Category: Firearms

This is an often-asked question on various forums. Should you piece together an AR-15 from individual components, or should you buy one off the shelf? The answer really depends on budget and needs. If you're on an extreme budget, you should be able to piece together a rifle for less than the cost of buying it whole - if only because complete firearm sales in the United States are subject to an 11% federal excise tax. If you need a specific weapon for a specific task, you may have trouble… Read More

None of what I write here is new or groundbreaking. I did not come up with any of it. It's just a distillation of the basics, the items you should buy if you're on a budget and have an AR-15. Even if you have a fat wad of cash, this is where you need to start. Before you buy any items such as optics or flashlights, you should buy what I've listed here. If you click on the pictures, you'll be taken to the item in Brownells' online catalog. Some… Read More