apetrulis01 Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Ok, after narrowing down the barrel selection I have come to a cross roads; Build or Buy Buy: - JP Upper: - 18"Light Contour barrel and everything else that comes with it (Low mass, etc) Build: - Barrel: Odin works or Nordic - Gas Block: SLR adjustable - Rail: Midwest Industries SS Gen 2 - Bolt: AP Rhino or JP - Upper: Anderson - Charging Handle: Raptor - Comp: Miculek Pros on buying would be JP experience and a warranty if something is wrong. Negatives on buying would be it is more expensive. Price to Build myself: Right at $1000 Price to buy JP: $1250 What do you guys think. Yes I have experience in building uppers. Thanks, Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 One aspect of buying JP is the possible long lead time. I guess making top of the line rifles has its down sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apetrulis01 Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 With the ready rifle program I could have the upper in about a week from JP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outerlimits Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 BTDT. I built the last two with a JP barrel kit and they were both incredibly accurate rifles. If you have the few tools required to build, that is the way to go. Tons of tips on building on-line. Not rocket science. And when you are done, it's a good feeling having built your own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trgt Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 http://www.ar15barrels.com/services.shtml can build the upper for you for not much (including headspace check and reliability check) if you don't want to buy the tools, if you are only doing one build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EkuJustice Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Depends on what your After. If you want all Jp stuff then the JP. If you like the Midwest 2 handguard then build it. The Midwest and jp handguard will feel night and day difference in size and weight. For me, I would build as I get what I like not what's offered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I say build! There is a level of satisfaction that comes with knowing you did it yourself, and with knowing every square inch of your build. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stlhead Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 If you don't already have one, buy the JP. Then you will have something to compare your future builds to, if you bother to build any. They build nice guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apetrulis01 Posted November 2, 2014 Author Share Posted November 2, 2014 I do have a JP VTAC rifle I use at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EaZeNuTZ33 Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Here is my .02 as someone who shoot with a factory gun then two different home builds. If there is some feature or something that you really want, or must have, build it. If you are perfectly fine with running someone else's tried and true upper/gun that they have spent the time choosing what works best in combination...buy that. The uppers you have listed have VAST differences that seem evident to me. 1: JP barrel in the JP upper is a much more expensive barrel than the Nordic (don't know about Odin)...that price difference alone makes up nearly 100% of the difference between building and buying. 2: Upgrade to Raptor CH on homebuild adds money to it. 3: Comp is $70 cheaper on the home build, and arguably less tuneable. I've had both and now gone to a Rolling Thunder that has a side port drilled and tuned. I bought the JP and thought it was top notch, I bought the Miculek comp because it was cheap and thought it was a great deal for the price. 4: JP handguard is MUCH larger in diameter than the MI Gen 2. For many people, the handguard "feel" is as important as anything. The JP's light contour barrel always seems offset with a heavier handguard when I've handled JP rifles. IMO.....when you start to compare factory rifles/uppers versus building your own, if all things are equal you cannot build the upper cheaper than you could buy it. If you have something specific you want, areas you are willing to compromise, or areas where you can save money, then building starts really making sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd0306 Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 There is a complete Lancer Systems Comp upper in the classifieds for about the same money... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron169 Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Other things to remember, if you build your own, you need a vice, upper receiver vice block, torque wrench, and an ar multi tool. Those cost money, but once you buy them, you can build your own anytime you want. I built my last upper. Supreme satisfaction knowing why things work the way that they do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EaZeNuTZ33 Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 There is a complete Lancer Systems Comp upper in the classifieds for about the same money... I shot one of their rifles that a friend has...buy with confidence! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solidgun Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I like building stuff, but I think it saves time and headache to have one built knowing that accuracy is guaranteed and the item is worth something when I am ready to move on. I have 7-8 rifles I have built with high end parts, but they just aren't worth anything so I lend those out to people, but wouldn't be worth selling. I don't say the same about the lower assembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EkuJustice Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 The only way a factory gun makes sence is if it's exactly what you want. Once you start modifying it and disassembling the upper is it really a factory gun anymore? I don't think for what we do with them that a built gun is worth less than a factory gun provided quality parts were used in it. For the average joe on the street they tend to want to buy a factory gun as it's usually a cheap gun they are getting and would trust a factory build over someone's "budget build" they threw together with the cheapest stuff possible. There are very few factory guns that we run right out of the box in this sport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breacher217 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I am in the same predicament. I would like to buy a JP rifle or upper. However I would possibly change the hand guard and gas block. I have a habit of buying and selling a lot of my guns. I would probably be better off with a factory gun just for the simple fact that resale is always better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy27al Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 I am in the same situation and I am going with building. Money savings and exactly what I want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salsantini Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 If you decide to do the build you might try using a Geissele Reaction rod in place of the upper receiver block. I've used both and the Geissele in my opinion is much better. You clamp the rod into your vice and then slide the receiver and the barrel over the rod. The splines on the rod slip into the barrel extention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMonty Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 I had a similar decision on barrels, however when Nordic was offering 20% off and free shipping, it made the decision a little easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd0306 Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Can't go wrong with the Nordic barrel.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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