AR Builds -- What Parts Did You Choose and Why??

Just waiting for stock and grip to arrive from Brownells. Started with a PSA premium build kit for a 20” heavy barrel. LaRue lower parts and MBT trigger. Magpul moe rifle length fixed stock and grip.

Aim point M4 and LaRue mount.

Designated range toy for shooting off bags and teaching young people the joy of shooting an AR. Will eat an exclusive diet of 68 grain target loads and never see a rainy day.
 
Anyone ever heard of or use a barrel by a manufacturer named "SOT Manufacturing"?

They have a few patented "angled gas port" barrels and I'm interested in them myself. If nobody has experience, when I get some I will report back.

Anyone use them?
 
I tend to stay away from bargain basement priced components.

There are a few upper and lowers that I deem acceptable. Same with BCG groups. It is not worth fooling with bargain basement uppers, lowers, and BCG groups.

I like Giessele triggers so no issues trying to save a buck here.

I use premium barrels. Again, they work well. I use White Oak Armament and Shilen alot but some others as well.

I like free floating forearms. Off hand, I forget the brand but they are well made and mate well with the barrel nut.

There are lots of good parts for AR-15 out there but it is a fools errand to buy the cheapest out there.
 
I have had good results with Trident Trigger parts. They don't come as one assembled unit, but they do come as a package where you can pick different trigger pull weights, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 lb., Ect. Less than $100 for a set. Good quality and value, but I'm not sure if their still in production.
 
For the money, I think PSA makes pretty good parts and assemblies. I've never had an out of spec upper or lower receiver assembly. And I've never had a part or assembly that didn't function as intended, or had a breakdown. I recommend them highly for newbies and people that shoot recreationally. I'm not a competitive shooter, so I can't comment directly on that.

But if you're looking for an inexpensive reliable shooter, PSA makes or sells good parts. If your looking for high dollar precision competition parts, you might want to look elsewhere.
 
Mini30SS said:
For the money, I think PSA makes pretty good parts and assemblies. I've never had an out of spec upper or lower receiver assembly. And I've never had a part or assembly that didn't function as intended, or had a breakdown. I recommend them highly for newbies and people that shoot recreationally. I'm not a competitive shooter, so I can't comment directly on that.

But if you're looking for an inexpensive reliable shooter, PSA makes or sells good parts. If your looking for high dollar precision competition parts, you might want to look elsewhere.
Click to expand...
I've used many different brands at this point..Anderson all the way up to Giessele.
These is actually zero difference in performance with upper and lower receivers. The finish on the higher end names is a little better, and sometimes the fit on the Andersons is less than perfect, but I've yet to find one that wouldn't fit together, or fail to function..

The only parts that make any difference in accuracy and durability are...the Bolt, trigger and Barrel. An adjustable gas block helps also, but not entirely needed. The rest...it's very dang hard to screw up.
I like BCM uppers for their heat to fit feature, but in reality, I don't really notice much, if any, difference with those either.
If we stick to mil spec...outside the three major parts...all you pay for is the name.

When you get to the likes of LMTs one piece hand guard uppers..that's another story, but those are not really Mil Spec either.

So really, it doesn't matter whose stripped lower or upper you use..or the small parts like take down pins and what-not. Bolts, Barrels and triggers are where spending more money actually makes a real world difference.

Of coarse, things like the various choices in stocks, hand guards, buffer and buffer springs..etc can all make a rifle nicer, but shot better? Debatable at best.

PSA is the best bang for the buck you're ever going to find. Their stuff just works..almost everyone can afford it, and it's sometimes better stuff than big names you'll pay twice or more for.
 
just built another one based on a Caracal upper. It is a superior suppressor host and I am thrilled with it. You may note it's much like my LMT I posted a few posts back, but it is lighter. Both awesome.
bcli85y.jpg
 
MarshallDodge said:
What makes it more superior?
Click to expand...
I'd say that like the LMT it vents spent piston gas back to the barrel instead of venting it out at the gas block or from the gas tube under the handguard. The LMT is a phenomenal suppressor host, but I didn't smell ANY ammonia at all shooting the Caracal. I've owned a couple PWS and own a LWRC, but the LMT and Caracal are the best I've shot with a can on.
 
Built this one recently. Seekins IMRT-3 Upper, Lower and Handguard.
Black Hole Weaponry 16" 223 Wylde, Mid-Length,1:7, SPR Profile with Dead Air KeyMo Brake.
Forward Controls Design Trigger.
PSA Nitride BCG
Slash's Heavy Buffer (6.5 OZ)
Aero Charging Handle, LPK, Enhanced Buffer Tube and Gas Tube.
Griffin Gas Block.
BCM QD End Plate.
B5 Buttstock.
Ergo X-Grip.
The scope is borrowed from another rifle. Eventually will buy a Riton for this one...Also, I need to take a better picture with my real camera, not this lousy smart phone :)

Haven't shot it much, but I was impressed with the size of the groups with Hornady 75 gr BTHP. Will post target pics next time I hit the range.

1690494151913.png
 
Mike1234567 said:
Per the title... I need ideas. Please post your parts lists and explain why you chose them. Also list the approximate prices if you can remember.

This thread has nothing to do with what I want or need. Again, I just want ideas.
Click to expand...
Used Del-Ton dti-15 EH16 rifle.
Good price for basic lower and beater 5.56 upper. 375 usd.
PSA .300 aac upper. 258 usd.
Trybe 7.62x39 upper. 284 usd.
Trybe .223 wylde upper 265 usd.
All uppers 16" hb mlok.
The og upper is not known for accuracy and has that whole 80's vibe. Sitting in city limits listening to coyote. Deer. Occassional spring black bear.
So I justified that frivolity because the EH16 dti-15 is a good upper for the officials to hold after a critter defense.
.223 wylde for ammo range.
.300 aac because it is popular and easy to run.
7.62 x 39 for hunting deer and feral hogs. Because I can run an 1860 colt, we will learn to make that run well.
Very new to modern rifles. Lot's o' armed security, mildly proficient with handguns.
Small game with .22. Two deer, one 1898 Carl Gustav 6.5 swede. One mossy 500 hastings..
Was told early '01 that the jeep that ran me over had permanently limited my mobility.
Fasting, prayer, and a long road since and we can waddle ten miles over moderate slopes in a day.
So I wanted a rifle for this patch of Appalachia.
Black Bear, Coyote, Feral Hogs, are the predatory critters here. 5.56 legal for deer.
My reasoning. I will not walk 100 yards to start looking for a blood trail unless WalMart is in flames.
So basic builds will do. I love the gucci gear. My banker calls that grandiose ideation as she has the same problem with automobiles.
Then after all that keyboard kommando gear acquisition syndrome, I actually bought an m&p 15-22 .22lr that will ackchually be used to forage if need presents.
It will get more range time, allowed on more ranges. It is the most likely to hunt. .22lr is the Appalachian problem solver.
When I was a boy it was .22 rimfire ( short ).
For the price of a nice midrange 5.56 we have four kinds of ammo, a .22, and can still add a .450 bushmaster upper before we get into " entry level " premium rifles.
I had looked at a 30/30. For a Henry you can safely unload, mount a dot on, it was about what I have in four uppers, a lower, and a .22.
With the first upper and the lower being used. Also the .22.
Budget caused me to use these components.
 
btg3 said:
My budget mid-length:

PSA complete upper / rifle kit....$500
PSA stripped blemished lower.....$60
Magpul rear pop-up sight...........$40 used
Hogue grip..................................$25

Assembled the lower and done.

Why? The objectives:
Mid-length
Budget
PSA (home state)
Stock grips are trash
2-gun/3-gun
Click to expand...
Nice. My run away from home state in '21 when it was cold in Appalachia and I was residing in my van. 🙂
Mostly stayed around Ocala, away from some of the tourons. I got my .300 upper from PSA because it was from Florida.
 
20230801_074615.jpg
R) 6.5prc 22" McGowen 8 twist h-bar kak upper & lower receiver and bcg w/athlon helos btr gen2 1-10x28 burris mount 15.5" diamondhead handguard .875 odin gb timney trigger ultradyne brakephase5 ambi-bolt release radian raptor lt chargehandle. All parts are proven as I've used these brands for years.

L0 7-08rem 22" 10 twist McGowen aero precision upper and lower receivers lite weight bcg pof di-ctator gb sig tango msr 1-10x28w/ sig mount (sold together) strike industries j-comp brake 13.5" diamondhead handguard 3.5# frankentrigger (whatever parts I had) odin chargehandle

7saum AR 28" 8 twist +2 gas x-caliber socom heavy spiral fluted that should be here in 2 weeks (10/4/23) if the 7 week time is correct?
 
I have many builds under my belt. I spent a lot of time during the fake lock-down building rifles. I standardized my builds to the extent possible, with a couple of minor variations depending on parts availability.

Flash Hider: Simple and effective A2 or JPFH-556 (BE Meyers 249F)
Barrel: Reputable mfg in the cartridge desired. - WOA - WC - Colt - FN - SOLGW or Ballistic Advantage (Tromix for 458 SOCOM)
Hand Guard: MLOK only, usually Midwest Industries Combat or Light weight
Upper: Wilson Combat - Colt - or other on sale
BCG: Sionics - Colt
Lower: My own milled 80% or Wilson Combat or Colt or one on sale
Lower Parts: Colt - Sionics or SOLGW
Trigger: SSA-E or Sionics enhanced (in a pinch)
Rear end: VLTOR A5 (Tube - Buffer - Spring - End plate - Castle nut)
Stock: Magpul CTR
Grip: HK combat grip

Optic to suit the use and cartridge, but I love the Burris RT-6 and own four of them.

Standardizing components allows me to have spares on hand as well as swap stuff around if necessary. They all run flawlessly except for the 6.5G which doesn't feed well due to mags all being not worth a damn and standard AR15 mags simply don't function properly. (Don't start, I've tried 4 different mag brands.)

p2841507656-5.jpg
 
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small town life said:
View attachment 1172324
R) 6.5prc 22" McGowen 8 twist h-bar kak upper & lower receiver and bcg w/athlon helos btr gen2 1-10x28 burris mount 15.5" diamondhead handguard .875 odin gb timney trigger ultradyne brakephase5 ambi-bolt release radian raptor lt chargehandle. All parts are proven as I've used these brands for years.

L0 7-08rem 22" 10 twist McGowen aero precision upper and lower receivers lite weight bcg pof di-ctator gb sig tango msr 1-10x28w/ sig mount (sold together) strike industries j-comp brake 13.5" diamondhead handguard 3.5# frankentrigger (whatever parts I had) odin chargehandle

7saum AR 28" 8 twist +2 gas x-caliber socom heavy spiral fluted that should be here in 2 weeks (10/4/23) if the 7 week time is correct?
Click to expand...
7saum came in today. 20231006_173553.jpg 28" @ 62.33ozs is fairly lite.
 
Just out of curiosity, i probably will never do anything with it because of time and possibly losing our gun club…say i wanted to build an 18” free floated handguard, at least MOA with good handloads, decent stock for both tactical shooting, lower, and trigger. Here is the kicker. Keep it budget friendly.
 
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