ar15 build questions

[patmann90]

I'm new to the ar 15's and am in need of some help. First off I'm on a cheap budget, I need to sell my Remington 700 before I can build an ar-15 so check it out in the classifieds plz. I am primarily looking into buying a kit from Model 1, and buying a stripped DPMS lower from my local dealer. I would like to build something somewhat compact, and pretty accurate out too 500 yards.

My question's include:

1. Is model 1 a reputable company with good products, etc...?
2. What size barrel should I get? I like the compact feel of the m4 length, but occasionally like to do some long range shooting. Does the 16 in. really differ in accuracy apposed to the 20 in.?
3. Would a 16in. free floated bull barrel be better accuracy than a standard 20in. ?


I like to shoot semi auto, and like to shoot accurately within 500 yards or so, so if you could please help me with a set-up it would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advanced
-Patmann90

 

[Code3GT]

I should have a Stag complete 16" M4 upper for sale soon if you're interested. NIB too. To answer your question, it depends on what you have planned for the rifle. All around, the 16" is great. I shot expert out to 400m w/ iron sights during my Air Force days with a 16" M4.

 

[byronw999]

My advice is save a little more money and buy a better quality kit... I've read various AR forums till my eyes bleed... While some people luck out with Model 1 Sales stuff a lot of people have had quality issues...

You want a tack driver for long distance you'll prob want to go with a bull barrel varmit type setup... I just put together a Stag varmit kit with 24" bull barrel on a DPMS lower... Fit and finish is excellent.. I'm saving for a quality scope now so I've only test fired it..Complete kit was $589, lower was $120 and the RRA match grade trigger was $89

Good quality kits seem to be from Stag, RRA, J&T/Doublestar, Delton etc...

Model 1,Blackthorne and some others seem to be bottom feeders and for about $150-$200 more you can get a lot better setup..

I also built a J&T 10.5" SBR from a kit on one of their Doublestar lowers and it shoots real sweet!

Keep an eye on the sale sections of AR15.com as a lot of stuff moves through there...

 

[patmann90]

Ok, thanks man.

 

[SIG_Fiend]

Honestly, I have heard nothing good about Model 1. Personally, I would spend a bit more up front to buy quality stuff, even if you have to save a lot longer. It will save you time and money in the end since you won't have to go through multiple upper, BCG's (bolt carrier groups), etc to find good parts that don't break.

Avoid anything from Blackthorne or Vulcan Armament like the plague for the love of God and all that is sacred in the universe! Do a search on any gun forum or google of either of those two names and you'll see why. You are better off smoking those $100 bills than wasting them on the trash from those companies. lol

One thing to watch out for is the BCG. Many BCG's out there do not have properly staked bolts, and they really need to be because they will come loose and cause the gun to stop functioning properly. If you happen to buy the BCG separate, I would highly recommend investing in good quality stuff the first time since you likely won't need to buy one again. Plenty of people get by just fine on stock DPMS, Armalite, etc BCG's. If I had a choice, personally I'd spend the extra on one from say LMT, CMT, BCM, Colt, etc. Yeah, even just getting an average BCG from some of the more inexpensive manufacturers will work just fine for 99% of most people's uses, but it's the heart of the AR so might as well eliminate one failure point to begin with. You don't have to buy an expensive BCG necessarily however, at the very least just make sure the bolts are staked properly and if they aren't then stake them or get someone to. Check out this thread for tons of excellent info and nice pics.

Link

Oh, if you don't plan on shooting at long range too often but plan on using the gun a majority of the time for more carbine oriented ranges than I would suggest against getting a heavy barrel or stainless heavy barrel version. Those darn ss heavy barrels weigh a TON! If you ever plan to do 3 gun matches, go to carbine matches, or pretty much anything with some movement involved, you will learn to hate the heavy barrel quickly. I'm not speaking from experience however, even just handling them it is readily apparent.

Patman, here's a video series on building AR's from the ground up at Brownells:

Brownells - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories and Gunsmithing Tools

The sweet thing is it's free to view online and basically shows you everything. One thing to note is that, if you truly want to build one from the ground up, honestly you aren't going to save money the first time around in comparison to buying a built one. The reason being, the first time around there are several special tools you really have to buy to properly assemble at least the upper. If you price out the cost of the tools and all the parts, there really isn't anything saved over buying a off the shelf AR. For that reason alone, I would personally suggest buying an assembled upper. The BCG and lower are easy as heck to assemble, so those are no big deal. However when it comes to installing the barrel, torquing the castle nut properly and aligning the front sight, etc etc you can really screw up badly just going the receiver in the vise ghetto method.

 

[Rapido]

Check this link for good prices on AR uppers.

AR15 Sales

I like STAG; good quality. They haven't blown up prices since the start of the Obamanation.

 

[nhm16]

My question's include:

1. Is model 1 a reputable company with good products, etc...?

I've heard mixed reviews to say the least. As far as uppers and BCGs, I recommend Bravo Company's or LMT's stuff (have guns using both). Solid, and not really any more expensive than the merely medicore stuff. Only downside is availability. Put yourself on Bravo Company's email availability notification list for the following (you have to pounce on it when you get the email notifications from Bravo Company; I have and have been able to get everything I wanted and not have to settle for a "lesser" brand):

Upper:
BCM 16" Mid Length Upper Receiver Group (I'm waiting on one of these myself, seem to be highly recommended)
BCM M4 16" Upper Receiver Group
LMT 16" M4 Carbine Upper Receiver Group (built my first AR with one)

Also consider Stag Arms, RRA, and Sabre Defence.

This thread was enormously useful to me in figuring out what to shop for:
Comparison Chart of Major AR Brands - M4Carbine.net Forums

Bolt carrier group, any of the following, this is the heart of your gun:
BCM Bolt Carrier Group MPI Auto M16
LMT Bolt Carrier Auto M16
LMT Bolt Carrier Semi AR15

Add a charging handle and you're ready to go.

2. What size barrel should I get? I like the compact feel of the m4 length, but occasionally like to do some long range shooting. Does the 16 in. really differ in accuracy apposed to the 20 in.?

Generally all else being equal, the only difference is velocity.

3. Would a 16in. free floated bull barrel be better accuracy than a standard 20in. ?

Probably. I would look for an upper (or have one built) with a stainless 18" barrel in an SPR profile if you're looking for accuracy. Bull barrels are very heavy for not a lot to be gained.

I like to shoot semi auto, and like to shoot accurately within 500 yards or so, so if you could please help me with a set-up it would be greatly appreciated.

Standard AR-15s in 16" or 20" configurations that ape the military specs are "accurate enough," e.g. 1-2 MOA @ 100yards. Mostly because the military wants durability and reliability for the standard issue guns, they have specialized sniper guns for when they need accuracy.

If you're using iron sights or a red dot like an Aimpoint or Eotech, and you are not shooting competitively, you don't need a super duper accurate barrel.

Or do what I did, build both a generic M4-gery and an "accuracy" gun.

 

[patmann90]

Ya, I'm kinda leaning towards just buying a plain complete rifle around the $700-$800 range; just to get my foot in the door. After buying the kit, and buying the extra parts to build the kit, it would be about the same price to just buy a new rifle. I don't exactly plan on building another rifle anytime soon, so the parts would be useless to me.... Anyways, thanks for all your help, and tell people about my Remington 700, so I can buy an AR

 

[TSU45]

There is a Stag group buy on ar15.com right now. Complete kits less lower for $609, think it even comes w/ a BUIS and mag.