Patrick Sweeney 
Gunsmithing the AR-15, Vol. 4 
Building the Performance AR

AR-15 owners and shooters have reached the point where many don’t have just one. They’ve expanded their collections to include specific rifles for competition, hunting, or focused interest in defense.

• A competition shooter wants to know which details matter and what parts must meet competition specifications.


• The hunter wants to know how to customize the AR for his or her chosen quarry, and what level of performance those parts can be expected to deliver.


• The owner of an AR for defense wants to know the best setup for that purpose, and which modifications are unnecessary or even ill-advised.


• Fans of the original AR-15 are obsessive about authentic parts and setup.

This title delivers that level of detail. The era of plain vanilla ARs is over. Performance ARs have arrived, and this book provides the details you need to create your own.

About the author

Patrick Sweeney is a certified master gunsmith and armorer instructor for police departments nationwide. He is author of many Gun Digest books, inculding Gun Digest Book of the 1911 Vols. 1 & 2, Gun Digest Book of the Glock Vols. 1 & 2, Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Vols. 1, 2, 3 & 4, Gunsmithing: Rifles, Gunsmithing: Pistols & Revolvers 1 & 2, and Gunsmithing the AR-15 Vols. 1 & 2.