Building a featureless AR

Cooolone · Apr 19, 2020

What "searching" have you done to assist in your endeavors?

There's plenty of information out there, try an SCR with a Thordsen stock as you've noted.

Good luck!

nortatoga · Apr 19, 2020

Checkout the ARES/ Fightlite threads on here?

cgrutt · Apr 19, 2020

Let's see I'll take a shot..

Parts needed:

Stock
Buffer tube / spring
Sling retention device
Lower receiver (FFL Required)
Lower parts kit (LPK)
Trigger (mil spec trigger usually comes with LPK)
Upper receiver
Upper receiver parts kit
Bolt carrier group
Barrel (16" or longer)
Threadcap
Hand guard
Gas block
Gas tube
Sights / optic

Plenty of videos on line will show you how to put it all together. Lots of places to order stuff from.

You'll also need some specialized tools for barrel and buffer tube and some common tools to assemble upper and lower receivers. Thread cap should be pinned and welded for NY compliance (that seems to be prevailing consensus but you won't find any official documentation or guidance on this).

Good luck!

Calculon · Apr 19, 2020

Tons of great videos and lists out there to help you just by searching. Brownell's has a good video series. If you can find an un-threaded barrel at 16" or longer you can avoid the muzzle device issues altogether.

BDinPutnam · Apr 19, 2020

We need a budget before we can really answer any of this.

And good luck finding an open FFL to get your lower receiver from.

I write this not to discourage you. If nothing else you can spend time researching and acquiring all the other parts you'll need n til the FFL's reopen.

jw816 · Apr 19, 2020

following

dwa12479 · Apr 19, 2020

Building is so much better than buying off the shelf. You get what you want the first time. You'll spend way more money in after-purchase modifications otherwise. You can get a functional, featureless rifle up and running for $500-$600 before optic.

First thing you need to know to go "featureless" or "NY Fugly" as I not-so lovingly refer to them, is exactly which features make a rifle illegal. Review this list below just to make sure. It's straight from NY SAFE.

https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/archive/assets/documents/RiflesBannedFeatures.pdf

Start with a stripped lower, lower parts kit, and your Thordsen stock. The FRS-15 Gen III has a couple options, the Enhanced or Standard. There's minimal price difference, and the enhanced include a QD attachment point on the buffer tube cover. Well worth it I'd say.

The FRS-15 is available in carbine or rifle length, you need to make sure you match that up with the same size buffer tube, buffer, and spring. The Thordsen tube cover will fit either mil-spec or commercial tubes. (They're 2 slightly different diameters, but that's irrelevant with the Thordsen. A collapsible or fixed stock though it's important to match them up)

You can find complete uppers available with a target crowned barrel, but they're pretty sparse right now. You could get an upper that comes with a threaded barrel, but you'd need to add a thread protector (1/2x28) and have it pinned/welded to stay NY legal, or so that's presumed based on some ATF interpretations. No one honestly knows for 100% sure. A lot of people use red loctite or jb weld and call it day.

My favorite suppliers for parts are primaryarms.com, midwayusa.com, and palmettostatearmory.com. If you can't find what you're looking for on a basic build from one of these three suppliers, chances are slim it's not available anywhere.

A Throsden makes engaging the safety with your thumb very difficult, I always recommend an ambidextrous setup with them. Then you use your thumb to disengage, and index finger to engage.

Expo Arms AR-15 Ambidextrous Safety Selector

DetailsThe Expo Arms Ambidextrous AR-15 Safety Selector is built out of high quality steel to Mil-Spec dimensions for a precise fit in your new lower receiver. Features a durable Manganese Phosphate finish for long term wear and corrosion resistance. Features a standard 90° throw for reliability...

www.primaryarms.com

Here's an excellent step by step build guide for lowers and uppers at full30.com.

Juxxi

Welcome to Juxxi. A friendly, forward-thinking, video platform. Your Story. Our Technology. A Better Future.

www.full30.com

Juxxi

Welcome to Juxxi. A friendly, forward-thinking, video platform. Your Story. Our Technology. A Better Future.

www.full30.com

There's a few tools that make life easier when building that are cheap.

One is a vise block for your lower. Here's one on Amazon. The description is hilarious to avoid the Amazon filters, read some of the comments.

Amazon.com: Lead & Steel Modern Paperweight Desk Organizer: Office Products

www.amazon.com

A good set of roll pin punches is also essential. This little set has done me well for many years. You just can't drive them in like fence posts is all. Little taps get the job done.

TuffMan Tools Pin Punch Set & 1.5 lb Dead Blow Hammer, Great for Gunsmiths, Gun Building, Handymen & Watchmakers, Use to Remove Pins on Cars & Boats - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

And an armorers wrench is essential as well for tightening your buffer castle nut and barrel nut.

NcSTAR 2nd Generation AR Combo Armorer's Wrench Tool

DetailsThis is the AR15 Multi-Function Armorer's Wrench that all Armorers, Gunsmiths and Hobbyists wish they had in their tool kit! It even contains a 1911 Barrel Bushing Wrench and a tactical bottle cap opener.Features:Barrel Nut Wrench (GI, GI-spaced free float, Daniel Defense, and YHM)A2...

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Happy building, and congrats on the new member of you family. Enjoy. They grow up SO FAST.

BDinPutnam · Apr 19, 2020

Awesome post.

:salute:

The only thing I'd add is if you are doing a budget build, from first hand experience Thordsen's blemished stocks are indistinguishable from the regular priced ones. I don't know if the new gen comes in blems, but I have both the old model and the new and the new one is definitely nicer, ergonomically. I still think it's the best grip/stock option there is for featureless in NY.

togmaster · Apr 19, 2020

The only thing I can add to the posts above is this;

Gun And Rifle Accessories. Supplier Of Gun Parts, Ammunition, Optics

northny · Apr 20, 2020

Two key points made above

1. Thordsen blemished stocks are great value. (Especially as you are going to camo this build correct?)

2. I always look for unthreaded barrels for target or featureless builds. It takes a little searching to find them but eliminates whole hassle of covering the threads, and how and cost. Not too long ago I bought a pair of unthreaded barrels off classifieds on thIs site.

cgrutt · Apr 20, 2020

Others on here with much more knowledge than me about this but materials used and machining process is primary driver of difference in cost. You can buy lower receivers in polymer or aluminum. For aluminum there can be difference in grade of material and also whether it was forged or cut from solid billet. Most lower receivers are forged and mil spec. By and large there are only a handful of manufacturers (i think four) that make the lowers for most of the common brands which just have their logos cut into it. There are some smaller manufacturers that actually do their own casting and quaility of final finishing and annealing can vary widely. Best to stick with the major brand names and buy a forged mil spec lower if you want to keep cost down and have a reliable gun when you're done.

togmaster · Apr 20, 2020

Get an Anderson lower and be done with it. Good quality and great price.

fnfalguy · Apr 20, 2020

I would suggest choosing a receiver that doesn’t have an integral trigger guard. That way if at some point down the road you want to switch to an extended trigger guard you can.

Calculon · Apr 20, 2020

I have Anderson lowers on multiple builds and have yet to have any issues despite the nickname of “poverty pony.”

Aero and Ballistic Advantage are a step up - pretty sure Aero makes BA anyway.

dwa12479 · Apr 20, 2020

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-15/lowers.html

PSA forged aluminum Mil-Spec lowers for $50. Add shipping and transfer.

Avoid polymer.

dsdmmat · Apr 25, 2020

T

Fightingfish said:
Bit of a silly question.
I'd like an 18” barrel. Want a little longer than my PCC. Does this affect my choice of Thordsen stock? Would you go carbine length or rifle length?

The buffer, buffer spring and buffer tube does not have anything to do with the length of the barrel.

BDinPutnam · Apr 25, 2020

Fightingfish said:
Bit of a silly question.
I'd like an 18” barrel. Want a little longer than my PCC. Does this affect my choice of Thordsen stock? Would you go carbine length or rifle length?

Not silly at all. You might want to measure the length of pull on both and see what works for you (I dont have the dimensions for the stocks in front of me). As long as you match your tube to your buffer to your stock to your rifle or carbine length gas tube it should cycle fine. 2" should not make a difference in cycling either system as long as everything matches.

dwa12479 · Apr 26, 2020

Fightingfish said:
Bit of a silly question.
I'd like an 18” barrel. Want a little longer than my PCC. Does this affect my choice of Thordsen stock? Would you go carbine length or rifle length?

The only silly questions are the ones you don't ask....

Don't forget there's also a mid-length gas system as well. The longer the gas system, the less felt recoil you'll get. The carbine gas systems are meant for the shorter barrels, like 14.5" and down. As @BDinPutnam said above, just make sure that you use matching buffer/buffer tube/ spring.

redtail · Apr 26, 2020

I hate the ethos and the look of the Thorsden , spur n trigger guard feels more “normal” to me.
Fixed mag is best for range toy, especially if you go with the BF 10 loaders.
Rabbit hole is deep. Have fun.

Jem45472 · Apr 27, 2020

Never heard of them.

dsdmmat · Apr 27, 2020

I have ordered parts from JSE Surplus

White Oak Armament | Quality Parts for Competitive and Casual Shooters

Looking for parts or accessories for your rifle? White Oak Armament is the destination for quality parts for competitive and recreational marksmen.

www.whiteoakarmament.com

Model 1 Sales:

Model 1 Sales is a quality based AR15 / M16 component and accessories provider.

www.model1sales.com

Shop Brownells: Gun Parts & Gunsmithing Tools Since 1939

You'll find high-quality gun parts, gunsmithing tools, firearms, ammunition, reloading equipment, optics, and more!

www.brownells.com

Chandler Hardwoods, Inc.

and gunbroker.com
never dealt with the company you have but their menu looks good. I would try to get a 1-7 twist barrel if I could get it. 1-8 is good for up to around 68 grains.

alistair · Apr 27, 2020

These fake muzzle device is made to be used as a thread protector. They come already drilled and ready for pinning and welding.

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Building a featureless AR

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