My First Firearm Build

I don’t know whether you’ve ever had the opportunity to build a firearm. If you have, then you will probably understand some of my experiences while building my very first firearm. It took several years before I felt this was something I was qualified for and really wanted to do and when the time was just right, I enjoyed every single minute of the process.

For me, the ability to use and maintain your own firearm is an endeavor which must be experienced by everyone who owns one. I take pride in keeping all of the firearms in our personal collection in great shape.

As a new owner, there are plenty of videos on YouTube that will explain the process of basic firearm disassembly and maintenance. You, and no one else is responsible for the maintenance and condition of your investment. You can also sign up for classes at local gun shops where you can learn and practice this valuable skill.

Another set of skills you can obtain which often take a little more time and dedication is that of performing remedial maintenance of “fixing” problems with firearms. To those who get trained and enjoy tinkering with the internal components and who find relaxation when practicing these skills, we proudly assign the name of “Armorer”.

Some may get involved with the modification of firearm components and the creation of special parts often through a “milling” process. These individuals we call “Gunsmiths”. And to these, my sincere admiration. I’ve gone as far as modifying a few parts but I would not consider myself a Gunsmith. Perhaps someday I will learn some of their amazing skills.

Over time I have taken enough training so that I understand the internal dynamics of some firearms well enough for the challenge of building one. I also hold a Type 07 – Manufacturer of Firearms Federal License (FFL). Even though this does not mean that you need one of those in order to build a firearm for yourself, it requires a higher level of detail from a documentation perspective.

For my first project, I chose to build a Ruger 10/22 Rifle – it’s simple and all the components are fairly easy to purchase and assemble. As expected, I had a lot of fun building my .22 Caliber carbine.

Here are some recommendations that should make this little project more enjoyable.

First and foremost, allow yourself more than ample time to complete this project. It is by no means labor intensive, but getting your hands on all the components may take weeks.

Second, find a list of parts and components from the very beginning. Make an easy to read and understand list of everything you will need. There are schematics, videos and assembly lists online.

Third, take a little time comparing prices between vendors and decide whether the benefits of brand name components justify your purchase.

Fourth, as you select and purchase every component, update your list with price and name of vendor. Eventually you will want to know your total cost.

Fifth, make sure you have tools available such as punches, a small armorer hammer, and hex keys.

The day will come when you have figured out how to put it all together and you will think that your work is all done. Well, not really – you still have a few more safety items to complete.

Sixth, you must perform a complete functional check of your firearm without ammunition. This would be a great time to have an armorer or experienced individual perform a functional check of your firearm. Hopefully this experienced individual will identify any problems with your newly manufactured firearm before you use it at the range. For clarification, the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) folks explained to me that for their purposes, assembly of components is the same as manufacture. Remember that in everything we do around firearms, SAFETY comes first.

Seventh and final, take your new firearm to the range along with a highly qualified individual. Observing all safety rules and protocols in place, fire about 10 rounds to make sure your firearms works properly.

When I fired mine, I felt an incredible sense of exhilaration, pride, and happiness. This is not a firearm to sell, but one to keep as a heirloom, with the hope of some day presenting to my granddaughter.

Enjoy your build!