Finally building an AR.

[Deus Machina]

I've been an AK guy in the past. Feel like I'm insulting mine here.
But I've got my stimulus check, a desire for a mild project, and might end up in a better job soon enough. And the LGS had complete Anderson lowers for less than finding one online plus shipping and transfer.
And I have to say, as a moderate machinist and engineering student, the AR lower is a masterpiece of design.
Turns out Bear Creek Arsenal had an acceptable upper in stock at a decent price..
Now all I need is the sights, stock, buffer tube and its contents. And magazines.

Don't have and can't find .223, so I'm sticking with my 7.62x39. In that case, any particular spring and buffer weight I need? I've seen people say everything from H to H3 buffers, but have yet to see much about springs.
Planning on the tried-and-true Magpul MOE stock (unless I find an acceptable full kit of stock and buffer) and probably Magpul sights. Pictures of a complete build will, of course, be forthcoming.

Edit: And I had somehow completely missed the sticky. Which didn't have much help anyway.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

I run the vltor A5 buffer system on my x39 with the H2 weight and a green springco spring.
Duramag by C products have run flawlessly for me.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I was like you, and I still love my AKs, but ARs are SO MUCH FUN!!!!

 

[Deus Machina]

Kind of thinking of going moderately lightweight and minimalist (I do like the Magpul MOE stuff, for instance), but running across sopmod stocks that are teasing my desire to keep everything needed to keep a gun running on the gun...
Otherwise that will be a project for the 3D printer or a little pouch strapped between sling mounts.

 

[Deus Machina]

Update: Finally built an AR.
Decent but budget-minded generalized build.



Anderson complete lower.
Bear Creek Arsenal billet upper with 7.62x39 heavy barrel, carbine-length gas system, and 12" freefloat MLOK handguard. Rear-charging, not one of their side-chargers.
H2 buffer. The buffer tube kit came with a standard weight, so I can mix and match a bit as needed.
Everything else is Magpul in 'stealth gray'. Not one if their rabid fanboys but they're a great start for a price-quality balance. And this is the first time I've had the option to get everything matching, so why not.
And it really needed those covers. Aluminum MLOK tube isn't the grippiest option out there.

Not perfectly happy with the placement of the foregrip, but the shortest screws I have press on the barrel with any other attachment, and the gas block prevents clearance of a T nut right where I want it. It would work at the very front slot, but then a more standard grip would get my finger on the barrel if I'm not careful. I'll eventually get shorter screws and grind down a nut.
Would like a lighter barrel and full-length handguard, but I took what I could get. Will probably also get a better muzzle device once I find one that balances the functions well enough.
Also, the upper is completely unmarked. I don't want big fancy designs or some kind of billboard, but a single line of branding or a thumbprint-sized logo or something would have been nice.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Noice!!

 

[Deus Machina]

A couple random notes, now that I have it together.
The dust cover is the cheapest available part and isn't a tight seal. And as a billet upper, the rod won't extract from the back. No way I'm taking off the barrel nut just for a dust cover. I'll probably lay a thin line of RTV just to block the gap, and then only because this is Florida. Hooray sand and humidity.
Hoo boy, is this grip an improvement. I tend to hold high, and the A2 style just doesn't work for that between its weird taper and the finger bump. Tucked close and with a modern grip... no. The K-2 has a much better angle.
And this really isn't lighter than my AK. Or, it might be, but it's a little more to the front. Guess a billet upper and heavy barrel will do that.