Skip to main content

Building Your Own AR: It's Alive!

Building an AR-­15 is one thing; finishing it is another.

Building Your Own AR: It's Alive!
Photo by Michael Anschuetz. “Vortex Stealth Shadow” (Top). “ChameleonCoat” Green/Blue/Purple (Bottom).

Perhaps I understand Victor Frankenstein. If you are intimately familiar with the AR-­pattern rifle, carbine or pistol, there’s a sense of pleasure when you disassemble and reassemble the amalgamation of different parts and pieces — as long as it still works. I’ve been told that most gun owners who already have at least one AR-15 have turned to building their own than buying a new one; I can believe that. To learn how to do-it-yourself and be self-sufficient describes the current trends. For many of us, AR-­15 builds will comprise some new components, while others are cannibalized from former projects. In the end, pleasure usually turns to pride as we cradle something near 7 pounds of modern art, the kind that sends anti-­gunners into orbit when they try to understand how making an AR at home is legal or different than a company manufacturing one.

My first formal training in servicing firearms came during Armorer School in 1998 at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds. There soldiers and Marines spent three months learning the ins-­and-­outs of small arms troubleshooting, use of manuals, repair and maintenance. Our education culminated in a complete assembly and diagnosis of a firearm or machine gun system, often from a tray of disassembled small parts. After graduation, I couldn’t wait to return home and build an AR-15 of my own.

I’ve lost count of my AR projects. Some, like my Mk 12 Mod. 0/1 and wartime M4 clones are safe queens, but most qualify as take-­with-­me-­everywhere trunk guns. Reactions to my black-­rifle creations have ranged from inspired admiration to disgust. Unlike Frankenstein’s abomination, I have no remorse about what my ARs turn into. While beauty is subjective, function is undeniable. Hearing an AR repetitively chew through 30-­round magazines is my favorite all-­time soundtrack.

From 2006 through 2008, I worked for Blackwater USA as an armorer. Servicing the variety of small arms that were brought to the armory by U.S. Special Operations, law enforcement, three-­letter agencies and foreign militaries taught me more about how guns work than I learned while serving eight years in the same job as a U.S. Marine.

In 2007, Blackwater Custom Shop was started, which is when I went to various schools to learn how to enhance the quality and performance of different firearms. This included how to apply hard-use finishes. My early results working with colors were failures as instructors would return loaners with paint flaking off or fading. Once I attended a two-­day class on applying DuraCoat taught by Lauer Custom Weaponry, that changed.

The major takeaway was to learn how to properly prepare the surface. Mixing color, hardener and spraying it through an air brush was the easy part. If you knew how to completely disassemble a firearm, you had an advantage. The best results always required stripping and degreasing all oil and contaminates, but this has evolved.

The new Duracoat-­in-­a-­can is all you need to achieve an excellent finish on your monsters. Once you see how easy it to effectively finish a firearm, you’ll discover the long list of color combinations available, and patterns you can create. Building an AR-­15 is one thing; finishing it is another. Duracoat is lubricious, meaning that there’s less friction between moving parts, and is self-­etching for improved adhesion. There are also corrosion inhibitors in the formula for rust resistance. For the home-­brew gun builder, it’s also important to realize that there is no preheating or baking DuraCoat as there is with other products. DuraCoat is now available in a 12-­ounce spray can for use on all types of metals, plastic and wood, as well as any metal surface or existing finish.

This year, Steve Lauer’s family-­owned business is celebrating 20 years and I’m happy to see the passion hasn’t faded. Allow me to encourage you to get to know your inner Frankenstein and discover your creative side. 




Current Magazine Cover

Enjoy articles like this?

Subscribe to the magazine.

Get access to everything Guns & Ammo has to offer.
Subscribe to the Magazine

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Handguns

Guns & Ammo Buzz: Hamilton Bowen - Revolver Master

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Suppressors

2024 Guns & Ammo Suppressor of the Year Award: Silencer Central Banish Speed K

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Suppressors

Silencer Central Banish 9K

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Shotguns

Dickinson Plantation SxS Shotguns

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Videos - News - 2nd Amendment

Guns & Ammo Buzz: Handguns for those Under 21?

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Other

Guns & Ammo Buzz: Introducing Keith Wood

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Industry

Guns & Ammo Buzz: BEST OF THE 2025 SHOT SHOW

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Handguns

Kimber's New 2K11: A High-Capacity Double-Stack 1911 Pistol

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Handguns

Kimber CDS9: Best New Concealed Carry 1911 Handgun?

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Handguns

Double Take of Armscor's New RIA-USA TAC Ultra & STK Series

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Handguns

New Pistol for 2025: FN Reflex XL

Join Jack Oller of Guns & Ammo for an in-depth look at the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter. In this detailed re...
Rifles

Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter Rifle

Guns and Ammo Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Guns & Ammo App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use