Hop vs. James Cheap AR-15 Budget Build-Off PART 2
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- čas přidán 10. 02. 2023
- The long-awaited conclusion to the budget build faceoff: In this episode of TFBTV, @JamesReeves and @Hoplopfheil roast each other's budget AR-15 from episode one. The boys have a $1,250 budget to build the best, cheapest, most complete AR-15 possible while staying under budget.
What's the next build off going to be?
««« APPAREL AND GEAR IN THIS VIDEO »»»
• SIG Romeo + Juliet Red Dot/Magnifier Combo: bit.ly/3uGaMQA
• Holosun 407: bit.ly/3HhTFfH
• Primary Arms SLx 3X MicroPrism:
• Primary Arms Offset Mount: bit.ly/3PabrDy
• Blue Alpha Sling: bit.ly/3iPLQn3
• Blue Force Vickers Sling: bit.ly/3YazLcA
• Cheap Magpul Furniture and Mags: bit.ly/3FCq6UM
• Noveske H-Buffer: bit.ly/3PgOBtR
• Cheap AR-15 Mags from Top Gun Supply: bit.ly/3VHmp5L
• Cheap .223 Ammo from Ventura Munitions: bit.ly/3FMSaoN
• Apparel: All TFBTV apparel is sponsored by 5.11 Tactical and you can get it at www.511tactical.com
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What’s the next competition you’d like to see for James v. Hop ?
Sub 650$ tactical shotgun
an 308-ish battle rifle/DMR within 2000-ish dollar?
glass is separate as can be expensive than the rifle
and test them with iron then the glass
Who can say the nicest thing about the other person :))
Booty short contest
Poverty tier / entry level AR build off (sub $800 for those who think then need an M&P Sport)
"You merely adopted the budget...I was born in it, molded by it. I was a man before I saw my first Surefire, and by then, it was blinding." -Hop
Almost Shakespearian
@@scottward7813 Tbf, James' comment on Juliet's tight box was literally Shakespearian.
You butchered the second half but I chuckled nevertheless heartily
You win the internet today. Great great comment.
I identify with this.
"Its a little out of spec, so its destroying itself inside" Me too rifle, me too
I feel your pain brother
"That's a little weird.."
Relatable
This is me.
Pretty deep for Saturday morning.
Hops burn about James gun looking like a "my first gun" /r/ reddit post was the sickest burn I've heard in a hot minute.
That was the most legit burn.
I like that it rained while Hop was going over the rifle. Even Mother Nature was saddened by James build
Paul harrell vibes.
If James had spent less on the barrel, gotten a light and it’s buffer tube situation was different- clear win ... BUT HE DIDN’T... sadly hop wins this with that god awful ugly gun.
I’ll give Hop $10k right now if he talks out of the left side of his mouth.
@@stubbingtonmarigold3032 it was clear for everyone to see that hop would win it
Lol
James' gun surprised me because I didn't know you could make an AR look metrosexual.
lmfao
Hop didn’t have time to rattle can it flecktarn
Depends who is holding it.
I busted a guy laughing at this. Maybe he needs some little cut off denim shorts to dress up the mags.
@@mikelivingston6157 HAHA 🤣
Very entertaining video. With the money James saved with that budget build combined with the money earned selling it, hopefully our boy can now afford a whole pair of shorts.
He never left the 90’s bike shorts as regular clothing....
Lol
😂 The old moose knuckle
BRO IM CRYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So cool to see James correctly identify the myriad of advantages to M-LOK over Quad Rails, immediately following a demonstration of his build in which he used literally none of his M-LOK slots. Great video
Bro, he used a slot for sling mount, so there's that...
Hop won this all the way. Even best insult; “looks like someone’s ‘my first gun’ r/ Reddit post” floored me 😂😂😂😭
In fairness to Hop for his quad rail choice, he knows James has plenty of experience handling that much girth.
But only while on his knees, lol
I get anxiety thinking Hop will somehow see my AR someday.
Now give them to Clint smith to roast
Why I run AKs. They are shit to begin with. LOL
@@robertmccann5838 😂
I bought a cheap ar and a cheap ak. I love my ak. It is so cheap to feed.
@@546people amen, brother
"Just like Romeo said, Juliet's box is pretty tight"
Classic Shakespeare there. Quite the hit in pre-AP English class back in the day.
For budget builds, Hop has a home court advantage. James looks like he'll use a $100 to buy a pack of gum in a convenient store.
Gucci gum in exquisite leather casing.
They didn’t mention it but James was over the budget.
@@LincolnH1224 they mentioned it like 9 times
How does Hop simultaneously look 14 and 40?
He is an android
Adrenochrome.
Cigarettes
He owns a cat
Cerebrolysin
James will never recover, being called r*ddit tier is one of the cruelest insults known to man
It’s not the content we need, but the content we deserve.
One of the greatest comments I have ever read!
@@scottward7813 AMEN!
👏 Bravo 👏👏 Bravo 👏👏👏
I love the dynamic you and your son have together.
Hop definitely won this one. His rifle won’t turn into an IED eventually
I think that's the real deciding factor here. One will give you a dead trigger and get you killed.
Gotta give it to Hop on this one.
Within the rules of the competition and not damaging itself is an ugly win for a hideously ugly gun.
@@stubbingtonmarigold3032 still a win
@@stubbingtonmarigold3032 It's ugly cuz Hop built it, if James went that route it woulda been "vintage", just like his short shorts...
Quick, reliable budget rig.
Aero m4e1 complete upper w Atlas Rail: 350
Aero m4e1 lower: 90
LaRue Trigger: 80
SOLGW LPK: 40
Aero buffer setup: 50
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6: 350
Total: 960
Money left over for Mbus, Whiskey and a Plan B pill
"HOPMOD" is probably the best thing I've heard all year
This is the first time I can ever remember rewinding the first minute of a video out of sheer enjoyment.
Finallyyy James is forced to shoot a PSA
It's 8:30 am and I've had six beers. Yet , I still feel sorry for you both
Lol nice
Deadly...
A man after my own heart...
I like how their budget builds are $700 more than my budget builds 🤣
Haha right? Minus the optic, my budget build was like $600
Yeah fr, my budget build was better than both of these and was like, $800 with optics.
You’re not kidding. My budget AR-10 was less than these.
@@eb5671 you guys are getting optics??
PSA with free floating mlok & magpul furniture 500, Sig Sauer Tango 300, Streamlight protac 125, sling(users choice) we'll go high, 75, buis rear 50ish, still have plenty leftover for an upgraded trigger, buffer & spring & maybe bcg. Being poor takes talent...
TFB TV: “we built these guns intending to sell them after testing”
ATF: “intending to sell?”…🧐
😂😂😂
Thanks for discussing the damage to the buffer face Hop, that is happening on my new build and I couldn't exactly pin down the cause.
Another possible cause not mentioned would be if the carrier was too short.
As a 45 year old I cracked up at Jame’s review of the 90’s. 😂
Jame Reeves
I'm 30 and it was pretty funny. My 2 cents is that paying for the porn made it more exciting having a few tapes and mags vs having 2TB and needing more.
I haven't watched the video yet, but Hop will always win. Win my heart cause I love him.
Thanks Loaf.
@@tfbtv It's the short shorts, worse than quadrails A2 fsp's. Much-much worse...
The ejection pattern on James' build.... nice. If you put a supressor on it, those cases would be hitting the target as well.
I built my first AR after Part 1 came out! I'm lucky to have family and friends with years of knowledge and guidance including the Part 1 video in this series. However I went with neither James nor Hops build.
The meat and potatoes of my build is the excellent complete build kit from PSA that includes an 18" 223 Wylde barrel, rifle length gas system, lightweight 15" MLOK rail, upgraded trigger, complete lower parts kit, Magpull furniture, and A2 birdcage all for $450. That is AMAZING! For $50 I milled the lower myself but PSA offers their lower for the same price. Upgraded charging handle and sling were $50. For optics I scored a Vortex 1-8x LVPO w/ mount on sale (through PSA again) for literally half off at $350. Primary Arms and Vortex have sales all the time. Streamlight makes some excellent low cost weapon lights, though I opted to use one from another rifle of mine. Built rifle comes out to $1000. Spent $250 on cheap mags and ammo.
I gotta say PSA may not make the finest products, but damn if they aren't the most valuable. If Hop and James do end up making another budget build video I know for sure one if not both of them will buy PSA. Part 1 was, in a way, how I learned NOT to build my first AR. The compromises James and Hops endured were lessons learnt. The lighter barrel, longer gas system, 223 Wylde chamber, and LVPO resolved all the cons their builds had while still remaining affordable. Thank you TFBTV!
I bought that upper as well and I am definitely looking forward to shooting it more (first one was out of spec and wouldn't accept a charging handle; they resolved the issue quickly and free of charge). Sounds like it was a good choice.
Hop actually built a solid rifle while james built an Amish woman…. Very plain and ugly 😂
I think if James would've bought an upper or lower from PSA his shorts would've grown, or he would've burst into flames, or both...
The Schmid 2 stage is 95% what a G SSA trigger is... for 40% the price. They're pretty phenomenal.
I have assembled two different rifles now, and it's nice to see some suggestions for budget tier rifles here and what little things can be improved here and there, and some of the limitations that are present. Always appreciate you guys putting out excellent content!
I was worried James lost when I heard him reading his Loser message, but then I heard Hop's, and I don't know which is better/worse.
Jimbo and The Hopster...a satirical love story. Thank you, gentlemen, for bringing some levity to the gun community! Keep 'em coming!
I would have done a brownells DD sopmod 14.5 upper with a p&w, and a PSA lower build kit with a Romeo 5 and probably been right in the same budget
What's a p&w?
@@sheepherder911 pin and weld
As for the buffer marks, I actually ordered six aero precision rifles at one time, and all of the bolt carrier groups were out of spec and digging into the buffer, causing that issue on all the rifles, so it could be the BCG. Aero did replace them all free of charge.
That slot on sl-k is not just a loop, it's an m-lok slot. You can install a qd point in it.
Waiting for someone to say this
Wow you learn something new every day.
James was already over-budget
Can you do that on any Magpul stock with those slots?
I really like that both rifles and the perspective of Hop and James make me think about a lot of things I wouldn't have thought about. Thanks, guys! 🙂👍
Juliette saw James and thought it was part of the assignment to have a screw loose.
The intro comments were so weird because I was on a jobsite talking guns w/a guy & he said his airsoft"team"was as good as any military team at clearing houses. He also said at about 90yds a 9mm will only leave a bruise & a burn mark!!! I was so stunned I could only give him a slow blink. Right hand to God,true story.
This series was entertaining and I looked forward to the conclusion. Keep up the good work
James went over budget in Pt 1
I was looking for this comment. Surprised it didn’t come up in the video at all. Why have a budget if you immediately go over it?
AND didn't have a light smh my head
Hop did mention through the video, multiple times when he first went over the rifle.
I agree, they both won by losing equally 😂 The only way those two could've been more miserable during the review is if somehow the rifles caused them to instantly transport to the opposing environments... James in shorties and a t-shirt getting hypothermia, and Hop passing out from heat stroke as he desperately tries to shed clothing worth more than his rifle build, all confused why the moisture is in the air but not falling dammit! 😄 These facts prove that this is a great concept for similar future content! ✨️👍
Finally, the video I've been waiting for impatiently, I must admit that the result of the challenge didn't surprise me, I'm counting on more videos of this type, maybe next time PCC for home defense, only this time with a flashlight James.
Been waiting for this. My general budget for builds is around the same lol. I'd rather have a handful of setups that are good enough than one Gucci build and credit card payments. Poor life doesn't have to be completely awful.
I mean you can build a really nice rifle for that dollar amount. Trick is to save the money first, have a parts list and kind of watch prices as you're saving so you know what a good price is. Then buy as the sales happen.
I built a really nice rifle for that amount, including a quality red dot, but since I did piece meal and ordered as the money came in, I paid a bit more cause of shipping, like $200 total over a few months, when I probably could have lumped a lot of it together if I had the money saved. Also black friday/ Christmas sales are where it's at for building.
Also, since it's worth mentioning, I'm not sure how psa's new lines will be cost wise for receivers, but another budget option is leadstar arms receiver set. Can find a set for $100 sometimes on psa and the lock up is tight and the tolerances are good. Not overly tight, but tight enough that nothing feels cheap when installed
My friend has that mentality, has a bunch of rifles that don’t shoot accurately. Cheaps out on ammo, optics, sling, flashlight. You name it, he budget bought it.
It’s okay if you budget buy your first rifle, but why ALL of them? will never understand that mentality. Not even like your setups vary that much either since it’s usually budget garbage. 5 PSA rifles, 2 just with iron sights, 3 with shitty optics, no NVG, no IR, no good ammo, bad ammo count, 3 loaded mags, etc etc.
Just save. End up realizing you can afford BCM, DD, LMT, MCX, SCAR, Import AKs etc etc. end up with good optics and accessories as well.
Yup. I have nice quality parts, a lot of things people upgrade on big name rifles anyways, decent optics, and pre planning is definitely key. Sales, discounts, blems, and free shipping codes go a very long way
Id say it’s about average or slightly above my builds as well. While I think hop clearly won and built a solid gun, I don’t think either was top their for $1250. My main rifle is a aero fsb mid length that I built for around that, maybe slightly cheaper. With holosun dot, a bushnell magnifier (severely underrated), and protac.
What’s the point of having multiple AR-15s over one “higher quality” one? You can only shoot one at a time.
But hey I have multiple KAC and LMTs so I’m living the best of both worlds hehe
“Like Romeo said, Juliet’s box is pretty tight.” 😂
You can’t top the Hop,
Pop’s gun went plop,
But when you browse his brows,
He went with lop.
this has been one of the best series on TFBTV - I hope it continues
The Magpul SL-K stock sling slot is MLOK so there are many QD options out there. It’s not the upper being out of spec but the length of the carrier itself.
i love this concept. very entertaining. i would like to see more of these "build off" style videos.
"Mainly, I'm disappointed in you"
James has been talking to my family again... In my defense, I really thought selling those Sherpa lined shortshorts would of been a great seller... well least in Florida...
You guys should absolutely do this again next year, but up the budget a bit to keep things interesting!
Hop and James need to more of this
Yep enjoyed these immensely. Both presenters better than anything on TV
Been waiting anxiously for this. Thank you.
One of my favorite rifles, I have around $275 in from clearance parts. If it breaks, it breaks, but it's a blast to beat the hell out of
I frequently look to see what's in the "blemished" category on sites
The buffer chattering is most likely a result of a burr in the buffer retaining pin channel of the bolt carrier group, you can sand the tail of the carrier very lightly with a gentle 1000 grit piece of sandpaper and it will remove the issue
I didn't expect a Girls' Frontline mention in a TFB video but I'm here for it. 😁
Enjoyed the videos, learned a lot, and you guys put a smile on my face. Well done!
That self-irony is a defeatless strategy, and delivers ultimate viewers experience) Intro got me into this vid instantly
Now do one where you make the most expensive build you can think of; Hop can have a PVS-14 built into his upper and James can railwrap his handguard with Hop’s birth certificate
I like how hop's criticism is "this gun looks ugly and destroys itself", meanwhile james criticism is "it's based on an old design that's been proven to be one of the best in history"
And James's point about the front sight post having to go for a full-length m-lok handguard that gets rid of the blurry for ground in my prism is facts.
I really believe you two should have just bought a $599 m lok psa a votex lpvo and a streamlight and youd be way ahead. I often caution people about this when they assemble ars from parts. Usually it costs more
Just. As. Good.
I was thinking along those same lines myself
Sig lpvo. Budget vortex lpvos are so sad. Attack chicken is terrible for the money.
Tango MSR 1-6 comes with rings and goes on sale for $270. Glass is pretty good according to C_does
@@TheMsdos25 love my MSR. got it on C_does and Brassfacts reccomendations
Take note the PSA rifle just worked. They have their quality control issues, but there customer service is exceptional (if you have any issues). Don’t be afraid to buy PSA, use the money you save to buy optics and ammo.
The two of them in one video competition is always going to be a must watch.
The roasting was top notch and very entertaining, thanks guys! lol
This was a great video now do one for custom Glocks
I'd like to see a cheapest 9mm duty/nightstand handgun challenge
Or the best concealable handgun challenge (in any cartridge) next
Bet hop would just buy a PSA dagger for that
@@TheMsdos25 let's be honest he would
But if it was a challenge of like "spend x" then it'd really be about what was bought around that, as a Glock gen 3 clone can be bought from a ton of places, it's what you add that makes the difference... What red dot sights, what version (17 or 19) what kinda cuts or or barrel threading or not, what kind of aftermarket or brand Glock sights (to go with the red dot)
Just to see in the end what's more usable
Then again if they went with super compact carry there'd be the whole "caliber" choice (.380 or 9mm, 5.7, or even like 30 super if that's still a thing) adding a light, and then testing to see what ended up being the superior handgun for super compact/micro carry
PSA dagger
I love seeing this kind of content. I'd love to see more of this.
This was an excellent series! Watched both the whole way through!
My budget build is sitting at $1680 so far. It's a pricey hobby to build quality stuff.
What's it's breakdown, piece by peice?
Fun competition and fun video! I loved the banter between you two roasting each other's builds. Between the two, though, I think the "Hopmod" rifle won this one 😄
Good job on both ends. I'll have to give I up to James though for the optic selection. Thanks for sharing.
Finally! I've been waiting for this video. I can't think of what you two should do next as I can't even decide what I'm doing this weekend
If you flip the Juliette so that it flips left. You can get the eye box closer.
I would guess someone didn't use locktight. Or maybe the rail is out of spec which would mean both entry's had at least one item out of spec.
Or the Juliet is out of spec
Or the juliet is just bad. I used the 4x version. It was not good.
@@armadilloeggs231 Why would you assume anything is out of spec?
You can see the mount wobble with his shots before he pulls it off while trying to flip it down. The mounting screw either wasn't tightened down well enough or loctited when mounted or both.
Mount anything to a gun without tightening it down properly or loctiting the screws and let me know how it goes. Probably about the same.
PSA upper is very doubtfully out of spec. Their quality has been very impressive for quite a while now.
@@frankopanklaric I've had no issues with mine. It's even mounted on a short x39. Bit more recoil than you average 5.56.
As the other comments suggested I'd lean towards improper torque/no locktight being the culprit. Then the mount/magnifier out of spec.
With the least likely being the psa upper out of spec. Was trying to give James and hop the benefit of the doubt when I brought that up in the initial comment
When I went from a bushmaster patrolman built in 2014 to the cheapest, I could get PSA it was a big step up.
The PSA rifles are good, especially for the money...
I was just wondering this morning what ever happened with this face off. Glad to see this is out finally!
content is outstanding...
must say, always luv the (on mark) sharing of knowledge & delicious smarminess of delivery...
nice nice yes yes
Such a fun video series.
Literally been waiting for forever fo this
19:40 james mentioning girls frontline gave me huge whiplash
Been waiting on this series thanks guys
Hilarious..made my day with this video and the Hop teardown was so amazing and funny. Omg. Thanks all of you for this
That was fun. Hope to see a higher priced AR-15 build competition. I learned a lot!!
"90's wasn't that great"? Hopp kicked your arse.
90's ROCKED!
Well, since you two often go back to Boomer Vs Fetus type insults, I'd like to see a head to head shoot off. Hop chooses one stage, and James chooses the other stage (to play to your own strengths), and just see what happens.
Yeeeees! Love this idea.
"Ryan watch the camera you IDIOT" was an absolute Logan Paul moment.
I love the James v Hop series, next up should be a custom Glock competition!
Expo chrome lined bcg/barrel: $170
Aimsports wraith handguard: $50
Aero receiver set: $160
Warhammer charging handle: $35
Trinity force 15°grip: $15
Rise armament trigger: $100
LPK minus FCG: $20
Buffer system and stock: $50
Sig Romeo 7: $150
6 pmags: $50
Total: $800
Yeah, I'd say $1250 was a bit excessive for "budget builds" that are already falling apart. Even if you were to include the price of the vice, vice block, armorer's wrench, wheeler punch set, and hour of labor plus brisket and a beer for lunch then I'm still under $1K with my setup.
I'll be expecting a James Reeves x Soppo edit on the /ak/ thread by tonight. Chop chop.
Hold up mf, Soppo? Nah bro it's a SOPMOD Block 1, M4A1 MOD 3 it is
>not gfg
Hop knows you can put a mlok Qd sling mount the SL-K stock, right?
I was waiting for this all over shot show.
Thanks! You guys are awesome!
“Juliets box is pretty tight” ..bro wtf 🤣🤣🤣
Freudian slip but wow
I hope you and Hop are still on speaking terms after this 💀
They call me Lil Squibby because there’s never enough pressure behind my loads
At least that problem won't cause issues 9 months later.
This is a great idea for content, looking forward to seeing more.
Good video! Hop for the WIN 🏆
Hop and James are the budget Haley, Garandthumb father son duo 😂 love the content guys