AR Sponsor
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Posted: 2/15/2026 3:21:43 PM EDT
[Last Edit: PreacherOfGadget][Edited]
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Intro I started this as a writeup about one build. As I wrote about deciding on each part, it became a post about made in WI options for AR-15 parts. I've split the original post into sections due to length. It is a work in progress. I welcome additional information, corrections, or updates about products from WI or related info. I've been toying with the idea of doing some custom "Made in WI" builds for a while, as we have plenty of companies that sell ARs and AR components and accessories, including BCM, Griffin, ADM, Midwest Industries, Criterion Barrels, Bartlein Barrels, Krieger Barrels, BSF Barrels, DFA, Vortex, and any I am not thinking of at the moment or am unaware of. I want to mix and match to show off some of the quality offerings of WI companies. I knew a lot wouldn't make it, as just barrel manufacturers would take at least 4 builds to cover them all. Ideally "made", for this build, means manufactured here in WI for a WI company. Some companies like BCM keep a tight lid on what is made in house and what is made to their designs (that might be manufactured out of state) and assembled in-house. For the sake of simplicity, I'm not going down a rabbit hole to figure out non-public product/business information; so, if I'm too generous with any of my inclusions or decisions, so be it. Unless it's clearly stated otherwise, I'm taking branded products as made-in WI. Likewise, I will pay attention to accessible information. Despite all those great companies, there's a few parts/accessories I can't find made in WI, or that I can't find in a particular configuration:
As there may need to be compromises on either my build decisions or my "made in WI" requirement, to deal with any items I can't find, I determined a hierarchy-of-locations and some hard limits:
Build Progress Parts Below is a table of what parts I've already installed, and which I have not, along with a note of what item is acting as a placeholder in the build as it currently is.
Most Up To Date Build Pics   What should a WI AR Build Be? This section is going to be a lot of rambling on the aspects of WI that I feel should be reflected in an AR build that. It may be interesting. If you're not into that, just skip to The Barrel. Click To View Spoiler This leaves me thinking I should select a caliber between .223/5.56mm - .308/7.62mm, and in there, the real blue-collar options are .223 Rem/5.56 NATO, .300 BLK, and 7.62x39. Part of blue-collar is common, with replaceable parts. Simply put, 5.56 NATO is the standard for an AR, the go-to. And it is what I'll go with, too, also knowing it will give me the most options for barrel and bolt, by far. These distances also suggest a bi-pod, possibly QD, and some form of magnification for those longer shots. As Wisconsinites usually believe in backup plans and preparedness, I want irons and an optic for redundancy, if possible. Updates ** I'll probably edit these articles a fair bit. Substantial content updates will be noted below. ** 2/15 - Initial posts all up 2/19 - Updated BCG section with info from GA customer service 3/1 - Added The Trigger from Wisconsin Trigger Company 3/3 - Updated Handguard section. Drop-In section complete. M-LOK section in almost complete. 6/14 - Updated build in table above. No new pics yet. |
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The Barrel I don't have the cash at this time for a high end Bartlein or Krieger barrel (or a barrel made from one of their blanks), and I while I appreciate precision, I was thinking a little bit more "working man" gun for this build. This also puts a BSF carbon wrapped barrel out of contention. Combine that with not having the budget for a Razor HD AMG scope, which would be appropriate to the capabilities of a Bartlein or Krieger, and I think a high-end precision build is not in the cards for now. That said, a precision AR is a solid build option for an all-WI build, too. To my mind, that left Criterion, BCM, and Griffin as my likely suspects, especially given that ADM and MI primarily use and offer for sale Criterion barrels. I haven't used a barrel yet from any of these three yet. Most of their AR-15 offerings are .223/5.56 or .300 BLK. I've prefer the weight distribution that comes with profiles like the Criterion Core Series barrels and some of BCM's mid-weight enhanced and light-weight enhanced profiles. The rear-heavy weight distribution is something I especially like when it isn't in an HBAR. I dislike front heavy profiles (M4, Gov't profiles), and am neutral on straight barrel profiles with GB >= .750". My preference is for any .625" GB barrel to only get thicker from gas block to chamber. BCM's "kino" configuration upper reminded me how much I love a front sight base sitting out near the end of the barrel, but I'm not building an SBR or pistol. I also like the solid, working-man nature of the A2 FSB for a front iron sight, and if it's not also the gas block (dissipator style), that requires a barrel with the diameter front of the GB close in diameter to the GB journal. If I want iron sights with an FSB out near the muzzle, and I don't want to go SBR like BCM's kino configuration upper, what about the other direction for something a little different, yet still familiar? Instead of a shorter dissipator, a longer dissipator with a rifle length gas system, a handguard covering the GB, and a 17"-18" barrel? At this point, I decided to try to keep weight down. That left BCM and Criterion for some lighter weight profiles. Unfortunately BCM currently offers no enhanced profile barrels over to 16" on their website. If BCM offered their Enhanced Medium Weight Profile barrel in an 18" version, it would have been a much tougher choice, as their lack of a shoulder behind their gas block journals brings them in line, weight wise, with the shouldered offerings of Criterion's core line with .625" GBs. For comparison, BCM's 14.5" enhanced middle weight weighs 1 lb 10 oz. and Criterion's 14.5" core weighs 1.65 lbs (1 lb 10.4 oz). BCM Enhanced Medium Weight barrel (14.5" version)  from BCM website BCM Enhanced Light Weight barrel (14.5" version)  From BCM Website Criterion Core 18" & 20" barrels  From Criterion's Site I ended up settling on the Criterion Core 18" .223 Wylde barrel, which offers a slightly heavier profile for their .625" GB barrels than BCM's many fine offerings. It also offers a barrel diameter close enough to .625" that a clamp or set screw FSB can be mounted fore of the gas block journal to provide an extended sight radius and a dissipator-ish look. A Thought on the Build I I've decided on a Criterion Core 18" barrel in an elongated dissipator-style setup, with a front sight out near the end of the barrel and a handguard that runs most of the barrel length. This means carry handle and an FSB. It'd be a shame to waste the accuracy typically expected for a Criterion barrel -- not match grade, but likely 1 MOA to 1.5MOA, if using good ammo. A magnified optic would aid in making use of this precision. The only way to do this without losing the rear sight is to do a carry-handle mounted optic. |
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Gas Block This one is a conundrum to me. BCM, MI, and Griffin all sell gas blocks. Only Griffin has an adjustable gas block, but it's only available for a .750" gas block journal. BCM offers a low profile gas block for both .625" and .750" gas block journal diameters. I'm looking for .625" gas block. BCM Low Profile Gas Block (steel with set screws) (.625", .750")  From BCM's website Griffin offers a low profile in .625" and .750", and an adjustable low profile in .750". Their low profile adjustable gas block would be my pick, if it were available in .625". Griffin Primo Gas Block 416R (.625", .750")  From Griffin's website Griffin Adjustable AR-15 Gas Block (only available in .750" currently  ) From Griffin's website Midwest Industries offers 3 gas blocks, one railed. All are set-screw. All are made from 4140 steel. MI Upper Height Gas Block (railed, .750" only)  From Midwest Industries' Website MI Micro Gas Block (.625", .750")  From Midwest Industries' Website MI Low Profile Gas Block (.625", .750", .875", .936")  From Midwest Industries' Website So, here I am, looking for an adjustable .625" gas block, and the only WI made ones are non adjustable. It's not the worst thing in the world, honestly, but I am a sucker for the availability and illusion of control. Right now, I have a Faxon (Ohio) adjustable .625" gas block available for use. I am hoping that Griffin eventually offers their adjustable gas block in .625". So, before buying a new GB for this build, I'll use the Faxon adjustable .625 GB I have on hand, and I can grab a gas tube from MI, BCM, or Griffin to use with it. If Griffin comes out with a version of their adjustable GB in .625" in the future, I can swap it in. Front Sight Base (FSB) This one could have gone two ways. DEZ Tactical, up by Wisconsin Dells, sells FSBs tapped for set screws. Unfortunately they don't offer them for .625" diam. gas block journals. BCM does sell .625" diam FSBs, so I got one. BCM's Front Sight Base F - FSB (ID .625) - Milspec for Flat Top Uppers  From BCM's website To mount it fore of the gas block, I drilled and tapped holes for 3 set screws (2 smaller ones at the front of the FSB and one wider screw at the rear), and got set screws from the locally owned True Value. When it came time, I also used an end mill bit to put a very small flat on the barrel for the larger set screw. It's not quite as good at preventing rotation as a full dimple, but I am really shy about cutting into such a narrow diameter barrel. Combined with excessive locktite, including between the FSB and the barrel, I think it'll be fairly sturdy. |
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Muzzle Device Well, regarding muzzle devices, there is a plethora of them available. This is far too many to post pictures of each. Instead, feel free to peruse the options. Midwest Industries makes 20+ muzzle devices in tool steel and aluminum (blast cans): MI Muzzle Devices Here's a few of MI's muzzle devices:     Griffin makes around 40 muzzle devices (most are available in multiple thread/caliber combinations for, around 100 offerings total) in 17-4PH stainless steel and a couple in titanium (their minimalist devices, creating excellent light-weight build options): Griffin Muzzle Devices Here's a few Griffin taper mount muzzle devices:     Bravo Company Manufacturing makes 9 different muzzle devices all in steel (unspecified on product pages): BCM Muzzle Devices Here's a few of BCM's muzzle devices:     Because I've already invested in Griffin's Taper Mount silencers, I'm gonna stick with one of their taper mount muzzle devices. And, since I have a Hammer Comp available, I shall use that. It's a blend between a flash hider and a brake, and, while not as short as their shortest devices (Minimalist Brake, Minimalist Flash Hider, EZ Brake), isn't the weight of some longer devices, like the Paladin Brake, Linear Compensator, the longer Flash Suppressors, and the Tactical Comp. It will allow me to use my current taper mount Griffin suppressor and any Griffin taper mount suppressor I buy in the future, presuming they are taper mount.  See that little hammer the griffin is holding? That ain't just any hammer. Did I mention WI has a pretty heavy population of descendants of Scandinavian immigrants? I'm pretty sure that hammer means, "Whosoever holds this hammer comp, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor." Imagine possessing the power of the god of hammers? Who wouldn't want that. Hammers and badgers. That sounds Wisconsin as shit! Suppressor *I will be adding a lot here* If/when I get a suppressor to go with with this gun, I think I'll go with a lighter weight offering of the EXPLORR .224 Taper Mount Silencer. Having the FSB out front already moved the gun toward being muzzle-heavy despite the profile of the Core Barrel. And there'll be a bipod added below somewhere, which will make it more front-heavy. So, at only 9 oz, the EXPLORR .224 is the lightest weight taper mount offering available.  |
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Bolt Carrier Group There's a several good bolts and carriers to be found among the WI companies. BCM's HP MPI bolts are especially highly respected, as are their carriers. I've not heard many complaints about BCGs from Midwest Industries, Griffin, or ADM, either. That said, only one of these companies brings something to the table that's any different. The Griffin Proprietary Gas Pocket BCG Selecting .223/5.56 gives the opportunity to use Griffin's Proprietary Gas Pocket BCG , which uses a proprietary bolt only offered for 223/5.56 (which also is the .300 BLK and .350 Legend bolt, though Griffin states "Using this product with a pistol-length .300BLK gas system may result in poor cyclic performance, and is not recommended."). Their proprietary BCG has several features to lower the volume (dB) from the gas in the upper receiver during cycling. The carrier is able to have a longer stroke than a mil-spec carrier with the rear of the gas key further forward. It has a longer cam path that allows the chamber to remain closed for longer. A proprietary bolt blocks more gas and has a thicker body, reinforced around the cam pin. This BCG can be run with NO GAS RINGS on the proprietary bolt, but sound performance is, according to Griffin, best with 2 rings. The bolt lugs have an increased radius from mil-spec to strengthen the bolt and smooth out its cycle during opening/closing and contact with the barrel extension. The cam pin can only be inserted one way, so the it's not possible to install the bolt rotated 180. The bolt also features dual ejectors, so it should have a more aggressive ejection pattern for a properly gassed gun than a standard carrier. Griffin Enhanced Gas Pocket AR-15 BCG - GA Proprietary Gas Pocket BCG  From Griffin's's website  From Griffin's website The carrier vents gas into the receiver instead of directly out the port door. This allows gasses to decompress some before entering open air, again, quieting the process drastically. I was worried about carbon buildup, but reviews seem to indicate there's not an issue. A charging handle designed for suppressors that channels gas away from the shooter's face would be helpful with a BCG that alters gas flow in the receiver. This BCG benefits longer barreled, suppressed setups the most. An 18" barrel should be sufficient, and while this may not get a dedicated suppressor, it will eventually get a taper mount muzzle device for Griffin suppressors so it can use one. Using this BCG will require some special considerations in the buffer system. Griffin offers a package with a custom shortened buffer and buffer spring that work in a carbine tube. *To take advantage of the longer stroke, a custom length, shortened buffer must be used. See details on Griffin's website.* But, before moving on, let's give a quick look at some of the other bolts and carriers offered by WI companies. Griffin Armament (other BCGs) Proprietary Gas Pocket BCG for mil-spec internals  From Griffin's website This one is the same as the Proprietary Enhanced Gas Pocket Bolt carrier group, except the Cam Path length is normal, the interior geometry is made for a mil-spec AR bolt and cam pin. The proprietary gas key is included and allows an extended stroke, and the carrier still vents to the left side. Mil-spec gas pocket BCG  From Griffin's website This version of the Gas Pocket BCG accepts all mil-spec internals and has a mil-spec gas key and a normal maximum stroke length. Enhanced Mil-spec BCG  From Griffin's website As Griffin rolled out their Gas Pocket BCGs, the name of their standard BCG, "Enhanced Mil-Spec Bolt Carrier" became somewhat misleading. Compared to their other offerings, the only things enhanced on this from a mil-spec BCG seem to be the finishes and machining tolerances. This model does not have carbon scraper cuts. It does not have an anti-tilt expansion at the rear of the carrier. And it doesn't have their noise-reducing gas pocket feature, nor a longer stroke. American Defense Manufacturing ADM Premium AR15 BCG  From ADM's website Bravo Company Manufacturing BCM Bolt Carrier Group, Auto  From BCM's website BCM's carriers and bolts have been a reliable choice for quite some time. BCM is known for their impeccable quality control and reliable weapons. Everything's pretty much mil-spec, and very well made. Midwest Industries Enhanced Black Nitride Bolt Carrier Group  From MI's website The Midwest Industries Enhanced Black Nitride Bolt Carrier group has an anti-tilt rear, like Griffin's Gas Pocket offerings, but their approach is slightly different. Both flare in the tail of the carrier, but the flare is designed differently, though both also offer reduced friction, too. A longer section of the MI tail is flared, but not there are flats cut to reduce the bearing surface while maintaining the anti-tilt diameter in appropriate places. Griffin's approach has a shorter flared section, but nearly the entirety of the flare is a bearing surface. This anti-tilt flare in the rear seems to be about the only real functional upgrade. The balance of the enhanced BCG is slightly more rearward with flats on the sides at the front and the flared rear. The treatments listed are all the same, and all materials listed are the same for the two BCGs. Black Nitride Bolt Carrier Group  From MI's website BCG Feature Comparison For this table I am using the terms that each company uses to describe their product. I am aware that some of these terms can be synonymous (phosphate & parkerized, Melonite QPQ and Nitride, etc.), but I am using the terms the companies chose to use to describe their products, where available.
EBNBCG - Enhanced Black Nitride Bolt Carrier Group PEGP BCG - Enhanced Gas Pocket BCG - Proprietary [Internals] Mil EGP BC - Enhanced Gas Pocket Bolt Carrier - [for Mil-Spec Internals] (NO BOLT) Mil GP BCG - Mil-spec Gas Pocket BCG E Mil BCG - Enhanced Mil-Spec BCG * Per Griffin Customer Service e-mail on 2/16/26. Kudos to their customer service for getting back to me insanely fast with answers to a bunch of questions. ** UPDATED 2/19/26 -- information from Griffin Customer Service ** ** UPDATED 2/20/26 -- MI Enhanced BCG details added ** |
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Buffer & Spring Buffer The buffer one is a little tricky for me. I will need to either use spacers with a standard buffer or modify a longer buffer to be the right length for the extended stroke of the Griffin proprietary Gas Pocket BCG. Griffin's BCG can be bought in a bundle with a proprietary length buffer, but only one intended for use in a standard carbine tube. To take advantage of the extended stroke in an A5 length tube, either spacers and a standard carbine buffer or a custom length buffer is necessary. Let's see what A5 and Carbine length buffers are made in WI. MI sells carbine length buffers, but A5 length buffers. (They also don't sell an A5 buffer tube, so this tracks.) MI Carbine Buffer  From MI's website BCM sells standard carbine buffers, but not of their own brand. They do sell their own A5 length buffers, which have a slight twist on them from a standard A5 length buffer by including an internal flat wire spring to reduce perceived recoil. BCM Mk2 Buffer Mod 1  From BCM's website BCM Mk2 Buffer parts diagram  From BCM's website Griffin has 2 part buffers with a sliding solid body attached to a solid head, made of brass and steel. These are not suitable for easy modification, in my opinion. Griffin AR-SOB-A2  From Griffin's website Griffin AR-SOB  From Griffin's website ADM makes and sells only standard carbine length buffers. ADM HD Buffer - carbine length buffers  From ADM's website Remember that because I'm using Griffin's proprietary gas pocket bolt carrier group with a longer stroke, if I don't want to use spacers, I need a buffer with a length between a standard carbine buffer and an A5 buffer length. The most straight-forward method to this is cutting an A5 buffer body down, drilling a new hole for its roll pin, and replacing one weight with a shorter weight, then reassembling it. The BCM Mk2 buffer is the only one that would work for modification among my choices.[/color] Spring Since I am not using the buffer that Griffin's proprietary BCG is packaged with, I'll at least start with the spring they package with their BCG, which is an AR-10 spring. I expect I'll do some tuning between spring, buffer, and gas once I get the BCG. |
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Charging Handle Because of the use of a novel bolt carrier that vents into the receiver, there may be more gas pushing up above the charging handle and sneaking out the back, near the shooter's face. Griffin and BCM both have charging handles geared toward handling excess gas at the charging handle. Griffin specializes in suppressors, and they design a lot of their product with suppressed usage in mind. They of course have an appropriate charging handle. Whether it's grooves under the handle, the groove on the top of it, or the vent inside the SN-ACH, gas that tries to leak out around the rear of the charging handle is given a path that's directed forward and away from the shooter's face. Griffin's Suppresser Normalized Ambi Configurable Handle (SN-ACH)  From Griffin's Website BCM charging handles are also designed to channel gas away from the shooter. Note the contours on the underside and top, and the raised rear on the top that tightly wraps the receiver's tang. BCM Ambidextrous MK2 Charging Handle - Medium Latch  From BCM's website  From BCM's website Between the two, BCM's may have an edge in sturdiness, but I feel the design of the Gen II SN-ACH has more robust design elements to handle gas than the BCM handle does. The Gen II SN-ACH it is for a charging handle. |
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Handguard *This section will be getting expanded to discuss more WI handguard options.* For a handguard for an 18" barrel, I wanted at least a 12.625" handguard, but less than 15". I do not care for key-mod rails. I like M-LOK just fine. Quad rails I like too, but they are heavy, especially when they get longer. My preference is for hybrid rails with M-LOK along the sides and bottom that turn into picatinny rails for a few slots (3-5 in my preference) at the end of the rails for sturdy mounting further away from the barrel. Midwest Industries doesn't offer a hybrid like I describe. They have some great rails -- I've used a couple free float quad rails of theirs, a drop in two-piece M-LOK handguard, and one of their Suppressor Series rails with 7 sides of M-LOK. They offer plenty of M-LOK rail varieties, including light weight options. Griffin offers two rails. Their lo-pro rail has a boxy feel to it I don't particularly care for. Their other rail style is their SR (Suppressor Ready) 7 sided M-LOK rails, which in concept and size similar to Midwest Industries' Suppressor Series rails. None are the hybrid style I prefer. ADM and Griffin offer hybrid handguards that meet my description in 13" varieties, and ADM offers a 15" version, too. Let's compare them. Hybrid Handguards BCM Raider-M13  From BCM's website ADM M-LOK Quad Rail  From ADM's website The Similarities: Both have a continuous upper rail. Both have a mix of M-LOK and picatinny. Both are priced similarly, but I can get the BCM from a 3rd party at a lower price without much trouble. Both are well machined and well finished. Both have flat insides to their M-LOK rails, as is proper. The Differences: The ADM is lighter weight and has sling QD cups at the end of the rail. The BCM is built to be stiffer like a quad rail handguard. The BCM offers more picatinny slots on the sides and bottom than the ADM offering has. The BCM also mounts all accessories further away from the barrel, as the M-LOK rail sides are set out from the central body of the handguard. The BCM's double extruded sides also offer a extra openings to tie/zip-tie down any accessories on the sides and bottom. BCM has a robust rotational limiter in the form of a steel bracket just below the picatinny rail. ADM has none. Their attachment hardware is also at different locations, though fundamentally both clamp the rail using the body of the handguard and use an indexing groove in the barrel nut to ensure the rail has no forward-rearward movement. BCM uses two self-locking, proprietary clamping screws & nuts at the top that also fit into a the groove in the barrel nut. (You will not find their hardware in any hardware store.) ADM uses two screws to clamp, but at the bottom of the rail, one screw to go index in the groove in the barrel nut, and last a set screw, that, based on location, seems to provide some extra tension to the clamp screws by pushing in the opposite direction. The ADM clamp screws attach to holes that have steel threaded inserts, greatly strengthening the screw to handguard connection. The ADM screws all appear to be have standard heads and bodies that one could find in a hardware store or order online without too much trouble. The rail stiffness won out here, and I went with the BCM Raider M-Lok handguard. You can read my review, with pictures, of the Raider M13 rail for more information on the BCM Raider. Let's look at some other handguards made in WI: Drop-In Handguards BCM PKMR Drop-In (Keymod)  From BCM's website BCM PMCR Drop-In (M-LOK)  From BCM's website MI Gen2 Two Piece Drop-In Picatinny Handguard  From MI's website MI AR-15/M16 Two Piece Drop-In Handguard, M-LOK  From MI's website MI's Two Piece Free Float Handguard is listed below under free float picatinny handguards Picatinny Handguards Gen2 Two Piece Free Float Handguard  From MI's website BCM QRF (Quad Rail Free Float Handguard)  From BCM's website M-LOK Handguards Two Piece AR15 Free Float M-LOK Handguard  From MI's website Slim Line One Piece Free Float Handguard, M-LOK  From MI's website This one will do better with narrower barrel contours. Combat Rail HD M-LOK Handguard  From MI's website Night Fighter M-LOK Handguard  From MI's website Combat Rail One Piece Free Float Handguard, M-LOK  From MI's website Combat Rail Light Weight Series Handguard, M-LOK  From MI's website The 15" is only 9.7 oz. -- installed. Ultra Lightweight One Piece Free Float Handguard, M-LOK  From MI's website This handguard is essentially the same as the one above it, but it comes with a light weight (but stronger than aluminum) barrel nut and screws that drops the weight by 0.8 oz. The 15" version only weighs 8.9 oz. installed. G4 One Piece Free Float Handguard, M-LOK  From MI's website Suppressor Series One Piece Free Float Handguard, M-LOK  From MI's website 1.55" ID for suppressors 15" is 14.6. oz. installed Low-Pro M-LOK Rail 15"  From Griffin's website 15" is 11.9 oz. installed SR M-LOK Rail 15"  From Griffin's website 1.54" ID for suppressors 15" is 13.1 oz. installed Key-Mod Handguards |
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Upper Receiver *this section will get an update with other uppers discussed.* So, I figure I can't really go wrong an an upper receiver from ADM, Griffin, BCM, or Midwest Industries. ADM's UIC Billet Upper is just shy of $300 for billet completed upper. Griffin and Midwest Industries come in between $109-$120 for their forged, mil-spec uppers. BCM's uppers, known for their tight thermal fits for barrels, run a little more, at $130-$150, but they offer *blem* upper receivers (with parts for completion) for only $50. Now that's a deal that's too good to pass up. If de-prettying-up a gun build can save $60-$80 with no effect on functionality, you do it. That's a very Wisconsin mindset. Besides, really beauty is in function and efficiency. Off-color or scratched finishes are ... not an issue. Combine that with the thermal fit nature of BCM's uppers, and there was no doubt.  The upper is a *blem* BCM upper. Carry Handle This one was kinda fast. Only Midwest Industries seems to have a carry handle for sale. That made this decision very easy. You don't need to see a picture of a carry handle, do you? I didn't think so. MI's AR-15/M-16Carry Handle  From MI's website |
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Lower Receiver BCM, Griffin, and Midwest Industries all offer forged mil-spec lowers. ADM offers two different billet lowers, but it seems only as part of a set. Griffin offers an ambidextrous forged lower that has some striking similarities to the ADM lowers. There's some history there you can dig into if you feel like it. I personally prefer ambidextrous controls to be available, and the ergonomics of the ambi parts in Griffin Mk 2 Ambi Lower and ADM4 Lower are nearly identical. Some of the construction details are slightly different. Both are 7075-T6 aluminum. ADM uses more screws, Griffin uses more roll pins. ADM's comes only as a receiver set, price $714. Not a typo. (That's a roughly $400 lower, for those who don't math fast.) Griffin's comes as a stripped lower for $219 or as an assembled lower, or as a *blem* stripped lower for $199. And that price dropped another 35% for the Black Friday sale. Compare the ADM and Griffin Lowers ADM's UIC Lower (and Upper)  From ADM's Site Griffin's MK2 Ambi Lower  From Griffin's Site  From Griffin's Site Griffin's lower is forged which should mean harder than ADM's billet. Griffin uses roll springs which won't back out or get stripped. The ergonomics are nearly identical. ADM offers far more colors than Griffin including in Cerakote -- ADM wins that point easily -- but it also drives the price for a receiver set up to $834. The price for the Griffin MK 2 is about half the price of an ADM lower. ADM's lower is designed so that when using a cassette trigger, you can use a set of special trigger pins they offer with low heads that are designed to go under the right-side bolt catch/release lever; Griffin's does not appear to have even that much clearance. (That said, if a cassette trigger is chosen, it's not out of the realm of DIY modification to get a hammer pin with a head to sit under the right-side bolt catch/release lever.) Unless there were severe quality issues with the Griffin, which there aren't, there's not much to justify paying nearly twice the price for ADM's offering. ADM is a quality product, but not the bang for the buck that Griffin offers. Griffin's MK2 lower is my lower receiver. To be honest, I got serious about this project when I got a pair of blem warhawk green Mk2 lowers from Griffin on their Black Friday sale. A Thought on the Build II At this point I started to worry ADM might not get the recognition they deserve in this build. And I knew Dead Foot Arms wasn't gonna get representation, because their big product lines are their shortened, buffer-less buffer systems, which aren't made to accommodate a longer stroke bolt. One can't lengthen the stroke and shorten the buffer system at the same time without creating complexities to overcome. |
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Buffer Tube I decided that with Griffin's proprietary gas pocket bcg with a longer stroke, that I'd go with a longer AR-10/A5 length buffer tube. The A5 length buffer tube is a general term for buffer tubes that are nominally 3/4" longer than the standard carbine buffer tube that started with the Vltor A5 length buffer tube. That length buffer tube allows a AR-10/.308 to run using a standard ar-15 buffer instead of the shortened ar-10 buffer. Like "kleenex", "A5 buffer length" has become a common term used to describe more than the first offering. Griffin calls theirs an AR-10 buffer tube. BCM calls theirs the Mk2 buffer tube. ADM calls theirs XL 12-Positon Extended Buffer Tube (A5 LENGTH). Griffin's is a six position, identical to mil-spec, just moved rearward. BCM and ADM both offer tubes with an extended adjustment range (from mil-spec) with 8 and 12 positions, respective. ADM offers theirs in 6 colors. Griffin offers theirs in 2 colors. BCM offers theirs in 1 color, but does sell blems at a discount. Across all three manufacturers, the non-blem products are around $50-$55. Griffin Maritime Receiver Extension (AR-15 & AR-10 versions depicted)  From Griffin's website BCM MK2 Receiver Extension  From BCM's website ADM XL Extended Buffer Tube A5 Length  From ADM's website -- out of date picture is of an older 8 position model; current model IS 12 position Externally, this allows for longer length of pull, though some stocks it may also not collapse fully with an A5 stock. Two of the three took the opportunity to offer a greater range and finer granularity of adjustment. Griffin's model kept the same range and stock positions, but moved them rearward. Internally, it provides nominally 3/4" more internal length which must be accounted for with a longer buffer and/or spacers. Depending on how it's utilized, it can change the balance of the weapon, increase length of pull, allow use of longer/heavier buffers, and allow usage of broader selection of action springs. Combining this length of buffer tube with the extended stroke of the Griffin proprietary gas pocket bcg will require some work outside of standard installation when it comes to the buffer and spacer. The BCM blem is the best deal, but as I like granularity in adjustment, I went with the ADM XL 12 Position Extended Buffer Tube A5 Length. Besides ADM deserved some representation. Receiver End Plate BCM and MI both offer mil-spec end plates a la carte for $4. BCM ($16.95), MI ($30.95), Griffin ($17.95), and ADM ($36) all offer QD end plates. BCM also offers *blem* end plates at a notable discount ($10.95). BCM's is the only one that is not rotation limited. Griffin's is not designed to be staked. Let's take a look at them. BCM QD End Plate, steel  From BCM's website MI Heavy Duty QD End Plate  From Midwest Industries' website Griffin C2E Contour Connect End Plate  From Griffin Armament's website ADM's QD End Plate (AR-15)  From ADM's website Though I don't always use it, I like having a QD sling connection available at the rear of the receiver. That said, I've never strongly felt that particular QD socket location needs to be rotation limited. And since there's little difference in functionality, I'll go with the BCM. (There is a case to be made for getting the Griffin, as its outer contour is designed match their lower receiver.) Castle Nut BCM, Griffin, ADM, and MI all sell castle nuts. ADM's the only substantially different of the castle nuts, with a lightweight aluminum offering. ADM Light Weight Castle Nut  From ADM website The rest appear to be phosphate finished mil-spec. Bravo Company  From BCM website Griffin  From Griffin website Midwest Industries  From MI website Look carefully at the BCM and Griffin castle nut pictures. On the threads, to the left of the upper right notch you can distinctly see 4 bright spots in a pattern on the the top thread and a single bright spot on the next thread down, right next to the notch. The wear patterns on the close edge by the front right and left notches are the same, too. Not only are BCM and Griffin likely sourcing their castle nuts from the same place, they are using the same picture of the same castle nut, just with different editing. |
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Lower Parts BCM sells an enhanced lower parts kit with their PNT and Mod 3 grip. MI sells a lower parts kit with their ambi safety selector and drop-in trigger and a mil-spec lower parts kit. Griffin does not sell a lower parts kit. Neither does ADM. BCM AR15 Enhanced Lower Parts Kit, Semi-Auto  From BCM website MI Enhanced Drop In Trigger with Lower Parts Kit Black Makgpul Trigger Guard Ambi Safety  From MI website MI AR Lower Parts Kit  From MI website Because I am buying a grip and safety separately, and since I don't need a trigger guard, the MI's AR Lower Parts Kit with mil-spec parts seemed the way to go. (I'll also note that the receiver already has its bolt catch, so that too will go to a parts bin.) Fire Control Group (Trigger & Safety) Trigger This happens to be a place where I already own all the options I'd consider for this build. AR triggers from companies in WI are: Midwest Industries AR15 Drop in Trigger 3.5lb Single Stage trigger, BCM's PNT Trigger Assembly, and Griffin's Griffin Adjustable 2-Stage AR Trigger. BCM's PNT is like a polished or well broken in mil-spec trigger with a pull weight at the bottom range of mil-spec and has an MSRP of $70, but is regularly available for $65 or a little less. It is included in in their enhanced lower parts kit. Griffin Armament's 2 stage has a pull weight similar to the PNT, but spreads the pull weight over 2 stages. Its MSRP is $99.95. I have only seen it for sale on GA's website, so as far as I know, currently it can only be bought for less when Griffin runs a sale. Midwest Industries trigger is a light pull, fairly crisp single stage, and is offered in a straight bow or curved. Its MSRP is $178.95, but can be regularly found $155-$165. (I own the curved.) It is included in their enhanced lower parts kit. All of these are good triggers, but they're also quite different offerings. Only one is low pull weight. Only one is two stage. Only one has a flat bow version. From each to the next more expensive is a 40% and 70% increase in price, so the price gaps are not negligible. BCM's PNT  from BCM's website Griffin Armament's Griffin Adjustable 2-Stage AR Trigger  From Griffin Armament's website Midwest Industries AR-15 Drop in Trigger 3.5lb Single Stage  from Midwest Industries' website Given that the Griffin ambi lower I chose doesn't play well with hammer pins with screw heads extending out the right of the receiver, I know the MI offering might be a pain to install and/or may require some other parts or modifying existing ones. So, I'm gonna pass on that one. ~~~~~~ Wisconsin Trigger Company The Trigger  From Precision Rifle Components website I was shown this trigger after I wrote this post. I had read mention of the Wisconsin Trigger Company in web searches, but I hadn't seen any of their products for sale. Precision Rifle Components lists two versions for sale (A2 and short reset), with only 5 of the short reset in stock and the A2 out of stock. These may be some of the few still out there... ?? This is a Milazzo-Krieger trigger ) trigger that was first made in the early to mid 90s and was a regular in national matches in the following years. History from WI Trigger Company posted on Arfcom in 2019. At some point production stopped. Then production was resumed in 2015 by the Wisconsin Trigger Company who acquired the rights to it. Ron Albanese, owner of WI Trigger passed away at 58 in July of 2020. The Google Maps address associated with Wisconsin Trigger Company is an auto shop now. Their website is (www.wisconsintrigger.com) is an empty page hosted by web design agency in Madison, WI. The earlier versions required grinding the tail of the trigger for a custom fit to the safety to set the reset distance at the time of installation. It seems their later version took care of this by adding a set screw in their safety to set overtravel, a feature found in Griffin safeties (see below). From pictures and the written instructions for the Wisconsin Trigger Company The Trigger A2, it seems it is, regarding functional parts, very similar to the Griffin 2 Stage trigger. Both are Milazzo-Krieger triggers, so, duh, at some level. While Griffin trigger has a set screw at the front to control over-travel, the Griffin safety selectors incorporate the over-travel limiting set screw that Wisconsin Trigger Company includes with their The Trigger. Griffin also took an alternate approach to the geometry at the front of the trigger and the bottom of the hammer. They both also use dimpled trigger pins, a kindness during installation, in my opinion. All this said, the Griffin Armament trigger is a more refined designed with better coatings on parts, more refined geometry, and a nicer finishes on parts. The Milazzo-Krieger patent expired in 2013. I believe this John Krieger is the same one that founded Krieger Barrels. ~~~~~~ If you are personally considering any of these triggers, know that they're all good offerings with their own strengths. When comparing triggers so different, it's largely a matter of personal preference. Safety BCM includes a mil-spec safety in their enhanced lower parts kit. MI includes in their lower parts kit a configurable 60 degree / 90 degree ambidextrous safety; it has a normally shaped paddle and a smaller, differently shaped paddle. Neither sells these parts a la carte. BCM offers an ambidextrous safety with full sized paddles on both sides. BCM Ambidextrous Safety Selector - Semi  from BCM's website Griffin offers a configurable ambidextrous safety with a full sized paddle and a shorter paddle. It can be purchased with throws of 90 degree, or 55 degree, or 60 degree - 120 degree (semi auto - full auto) varieties. It comes with a set screw that goes through the safety and can be used to reduce trigger over travel. Griffin Ambi Safety Selector Kit  from Griffin's website I do like the shorter throw that MI's safety (from their parts kit) and Griffin's safety have. I have used the MI style before, and I didn't care for how the off-hand paddle felt. I also don't like a full sized paddle on my off hand as BCM offers. I have used Griffin's safety (55 degree version), and it's my personal favorite. The paddles are comfortable, but provide adequate grip. The short throw is right where I like it. I decided to go with the Griffin 55 degree safety. 3/1/26 -- Added The Trigger |
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Furniture Stock Midwest Industries only offers a mil-spec stock. MI M4 Mil-Spec Stock  From MI website BCM Stocks I'll let the pictures show what they will here. BCM offers several mods of their stock, with differences in slight connectors, sling connector placement, storage compartments, cheek rest/risers, etc. BCM Stock - Mod 3  From BCM's website BCM Stock - Mod 0  From BCM's website BCM Stock - Mod 1, SOPMOD  From BCM's website BCM Stock - Mod 2, SOPMOD  From BCM's website Griffin - Extreme Condition Stock I've only seen this as part of a furniture set with an A3 grip and M-LOK rail panels. Griffin Armament AR Furniture kit: Griffin Extreme Condition Stock (ECS), Rail Shield M-LOK set, and A3 Grip  From OpticsPlanet.com website I went with the BCM Stock Mod 3. With a QD socket on the receiver end plate, there's no need for one here. A slot for a sling to loop through is adequate. Pistol Grip Let's start out by seeing what non-milspec offerings there are. Here's the options. BCM Grip Mod 0  From BCM's website Grip Mod 1  From BCM's website Grip Mod 2  From BCM's website Grip Mod 3  From BCM's website Grip Mod 3 - KD  From BCM's website Grip Mod 4  From BCM's website Griffin A3 Grip  From Griffin's website How about that? BCM is using Stickman's pictures on their site. That's kinda cool. But I'm going to assume some conspiracy that I'll get irrationally mad about at some point in the future during an unrelated situation. It's the internet way. Grips are largely personal preference. I'm going to avoid the KD grip because my hands are bigger than a 5 year old's. I mean, in honesty, I understand the case use for the KD grip, that doesn't stop it from looking like Snow White had it designed as a custom gift for her 7 bust guys. But, continuing on, I also prefer a beaver tail and the extra depth that brings to the grip; it tends to put my trigger finger at a more comfortable position. So that rules out the A3 grip and the Mod 0. I like having some storage in the pistol grip, so that rules out the Mod 4. Between mods 1, 2, and 3, I prefer the simplicity of the Mod 3 grip, so I went with that. The configurable tab is convenient, especially if you're doing a bunch of builds. But for a single build, trimming the tab is no big deal, if necessary. The configurable back is a nice idea for extra customizations -- no objections, but for this build I'm trying to keep things simple. If I were leaning more toward an SPR build and I really wanted to fine tune my grip, I might consider the mod 2. Likewise if this were an SBR or pistol geared toward duty or service in urban environments, I might also choose a grip that can be fine-tuned too. But it's not. It's a WI build -- a little bit of hunting, a little bit of target shooting, a little bit of duty, and not much, but the least thought about defense/shtf. The grip I chose is a BCM Grip Mod 3. Fore Grip My choice to use a vertical fore-grip (as compared to an angled grip or hand stop) largely has to do with issues with my left shoulder. I find a vertical foregrip more comfortable to use. I can't comfortably use a C clamp grip for very long before I start creating issues for my shoulder. (Just 5 years ago I felt very differently on the subject. But times, and bodies, change.) There's only one M-LOK vertical foregrip offered from a WI company, currently, that I'm aware of. (If you want a picatinny vertical grip, ADM sells Gear Sector vertical grips designed to match with Tango Down Rail Panels, and BCM makes a picatinny version of their vertical grip. (I believe Gear Sector, or at least their remaining inventory, was bought by ADM. I don't know if ADM is now manufacturing Gear Sector products.)) BCM M-LOK Vertical Grip Mod 3  From BCM's website Rail Panels/Covers Rail panels are another part where selections were limited. As far as I can find, there's no picatinny rail covers made here at all. As far as M-LOK rail covers, both Griffin and BCM have offerings, and they are quite different. Griffin Rail Panels  From Griffin's website BCM M-LOK Rail Cover Kit (MCMR)  From BCM's website Rail panels border on optional with a vertical foregrip. It's still nice to have protection of the rail and reduced heat transfer, but it's not my primary grip point. Griffin's broad rail panels are well suited to rounding out a low profile handguard. They would benefit, heat transfer-wise, from the style of m-lok rails on the Raider handguard being set further away from the barrel. For my hand, I felt that would be a little to wide of a grip around the handguard to be comfortable. The BCM rail covers can be cut to size. They are narrow and provide an rough surface that is easy to grip. They have no metal screws and snap into place. |
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Bipod & QD mount Since there's no bipods (appropriate for ARs) manufactured in WI that I can find, I decided settle for a WI made QD mount for a bipod. ADM and MI both offer several varieties of QD bipod mounts (among other mount types). A very affordable solution presented itself when I found the MI QD Atlas bipod mount. I already have a BT10, and for the time being, it now has the ability to move between guns. I had planned on getting a decent quality QD bipod for to move between several guns, but this made that concept all the more affordable. MI QD Atlas Bipod Mount  From Midwest Industries website Sling & Front Sling Connector   Optic & Mount For an optic, I wanted something relatively light, but with adequate magnification to reach out to 300 reliably+. I landed on a prism scope. Vortex has these, although these specific prism scopes are manufactured in China.  |
Interesting, but the current configuration is not my cup of tea. It's old-timey and unconventional all at once, kind of like a north woods supper club that serves sushi...
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Scepticism is an exercise, not a life; it is a discipline fit to purify the mind of prejudice and render it all the more apt, when the time comes, to believe and to act wisely. -- George Santayana
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
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What a coincidence. I am doing a made in WI build as well. I'm up around West Bend, so a lot of these places are real close to me. I went down to Midwest Industries and bought most of my stuff there working with the staff that the requirement is Made In Wisconsin. They stock a lot of BCM stuff there as well, so I got some variety there. Even though Bartlein and Krieger are higher on the lists online, Criterion is the choice for AR15 duty barrels. I picked up a CORE 12.5" and just received it today. I thought I was good on the gas block, but when I read your post I double checked, and the Griffin one is .750", so I'm on the search as well. MI Forged Upper/Lower Set MI Ultralight Handguard MI Pistol Tube Kit (Spring, Tube, Buffer all in one) MI Flat Trigger MI Blast Diverter MI Enhanced BCG Criterion 12.5" CORE BCM Mod 1 Grip BCM Ambi Charging Handle Griffin Gas Tube Griffin Adj Gas Block (Wrong size, but thanks for the heads up) I am probably missing some stuff, but this is what I can think of off the top of my head. I was thinking Vortex for the optics, but Griffin Armament has a couple LPVOs, and in some head to head reviews it has been beating the Vortex, so I may go there. The rifle is still in components right now and hope to put it together soon. So no pics available at this time. If I find an adj gas block, I'll let you know. Also, another brand from WI is Brux barrels out of Lodi. That's where Erik Cortina gets his barrels made. |
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I have one of the Griffin 1-10x and it is pretty clear glass, but it's got some extra weight to it. I have it on a .338 ARC. The 1-8 is a little lighter, as it has a smaller tube diameter, which also drops the mount weight. I also have Griffin's 3x prism on a 9mm PCC AR. Glass clarity and reticle are good on it. I'm near Hartland and Oconomowoc, so BCM is a 5 min drive (but they don't have a showroom/shop and don't do tours), and Griffin, Midwest Industries and ADM are all within 30 mins. (ADM is moving to a new building soon and setting up a new showroom.) If you have a chance to go to Griffin, do so. Order something during their sales and pick it up in-store. Their showroom has some really cool historical military guns in addition to showing off their products. It is worth the trip. Does Brux do AR barrels? That's the only reason I left them off. Another firearm manufacturer, Henry Repeating Arms is in Rice Lake, but they're lever actions. That said, another nice WI gun these days is a Henry lever action decked out with a MI handguard, optic rail, shell holder and/or stock. Updated BCG section. BCG properties table is nearly complete. Thanks to GA customer service. |
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Iron Sight Adjustment Values I'm gonna dork out a bit on iron sight math for this build because I can. As my iron sights have a nonstandard sight radius (~22 1/4"), for precision, their adjustment values can be calculated instead of estimated. I haven't gotten my MI carry handle, but I'm going to presume MI's is the standard A4 with a screw that has 13.5 TPI and a drum with 25 clicks per rotation. The aperture leaf should be standard A2 with the offset aperture, so I am presuming a .014" offset between 0-2 and peep. (Recalculating is trivial, so I can change it if I'm wrong on that.) Sight Radius = 2.25" Angular Adjustment = ARCTAN( Linear Adjustment / Sight Radius ) Linear Adjustment = 1 /( adjustment_screw_teeth_per_inch * adjustment_screw_clicks_per_rotation) These are the results:
The following are the calculations for each of those: Front Sight Post The standard A2 front sight post has 4 notches, so 4 clicks per rotation. The threads are 36 TPI. Linear Adjustment = 1 /( adjustment_screw_teeth_per_inch * adjustment_screw_clicks_per_rotation) Linear Adjustment = 1 /( 36 teeth per inch * 4 clicks per rotation) Linear Adjustment = 0.0069" per click Angular Adjustment = ARCTAN( Linear Adjustment / Sight Radius ) per click Angular Adjustment = ARCTAN( 0.0069" / 22.25" ) per click Front Sight Post Angular Adjustment = 1.07 MOA per click Carry Handle Elevation Drum The standard USGI carry handle elevation drum has 25 clicks per rotation and 13.5 TPI. Linear Adjustment = 1 /( adjustment_screw_teeth_per_inch * adjustment_screw_clicks_per_rotation) Linear Adjustment = 1 /( 13.5 teeth per inch * 25 clicks per rotation) Linear Adjustment = 0.00296" per click Angular Adjustment = ARCTAN( Linear Adjustment / Sight Radius ) per click Angular Adjustment = ARCTAN( 0.00296" / 22.25" ) per click Elevation Drum Angular Adjustment = 0.458 MOA per click Carry Handle Rear Windage The standard USGI carry handle elevation drum has 10 clicks per rotation and 32 TPI. Linear Adjustment = 1 /( adjustment_screw_teeth_per_inch * adjustment_screw_clicks_per_rotation) Linear Adjustment = 1 /( 10 teeth per inch * 32 clicks per rotation) Linear Adjustment = 0.00313" per click Angular Adjustment = ARCTAN( Linear Adjustment / Sight Radius ) per click Angular Adjustment = ARCTAN( 0.00313" / 22.25" ) per click Windage Angular Adjustment = 0.483 MOA per click Carry Handle 0-2 Aperture Offset Linear Adjustment = 0.014" offset (standard offset for USGI peep/0-2 aperture leaves) Angular Offset = ARCTAN( Linear Adjustment / Sight Radius ) per click Angular Offset = ARCTAN( 0.014" / 22.25" ) per click 0-2 Aperture Angular Offset = 2.163 MOA |
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Two nights ago I put together my list for MI online, to check prices, before I headed over there yesterday. Yesterday morning I glanced over my list, and discovered, despite being in my cart, the MI carry handle doesn't have a product page on their site anymore. When I stopped by Midwest Industries, they had one in store... that was being held for someone else. Apparently they're a low demand item and they've had some trouble sourcing the forgings, so for the foreseeable future they won't be available. That was the only elevation adjustable rear sight made in WI that I know of.  Don't get me wrong -- there's plenty of very good fixed and flip-up rear sights from MI (including same-plane and offset aperture rears, and a fixed rear sight that is one of the lighter metal rear sights on the market), and good BUIS flip ups from Griffin (including my personal favorite folding front sight of all time)), and BCM (branded Troy). If I weren't already committed to the FSB (as I put a flat on the barrel), I'd just go with offset BUIS and call it a day. This does have me considering going with a flip-up backup rear and putting my Vortex Viper PST Gen II 3-15 EBR-2C MRAD scope on this upper that's currently on a ... less-than-worthy upper, lol. Or I might go just south of WI's border to get an RRA carry handle rear, and carry on with the build as currently assembled. Guess I have some thinking to do. |
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I don't know if they're still in business but Wisconsin Triggers bought the rights for the Milazzo-Krieger trigger: Attached File |
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Originally Posted By NS68RT: Don’t forget mags. I think there’s a company in Oconomowoc that makes them. D & H, I think? Originally Posted By NS68RT: Don’t forget mags. I think there’s a company in Oconomowoc that makes them. D & H, I think? How the hell did I forget mags? This is like a dream where you're in meeting or a class giving a presentation, and you realize you're in your underwear. And how did I not know D&H was in Oconomowoc? Damn, lol. Must add to the Made in WI List. D&H mags! ETA: Holy crap, I grew up playing soccer in the fields that were right next to D&H -- they're baseball fields now. My Eagle Scout project was at the Historical Society, just down the road a block from them. Originally Posted By Sinister: I don't know if they're still in business but Wisconsin Triggers bought the rights for the Milazzo-Krieger trigger: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/18978/wisconsin_trigger_jpg-3720801.JPG Wisconsin Trigger Company has a location listed on Google Maps in, I think, Watertown, but there's not a website for them. (I kinda ignored them initially because I didn't find their stuff for sale with a quick search.) They seem to be sold by Precision Rifle Components, which I also did not realize is a WI company... and I also don't think I have an understanding of what they all produce. I wouldn't mind any more information on either. As far as the trigger, it's interesting that there's two Milazzo-Krieger style triggers made in Watertown WI -- Griffin's is also a Milazzo-Krieger design. Thanks to both of you for the extra info. I'll get this trigger added to my trigger section soon. And I'll add magazines, lol. ETA: Google maps has a virtual tour of D&H using street view and moving through the manufacturing facility. Pretty wild. |
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Looks like I have some more updating to do, in addition to finishing this... Griffin has added a .625" version of their adjustable gas block to their lineup, in addition to new uppers + handguards that have an interlocking anti-rotation tab at the base of the picatinny rail. |
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Neat thread OP! The title grabbed my attention because I grew U.P. North and had more of a connection with WI than The Mitten. I had no idea there were so many mfr’s in WI. Then again my only build experiences are mainly PSA stuff. I’ve recently been thinking of a build and this thread delivers on inspiration. Great detailed writeup with pictures. |
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