AR-15 BS Thread

Agree, plus when you buy a quality rifle your getting a product whos manufacturer has put a lot of time and money in selecting parts that will work with each other. A lot of guys build an AR based off of whatever parts look cool instead of what works and functions well.

 

Pretty much agree. You can build one yourself cheaper but building one is more the enjoyment or just wanting to do it yourself. I did save a little money but I also spent it and put myself right back in the same bracket buying tools to be able to do the things you mentioned

 

I’ve got a frankenstein build that so far has me sitting in the $2700 range. While building one was fun, I do agree with some of the above info about parts not always playing nice


-yankee hill billet upper and lower receivers
-vltor weapons systems Emod stock
-axts freedom bone raptor charging handle
-V7 weapon systems bcg (melon it’s coated). - Noveske NSR keymod rail (16.7 inch)
-V7 weapon systems titanium mag release, ambidextrous safety selector, takedown pins, carbine buffer tube
-Jp enterprises silent capture spring system
- geissele super dynamic 3 gun trigger
- Odin works 18 inch 3 gun profile barrel, w/ intermediate gas system
-tyrant designs mod grip
- phase 5 tactical fat man muzzle brake
-phase 5 tactical extended bolt release
-fortis shift fore grip
-misc. springs and stuff from a phase 5 builders parts kit
-Troy industries flip up sights, (tritium front post)

I got lucky and everything fell into place for an awesome rifle. Just gotta decide on an optic now

 

My LMT.

 

Money is best spent on barrel, trigger, optic. All other parts are basically the 'same'. There's some boutique parts builders that build and sell boutique parts but they really don't do much more for you than a standard part. I'd be shopping for a CHF barrel. Triggers are easy to change, so I wouldn't care about it much unless they option a better trigger. If so and the price is right, just add it. A lower is a lower is a lower. Other than some custom style 'looks' they're all the same. The fit between your upper and lower is almost happenstance. The reason some manufacturers have such a nice fit is their ability to fit the upper and lower from a parts bin. Eventually you find two that mate just right. There's a lot of hype with BCGs. Just get a full auto, MP tested one from a reliable source and you'll be GTG. Optics are very subjective but I HIGHLY suggest an Aimpoint of your liking. A PRO is going to be the best value.

If you end up w/ a 14" barrel w/ a pinned flash hider you'll want the carbine gas system, 16"-18" barrel should be a mid-length gas system, over 18" should be rifle. This is a timing thing. They just work better in those set ups. Others will work, these just work best. I prefer a 16" barrel in a mid-length gas. The recoil pulse is just right.

 

A lot of this information is incorrect...

Not all parts are basically the same. Roll pins and detents? Yea probably... But most things on a high end rifle have been improved upon.
A lower is absolutely not a lower. Ambidextrous controls, flared magwells, integrated trigger guards, screwed vs pinned bolt catches and takedown pins. There is a reason a stripped ADM lower is $250 while an Anderson is $50.
14.5" barrels do not require a carbine length gas system, or visa versa. The tuning of the gas has so many more things involved than just gas system length... Gas port size, buffer weight, buffer spring, etc.

I think you're stuck on what is milspec, not what is good. Many high end rifles are far past "milspec".

 

Just buy or build an AR with the features you want.

Forget about brand names. When you buy any one of the brand ARs listed above you're paying for the brandname. Parts quality and function are pretty much all on par with how competitive the market is these days.

 

Took it to the dealer I bought it at they shipped it free and sig sent it back to them for free. It was very evident that something was no cut right you could see at the 8 o'clock side that the shell was wearing into the shoulder and chamber body....

 

Check out this guy he builds for many local law enforcement around the country I ran into him at the local gun show last weekend and he sold out all 24 guns he brought with him and was just there handing out business cards...

https://www.blacksword.us/rifles

 

I think you're buying what they're selling. And I addressed that with my comment about boutique parts suppliers that try and sell you some sort of improved part. Most of which are not much of an improvement and some are. And the gas system is dependent on timing. That timing is dictated by the length of the barrel AFTER the gas port. Longer barrels require longer gas systems otherwise you'll overpressure the bolt and throw off the timing. I'm sure there's ways to control this with aftermarket parts but all they are are bandaids for the real problem which is timing and over/under pressure due to an incorrect gas system. There are many aftermarket milled lowers, usually with some sort of skull or something, that will cost much more than a "mil spec" lower but that has more to do with manufacturing costs related to scale and production, not quality.

 

I guess it matters on what your intent is with the rifle. Is it a range toy that will sit in the safe most of the time or will this be used as a home defense weapon where a malfunction could have serious consequences. If its the former than yeah you can buy any cheap ass bargain AR and you'll probaley never know the difference. If its the latter than you want to go with a high quality build. All ARs are not created equal.

 

I think that I work for around 15 AR manufacturers, and have a very good grasp on what is overpriced boutique and what is priced according to quality.

As far as “timing”, it appears that there’s no arguing to you, but I’ll say again that the the gas and timing of a rifle is not 100% dictated by any one part of the rifle (especially not Barrel length).

 

getting a pistol AR soon. A friend is ordering parts soon

 

Bought this because it's based on a VZ type break. Its pretty heavy.

 

Wow, lots of information! Thank you everyone! I have nothing against building a rifle, but since this will only be the second firearm I've ever bought, I think I'd like to just get a good rifle that I won't have to mess around with and worry "did I do this right?" That's kinda why I'm leaning towards a quality $1500 rifle, so the next one I get I can build myself and take time learning, rather than rushing through the build so I can finally shoot it!

One final question for y'all: Does length of the handguard matter? Obviously there is more length for attachments on the longer guard AR's, but is there any noticeable performance gain with having it longer, such as having the gas valve farther down the barrel?

 

Hand guard length doesn't necessarily determine gas system length. Generally you'd want the hand guard to at least be long enough to cover the gas block but even that isn't required.

Most recommend mid-length gas. I think 10" is about the cutoff for covering the gas block of a mid-length system. So with a 16" barrel and mid-length gas you could have a hand guard any where between 10" and 15". Only difference at that point will be weight and where you can mount stuff/hold it.

I see some 18" setups with rifle length gas systems. I'm not sure where the cutoff is for rifle length, maybe 12-13" or so.

Main difference between rifle and mid length gas is recoil I believe. Rifle length will be less but not by a ton.

All this is second hand information I've learned from researching. I'm in the market for my first rifle at the moment as well.

 

The gas block location (not a gas valve) dictates the length of the rail, not visa versa. You can have a rail shorter than the gas system length, but it's not very common. Better to protect the somewhat fragile gas tube from getting beat up, and your hand/clothes from getting burned.


Other than that, the length of the rail is 100% user preference. As others have said, longer equates to more space for accessories and longer arms, while it adds a little more weight. Longer rails are definitely popular right now.

Gas system length has already been discussed, but in general longer gas systems are preferred for their softer shooting qualities. Mid-length gas systems are by far the most popular right now.

 

I opted to purchase my first AR and then do a build for the second - ended up with the Springfield Saint Edge. I've carried and fired a lot of M16s and M4s during my years in the Army and the Edge is, by far, the best performing I've shot. It's light, accurate and has an amazing trigger (Springfield puts a modular match short-reset trigger in it). For me it was a great "first" rifle for just over $1000.

I've been playing with various options for it. Ended up with an Edgar Sherman Design sling. After putting on a Vortex Strikefire II Red Dot, I later added the Vortex magnifier to compensate for an eye issue that manifested itself (getting old sucks). I also have a bi-pod for bench shooting and added a vertical foregrip with light and laser. My last purchase was a hard case to replace the soft case Springfield provides. I went with a Plano 42" case ($75 on Amazon) and really like it - easy to configure and lockable.

 

Pre-ordered the new SBA3 brace from Optics Planet back on February 13th and it finally showed up today. My AR is apparently gender fluid now and it can't decide if it's a pistol, rifle, or just a firearm.

 

Sexy gender fluid.