Building a gun from a parts kit? It’s going to come with pretty much everything you need. All you have to do is get a compatible frame or receiver (and jig, if it isn’t finished) and be patient.
It might take a few tries to get all the gun parts and hardware situated, but you’ll get there.
Speaking of which, here are four parts you might want to switch out on your parts kit.
Triggers
There may be nothing at all wrong with the trigger that comes with your gun parts kit. Then again, some parts kits come with pretty vanilla triggers. If you want to customize the gun and create a one-of-a-kind shooting experience, the trigger is often the first place you should go for an upgrade.
Instead of a single-stage trigger that works for “everyman” why not upgrade to a two-stage trigger with nickel-Teflon coated internals that is smoother and crisper?
Mushy triggers ruin the shooting experience backward and forwards, even on air guns. Don’t settle for less than the best.
Recoil Springs
Again there may be nothing wrong with the recoil spring that came with your parts kit, but upgrading to a stronger, thicker recoil spring with a corrosion-resistant coating will improve the build.
If it is coated, it will last longer, and if it is stronger, it will result in faster, smoother cycling and feeding.
Match-Grade Barrels
A new barrel in a build kit is probably fine – for now. But if you want to do everything you can to customize the experience and create a precision platform, the barrel may also be a weak point.
Instead of using the one that comes with the kit, why not switch it out for a match-grade version?
Another thing to be aware of is the twist rate. Higher twist rates are more suitable for quicker-burning powders and lower twist rates are better for slower-burning propellants.
This is an important point for black powder builders, who often make guns from kits. It’s actually pretty common for black powder barrels to have rifling with such a low rate of twist that the ball won’t even complete a whole revolution before exiting.
On those builds, consider swapping the barrel for something with a slower rate of twist – consult a gunsmith for additional details, though, don’t just guess.
On Sporting Rifles: The Bolt Carrier Group
If you’re building a sporting rifle and the parts kit comes with a plain phosphate BCG, that’s another thing you should consider upgrading when you assemble the rifle.
Mil-spec phosphate coatings are good – but that’s it. They’re just good. They’re non-reflective and fairly corrosion resistant, but oil and fouling really tend to stick to them.
There are many commercially available BCGs with modern coatings like nickel boron and titanium nitride, which exhibit superior permanent dry lubricity and corrosion resistance and which are easier to clean.
The need to use less liquid lubricant also diminishes the rate of wear, so some of these new-age BCGs can last longer, too – not to mention the fact that they’ll probably offer more fluid cycling.
What Else You’ll Need
If you’re planning on building a gun from a parts kit, make sure you have a receiver or frame compatible with it – since these are the parts regulated as firearms, they will require an FFL transfer.
Depending on where you live (consult a lawyer) you may also be able to machine a receiver or frame using a jig and jig kit, so that may be an option, too.
Where Can You Get a Gun Parts Kit?
Looking for a gun parts kit for an esoteric model? No one carries more than SARCO, Inc., online at SarcoInc.com or in their showroom in Easton, Pennsylvania. They are one of the world’s largest suppliers of firearms and parts, especially for hard-to-find military platforms. Check out their website today.
