Heavy upper AR build

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GunnyUSMC

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A few weeks ago a friend of mine came by with his AR that was chambered in 7.62x39. He wanted my to swap out the black handrail with a new FDE one he had picked up.
We got to shooting the bull about guns and he said he had a lower with the Magpul target buttstock and would like to get an upper with a 20” barrel in 5.56 for target shooting.
He then offered to tread me some surplus rifles to build him an upper.
We came to an agreement and I started ordering the parts I needed.

The barrel I choose was the Wilson Arms heavy stainless 20” fluted 223 Wylde 1/8 with a target crown.
5239B5F5-6D8A-4EAA-B013-3453E4EB7A73.jpeg FCEDC608-2132-4BB4-9BDE-C290CD9135C5.jpeg 67DAF8E5-9E84-43C3-888D-CCA177E227C7.jpeg

I had a few stripped uppers in my parts, if I remember right, the one I used is an Anderson.
I tried up the face before installing the barrel. The barrel was a tight fit to the upper.
0E13054F-DE2D-461F-9675-B14C28842BB4.jpeg

My friend did ask that I use a rail that allowed him to see the markings on the barrel so, I went with a 15” rail
5E35EEEE-D6AD-4471-B50F-0CF72C8BF46E.jpeg

I had an EXO coated BCG and thought that he would like and I used a Strike Industry Arch charging handle wit the large latch.
0EE94AAF-FED6-4542-8DBD-1CE18E0C0EF8.jpeg

He had a Milspec fire control group in his lower and I replaced it with a LaRue Tactical MBT fire control group.
58D9FE08-D721-4641-A01B-DE8C5C610D6D.jpeg


I took the rifle to work with me yesterday to function test it. It ejects perfectly at 4 o’clock and has almost no felt recoil.
The extractor marks on the cases are very light, so no signs of Over pressures or a sticky chamber.
3DC4809C-757F-4EAE-863B-0BD1035A60E3.jpeg B03A32E8-3DBE-4369-91A2-FC16295A64B2.jpeg . BA9A7F65-DD99-4C13-8AD5-0CC9C0D8656C.jpeg

I called my friend and he came over and picked up the rifle yesterday evening.
He was very happy with it and he loved the way the new trigger felt. he asked if he owed me any money and I said no.
He’s supposed to go shooting today and send some pictures of some targets.
 
Gunny nice to see one of your builds.

I was wrapping up my build and planning the next one but I’m freaking as the proposed laws here in VA are as bad as NJ, if not worse. If I read it right they’ll be Requiring all “assaults” weapons be turned by July 2020 when they pass the proposed law which Gov Dr Baby Killer said he’d sign.

So I’m not sure what to do as I envy everyone who is enjoying their ARs and AKs.
 
Gunny nice to see one of your builds.

I was wrapping up my build and planning the next one but I’m freaking as the proposed laws here in VA are as bad as NJ, if not worse. If I read it right they’ll be Requiring all “assaults” weapons be turned by July 2020 when they pass the proposed law which Gov Dr Baby Killer said he’d sign.

So I’m not sure what to do as I envy everyone who is enjoying their ARs and AKs.

Build/buy what makes you happy!
 
Gunny nice to see one of your builds.

I was wrapping up my build and planning the next one but I’m freaking as the proposed laws here in VA are as bad as NJ, if not worse. If I read it right they’ll be Requiring all “assaults” weapons be turned by July 2020 when they pass the proposed law which Gov Dr Baby Killer said he’d sign.

So I’m not sure what to do as I envy everyone who is enjoying their ARs and AKs.
You can always move to a gun friendly state.
I think that we will see some of these state laws being contested in the next few years.
 
You can always move to a gun friendly state.
I think that we will see some of these state laws being contested in the next few years.
No
People ran from CA to WA
Then they elected the same folks and WA is like CA now
Then they ran to OR same thing
Now they’ve invaded my home state
We can’t keep running as soon there won’t be any place to run to.
And Va was very gun friendly until this election.
 
No
People ran from CA to WA
Then they elected the same folks and WA is like CA now
Then they ran to OR same thing
Now they’ve invaded my home state
We can’t keep running as soon there won’t be any place to run to.
And Va was very gun friendly until this election.
Isn’t that the point? They accomplished their mission in one state and moved on to the next.

Back on track... That’s a really sweet upper but I don’t understand the point of a slant-cut rail. It looks cool, but does it have a purpose other than aesthetics?
 
Isn’t that the point? They accomplished their mission in one state and moved on to the next.

Back on track... That’s a really sweet upper but I don’t understand the point of a slant-cut rail. It looks cool, but does it have a purpose other than aesthetics?
The slant is for aesthetics.
He had a different rail for the build, but I couldn’t get the barrel nut to index without leaving a large gap between the rail and the upper.
I had this rail in my spare parts and it worked out great.
 
No
People ran from CA to WA
Then they elected the same folks and WA is like CA now
Then they ran to OR same thing
Now they’ve invaded my home state
We can’t keep running as soon there won’t be any place to run to.
And Va was very gun friendly until this election.
I'm in VA, so tell me about it..
 
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Those Wilson barrels are sweet. I have a 20" HB in 8" twist and I haven't found a load it wont shoot yet and I'm talking less than 1" groups @ 100 yds. I'm sure your friend will be impressed.
 
Those Wilson barrels are sweet. I have a 20" HB in 8" twist and I haven't found a load it wont shoot yet and I'm talking less than 1" groups @ 100 yds. I'm sure your friend will be impressed.
When we started looking at barrels, he was shocked at the price. I told him that the barrel was the heart of the rifle and that we needed to get a good one. The barrel with the gas block and tube was $289. I got it from JSE Surplus. I’ve bought several barrels from them over the years.
https://www.jsesurplus.com/barrels.aspx
 
if that's not at least holes touching at 100yd+, I'll be severely disappointed.
that is, if your friend is a shooter, as with excellent guns it's more about the indian than the arrow. :D
 
Gunny,

How heavy is that barrel compared to other 20” barrels? I am Lower Receiver “Poor” and am kicking the can around about doing a build with a 20” barrel.

I am not really sure what I will do with a 20”’barrel AR. It most likely get a scope. My gun club has a 200 yard rifle range so it will get some long range shooting. But I don’t want a overly heavy bench gun. I want it to be light enough for hunting.
 
No
People ran from CA to WA
Then they elected the same folks and WA is like CA now
Then they ran to OR same thing
Now they’ve invaded my home state
We can’t keep running as soon there won’t be any place to run to.
And Va was very gun friendly until this election.
Brother, I hear ya'
But, in all fairness, I also think about all those places in tennesse, AZ, WY, even TX that really need high-quality professors to keep furthering the cause of an informed commonweal.
It can be sore wearying to be among those who not only disagrees with you but are enmitical about it.

And, if it als means having to pass up owning something with that nice a crown on the barrel--that has a "wrong" about it.
 
I am not really sure what I will do with a 20”’barrel AR. It most likely get a scope. My gun club has a 200 yard rifle range so it will get some long range shooting. But I don’t want a overly heavy bench gun. I want it to be light enough for hunting.
I have an original Windham Bushmaster with a 20” Wilson air gauged match fluted pencil barrel. Accuracy is better than outstanding. I built a 3rd AR just because I had an extra lower. Used an 18 Inch Wilson match barrel. It’s plenty light enough for HD and hunting. My wife claimed it, plenty light for her.

Just because it’s a match grade barrel doesn’t mean it has to be heavy.
 
Gunny,

How heavy is that barrel compared to other 20” barrels? I am Lower Receiver “Poor” and am kicking the can around about doing a build with a 20” barrel.

I am not really sure what I will do with a 20”’barrel AR. It most likely get a scope. My gun club has a 200 yard rifle range so it will get some long range shooting. But I don’t want a overly heavy bench gun. I want it to be light enough for hunting.
A standard 20" Govt. profile barrel with a front sight tower weights 2.4 lbs. This barrel is 3.5.

If I were to build one for hunting and target shooting I would go with an 18" barrel. Maybe one of these.
https://www.jsesurplus.com/WILSONARMS18GOVTPROFILESPRSTYLE223WYLDE1X8RIFLEGASSSSTR.aspx 1.9 lbs.
https://www.jsesurplus.com/wilsonarms18midheavybarrel223wylde1x8stainlesssteelfluted.aspx 2.3 lbs.
 
I was scoping those out at JSE while mulling over what might be available on Black Friday.

Very nice build as always Gunny, and thank you for spoiling us with pictures.
 
How much fps am I giving up with 18” instead of 20” barrel?

Am I correct thinking a fluted barrel will be slower to get hot and will be stiffer then a regular barrel?
Not sure about the loss in velocity, but it can’t be much.
I don’t think you gain any advantage in cooling with a fluted barrel but it will be stiffer then an unfluted barrel.
 
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