My First AR15

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8sAces

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Mebane, NC
I'm building my first ar. I was raised on the AKs and SKS. I'm using a ruger 5.56 lower and going to use a Bear Creek Arsenal Complete Upper. I'm also looking at doing it in .223 wylde.

My question is if I will doing this mainly for target and practice for hunting. I would like to also go and do 3 gun every once in a while. Would it be worth doing a 16 inch barrel or would I be okay to use a 18 inch fluted barrel? I'm not looking to really game with it. I would go to 3 gun mainly just for fun and my own practice.
 
Congrats

What do you prefer?

I just built a gun for 3 gun that I used an 18” barrel. But I also have another AR with a 16”.

There’s two schools of thought on this and I won’t go into details.

But for beginner the common suggestion is use what you have. For most that’s a 16”

For longer courses a 18” is better for longer shots, while for tight shorter ones 16” is better.

Coming from AKs I think you’d like the 16” better. I know my 18” is a lot heavier than the 16”.

That said the beauty of ARs is they’re modular and you can make or get another upper easily or even change barrels if you want.

My suggestion is get a basic AR and learn the platform. See what you like and what you hate then either build one to what you like or modify it.

I went the route of a PSA lower and upper. Then building the 3 gun one. I’m now building a third. So as they say they’re like Legos. You’ll find you’ll want one more.
 
I agree with Hokie_PhD.
Go with what you want.
If you want the 18” for hunting, go with that.
You may build your gun for 3 gun and find you don’t like it (the gun) then where will you be?
Use your 18” for 3 gun until you know what you want for 3 Gun.
 
Another vote for going with whatever you like. You most likely end up changing some of the parts as you get more experience with your AR.

I built my first AR in 2016 using parts a co-worker recommended. Since then I have changed the BCG, the trigger and hammer, the stock and added, at least for the moment, a Red Dot Sight. Don’t let that discourage you. The parts you replace can be used on future builds.

All of my current AR’s have 16” barrels. As I am “horse poor” with stripped uppers I want to try a 20” barrel for long distance and deer hunting. For me 18” barrel doesn’t offer enough advantage over the 16”.
 
Well ... Gunny’s collection of AR’s is something else.

Even for around here.

I want to see someone with a bigger collection. It might motivate Gunny to get on the stick. Speaking of which. I’ve been busy so haven’t done much. But hope to be finishing my current build and start another soon. But that all depends on work. But I’ll leave that for another time.
 
Hokie PhD is taking you down the right path. If you have a chance to hold/handle and (better yet) shoot a few different barrel lengths side by side it goes a long way to helping you select what will work best for you.

I have barrels on my ARs in 14.5” in M4, 16” in HBAR , mid-length standard, piston HBAR and pencil, 20” in HBAR (with an A2 fixed stock), etc. and each one handles/swings a bit differently.

If you don’t have a variety to compare-contrast a 16” Wylde fits the bill for most, if not all, of your intended uses. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
I'm building my first ar. I was raised on the AKs and SKS. I'm using a ruger 5.56 lower and going to use a Bear Creek Arsenal Complete Upper. I'm also looking at doing it in .223 wylde.

My question is if I will doing this mainly for target and practice for hunting. I would like to also go and do 3 gun every once in a while. Would it be worth doing a 16 inch barrel or would I be okay to use a 18 inch fluted barrel? I'm not looking to really game with it. I would go to 3 gun mainly just for fun and my own practice.
I believe the correct answer to should you get the 16 or the 18 is YES . I've been happy with BCA uppers and recommended them to other folks who have been quite happy with them as well. For the cost of a BCA barrel or complete upper without the bolt carrier group, there is no downside to getting either one now and maybe getting the other in the future should barrel length seem to need an adjustment or you just feel like having another gun. They really are easy to start acquiring.
 
I want to see someone with a bigger collection. It might motivate Gunny to get on the stick. Speaking of which. I’ve been busy so haven’t done much. But hope to be finishing my current build and start another soon. But that all depends on work. But I’ll leave that for another time.
Yeah, he should really quit being such a lackadaisical hobbyist.

I have two builds I’m doing for my nephews. I need to get going on those. I’d like to add another for me in the not too distant future. So I hear you.

Nice thing about AR’s is if you’re disciplined you can regularly add to them a little a paycheck.
 
Yeah, he should really quit being such a lackadaisical hobbyist.

I have two builds I’m doing for my nephews. I need to get going on those. I’d like to add another for me in the not too distant future. So I hear you.

Nice thing about AR’s is if you’re disciplined you can regularly add to them a little a paycheck.

I know that feeling.sadly the budget is tight again. I’ve had some issues where I work and pay hasn’t been what it’s suppose to be. So obviously I’m now looking to change jobs.

But the good news is I have most of the parts for my next build.
 
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