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Posted: 8/17/2010 8:50:47 AM EDT
Hello everyone, new member here just needing some info and suggestions on my first AR. I'm used to AKs and SKS and decided to add an AR to my collection. Im thinking i would like to build one instead of buying a complete. I want a rifle that is accurate at a distance (maybe around 200 yards) and closer(around 30 or so yards). Oh and would like to keep it under $1,000. So, here are some of my questions.
1. Better to buy a kit and stripped lower? 2. Complete rifle? 3. Buy everything seperate and stripped? 4. Steel barrel? 1:9 or 1:8 or what? I'm not too familiar with ARs so please help me out with suggestions and tips from the pros here. Thanks everyone in advance! -Kimberluvr |
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Hey, Brother! Welcome to the mad house.
Nice first post. Where to start? You will get 1,000,000 answers/suggestions to your question...everyone has their own favorites and opinions. Your 3 basic choice are build from scratch, build some/buy some or buy complete. Obviously it's component dependent, but basically they go up in price as you go from kit to complete. Lowers are pretty easy to assemble...the hardest part, which isn't that hard, is barreling the upper. I suggest you go to BCM and hunt around until your eyes bleed. Some basic questions you have to answer are: 1. Rifle type: are you building a carbine (shorter barrel and collapsible stock) or a rifle (fixed stock and longer barrel). 2. Barrel length: 14.5 with a permanent flash hider, 16, 18 20, longer? Twist rate is standardized (sort of) at 1:7 but different twist rates can be had for shooting specific bullet weights. 3. Gas system: carbine, mid or rifle length? 4. Upper receiver type: fixed carry handle or flat top? 5. Handguards or rail system? I know exactly what I would do, but that may not be what YOU want/to do. That oughta get things rolling. |
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Thanks!!!
Well I am open to any and all suggestions! I welcome them all! haha all 1,000,000 of them 1. carbine (shorter barrel and collapsible stock) 2. Barrel length: 14.5 with a permanent flash hider or 16 I am thinkin about a heavy barrel since i want one that can reach out pretty far. Maybe base it off a coyote gun that can put multiple shots down range at a pretty good distance and still work for closer range.. Does that make since? 4. Upper receiver type: flat top 5. rail system Now for 3. Gas system: carbine, mid or rifle length? im not sure. What is the difference in these? Most reliable? Does one make the rifle more accurate than another? or just for reliability? Is there a difference in felt recoil? Thaks for the BCM site! Been Looking around at it. Now like I said i dont know much about ARs so any help and suggestions are welcome. I'm thinking about an upper kit and a stripped Lower Receiver and then lower parts.. I'm still not sure. I can look at these all day but I know nothing about them. If it was a 1911 or sks i would know, but ARs... you get the point  I dont want to just throw money at one because i like the looks or its specs..
So I'll ask this too.. What have you used that made a reliable and accurate rifle? |
So going by looks.. this one looks awesome to me. 
Yankee Hill Machine Black Diamond Specter XL Upper So.. anyone used or seen or ever read much on these? haha Man i cant stop looking at it.. any suggestions for one like it even? or a lower to go with it? |
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Quoted:
Thanks!!! Well I am open to any and all suggestions! I welcome them all! haha all 1,000,000 of them 1. carbine (shorter barrel and collapsible stock) 2. Barrel length: 14.5 with a permanent flash hider or 16 I am thinkin about a heavy barrel since i want one that can reach out pretty far. Maybe base it off a coyote gun that can put multiple shots down range at a pretty good distance and still work for closer range.. Does that make since? 16" bull barrel would be maybe a little overkill but it would work well past 200 yards. 16" will get you plenty of velocity at moderate distances. Perhaps an HBAR is in order? 4. Upper receiver type: flat top Just pick up a basic flat top. remember that if you buy an M4 upper then it's best to match it up with an M4 barrel. If you're buying a complete upper instead of assembling then don't worry about that. 5. rail system buy good the first time. all of the less expensive brands, yhm, utg, etc. work but you'll be amazed by the tighter radius to the barrel and the lightweight of the Daniel Defense, Larues, troys, etc.badger makes a good bench gun set up and they're just up north outside of Kansas City. Now for 3. Gas system: carbine, mid or rifle length? im not sure. What is the difference in these? Most reliable? Does one make the rifle more accurate than another? or just for reliability? Is there a difference in felt recoil? for 14.5 go carbine, for 16" go middy or carbine, the carbine will have slightly more recoil and generally an H buffer is recommended but not required to slow down the operation. for 18" go middy or rifle. rifle will give you softer recoil and is generally the recommended length because more companies offer parts for rifle length systems. For 20" or above go rifle. for anything above 24" a special gas tube is usually provided for the barrel Thaks for the BCM site! Been Looking around at it. Now like I said i dont know much about ARs so any help and suggestions are welcome. I'm thinking about an upper kit and a stripped Lower Receiver and then lower parts.. I'm still not sure. I can look at these all day but I know nothing about them. If it was a 1911 or sks i would know, but ARs... you get the point I dont want to just throw money at one because i like the looks or its specs..
So I'll ask this too.. What have you used that made a reliable and accurate rifle? you can make anything run if you start laying down the hundred dollar bills or have the patience to learn. General advice is to stay away from blackthorne. other companies get bashed from time to time, but chances are that you'll do all right by most places. Bump for GTS and Denny's old ass |
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For my first personal AR (being a service member) I wanted a multi-roll AR, something similiar to what the to what the SEAL's use (RECON).
So I went with the following: YHM Phantom - 5C2 Noveske 16-inch recon barrel (stainless steel) Noveske bolt and carrier (Auto) w/H buffer BCM gunfighter (medium) charging handle Daniel Defense 12-inch Lite Rail Aero Precision Upper and Lower G&R LPK (single stage) Troy Tritium DOA BUIS Hogue Grip Magpul CTR Total build came to $1481.61 to include tax and shipping when applicable. That price included some military discounts from venders and since me and a budy where building an AR at the same time we shared shipping cost, so I suspect your cost will be a few three hundred bucks plus higher. My next few AR's will be roll specific such as; a clone of my primary duty weapon the M4 and a maybe a SPR. I also picked up an AR-10 Aero Precision lower to complament my two M1A's (M14). Enjoy the build... |
| Go to spikestactical.com and look at the m4 LE midlength. It is a great price and is mill spec. I promise you will be extremely happy with this gun. You probably won't find anybody on this forum with something bad to say about it. With a price tag of around $800 it will be hard to beat. |
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Hello I am no pro or arm chair guru but I have a few sugestions.
The basics are easy the money comes into play with accesories. Depending on how trick you go is how expensive it will be. You can buy a basic ar for 750-800 and spend another 500 tricking it out. But you can save costs here and there. I have found assembled upper receivers for under 100(just the upper receiver no barrel), good sights for 120, adj stock 50 with the buffer. You can build it for under 1k easy without buying a quality optic. If you start going with the top of the line stuff that is way expensive like noveske, lmt, etc your budget will become uncontrollable. Start using froogle.com and you can find good stuff that wont break the bank. good luck! |
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Thanks for all that have helped out!
i am really liking the YHM upper. If there are any suggestions for a complete upper with the full length rails like it please let me know.(I really Love how that looks) Upper I like this style of adjustable stock Stock The lower I like( I like the Trigger guard be one piece along with the rest or the lower) (The MEGA on top, I also like Spikes with color  )
Lower So any suggestions for similar products @ cheaper prices?
I also need suggestions for either a comlete lower or a lower parts kit. Thanks All for your help!!! 
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