New AR-15 Build Questions

[wcsc12]

Okay guys...I'm going to come out and give you my choices right now. Nysos...feel free to reply

Turns out, I can get an M&P 15 Sport for $500 before FFL fee new but I don't know much about it. So that's one thing on the table.

However, I've also bought myself a couple of Lower Receivers for PSA when they had them on sale for $50.

No matter what, I want to build an AR-15 one day but I want to know would it be worth it to buy one for shooting now or just to go ahead with the build. The problem I'm running into right now is that the barrel I want I can't seem to find in stock anywhere and I'm not very knowledgeable on different brands as of yet. I would post on AR15.com but like Sigforum, they for some god awful reason want an email address that's not a free email. Well, that's not going to happen so I'm limited to viewing and not registering.

So here we go

Things purchased

PSA Lower Receiver - $50

PSA Lower Parts Kit with Magpul MOE Grip and Trigger - $55 - I don't know if I'll like the pistol grip or not. Personally, I didn't actually want it but I wanted the trigger guard. Funny story, the trigger guard costs $10 on it's own or I can get it with the MOE Grip for $10. So I figured I'd sell the grip if I didn't like it and buy the Magpul MIAD. I'm not a Magpul only guy but I've only held it and a Stark grip and I liked it better.

Magpul CTR with Mil-Spec Buffer Kit - $90 - expensive stock...I liked the look of the MOE but I wanted the sling connector so it was this or the STR and I can't find it yet.

Need To Purchase and Needs Lots of Info

PSA Upper Receiver - $100 - It's a complete Upper Receiver for $100 so I figured why not

PSA blah blah Bolt Carrier Group - $110 it comes with the Charging Handle and is MPI tested and all that jazz...the blah blah is because they name it something weird but their just adjectives

Yankee Hill 20" Fluted Threaded Barrel - $170 - and this is my problem. I can't find this barrel in stock anywhere that isn't extremely overpriced and I don't know of any other barrel makers or what other brands are good. I was thinking about one from PSA but they want $250 for it. Well, that's an $80 jump. It is Chrome Lined as well.

Yankee Hill Low Profile Gas Block - $25 - I want to use a free float quad rail

PSA Rifle Length Gas Tube

Quad Rail - This is hard...I'm seriously looking at some expensive stuff here. Why are they so expensive. Are the cheaper ones not as good or something. It seems like it would be pretty standard to have just some metal shaped to picitny rail specs.

I don't know what else I'm missing right now except optics. I figured for backups I would get the Magpul MBUS Gen 2 Flip Up Sights and then a Red Dot with Magnifier or an Eotech with 3x Mag.

I also don't know what magazines to get so that's another one out there.

Am I missing anything and what do you guys think of these parts.

Edited February 7, 2012 by wcsc12

[Guest RiseMechanical]

As far as simple, tough and inexpensive optics go, you should at least check out Primary Arms' line. I'm sure there's someone, somewhere who has had a horrible experience with them (There always is.), but I love mine. I have their 3 MOA red dot with the 3x magnifier on my AR and have put them through the shtuff over the last year and they are still going strong. It's seriously hard to beat the price too. JMHO

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_s/586.htm

[gjohnsoniv]

Yankee Hill makes some pretty good quad rails, that's what I have on mine. As far as magazines go, Magpul makes ones that are pretty hard to beat. That said though I have an equal number of standard steel magazines and Magpul ones. Though I'm replacing them (USGI steel ones) as I go to Magpul P-Mags.

[wcsc12]

As far as simple, tough and inexpensive optics go, you should at least check out Primary Arms' line. I'm sure there's someone, somewhere who has had a horrible experience with them (There always is.), but I love mine. I have their 3 MOA red dot with the 3x magnifier on my AR and have put them through the shtuff over the last year and they are still going strong. It's seriously hard to beat the price too. JMHO

https://www.primarya..._Arms_s/586.htm

Thanks for the link. I saw them awhile back but never heard of them nor had any experience but I may give them a try. The price is definitely attractive and this rifle will be baby'ed for the longest time.

[mikegideon]

Primary Arms is great for the money. i have bought a couple, and still own an M3. The customer service can't be beat.

I like the MOE grips. I have them on a couple of my rifles.

[kwe45919]

Definatly look around at gun shows for what you may need for your build. A lot of good parts can be had for dirt cheap. Here's my AR....Definatly like the P. Arms microdot....works well and co-wittness' in the lower 1/3 of the optic. Pmags are cheap and a great way to go.....definatly didnot like the Mako magwell grip...it's already off of the rifle...

If you want to start shooting now, get the S&W, then build your own over time the way you want it. When your build is done, you will have had practice and can then compare the two...

.

Edited February 7, 2012 by kwe45919

[gjohnsoniv]

You don't like the Mako grip? I have one on mine and like it for the most part, given I have a vertical grip as well.

[RichardS]

Yankee Hill 20" Fluted Threaded Barrel - $170 - and this is my problem. I can't find this barrel in stock anywhere that isn't extremely overpriced and I don't know of any other barrel makers or what other brands are good. I was thinking about one from PSA but they want $250 for it. Well, that's an $80 jump. It is Chrome Lined as well.

Yankee Hill Low Profile Gas Block - $25 - I want to use a free float quad rail

Quad Rail - This is hard...I'm seriously looking at some expensive stuff here. Why are they so expensive. Are the cheaper ones not as good or something. It seems like it would be pretty standard to have just some metal shaped to picitny rail specs.

I don't know what else I'm missing right now except optics. I figured for backups I would get the Magpul MBUS Gen 2 Flip Up Sights and then a Red Dot with Magnifier or an Eotech with 3x Mag.

I also don't know what magazines to get so that's another one out there.

You looking for competition level accuracy or just fun to shoot with practical accuracy? I ask because that barrel plus a free float rail are adding a lot of cost. The PSA stuff has worked out well for me, I bought a complete upper from them with the Magpul MOE hand guard and a 16" 1:7 chrome lined barrel for a real decent price. I'm still working on my skills but that combo shoots 2-3" groups at 100 yards using just a bipod and standard 55 grain FMJ ammo. Good enough for what I want to do for now. I have some heavier Noslers I am going to try to see if those help tighten up the groups. All that said, if you are looking for competition level accuracy then the more expensive barrel and the free floating handguard make more sense.

I have the MBUS and they work fine, no complaints. Also have a Vortex SPARC which has not given me any trouble. I have been using a traditional 4-16x scope recently to do some reload accuracy testing, my eyes just do not work well enough with the sights or the SPARC (max 2x magnification) to be able to reliably see a small target at 100 yards. At 200 yards I am just aiming at a faint image unless I have more than 2x magnification - the dot on the my SPARC is covering a few inches at that range.

Lastly the Magpul poly mags have worked well for me so far. But probably need to decide what you want here as aluminum or steel might be preferable for really rough handling or very long term storage.

Other things you might think about if you do not already have them - bipod, brass catcher or brass deflector (if you want to save your brass), charging handle extension, cleaning rod guide tube, flash suppressor or compensator.

Edited February 8, 2012 by RichardS

[wcsc12]

You looking for competition level accuracy or just fun to shoot with practical accuracy? I ask because that barrel plus a free float rail are adding a lot of cost. The PSA stuff has worked out well for me, I bought a complete upper from them with the Magpul MOE hand guard and a 16" 1:7 chrome lined barrel for a real decent price. I'm still working on my skills but that combo shoots 2-3" groups at 100 yards using just a bipod and standard 55 grain FMJ ammo. Good enough for what I want to do for now. I have some heavier Noslers I am going to try to see if those help tighten up the groups. All that said, if you are looking for competition level accuracy then the more expensive barrel and the free floating handguard make more sense.

I have the MBUS and they work fine, no complaints. Also have a Vortex SPARC which has not given me any trouble. I have been using a traditional 4-16x scope recently to do some reload accuracy testing, my eyes just do not work well enough with the sights or the SPARC (max 2x magnification) to be able to reliably see a small target at 100 yards. At 200 yards I am just aiming at a faint image unless I have more than 2x magnification - the dot on the my SPARC is covering a few inches at that range.

Lastly the Magpul poly mags have worked well for me so far. But probably need to decide what you want here as aluminum or steel might be preferable for really rough handling or very long term storage.

Other things you might think about if you do not already have them - bipod, brass catcher or brass deflector (if you want to save your brass), charging handle extension, cleaning rod guide tube, flash suppressor or compensator.

I just want decent accuracy for when I'm shooting but I want a 20" barrel with 1/7 twist. The free float just looks better to me and I don't like those ugly fixed front sights.

[gjohnsoniv]

You could go with a free float, quad rail and put a railed gas block on it. Then put a flip-up, back-up iron sight on it, like the Troy, or Yankee Hill models. Kinda nice because you can fold it flat so it doesn't stick above the free float tube, but you have it if you need it.

[wcsc12]

You could go with a free float, quad rail and put a railed gas block on it. Then put a flip-up, back-up iron sight on it, like the Troy, or Yankee Hill models. Kinda nice because you can fold it flat so it doesn't stick above the free float tube, but you have it if you need it.

I thought about that as well but the 12.x" quad rail covers the gas hole so I'd have to go with a smaller rail and all of that was just too much of a hassle for measuring so I said 12-13" rail is fine and just a low profile gas block. That way, it's a free float and I won't have to change anything about those two parts. It's just so freaking hard finding a barrel right now.

Are there any other good manufacturers out there? I literally only know of RRA which doesn't have a 1/7 standard barrel. PSA which does but they want $250 for the hammer forged, Yankee Hill which is $170 and has almost everything I want, and that's it. I don't know of any other barrel makers. Anyone else?

DPMS only has 1/9 (at least listed on their website)

Spikes doesn't have anything larger than 16" listed

Armalite only has 20" 1/9 twist barrels except for stainless steels which are 1/8.

CMMG only has 16" barrels listed on their website

Midwest doesn't have any barrels that I can see

Stag only has a 1/9 Twist

Wilson only makes an 18"

American Spirit is 1/9

Bravo Company makes one but it's out of stock and has been for about a month now - http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-20-Rifle-Length-Barrel-Stripped-p/bcm-brl-s-20%20std.htm

Core15 is 1/9

Daniel Defense only goes to 18"

Del Ton barrels are 1/9

DSA has some 20" 1/7 twist barrels but I've never even heard of this company. They are HBAR

http://www.dsarms.com/DSA-ZM4--20-Nitride-Fluted-Barrel/productinfo/DSZM400120FLUTE/

http://www.dsarms.com/DSA-ZM4--20-Nitride-NON-Fluted-Barrel/productinfo/DSZM400120NONFL/

Edited February 9, 2012 by wcsc12

[RWF]

check double star, for some pricing or model 1 sales. most do not think much of model 1 but the ones i have seen will do what are asking. for 20" 1 x 7 barrel i would think it will hard to find "in stock" for YHM prices. if do not already know most rifle length quad rails will add plenty of wieght. you left off several good barrel makers, but they will be more than you wanting to spend. last month white oak had same great sale prices.

check rainer arms, that carry several brands but they tend to be upper end, i thick they still had some Sabre barrels also, and they made very good barrels.

have you looked at black hole?

[wcsc12]

check double star, for some pricing or model 1 sales. most do not think much of model 1 but the ones i have seen will do what are asking. for 20" 1 x 7 barrel i would think it will hard to find "in stock" for YHM prices. if do not already know most rifle length quad rails will add plenty of wieght. you left off several good barrel makers, but they will be more than you wanting to spend. last month white oak had same great sale prices.

check rainer arms, that carry several brands but they tend to be upper end, i thick they still had some Sabre barrels also, and they made very good barrels.

have you looked at black hole?

I'm okay with the weight. I checked Double Star and they don't seem to have any barrels on their website but only have a 20" upper with a 1/9. Black Hole only carries 1/8. I looked at White Oak and wow you're not kidding. $200 for the barrel itself in SS and then you have to pay for everything else.

[Guest HCRoadie]

I have 2 model 1 sales uppers/barrels, both are 24" and 1/8 twist. VERY GOOD accuracy

[RWF]

I'm okay with the weight. I checked Double Star and they don't seem to have any barrels on their website but only have a 20" upper with a 1/9. Black Hole only carries 1/8. I looked at White Oak and wow you're not kidding. $200 for the barrel itself in SS and then you have to pay for everything else.

you sound alot like me, when i want something that way, that is the way it is going to be. most of the time i end up paying a liitle more but i have what i want!

try calling YHM, if you look at the last picture on "have you seen a AR like this" that YHM was out of stock, but before the wife even got to shot it i broke the barrel and called them and had a barrel on way!

do not ask!

[wcsc12]

you sound alot like me, when i want something that way, that is the way it is going to be. most of the time i end up paying a liitle more but i have what i want!

try calling YHM, if you look at the last picture on "have you seen a AR like this" that YHM was out of stock, but before the wife even got to shot it i broke the barrel and called them and had a barrel on way!

do not ask!

Thanks. I may definitely call them tomorrow then.

[Mike]

You don't like the Mako grip? I have one on mine and like it for the most part, given I have a vertical grip as well.

What does it do for you?

[alwaysonjohn]

Noveske has 20" 1in8 twist. The price is ridiculous though $458... but with Noveske you get what you pay for.