# AR 15 Rifle Kits **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 25, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493 "2015-11-25T01:27:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/1 "2015-11-25T01:27:59Z")
While shopping for an AR, I saw that a couple of manufacturers sell AR 15 kits. One kit was very simple, two pieces, an upper and a lower. Another consisted of 25 or so pieces. I’d consider both manufacturers somewhat “off brand.” Anyone know why these manufactures sell these as kits? Especially in the case of the two-piece kit, how much time would it take to assemble it at the factory? I don’t think a “kit” skirts any federal or state laws. Just seems odd. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/2 "2015-11-25T01:30:49Z")
I don’t know why they would sell ‘kits’. Are you still in California? Maybe it’s away of getting around the strict gun laws there? FWIW, AR-15 style rifles are incredibly easy to build from parts. The only parts I don’t like assembling are the sights. Everything else pretty much just drops in. ---
**Author:** ![DeepLiquid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deepliquid/32/14893_2.png) [@DeepLiquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepLiquid)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/3 "2015-11-25T01:32:05Z")
As I understand it, fellas like fussing with things, makes em feel like they’ve had a hand in the production process? Maybe the manufacturer is trying to help out, or maybe just skirt a law or ten. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/4 "2015-11-25T01:35:04Z")
Depending on what the vendor means by “kit,” it can be a way for the buyer to have a rifle with the exact set of festures s/he wants. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/5 "2015-11-25T01:45:20Z")
> [@DeepLiquid](#): > > As I understand it, fellas like fussing with things, makes em feel like they’ve had a hand in the production process? \ This is sometimes called ‘The Ikea Syndrome’ - a person will value an item higher if they feel they had a role in its production. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/6 "2015-11-25T01:54:31Z")
As I understand it, the bit that’s actually regulated is the receiver, so you can sell a kit that consists of everything but that with no problem at all. Meanwhile, the receiver is very easy to mill out of a lump of metal, and you can also get custom milling rigs just for making receivers really easily. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/7 "2015-11-25T02:28:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > As I understand it, the bit that’s actually regulated is the receiver, so you can sell a kit that consists of everything but that with no problem at all. Meanwhile, the receiver is very easy to mill out of a lump of metal, and you can also get custom milling rigs just for making receivers really easily. yep. on an AR-pattern rifle, the lower receiver is the serial numbered part, and is legally “The firearm.” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/8 "2015-11-25T03:43:43Z")
[Here’s a recent article from Wired about making your own AR 15](http://www.wired.com/2015/06/i-made-an-untraceable-ar-15-ghost-gun/) ---
**Author:** ![Obtenebrate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9f8e36/32.png) [@Obtenebrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obtenebrate)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/9 "2015-11-25T10:41:34Z")
I made my AR from a kit, and my main reason for doing so was that I wouldn’t be paying someone to install parts I planned on changing out anyways. But in the process I feel I got a really good grasp on how the various parts worked and I also feel I’m better equipped to fix it if something breaks down the line, since I installed all of it in the first place (with the exception of the barrel and receiver, bought that pre-attached). ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/10 "2015-11-25T14:19:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > As I understand it, the bit that’s actually regulated is the receiver, so you can sell a kit that consists of everything but that with no problem at all. Meanwhile, the receiver is very easy to mill out of a lump of metal, and you can also get custom milling rigs just for making receivers really easily. Wired Magazine had an article a few months ago about milling a receiver. There’s a milling machine out there which can make one pretty quickly with very little manual help. They also tested making a receiver with a 3D printer. That didn’t work very well. Whoops! ZipperJJ beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/11 "2015-11-25T15:18:58Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > This is sometimes called ‘The Ikea Syndrome’ - a person will value an item higher if they feel they had a role in its production. > :rolleyes: I read about it a long time ago from some pancake mix marketing guy. The “just add one egg” increases sales dramatically, and most people think that without doing that no such instant pancake could ever exist. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/12 "2015-11-25T21:00:23Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > This is sometimes called ‘The Ikea Syndrome’ - a person will value an item higher if they feel they had a role in its production. > :rolleyes: Especially if assembling an AR-15 with an Allen Wrench. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/13 "2015-11-25T22:27:15Z")
I would love to see the Ikea style instructions that would go with that kit…Also, what would it be called? Koltinotto? ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/14 "2015-11-26T04:57:36Z")
One of the kits I referenced is the “Del-Ton AR-15 Rifle Completion Kit.” I’ve got a part number, but I don’t know if it’s the retailer’s or the manufacturer’s: 597-RKT100-10. Manufacturer’s website might have some instructions/info. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/15 "2015-11-26T07:47:53Z")
Kits can be customized. There is a lot of variety available depending on your wants and needs and many of the parts are easily interchangeable. And, it’s fun! ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/16 "2015-11-27T00:08:12Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I read about it a long time ago from some pancake mix marketing guy. The “just add one egg” increases sales dramatically, and most people think that without doing that no such instant pancake could ever exist. Just to keep this de-rail going: I heard the ‘Just add egg’ story re. original (ca 1946) _cake_ mixes. After WWII ended, there were tons and tons of powdered eggs stockpiled (the US had essentially geared up for continual warfare), so the cake mix was invented as wat to use up the surplus. They didn’t sell. Focus groups (so to speak) were convened and discovered that ‘housewives’ felt that preparing a mix did not count as ‘baking’ and using them ‘cheated’ their husbands by not really baking. So they removed the powered egg and put ‘beat in eggs’ and Bingo! it is now real baking! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/17 "2015-11-27T02:03:31Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I read about it a long time ago from some pancake mix marketing guy. The “just add one egg” increases sales dramatically, and most people think that without doing that no such instant pancake could ever exist. > [@usedtobe](#): > > Just to keep this de-rail going: > > I heard the ‘Just add egg’ story re. original (ca 1946) _cake_ mixes. > After WWII ended, there were tons and tons of powdered eggs stockpiled (the US had essentially geared up for continual warfare), so the cake mix was invented as wat to use up the surplus. > They didn’t sell. > Focus groups (so to speak) were convened and discovered that ‘housewives’ felt that preparing a mix did not count as ‘baking’ and using them ‘cheated’ their husbands by not really baking. > So they removed the powered egg and put ‘beat in eggs’ and Bingo! it is now real baking! To nip this in its embryonic stage, [Snopes says ‘False’](http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/cakemix.asp). > [@](#): > > However, as Laura Shapiro observed in Something from the Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950s America, “while Dichter’s work was influential, its precise role in the success of the cake mix is unclear.” For starters, although it may not have been a point articulated by the homemakers Dichter surveyed, the fact was that fresh eggs produced superior cakes. Using complete mixes which included dried eggs resulted in cakes that stuck to the pan, had poor texture, had a shorter shelf life, and often tasted too strongly of eggs. “Chances are,” Shapiro wrote, “if adding eggs persuaded some women to overcome their aversion to cake mixes, it was at least partly because fresh eggs made for better cakes.” Furthermore, the two food companies who came to dominate the cake mix market in this era, General Mills and Pillsbury, adopted opposite approaches: the former chose to go with fresh-egg mixes, while Pillsbury opted to offer complete mixes. If the form of eggs used were truly the tipping point that saved the cake mix industry, then sales of one of these company’s products should have tanked in comparison to the other’s. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/18 "2015-11-27T02:30:35Z")
Thanks to this thread, I’m pretty sure I’ll always associate cake with AR-15’s…no wait, I think I already did. This just reinforces my feelings of murder at bday parties. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-rifle-kits/738493/19 "2015-11-27T15:06:40Z")
Mmm, [delicious murder.](http://www.outdoorchannel.com/article.aspx?id=13582)…