Wanting to build a hunting AR 15

How heavy do you want it to be? I have a very similar set up and my rifle is pushing 10 lbs unloaded. That may or may not be a deal breaker for you.

Aero offers fantastic deals on great camo patterns in their builders kits. Great products, great styles. And great value.

Personally, I would skip the A2 stock for a hunting rifle. Collapsible stocks are quite nice.

20” grendel is about ideal to balance blast and performance.

Like most new AR builders, your list seems to be focusing on aesthetics more than function, so I would recommend you start refining your list to prioritize lockwork quality. Your fire control group, barrel quality, and handguard style will have much more influence on your rifle’s hunting performance than will the camo pattern.

I never seem to have much use for the common 3-9x40mm scope.

Might go with the Lancer Carbon Fiber fixed stock to save weight.

I recommend this barrel, budget permitting
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...ngth-gas-port-1-in-8-twist-20-stainless-steel

con; Too much scope for piggie hunting.

pro; However it is not a problem to find a good Red Dot sight or back up iron sights to use for hunting Porkie.

Most important; My current experiences with improving the accuracy of my 223 Wylde AR really proves to me how important the relationship of the barrel, bolt carrier group and fire control group are. I suggest you focus on carefully selecting and getting these three parts first.

As for the camo idea well just be careful where you set your rifle down. I lost a hunting knife that way because the camo blended in so well.

Like the caliber choice if you don't mind losing the brass.

Would go collapsible stock. You might be wearing a t-shirt or a parka.

Light weight barrel. You're not going to shoot a lot but will carry it a long ways.
Also a flash hider to keep mud and snow out of the muzzle.

Light weight hand guard like a Midwest SSG3.

Two stage 5lb trigger like a RRA.

Dust cover and forward assist. Traditional trigger guard not integrated.

I would personally just Krylon it so you can change with the seasons. Much cheaper.

Last, I would spend good money on a durable and light weight scope and mount. Aero precision mount with something like a Trijicon Accupower or Leupold. Seems like most scopes weigh well over a pound. Get Illuminated too. Most good shots are happening in poor light or shadows. No BUIS, your life doesn't depend on this rifle and you'll likely never use them.

Ok, one last. A good simple sling. Viking or Blue Force two point. Something that allows you to let go of the rifle and let it hang while using binocs yet still allows traditional over the shoulder carry.

Wolf makes a 6.5 Grendel 16" complete upper for about $350-400. Nothing fancy. Most reviews are putting it under 2 MOA at 100 with cheap steel ammo.
That's plenty for hunting accuracy at a good price.

For hunting, I wouldn't rule out 6.8 SPC as it seems you aren't afraid of proprietary parts.
As others stated, I would go with a collapsible stock as it gives you options and can sometimes reduce weight.

Believe it or not I actually prefer an A2 stock over the collapsible if it a hunting rifle. I seem to get better cheek weld and faster target acquisition with the A2's.

For a hunting rifle a simple light and round or roundish handguard will be all you need. I like the standard 3-9x40 and I use Weaver Tactical rings on my AR's. I highly recommend them you tighten them down and they won't budge. A simple 2 point sling like mentioned will be a big help.

100% no other option get a bolt "matched" to your barrel and add a quality Carrier. For a trigger from now until Christmas Larue has their 2 stage trigger for $87, that deal can't be beat.

I prefer the 6.8 over 6.5 Grendel for a deer/hog rifle as the bullets available are much better for hunting, but if you plan on shooting paper with it too then I'd get the Grendel. Shoot the Amax/ELD for paper and the 120 Federal Fusion for game.

Larue MBT as listed above for $87 is a steal. It is a great trigger.

I would skip the nib BCG and just go with a toolcraft nitride or phosphate.

Faxon and ballistic advantage both make accurate barrels in that caliber for decent prices. Ar15performance also makes some really accurate barrels

horsemen61 said:

A complete receiver set

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I second @Varminterror's advice of Aero Precision. I have two lowers and a builder set. They are worth every penny, which isn't much. Two fifty for a blemished set at Schuylers Arms. (If I don't get it first.) And camouflage paint is fun.

I'd like to put in another good word for Aero Precision, only this time for their handguards. I purchased one of their Atlas S-One handguards and am thoroughly impressed. The only issue I had is that it was just a tad too small diameter, and I had to file down the corners of my gas block to make sure if free floats. (It was an ODIN Works adjustable gas block, and a bit bulky anyway.)

Couldn’t have said it better than @CarJunkieLS1, I’m assembling the following:

Aero Gen II receiver set
A2 fixed stock
LaRue MBT trigger
LWRC Bolt matched to barrel
20” bead blasted SS Bison Armory 6.8 SPC II barrel
Superlative Arms adjustable gas block
Lancer Carbon Fiber handguard

It will be my hunting AR, should push 110 gr Accubonds to 2,800 FPS.

My 6.5 Grendel build

• Anderson Lower
• Anderson Lower Parts Kit
• RRA Varmint Trigger
• Guntech USA Receiver Extension
• DPMS A2 Stock
• Anderson Sporter Upper
• Ridgeline Rail
• AR Stoner Bolt & Bolt Carrier Group
• MAS Defense Extended Charging Handle
• AR Stoner 20" Heavy Fluted Barrel. 1:8 5R
• AR Stoner Gas Block & Gas Tube
• Weaver Tactical Scope Mount
• Simmons Pro Target 4 x 16 x 40 Scope

I shoot the Sierra 100 grain Varminter. 1/2 to 3/4 groups if I do my part. 9 deer and 1 pig who wandered out into the field behind the barn so far. All one shot kills. I hunt ( shoot ) mostly from the loft at the family farm.

I do not like collapsible stocks at all, all of my Rifles have fixed stocks. A friend who owns a garage painted it for me. I wanted Plum Crazy, like my old Dodge but he talked me into Candy Apple Purple. I am happy with the way it came out. The only thing I think I would do different if I were to build it again, is to use a 24" barrel. The Grendel needs all the help it can get.

My hunting/target gun is a 6.8spc, just because it’s a Ky round. I would not have ever considered it for other reasons because I like .277 but didn’t want to have to stock another .277 bullet on top of the sierras my 700 .270 likes. I’m glad I bought it though, and it’s an incredible shooter. For a hunting gun, it would be hard to beat a 6.8 in a ar15.

I would first ask what are the distances you will be shooting? Does 2" of barrel really make a big enough difference in 6.5 Grendel to warrant the extra weight and less maneuverability?

I prefer my hunting rifles to be lightweight. They are more comfortable to me that way. I hunt in East Tennessee, so the shots aren't likely to exceed 200 yards...and that's a long shot around here. I use a relatively lightweight, suppressed 6.8 SPC with a 16" barrel and handloads that are consistently 1-1.25 MOA 5-shot groups.

Focus on the barrel and trigger. Don't be cheap with those components. If it's going to be a hunting rig, no need for the extras like a NiB carrier, etc. unless you just want to and have the extra money to spend. Aero Precision is a great foundation for builds. I'd also recommend a 12" handguard (or longer) for more shooting position flexibility.

<*(((>< said:

Couldn’t have said it better than @CarJunkieLS1, I’m assembling the following:

Aero Gen II receiver set
A2 fixed stock
LaRue MBT trigger
LWRC Bolt matched to barrel
20” bead blasted SS Bison Armory 6.8 SPC II barrel
Superlative Arms adjustable gas block
Lancer Carbon Fiber handguard

It will be my hunting AR, should push 110 gr Accubonds to 2,800 FPS.

Click to expand...

I shoot the 100 Accubonds with my 6.8 I am using a very stiff charge of H322 and get 2786 from the 20" barrel. I've shot a fox and coyote with it no deer yet and wow the damage was unreal. I like the 100's over 110 because IME the 100's open up more explosively and I still get pass throughs.

To the OP do you reload?

horsemen61 said:

View attachment 795861Similar to this guys no rail gas block though probably do a low pro one

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Looks a lot like my 6.8 (ft Campbell Ky) Mine is a doublestar (Winchester Ky) heavy barrel heavy target crowned heavy stainless heavy 22” heavy heavy upper. Heavy. On an Anderson (Hebron Ky) lower with Anderson enhanced LPK. Has a Tasco World Class 3x9x50 on top. Shoots 115 factories incredibly well considering that it’s factory ammo. Likes 130 gr ballistic tip reloads as well but they are too long for any magazine I have ever found. Did I mention that barrel is heavy? That rifle feels great sitting on a bench, and it’s a dandy shooter but it’s a beast to get from A to B.

Heavy.

All that aside, I can’t recommend doublestar highly enough. If it were a lighter contour barrel I would likely not have been super interested, but I bought it used and ripped it apart for a while, but it’s back together in factory form now and it’s gonna stay that way.

Varminterror said:

Aero offers fantastic deals on great camo patterns in their builders kits. Great products, great styles. And great value.

Personally, I would skip the A2 stock for a hunting rifle. Collapsible stocks are quite nice.

20” grendel is about ideal to balance blast and performance.

Like most new AR builders, your list seems to be focusing on aesthetics more than function, so I would recommend you start refining your list to prioritize lockwork quality. Your fire control group, barrel quality, and handguard style will have much more influence on your rifle’s hunting performance than will the camo pattern.

I never seem to have much use for the common 3-9x40mm scope.

Click to expand...

Nothing to add to that ^ besides I agree wholeheartedly.