Building a custom gun....

[digital_blue]

Hello,

I was thinking of building a PSG-1 or a barrett out of parts and other whatnot. What is involved in building a gun from parts? I'm trying a "pay as you build" approach to compensate for my limited budget. Anyone got any tips? I have an inital budget of about $200. Should I go for the frame/receiver first since they are almost impossible to import?

thanks

[Styrak]

I don't think $200 would get you a receiver, especially a PSG1 receiver. But I could be wrong.

[ThunderCactus]

thats not a good idea, you typically pay more for individual parts than you do for the whole gun. Not to mention there are some pieces to the PSG-1 that you just can't find.

[AngelusNex]

if you don't have allot of experience with aegs then i'd advise not trying to build your own from scratch. If you insist though i'd advise you change to a armalight simply because the parts for them are much much easier to come by.

[Aquamarine]

If you are trying to build a barrett, then the flash-hider alone will cost you $70 Canadian.

[Skruface]

Note to digital_blue:

The phrases "build from the ground up" and "limited budget" cannot be combined.

It costs more to scratch-build a gun than it does to buy a complete new one. I've done it several times. They also break down a lot more often, which is also going to cost you more in the long run for repairs.

If you have a limited budget, the best advice I can give you is keep saving your money and keep it on hand, and keep an eye on the buy & sell. There are some amazing deals on quality used guns when people are desperate for cash.

[dontask]

also you wouldn't be able to play with the gun until you get the last piece fixed in
it's a bummer to have $500 worth of parts but no gun

[Cassius]

I love when people are desperate for cash and sell their guns. Somehow this sounds cruel though. Oh well..

I think you're better by buying the gun you want first then modifying it to your needs or by buying a good base gun then adding on conversion kits to it.

I've paid approximately 1600$ for my Sr16 and its modifications yet I could have taken it out to the field and played with it from day one since it was originally just a normal TM SR-16.

[Mud Gunner]

I would take their advice, I have been building a custome gun for about 6 months and its an armalite model, it seems like a relatively easy thing but there is the sourcing of all the parts, having them shipped and then putting them together. All good until you discover that you need motor base plate screws, pistol grip mounting screws, need to rewire it from a front config to a rear one and you've torn the bucking sleeve while installing the barrel.

Then there is the whole gear box thing, shimming, aligning gears properly, reinserting the anti reversal latch spring in the correct way and tucking in that pinched wire inside the gearbox and opposed to inbetween the two halves.

I do not know you level of experience with AEGS but building you own is likely going to cost you more than buying one and create more hassle than its worth unless you are the patient type, I killed most of my patients...

Now to flip the coin, with the gun I am building I know its one of a kind out there, looks great in the condition it is now and really looking forward to finishing the project, I have a list of theose screws I need and will be going out to buy them today. A team mate came by so i could work on his gun and now he wants to do the same with a gun he has, no greater flattery than imitation they say. I guess Frankenstein is beautiful to someone

Good luck if you decide to carry on building your own, its going to be a journey of discoveries and some good hands on AEG experience. Should you screw it all up dont't come on the forums and complain, we told you so :P


Mud

[roughshadow]

If you absolutely positively got a build a gun. Biggest suggestion is to use a "premade" gearbox with all the trimmings ready to go.

As it stands. I have my self been working on a 100% custom rifle for 6 months.(Barley left paper and its having issues.) using a preconstructed gear box has already saved me time and a little money in my custom build. the bigger issue is finding things like: subtable barrel, hop up assembly, trigger system, fire select system. Very very nasty hell custom guns can be.

I am told worthy sacrifice for such guns can be found in the classified. *gives mad scientist face wile holding a dremel in one hand and a drill in the other. All plans come crashing as he realises more problems in the drawings.*

[Cassius]

Mud Gunner, can you show me a pic of your gun?