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Superior Arms Custom S-15 Build

8K views 24 replies 8 participants last post by  chicharrones 
#1 ·
I have decided that I am going to build an AR and I got this lower as an early Christmas gift this year. I hope to update this thread with my progress during my build, which shouldn't take long since most everything is already ordered.


(The picture has been edited, color is flat black.)

Here are my current build specs:

Lower - Superior Arms Stripped S-15 with a Stag Lower Parts Kit, MagPul CTR-M Stock, MagPul MOE+ AR15/M16 Grip and MagPul MOE Trigger Guard. Still waiting on a Stock hardware Mounting Kit, my dealer is still looking for one.

Upper - Superior Arms Complete Upper Flat-Top M4 with chrome lining with a MagPul MOE Hand Guard.

Optics - I think I have finally settled on the Nikon P-223 3X32 BDC Carbine, will be ordering this soon hopefully.

I know Superior Arms is not one of the largest know builders of AR's but it is local to me and that's what really matters. Plus the build time is only 5 days for a complete upper and no shipping costs since it is so close (I think the industry average right now is 90-120 days out).

Let me know if there is anything you would change about this build, also I have never actually even held an AR nonetheless shoot one. So hopefully I will be happy, it was a spur of the moment decision to build one since the wife got me the lower for Christmas.
 
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#2 ·
Some Parts Came In!

Here is an update on my Superior Arms Custom S-15 Build, I got my MagPul Furniture and Stag Lower Parts Kit in!



Above is the MagPul MOE Trigger Guard, MOE+ Grip, MOE Hand Guard Carbine, CTR Stock, CTR 1/2" Check Riser and my Stag Lower Parts Kit.



And as you can see I have installed the MagPul Trigger Guard, MOE+ Grip and my Stag Lower Parts Kit. This is my very first AR build and it was much easier than others have said, the front take down pin was a breeze! And no I didn't order that special pin, I just used a plastic bag!

I am still waiting on my BCM Buffer Tube Assembly and MagPul ASAP - Ambidextrous Sling Attachment Point from Bravo Company USA (Just ordered today since my LGS couldn't get any Mil-Spec Buffer Tubes and also received an email today saying that my order has shipped). I still need to order a castle nut wrench probably the one from Rock River Arms since its only $6.00 and I am using it only to put on a new stock. I have heard of people having problems with them only when they have tried to take off factory castle nuts that were overtightened at the factory.

Superior Arms makes their lowers with a trigger adjustment screw, mine came with one. I was unsure how much difference it would make but to my surprise it took out all of the take up and gave me a very crisp break. A huge plus to Superior Arms!

I have some concerns with the check riser since it says on MagPul's website not for use with AR's. I have seen AR's use them and the only down side is that they have to have the stock fully extended to use the charging handle, otherwise no problems. Anyone that has any experience with this please let me know of any other problems with the check riser not working with AR's.

Update on my upper, well as you all know there has been a huge run on AR's and AR parts. As a result my upper has been delayed, they are saying a week or two now. Which isn't bad at all but was hoping to get it sooner. Also no one has magazines in stock so I have none and am not going to pay four times what I should for one, I have several friends that will lone me some if I need them.

Hope you all are enjoying this build as much as I am! :D
 
#4 ·
well unfortunately if you refuse to pay 4 times the amount for a pmag then your gonna be without for a while. I suggest you maybe backorder with brownells you can do that for 125.00 for 10 pmags which is a good deal but unknown delivery date. I got my first AR a few mos ago and decided an aimpoint was best for shooting 25-100 yds. I couldnt leave well enough alone so I built another one in a different caliber for long range. Its addicting just wait until you fire that first round.
 
#5 ·
I have back ordered some with my LGS who has backordered with everyone of his suppliers with a estimated delivery of February . . .

I will be buying some 45 degree angled irons sights for closer range since the scope is good from 100 to 600 yards easily (designed for those ranges). I have looked at the XTI XS Sights and really like them. Will have to wait until I get a little more money though, I don't think the wife thought I was going to build this AR so soon. But no better time since I got locked into the old pricing and not the new inflated pricing.

I currently with everything have $930 in it even with the scope. You can't even find a stock flattop M4 with a chrome lined barrel for that, let alone a MagPul furnished with a scope mounted on top.
 
#10 ·
I currently with everything have $930 in it even with the scope. You can't even find a stock flattop M4 with a chrome lined barrel for that, let alone a MagPul furnished with a scope mounted on top.
I forgot a couple items that has added to the cost; I forgot to include the Superior Arms Stripped Lower Receiver, MagPul B.A.D. Lever and the Nikon scope rings to the price.

The completed lower I have $342.35 not counting the $107 my wife paid for the lower receiver. So a completed lower receiver would be $449.35. While not the cheapest it is what I wanted.

The completed Superior Arms S-15 M-4 Flattop Upper Chrome Lined (Including the upgrades of Front Gas Block $55 and Chrome Lined $50 Upgrade. They also discounted $45 for no Hand Guard.) is $520 plus $155 for the Nikon P-223 3X32 BDC Carbine Scope and Scope Rings. I would expect almost everyone else to pay more for the completed upper since I am getting it at dealer cost.

And we cannot forget the magazines, I have two back ordered with Rock River Arms for $24.

While it is more than I originally wanted to spend I decided that I was going to build it the way I wanted it and not what everyone else does. While I could of saved a couple hundred by building it stock with simple iron sights on it, that's not what I wanted. So instead of buying multiple items later and having parts sitting around I decided to dodge the bullet and spend a little more than I had planned.

Total for a completed Superior Arms S-15 M4 Flattop with MagPul Furniture would be $1,148.35

It is more than I wanted to spend right now but I did get a nice Christmas bonus from work that funded this project. And the way things are going I think it would be hard to build it at a latter date due to the back log if I had waited.

Hope this encourages you all to go out there and build your own or even another one. I already have some ideas for my next one, I mean my father in-laws AR . . .
 
#6 · (Edited)
Here is my completed Superior Arms S-15 lower receiver.



I was also able to pick up some .223 Brown Bear ammo for $9.00/box at my LGS. They only got 25 boxes in today and had sold all but 5 of them so I bought them all. He is hoping to get more in later this week.

Parts installed so far:
Superior Arms S-15 Stripped Lower, Stag Lower Parts Kit, BCM Buffer Tube Assembly, MagPul ASAP, MagPul CTR Stock, MagPul MOE+ Pistol Grip, MagPul MOE Trigger Guard and MagPul CTR Check Riser.

I have to give Bravo Company USA a good word, ordered my Buffer Tube Assembly and MagPul ASAP on Saturday and got it this morning. Very fast shipping! Highly recommend them.
 
#7 ·
Got more parts in today. MagPul B.A.D Lever, Nikon P-223 3X32 BDC Carbine Scope and Nikon P-Series Scope Rings.


Sorry for the glare . . . Not the best photographer.

Here is a picture of the MagPul B.A.D Lever installed. Very simple instructions included even though you do not even need the instructions since it is pretty simple. I think this lever is going to work great for me.


Once I get my upper I will post pictures with and without the scope on it. That will be the icing on the cake!
 
#14 ·
It has been a very fun project, I didn't know anything about AR's until I started this build. I now know enough to prevent me from screwing this up, not an expert but definitely know more than I would if I just bought an AR.

And yes the wife did surprise me very much with buying me the lower, that was the go ahead and build yourself a gun. I have showed her my progress along the way and she just shrugs her shoulders.
 
#13 ·
Superior Arms is a small family owned company located in Wapello, Iowa. Superior Arms Inc.

They currently have their products page down since they are backordered. They recently had to expand since they won a contract from the US Navy (or was it the US Air Force?). They are busier than they have ever been before.

While they are fairly new to manufacturing AR's (early 2000's) they have been a tooling company for a long time. Their overall quality is very good.

Like I have said before I selected this company since it is local to me and I can drop by their factory at any time I want to. They are very nice people and know the AR platform very well.

They have no problem with people using their lowers to build an AR or even order everything from them and just assemble it yourself.

I almost ordered a completed AR from them until I decided that I wanted a MagPul furnished one and some other things like the MagPul ASAP sling mount. They are definitely worth taking a look at for an AR.
 
#16 ·
Update on the upper; I have talked to my dealer and they are expecting my upper in within the next week, fingers crossed. My dealer has received five stock S-15's from them since mine was ordered. Superior Arms says its because its a custom made to order upper and not one of their stock ones. Since mine is custom (chrome-lined, front picatinny gas block and no hand guard) it will take longer for them to build it.

I am just glad that it is being built and should be done soon, but they only have one guy in the shop right now due to the SHOT Show.
 
#17 ·
My dealer called me today and told me that the 16.5 inch barrels are back ordered and will be awhile for them to get them in and built (they machine the barrels in-house from blanks that are purchased from someone). But he did give me the option to get the chrome lined 14.5 inch with the pinned flash hider with 1:7 twist M4 barrel and in 2-3 days.

So I have opted to go with the 14.5 inch with the pinned flash hider so that I will have my completed AR sooner. I have never thought about going with a 14.5 inch but I guess that's what a true M4 is, so now I will have a truer flattop M4.

I was also caught off guard with the option from Superior Arms to go with a 14.5 inch barrel since they don't have that listed as an option on their website. Perhaps its a new offering for 2013 that they haven't announced yet.
 
#18 ·
The missing pieces are finally here!

Got word this week that my upper would be done and ready by the end of the week, I have heard this a couple times now so my hopes were not as high as they have been in the past. However last night I was told it was in so I picked it up this morning.

I purchased an AimPoint Pro a couple weeks ago but waited until I had the upper to post pictures. So here they are:







I don't know if the photo's really do the rifle justice, I just took them real quick to post on here. The weather here is raining and will be all weekend, looks like next Tuesday I will be able to out to the range.

This was my very first AR build and very first rifle I have ever owned (have had many handguns). I am very pleased with the out come and never thought I would of owned such a nice AR.

Let me know it you think the AimPoint should be moved, been told to mount it as forward as possible (which I did) and others say somewhere in-between. So let me know what you all think of it!
 
#19 ·
Specs for the build.

Lower - Superior Arms Stripped S-15 with a Stag Lower Parts Kit, MagPul CTR-M Stock, MagPul MOE+ AR15/M16 Grip and MagPul MOE Trigger Guard, BCM Buffer Tube and MagPul B.A.D. Lever.

Upper - Superior Arms Complete Upper Flat-Top M4 14.5" with chrome lining with a MagPul MOE Hand Guard. It has a very nice flash hider, but I don't know what brand it is, just one that Superior Arms put on it.

Optics - AimPoint Pro with factory mount.
 
#20 ·
UPDATE: When I first took this rifle out i was having some problems with it ejecting, however a quick trip to the gunsmith everything was straightened out. The front gas block needed some adjusting per the gunsmith.

I have over a 1,000 rounds through this rifle since then and it has functioned 100%! I have tried numerous magazines and have had no problems with them feeding.

The only problem that I have found is that the magazine well is a little tight, so the P-Mags don't drop free but they function correctly.

Also the MagPul B.A.D. Lever is great, I don't know how people shoot the AR without them.
 
#23 ·
about the pmags releasing. Most polymer mags fit very snug in the mag well. The only ones ive noticed that dont are the new gen 3 pmags. And thats hit or miss. No pun intended. What ive noticed works is if your right hand dominate is pressing and holding the mag release the doing a very quick quarter turn clockwise. They fly right out.
 
#24 ·
Looking back on this and seeing what I had spent makes me depressed considering that the prices all went back down along with the availability of them.

Complete Superior Arms "M4" lower was $449.35 in early 2013.

Just finished a Anderson Manufacturing "M16A3 MagPul Edition" lower and it was $191.85 . . . .

They both had quality kits and were both MagPul furniture. And best of all I like them both! My new upper will be about $430 complete with a nickel boron coated bolt carrier and BCM charging handle. This makes me want to build a few more, plus I have learned where the best deals are at.

I will probably get some more AR lowers at least and build them out since that is where most of the cost savings has been.
 
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