I am doing a new build for my son.  He is 26, experienced shooter.  It is time where I want to either give him some guns or help him build something.

First thing we are doing is going through the options for everything.  I really don't anticipate much of a problem walking him through triggers and stocks or whatever, except for one area: Barrels/handguards.  I know it is easy for a young man to get dazzled by the "shiny object" instead of the practical one, so I know when I ask which rails he likes he is not gonna consider weight or the fact he can hang too much shit off the gun.

What are the key questions I should be asking him other than weight and shooting distance and what tacticool look he likes?

Facts so far:
- he's not going to be a reloader (yet anyway)
- he's not in a place where it's easy for him to do distance shooting...he'll primarily be range shooting less than 75 yards.  So I'm thinking 14.5+ or a 16 inch barrel
- he's plenty healthy to carry a heavier weapon, but I'd rather put the weight in the barrel and not in too much rail
- this will be his first AR, so it should be a versatile weapon
- rail mounted accessories will be limited to an optic and possibly a very small weapons light

Thoughts on ways to tease out the barrel/handguard solution?

Sure, scroll down to the post/pic by Tombo192192 in this thread. Optic will mount on top of the receiver instead of the removable carry handle and several companies make an attachment that will let you mount a light to the FSB. Simple, inexpensive, light weight, and classic good looks

What you have described is basically my go-to rifle, I can do virtually anything I want it to with only small and easy changes.

Irons only...





Back-up, folding irons with a red dot...





Back-up, folding irons with an optic...






And of course a bayonet or suppressor is still a viable option in this configuration...





The rigid barrel and folding front sight used here (or something similar) are vital to achieve an accurate and flexible platform...

Green Mountain GM-M8 barrel

ARMS Inc front sight at Brownells

one of the pics shown above with carry handle shows a different rear sight used when he took off the carry handle. Why have two different rear sights that need to be zeroed? If you want to forget about the carry handle and get the same a2 rear sight without it like this:


Many optics will work with it in place.

Or get a magpul flipup rear (they make a standard and pro model, the less expensive standard is fine). In this configuration you can still use the fixed a2 front sight in place.
Shown here is magpul flip up rear in use with no optic and fixed a2 front sight:



Same idea now with optic installed with rear flip up in down position.




ETA: Recommendation: magpul flipup rear paired with a2 fixed front sight make things extremely versatile.

Just wanted to show the different ways one could run a versatile setup if needed, use what you need.

I usually keep it set up with the MBUS Pro-LR rear sight and the Primary Arms prism scope.

Thanks guys....

Still decidiing 14.5 or 16 and heavy vs light barrel and handguard length/type

I'm thinking 14.5 plus flash, heavy barrel

Handguards are still way up in the air but I'm going to push for 10" inch handguards or less (gonna try to get him to go keymod to save weight)

Going single stage trigger, standard buffer and spring

On top TacLatch, Diamondhead sights

probably magpul in the back, not sure what model exactly

I'll spend a little extra on the bolt cause I know he won't clean it right...

upper/lower to be shopped around....

I've been around the AR platform since around 1969. My learning curve has led me back to lightweight barrels with very few exceptions. In my view, I'll take phosphate over plated/coated bolt/carrier assembly. I find you usually get higher quality spending the same money on a phosphate unit.

Just my two cents, and take it for what you will, but I would recommend a 16 inch barrel with a mid-length gas system.  The main reason being is your son might want to change the A2 flash hider (just an educated assumption, you might end up throwing something else on instead) and with a 16 inch barrel he can change the muzzle device at will while a 14.5 inch barrel he'll have to live with a pinned muzzle device.

I'd also recommend the mid-length gas system because it improves your reliability and reduces wear on the BCG.

And the nice thing about an AR, if you don't like that barrel/gas length, you can easily buy another upper.

+1 for the 16" mid length. And for simplicity it's an inexpensive option to just use a magpul midlength handguard, which you can mount rails to should you need a place for some accessories

+2

Cant beat this deal. http://ballisticadvantage.com/16-inch-556-gov-mid-cmv-phosphate-barrel-fsb.html
you will just need to get a delta ring
Put a magpul SL mid-length handguard on it.

+ 3  I'd go with the 16 inch barrel and a mid-length gas system.

16'' mid gas, I'd do a freefloat handguard but not necessary.

I've had most rails.  I don't like Troy's business practices but the Troy Alpha rail is awesome.  I've had KAC, LaRue, etc. and prefer the Alpha rail overall.  Easy install, not too expensive, feels great, lightweight.

16" or 14.5 midlength w/ 11 inch alpha is the bees knees.