AR Build - too many choices

[J_McLeod]

Just wanted to vent about shopping experience so far. I bought a stripped Stag lower a few months ago. It's going to be a 16" CAR with MAGPUL furniture and a flat top upper. I don't want to spend a lot, but and willing to spend for quality in some places. Beyond that I have no idea because there seems to be several hundred ways to make that combination. I kind of want to assemble the upper as well for the fun of it, but the pre assembled uppers appear to be both easier and cheaper, or so little savings as to not really be worth it. So far I haven't even been able to pick out a lower kit, even though I've heard that most of them are all the same. I already have a SAA upper a lower and it's been decent. Also considering more stag parts, PSA and Rock River.

 

[ugaarguy]

Maybe we here at THR can help.

It's going to be a 16" CAR with MAGPUL furniture and a flat top upper.

That's a good start. Beyond that:

Fixed front sight, low profile gas block, railed gas block, or gas block with integral flip up sight?

Pencil bbl, medium weight bbl, heavy bbl, or M4 profile bbl?

What are the heaviest conventional lead core bullets you intend to shoot, and do you intend to shoot cooper solids (ex: Barnes TSX, Hornady GMX) which are long for caliber?

What is the intended end use of the rifle?

 

[Kitchen_Duty]

I'm encountering the same with my proposed build, it is really hard right now to find barrels or complete assemblies for 20" or 18" but man are there 16" and smaller available!

 

[mljdeckard]

I am a huge Magpul fan. Having said that, I would avoid getting into things that are just trendy or what you see on the cover of the current magazines. I THINK that Magpul additions are very useful and cost effective, not trendy.

 

[cfullgraf]

I kind of want to assemble the upper as well for the fun of it, but the pre assembled uppers appear to be both easier and cheaper, or so little savings as to not really be worth it.

Assembling the entire rifle can be fun and educational. But, as you can see, frequently assembled uppers can be less expensive than the components.

But, it depends on what you want on the rifle. Sometimes you cannot find an assembly made with the parts you want and then it is less expensive to buy parts instead of buying an upper and replace the desired parts.

It does not help that parts inventories can be spotty at best and you may have difficulty finding that particular component that you want.

Have fun with your project.

 

[gotigers]

What will you be doing with it?

What is your budget?

I feel your pain. I want to build a SBR, but i can't make up my mind what to build. 5.56, 300blk, barrel length, etc, etc.

As far as lowers go, most are good to go. It comes down to which roll mark you like. I typically buy PSA or BCM for mid-budget builds. Nothing wrong with RRA, DPMS, Aero, SAA, etc. It's hard to beat PSA for LPK options.

for uppers, i would look at PSA, BCM, Aim Surplus, DSG, JSE, etc. I personally like an upper with a low profile gas block and a long free float tube. I like a free float tube with a top rail only and modular rails add ons. The long tube gives me better sight radius with irons. The tube is light and give me better options for where i can grip. I have this set up on an 18" 3 gun AR and a 16" carbine. I haven't needed a quad rail. I had a Daniel Defense Omega 7, but sold it after a year. Replaced it with tube style and had money left over.

 

[J_McLeod]

It'll be used for plinking, general range fun, non serious competition and whatever else.

I'd prefer a railed gas block but may go with a standard front sight.

I already have a AR with Magpul stuff and like it. Good product at a good price.Not sure about type of barrel or twist rate. I mostly load and shoot 55 gr for the cost but sometimes go heavier. My first AR is a 1:8 SS.

 

[thomis]

so many choices is the reason I haven't taken the plunge into the AR arena.

We need a sticky thread identifying the basics, from an elementary description of how AR's work all the way up to the latest combinations and appropriate purposes. That would help me at least.

 

[taliv]

lot of AR threads in the stickied reading library