EBR build, first-timer

[crudos]

So I took a plunge on getting a stripped AR upper for a good price, and thus my journey to evil-black-rifledome begins. Going to build it as I get money for the parts. Probably will take me quite awhile, but could be a fun project. Should I install the small upper parts, or wait till I get a barrel mounted? If anyone has extra small parts for cheap, like really cheap, let me know. Also, is there a list out there that gives the proper order for an AR to be built in?

[JohnyMac]

Wow, too cool! Good luck and document the build with pic's please.

TG and Gap are good guys to talk to about your build.

[thatGuy]

Get all your parts together then build the weapon, no point in getting tools out and then putting them back... over and over again..

Check out Aero's Blemished Lowers]http://aeroprecisionusa.com/lower-receivers/ar15-stripped-lower-receiver-w-cosmetic-blemishes.html]Aero's Blemished Lowers for a savings on high quality lowers.

Barrels are fucking expensive these days... once again check out what Aero has

[gapatriot]

My 2 cents on this one. On all ar parts there are only a handful of manufacturers. I.e. so many people making barrels so many people making fcgs so many people making uppers and lowers etc. So don't get stuck in the whole this brand is good this one is bad. Dpms gets their parts from the sane guys Daniels defense does they just roll mark the names on. Cmmg makes most basic lower parts kits. That being said palmetto state armory had a deal on a lower build kit (buffer assy stock tube and lpk) for like the $50 range. Center fire systems has an $89 bcg right now and actually also has barrels in the white for $100 in 2 profiles. They also have stripped lowers in white in the $50 to $75 range. Pm me and I will give you my number and I can give you leads if you want  FYI that at I build was a $550 ar.

[CJS06]

There are places to save money and places to not skimp.  Buy a good quality forged, chrome lined barrel from BCM, DD, Noveske, Centurion, and even the nicer PSA models.  The other area not to skimp is the BCG.  With these two items not all are the same and just marked differently by a long stretch, and these are the heart of your rifle.  Lowers can be had inexpensively from Aero, PSA, etc. Lower parts kits are a case of just packed by different people. For a good quality trigger look at the ALG ACT trigger. For $65 it it the best single stage mil-spec trigger out there.  It wont compare to a Geissele SSA-E or SD-C but it is much nicer than any parts kit trigger. Stocks, grips,rails, etc are a personal preference and the choices are a plenty. 

If you are building a 14.5 or 16" barreled carbine I would use a mid-length gas system.  It is smoother operating and easier on the components than an over gassed carbine length.  This is where using the better quality barrels and components comes in.

Have fun with your build! Building one usually turns into a couple more :-)

AR15.com has a bunch of decent assembly guides, for good info M4Carbine.net tends to be a a slightly better resource.

[crudos]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I will probably get the lower next and out of the way. The Aero blemished looks like a good bet. My upper is supposed to be a blemish, but I can't find whatever is wrong with it. Not that I'm complaining.

[thatGuy]

Btw Crudos, CJ is right on the money. The barrel and bolt are the heart of the rifle and buying cheap will only hurt your feelings later.

Buy once, cry once.

[crudos]

I'm leaning toward an 18" barrel set-up and those have been running over $200. What makes a good BCG? I'm seeing pricing all over the place.

[thatGuy]

Why so long??

I'm more than willing to address your question but I'm interested to know why you want such a long barrel.

[Kbop]

Why so long??

I'm more than willing to address your question but I'm interested to know why you want such a long barrel.

I like long barrels for the accuracy - I like range shooting 200yds+ with iron sights.  I'm old fashioned I guess.
my 2¢

[thatGuy]

I agree whole heartedly Khop, but regularly shoot out to 800 yard with a set of match grade irons on a 10.3" barrel. While accuracy suffers (I've been told) the rifle still out shoots me everyday.

With a 5.56 I can't see the point to a barrel that is longer than 14.5" for 'man sized' targets.

After posting the above I wondered out loud if my reply sounded 'douchie'

My intent was to state that the rifle will out shoot the average shooter no matter the length..

Still sounds douchie..

[Kbop]

I need the edge at range.

Nice shootin at that distance BTW   

"don't run, you'll only die tired" 

[Grudgie]

There's more to barrel length than just compactness and accuracy. You also have to consider muzzle velocity and the gas system. Xm855 doesn't reliably fragment under 2800 fps or so. Using a 14.5 inch barrel that only gives you maby 25-50 yards that it will reliably fragment. A 20 inch gives quite a bit more than that. And go for at least a mid length gas system which you can do with a 14.5 barrel. It lets the gun run cooler and smother and slower.

[Grudgie]

I had my facts a little wrong. Here is the actual data from the Ammo oracle at AR15.com:

http://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/term_fragrange.html

14.5 barrel will stay above 2700fps at 45-50 meters when shooting xm855. 95-100 meters when shooting m193, A 20 inch barrel is 140-150 and 190-200 meters respectively.

And here is what a fragmenting 5.56 will look like at various velocitys:

http://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/term_velocity.html

[crudos]

Why so long??

I'm more than willing to address your question but I'm interested to know why you want such a long barrel.

I figure that 18" is a good compromise between a carbine length and old-school 20". I'm actually still considering a 20" barrel too, as I'm interested in doing CMP matches with it.

[thatGuy]

Hell yeah Crudos, if you're doing CMP matches you're gonna need that extra barrel length.

For the record 77gr BTHPs reliably fragment when fired from short barrels and the newest iterations of the penetrator round have come a long way towards solving the fragmentation problem.


BCGs and what makes them good,

This is gonna sound like a cop out of an answer but its the best one I can think of, Accountability..

Accountability to the customer leads companies to engage in batch or even individual unit testing and a higher level of quality control.

The reason that feels like a cop out to me is that usually people would tell you about coating, construction, material type but with AR bolts there us very little variation in materials or construction. With the exception of Daniel's Defense and Fail Zero I don't know of anyone who is running that tricky nickle whatever coating and I know of no one who is making an AR bolt that is different.

With that said Aero, LMT, YHM, DD and Bravo Co. all make wonderfully in spec batch tested bolts.

I can't tell you whether you want a FA bolt carrier or not though, I know you need the extra weight with a overgassed SBR but am interested to know if the delayed action would increase accuracy...

[thatGuy]

On a side note, if you're planing on shooting CMP matches you'll want a 1:7" twist barrel to stabilize the 80gr handloads you'll be hand feeding that rifle.

[gapatriot]

There are places to save money and places to not skimp.  Buy a good quality forged, chrome lined barrel from BCM, DD, Noveske, Centurion, and even the nicer PSA models.  The other area not to skimp is the BCG.  With these two items not all are the same and just marked differently by a long stretch, and these are the heart of your rifle.  Lowers can be had inexpensively from Aero, PSA, etc. Lower parts kits are a case of just packed by different people. For a good quality trigger look at the ALG ACT trigger. For $65 it it the best single stage mil-spec trigger out there.  It wont compare to a Geissele SSA-E or SD-C but it is much nicer than any parts kit trigger. Stocks, grips,rails, etc are a personal preference and the choices are a plenty. 

If you are building a 14.5 or 16" barreled carbine I would use a mid-length gas system.  It is smoother operating and easier on the components than an over gassed carbine length.  This is where using the better quality barrels and components comes in.

Have fun with your build! Building one usually turns into a couple more :-)

AR15.com has a bunch of decent assembly guides, for good info M4Carbine.net tends to be a a slightly better resource.

Noveske is the only company that rifles their own barrels. Come on that guy I know you are a queen with brands but you know as well as I do is there only so many parts manufacturers of at parts!.,most lpks are from cmmg roll marked to whatever country! Btw the dd barrel on my build is a pos!! I hate that barrel

[CJS06]

gapatriot

You are correct that Noveske is the only one of those listed companies that rifles their own barrels. Just because they may come from a particular builder (which all of those dont) doesnt make a barrel equal.  For example Centurion barrels are done by FN to Centurion's spec including gas port, rifling, chrome lining, and steel used.  PSA also uses FN for their Hammer Forged barrels, doesnt mean they are same as Centurion barrels.  I agree with you on LPKs, CMMG and CMT (the parent co. of Stag) are the two major suppliers. I dont care whose you get the trigger is a crap shoot, but as I mentioned there are some good option without spending big $$. 

I do believe in certain brands, often just because of how they support their products, but also often because of how they perform.  I run approx 20,000-25,000+ rounds a year through my rifles, and shoot with numerous friends that run similar numbers. I have seen how some barrels, BCGs, parts hold up through a 4000rd weekend. That is why I use the parts I do not because of a roll mark.  If anything my "favorite" brand of rifle is KAC and I didnt even mention it earlier.

All I was saying is that there are places to save money and places to spend it....receivers, lpks are not the place to spend but barrels, BCG, and triggers definitely are worth it.