percent yourself period end of story... so if he does it for your because he loves you keep that little tid bit to your self.


as for 80 percent frames they can be had pretty cheaply. I got one from the tannery shop but I have been looking for another one.

Have you looked into KT Ordnance yet?
G
Yeah... What I meant to say was that I would do the work in his shop with him looking over my shoulder ;)

I'm still looking at all the options for 80% frames. There are so many options just for the material they're made out of, let alone pricing, etc.

I think I'm leaning towards a 1911, but damn, those ARs are sweet too!
G
How about an FAL build? Pic courtesy of arizonaresponsesystems.com

See less See more
G
ar's are fairly easy to build to me . if this is your first build up i would suggest the ar over the 1911 . when i actually sat down and looked into buikding one i was stupafied when i saw all that was in to making one. i mean you might have more patience and brain capacity then me but i said f*ck it ill just buy one already built and add the goodies as i go. but thats just my honest opnion
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top