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Posted: 6/28/2010 8:50:48 PM EDT
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Hey guys,
This thread is a sort of bleed over from one of my earlier ones. I recently picked up a second lower receiver to build on. I kinda wanted to do something a little different this time around. I was thinking of maybe doing a 6.5 Grendel, but ammo is a pain to find. 6.8SPC is easier to find, but not quite as cheap to buy... though I think SSA is located in WA... so that might be part of why finding that is easier than Grendel. There are a couple things that I am concerned with. I know the 6.8 has better ballistics than the 5.56, and can use the same mags (with fewer rounds). I was kind of wanting to do this one ground up build, which means assembling everything, including the upper. I read about Bison barrels.. and they look pretty nice. Is there any reason why I shouldn't run with a stainless steel barrel? Would a chrome chamber/bore have any significant benefits over stainless? Service life extension? 1:11 twist on these. Really attractive pricing. Spec II chamber according to the page. Also, I found a Stag 6,8SPC upper through BCM, which has most of the features. Though I think this one has a carbine length gas system...and I kind of want a mid length this time around. 1:10 twist on these barrels. Is there a rifling pitch that is more ideal? This one is going to be more rifle like than carbine. Thinking 18" barrel? Or would a 20" serve this round better? I am still pretty new to this, so, if there are an suggestions for specs/lengths, gas systems etc. I am open to suggestions. I know Bison seems to have a good rep, and there isn't anything wrong with a stainless barrel. I know that a lot of guys get tied up on milspec this and that... and there isn't anything wrong with that... but unless I purchase the Stag unit, I probably can't afford a barrel with a chrome bore/chamber in this size anytime soon (the difference of $100 can be a deal breaker). Also, if Bison IS good, is there any reason to go with a more expensive option at this point? |
| contact these guys, they'll give you all the barrel info you need |
| This build will be used mostly for targets, but like with anything I own firearms wise, it has to be able to serve multiple purposes. The 6.8SPC seems like a more stout round than the 5.56, which means it could serve as a defensive rifle. It is also just large enough to hunt with, so if I can get my license soon, it might do some service for medium game (though this part is up in the air). Largely, I want to build an AR that isn't 5.56 this time around, just because my first one was 5.56. If 6.8SPC becomes more mainstream, I also hope to see the prices drop a bit as it becomes more widely used. |
I thought about building a 6.8 for general purpose use––including killing Deer here in WA where you can't legally use 5.56. A lot has changed since then, and I have expensive tastes (if I were to do it now, I'd get a Noveske Rogue Hunter upper and put it on a Cav Arms MkII lower  ), so I can't help much. Have fun!
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I just realized that Bison Armory is located in Bellingham. I feel like a bit of an airhead. So, for WA... we have Aero Precision, SSA, Bison, Mega Machine, SA&A, and Oly Arms in state. SA&A doesn't make hteir own lowers, but markets Aero's lower's with a hose brand stamp. Lots of options for WA based AR fans. I have heard nice things about Oly's barrels, but unfortunately not much else nice about their AR's. This struck me as odd at first, as I have a friend who has an older Oly AR, and the thing has never really given him problems. Oly's 1911s seem pretty nice, but I have heard they are produced on a different line than their rifles are.
So, I think I am going to go 6.8SPC on this build. Wondering about length though. I kinda want to do an 18" with a mid length system... but wondering if a 20" barrel with a rifle length system might be a good option? This is one part fun hobby, and one part keeping as many of the major parts local. I notice Bison does uppers with Mega receivers. I think Mega is in Tumwater? I know that they have a good rep for parts manufacture as well. Can't seem to find much in the way of LPK locally though, or furniture sets. Shoot... many options. Dunno if I want to go with Oly for internal components... they have a shaky rep with rifles. I think I almost have too many options on this one 
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| Rainier Arms is local, too. I don't know what, if anything, they make in house, but they are a pleasure to do business with. I've read the extra 2" (18" to 20" barrel) doesn't get you much more velocity in 6.8 because it was designed for shorter barrels, but I've always thought a 6.8 SPC M16A1 clone would be a sweet set-up––light weight and hard hitting. |
| I am also looking for a new project. I came across some stripped uppers (A2 style) that a guy was going to sell for their weight in aluminum scrap and snatched them up. A gunsmith buddy went over them and found them to be OK and another guy is going to refinish (actually first time finish them) My plan is to build this one from the ground up with my buddy helping as needed and I'm looking at doing one in 6.8 with a 18 or 20 inch barrel. I've also been thinking about using a Piston System (something a bit different) Any suggestions on Barrels? |
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So, I grabbed a stripped upper yesterday. In the spirit of keeping it local, I grabbed an Aero upper. It looks well machined, and has M4 feed-ramps, flat top, T-marked, American flag etched on top. All around, I'd say it is a clean piece of work; threads look fine, the little barrel inlet is not sloppy or anything. Dropped onto my lower great, and I even pinned it to my complete Aero lower on my Aero/Spike's build, and it fit niiiiice. Dropped my Spike's bolt in there just to see how it felt... no issues there. No nasty drag, no hangs, so it seems that the Aero uppers are also good to go.
Just need to decide between the 5.56 and the 6.8. Having two rifles, in the same caliber can be a bonus in bad situations, and obviously sharing ammo and mags never hurt anything. However, I believe the 6.8 fits the 5.56 mags, just with fewer rounds, so it wouldn't be a total loss going 6.8, just more in ammo costs. Anyone have suggestions for LPK? I was thinking maybe about going with a Stag LPK...but wondering which would be the best bang for the buck sub-$75? A two stage trigger would be sweet, but that would be a later addition to this thing, as the initial costs are a little high for me right now. There are many options for barrels, in either caliber. If I do something other than 6.8, I'll have to source someone other than Bison for it. Buttstock type is decided, color is not. I suppose I could always paint the furniture if I can't get it all matching, but not nearly as nice as having it come that way. I know the type of gas block I want, but not the maker. I want a single railed gas block. I don't want to go with a huge quad rail system, as I don't like seeing rails poking out everywhere. A rail on the receiver makes sense. Maybe a twin rail, and I could add a light or something, but I am not a fan of too many accessories. Weight the rifle down and all that. I think there is always room for a good tactical optic, like a red dot, or small scope. Nothing overly fancy, Just fleshing out ideas, and looking for input. A buddy of mine thinks that I should just keep it in 5.56. I can see some merit to that, but am still on the fence,. |
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