How We Build
What actually happens between the brief and your delivery.
Every HAR build is hand-assembled, headspaced, and live-fire qualified before it ships. That's what the site says. This page shows what it means: the specific steps, what gets checked at each one, and why it matters.
No build leaves the shop without passing every stage below. There are no shortcuts for schedule or cost.
The build process
Five stages, every build
- 01
Component selection
Every part is evaluated against the build's mission spec before anything is ordered. Barrel contour, barrel steel, gas system length, trigger, bolt carrier group, and furniture all affect how a platform performs under specific conditions. Components are chosen because they're right for the build, not because they're on an approved list or hit a cost target. If a better component exists for your spec, that's the one you get.
- 02
Hand assembly
Receivers are paired and checked for fit. The barrel extension and barrel nut are torqued to specification using calibrated tools, not by feel. Every critical fastener on the build gets the same treatment. Staking is performed where the platform design calls for it: castle nut, key staking on applicable bolt carriers. Nothing is left to guesswork.
- 03
Headspacing and bench checks
Every chamber is gauged with go/no-go gauges before the bolt assembly goes in. This confirms the chamber and bolt face are correctly dimensioned for the cartridge, a direct check on both reliability and safety. After headspacing, we run the bench function check: trigger reset and reset travel, bolt carrier cycling, safety selector, magazine retention, and feed geometry.
- 04
Live-fire qualification
Every build ships after a live-fire qualification. We run a minimum round count through the platform, both at standard velocity and suppressed where the build includes a suppressor. We're looking for reliable cycling, correct ejection pattern, and zero malfunctions. Any malfunction sends the build back to the bench for diagnosis and correction, and the qualification round count restarts. The build doesn't ship until the string is clean.
- 05
Final sign-off
After live-fire, the builder inspects the gas key staking, reviews the ejection pattern for signs of over- or under-gassing, and confirms all mounted accessories are correctly installed and torqued. The builder signs off on the completed build. Every firearm ships with a range card documenting the qualification round count, any adjustments made during the process, and the zero distance if an optic was installed.
Where the time goes
Most builds take 4 to 8 weeks from order confirmation to delivery. The largest variable is parts availability: barrels, optics, and suppressors sometimes have lead times we have to work around. Once everything is on the bench, assembly and live-fire qualification typically take 3 to 5 days of actual work.
Suppressors and other NFA items add ATF processing time on top of that. Before you commit, we'll give you a firm estimate of the full timeline, including any NFA wait. We don't quote timelines we can't hold.
Quality and warranty
Every build carries a workmanship warranty covering assembly and fit for the life of the firearm. If a defect in our work causes a problem, we fix it. Individual components also carry their respective manufacturers' warranties.
Full scope, exclusions, and the claim process are on the Warranty page .