Suggestions for a few AR builds

[TanklessPro]

I already own a few basic AR's and all are 16" barrels and are in 5.56. I'm in the process of building 3 more AR's.
I'm thinking of building one as a pistol with a Sig brace in 300BLK not sure on barrel length.
I'm thinking of building another with a pinned flash hider on a 14.5 barrel in 5.56.
The other I was leaning towards a 18" heavy barrel in 5.56.

I have no desire for any .30 caliber AR, but I have thought about maybe something in 204 Ruger. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

 

[bomberbill357]

Let's see: I built a 14.4 with a pinned comp. A lighteweight 16", a 300 BLk, and 18" recon barrel rifle and an AR pistol all in about 2and a half years.
I say shoot for the moon. Build them all you probably won't regret it

 

[Theohazard]

If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

If I were you, I'd SBR at least one lower. Two of the options you listed mention ways to get around the SBR laws, so why not just register an SBR instead? Pinning-and-welding is a pain to un-do, and the SB15 is a little cheesy and not easily adjustable. But with a registered SBR lower you can use any barrel length you want, and you can change it at any time, provided you still own a barrel that matches your SBR's officially registered barrel length.

 

[Tirod]

An SBR and a pistol with brace are somewhat redundant, and the pistol is $200 cheaper, plus easier to ship parts to your house. That's the current consideration.

What about alternate calibers? A 6.5 Grendel long range rifle, and a 6.8SPC 16" lightweight minimalist would be something different.

You'd find ammo on the shelf when 5.56 was running in short supply.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I'm thinking of building one as a pistol with a Sig brace in 300BLK not sure on barrel length.

I have no desire for any .30 caliber AR...

 

[Theohazard]

An SBR and a pistol with brace are somewhat redundant

I agree. I was suggesting he SBR a lower instead of making a pistol with an arm brace.

the pistol is $200 cheaper

Except the SIG arm brace will run at least $120, so you're only saving $80 max.

plus easier to ship parts to your house

I don't understand this part. All the parts for an SBR are just as easy to ship to your house as the parts for a pistol.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I agree. I was suggesting he SBR a lower instead of making a pistol with an arm brace.

Except the SIG arm brace will run at least $120, so you're only saving $80 max.

I don't understand this part. All the parts for an SBR are just as easy to ship to your house as the parts for a pistol.

Legally yes, but I've seen a number of gun smiths and a vendor or two get "funny" about short barrels.

Mike

 

[redneck2]

All depends on what you want/like.

The other I was leaning towards a 18" heavy barrel in 5.56.

I've getting an itch to build a super precision AR. Thinking a Kreiger cut rifled barrel. They're $350ish, but I suspect they're about as good as it gets.

I'd rather have one really good rifle than a dozen middle of the road ones

 

[Theohazard]

Legally yes, but I've seen a number of gun smiths and a vendor or two get "funny" about short barrels.

So have I, but an SBR uses the same short barrels that an AR pistol does. My point is simply that there's no difference between ordering the parts for a pistol or the parts for an SBR.

 

[RCArms.com]

The pistol with brace is a pistol and is very easy to travel with out of state. The SBR is a NFA item and is much harder to cross state lines with.

For alternate calibers, I have AR's in 5.45x39mm and 7.62x25mm that I really like. The 5.45 is a piston 16" rifle and the 7:62x25 is a DI 10.5" SBR.

 

[TIMC]

I have no desire for any .30 caliber AR, but I have thought about maybe something in 204 Ruger. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

I went with the 6.5 Grendel for my medium caliber rifle, excellent round!

I also have AR's in 5.56, .300 Blackout, .308 and .50 Beowulf.

 

[Theohazard]

The pistol with brace is a pistol and is very easy to travel with out of state. The SBR is a NFA item and is much harder to cross state lines with.

I agree that there are several advantages to an AR pistol with an arm brace: The primary one is that there's no NFA registration and all the details that go along with it. Also, a pistol is easier to legally transport inside a vehicle in many states.

Still, I prefer using a real stock, so I like SBRs. But in terms of sheer practicality, I agree that building a pistol with an arm brace is more practical from a legal standpoint.

 

[TanklessPro]

Boy I sounded like an idiot.......

Should have said no AR10's or real 30 calibers

 

[Arizona_Mike]

OMG! I built a fake 30 cal!

Just kidding

Mike

 

[MistWolf]

In my mind, there are only three basic classes of ARs.
1) SBR/Pistol with a barrel length of about 10.5-11.5 inches. Go much longer than that and you might as well get a 14.5" pinned or 16" barrel
2) 14.5 "16" carbine. You don't save much in length by going with a 14.5 pinned barrel so I'd give the 16" the edge here
3) 20" rifle. The 18" barrel isn't as handy as a 16" barrel but without any real velocity advantage and isn't much handier than a 20" barrel.

Anything else is really just a variation of the 3 types above and if building more than one rifle, are redundant.

4) With a barrel 22" and longer. This really is a fourth category, but a rarified and specialized one to eke out the last bit of velocity for long range, precise shooting

 

[wally]

I agree. I was suggesting he SBR a lower instead of making a pistol with an arm brace.

I'd suggest making a pistol with the arm brace and then SBR it so you can use it during the 8+ month wait for the stamp!

 

[greyling22]

I'd pass on building a new one and put that cash toward a suppressor myself. my 20" bull barrel shot no better than my 16" gov profile barrel, and I just don't see what 14.5" gets you. So I'd go for something new. but that's just me in your shoes.