Author Topic: Black rifle question  (Read 1892 times)

brat

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Black rifle question
« on: February 19, 2014, 07:46:16 AM »
Have my receiver and lpk. Going to be ordering my upper next month and I was wondering if anyone here is familiar with this company...

http://www.dsarms.com/default.aspx

Ok, I know I'm late to the game.  :o  Be kind.

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2014, 08:35:37 AM »
No I haven't. Please keep us in the loop for your build.

 
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Offline Nemo

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2014, 09:04:22 AM »
You know building just a black rifle is not a big deal.  It must be one of those Evil Black Rifles that gets peoples interest, on both sides of the aisle.

Nemo   :sarcasm:

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Offline rah45

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2014, 10:50:43 AM »
I don't have any experience with it, but IIRC, ThatGuy built his own AR, and encourages others to do so to get the most for your money. Perhaps he could give you some pointers.

Offline crudos

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2014, 11:48:51 AM »
Hope some of the AR-xperts chime in on what twist rate works for what length of barrel best. I to have been contemplating building my own AR with prices now somewhat normal again.

Offline Grudgie

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2014, 02:46:10 PM »
The HossUSMC on youtube is currently making a multi part series on building an AR15.

AR Build: Tools You Will Need, Part 1 of 11
« Last Edit: February 19, 2014, 03:00:24 PM by Grudgie »

Offline DMCakhunter

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2014, 03:26:15 PM »
Congrats brat,

Before we can give you advice, you need to decide on what you want the rifle to do. I assume you are looking at 5.56 / .223 for the cartridge.
Some questions:
Is it for hunting, do you want a short barrel, for 3 gun contests, for home defense, do you live in a state where you can add a suppressor?
My personal opinion on AR's: piston driven systems are a waste of money on an AR, there are better designs to take advantage of piston drive. Ammo, 62 grain mil spec is fit for making noise, 55 gr FMJ is better and if money is no object, Hornady 55 gr GMX's are the best for defense or hunting larger critters. 50-60gr V-max's are best for varmints, coyotes and select shots on deer. The heavy bullets, 75 gr or so may need a little more twist rate, say 1-7 or 1-8. Otherwise 1-8 or 1-9 will handle everything.
Sights: what sort of iron sights do you want? If you want a scope, depending on the power, the typical M4 front sight post can be a nuisance. A flat top upper makes it easy to mount any optic you want, but you will likely want folding iron sights too.
Upper attachments / hand guard: do you want to hang light, laser, forward grip on the hand guard? That will determine which hand guard you need.

A couple of good items to consider when you have the money: a coated bolt / carrier combo is very good, this I rate as a "must have". A better / wider charging handle is also a must have, but depends if you have an optic mounted. An after market trigger unit is good if you have the dollars, but is not required. I have a Timney and like it and also have a Wilson that I need to install.

The AR 15 is as customizable as they come, so have fun with it. If you get to a point and want to change, say have a short barreled upper for one task and a longer barreled one for sniping / hunting, it is very easy to do. Just realize that the term "mil-spec" means "close enough" for tolerances and sometimes a little filing is needed to get the upper and lower pins to line up just right. Don't use a dremel tool, just a fine hand file will do. Changes to the buttstock are just as easy, depending on your usage.
« Last Edit: February 19, 2014, 03:33:48 PM by DMCakhunter »

brat

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2014, 04:21:45 PM »
I live on a farm and have coyotes, but the main reason is for home protection.... troubling times. I have other combloc rifles, but if shtf, I'm thinking any parts or pieces I may need in the future will be more available with the ar platform. 

I'm leaning towards this for the upper. Several locals have told me that with 1:7 I could shoot whatever I picked up lying around ?  >:D

http://www.dsarms.com/p-13284-dsa-zm4-a3-flat-top-upper-receiver-16-barrel-m4-enhanced-profile-parkerized-finish-chrome-lined.aspx

with this as bcg...

http://www.dsarms.com/p-12470-ar15zm4-semi-auto-complete-bolt-group-assembly-with-np3-finish.aspx

Charging handle...

http://www.dsarms.com/p-12424-ar15zm4-alloy-charging-handle-assembly-complete-with-extended-checkered-latch.aspx

I can't afford those holographic sights and other high end stuff, but a reasonable cqb would do for now. Something like Troy for back up, fold downs.

Being retired, just call me "fixed income" brat. So, my goal is also trying to get into this platform as "reasonable" as possible and still have a reliable unit. Since AR is so customizeable, I thought if I can get in reasonable, I can upgrade where needed down the road when able, like trigger and such. I don't particularly care for laser stuff, but thats MHO and will most likely look at a streamlight down the road.  SCORE ..... Finland up on Russia. They're on their way out...... sorry, cat syndrome. :facepalm:

Thanks a lot guys for all the helpful advice and links.

Now if USA can get past Canada.

Offline DMCakhunter

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2014, 05:25:04 PM »
brat,

That should work for what you want. On the rear sight, make sure you get one that will work with that front sight, height needs to be correct-maybe should call Troy and ask which one is correct. Good choices on bolt group and charging handle.
Again, nice thing about the AR is you can add or change things at your leisure.

Offline Grudgie

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2014, 05:54:57 PM »
Yep. I've had man Ar15 for 5 years now and I'm still not finished 'tweaking' it to my liking. Don't worry to much about twist rates unless your shooting 500 yard match competitions. Original barrels in Vietnam had 1:14 and 1:12 twist rates with 55 grain bullets and they produced some horrific wounds I hear. You can't even find a barrel with that slow of twist rate unless you custom order it.

You can find some awsome quad rails made by Knights armament company. The same ones that the Army and USMC use. You can buy factory blemished ones for less than $100 sometimes. I got to say though that a light comes in handy a lot around the house with animals and stuff during the night. Remember that in WROL nearly half of every 24 hours is nighttime.

Offline CJS06

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2014, 09:01:42 PM »
Brat
DSA builds some very good FAL clones (SA58).  I would not necessarily use them for an AR. First I have ordered from them and just because it shows as in stock has not been the case.  Second, the quality was not up to par. The BCG I got was not staked well, and the barrel was not parked under the FSP. There are so many good choices for AR parts available, even for the cost conscious.  Take a look at PSA, they have multiple grades of uppers and parts offered. Their premium stuff is fairly high quality at a decent price.  I prefer BCM, DD, Noveske and Knights, but admit that they can get pricey. 

As you mentioned that you are new to the AR my only advice is buy quality once and dont play the replacement/upgrade game later.......it costs a ton more. Check out M4Carbine.net, do some good reading of the many posts available.

Have fun putting together your rifle, and enjoy shooting it!
Chris

brat

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2014, 10:14:41 PM »
Thanks for the info and the sites Chris. I haven't ordered an upper or bcg yet. I'll get on M2carbine.net and read some. Thanks again.  :thumbsUp:

Offline gapatriot

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2014, 09:23:41 AM »
If you are looking at the dsarms uppers check out apex gun parts they have a complete build kit minus the lower for under $600 its everything you need. It's the dsarms z 4 in the 3 options

brat

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2014, 11:21:44 AM »
Thanks gapatriot. I'll look them up.

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2014, 01:14:27 PM »
My wife has been bugging me to buy her a Eotech holographic sight like mine for her AR. We are on a fixed income too, so I just couldn't justify the $500-. Well that was until Burris came out with there AR-332 3x prism red dot scope for about half the MSRP of a Eotech. I am thinking of giving her my XPS-2 and using the Burris on my AR.

I contacted Burris and they told me that their AR-332 will cowitness with my current rear flip-up sight A.R.M.S. #40L without a problem.

Just some food for thought.
   
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brat

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #15 on: February 23, 2014, 05:09:53 PM »
Thanks JM   :thumbsUp:  I appreciate the links. I hadn't even start processing all them yet except to know I couldn't afford what everyone was calling the "cat's meow" of sights.

Offline Gunner

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #16 on: March 01, 2014, 07:01:45 PM »
I always refer my friends to BCM, I like palmetto but their turn around is rather slow. I have yet to have a problem or complaint with BCM. I am running their 14.5 BFH lightweight barrel with a centurion c4 rail and I can't help but gloat about it. I was never a fan of pencil barrels but with theirs I feel as if it can hold up to any other standard barrel. They are pricy though, well worth the extra cash if it's available. Palmetto always has sales on uppers so that's a good place to start and also Rainier arms has their own barrels that are rather affordable.

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Offline Currahee

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Re: Black rifle question
« Reply #17 on: March 02, 2014, 12:14:47 AM »
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