Help Me Design my "Nevada Varminter" AR

[CmdrSlander]

I'm looking to put together an AR for taking small game in Northern Nevada. I don't live there, but I grew up there and in Texas, and I hope to move back to that beautiful and mysterious land (when I have a job that pays enough and doesn't tie me down to one location, so probably an entrepreneurial venture). When I do that, I plan to buy property and erect my home in a fairly desolate area so that I can shoot and varmint all I want. The rifle needs to be durable and light enough to walk around with for several hours while still being "minute-of-squirrel" accurate at 300-500 yards. I was thinking a medium/heavy profile barrel AR with a stainless and fluted construction, 16" and free floated of course. Fixed stock for stability, and a high magnification optic. Something like this:



Exact specs:

VLTOR MUR Upper w/ chromed FA BCG
PSA Lower (saving money for the glass)
Geissele Semi-Auto Trigger
Hogue FF Tube with screw on rubberized grip surfaces
Gunsmith made Stainless, threaded, fluted barrel 16.5" Carbine length GS, VLTOR COMP
Burris 6.5-20x50 Scope on Larue mounts (Trijcon scope pictured for illustrative purposes)
Magpul MIAD Grip
VLTOR EMOD Fixed Clubfoot A2 Stock
Magpul 20 round PMAGS
Cerakoted in FDE

Total Price: $1800-ish

What are your thoughts?

Will a 16" barrel reach out to 500 yards with reasonable accuracy? I've seen conflicting reports on this.

 

[redneck2]

I suppose that's all good and fine if that's what you want. For less money, you could have this. Bushie Varminter. Shoots dime sized groups at 200 yards with hand loads. 6.5x20x40 VX-III. I'd put less money into gadgets and fancy name doo dads and more into good optics. If the Burris is a Black Diamond, you're good to go. If not, I'd ramp it up. I've got a Signature on one rifle and really regret I didn't pony up for the better scope.

Stag is offering a varminter that guarantees 1/2" groups. Selling for $950 locally.

 

[kfgk14]

With good ammo and a good shooter, that should be sound at 500.
A few minor points:
Buy a 16" mid-length SS410 stainless barrel from BCM. It will be sub-MOA, if you are (and it's free-floated, of course).
Get a Midwest Industries or Loki weapon systems handguard, it will save an incredible amount of weight over the Hogue and be equally or more solid.
Skip the chromed BCG. Just get one from Bravo Company or Daniel Defense.

 

[FlyinBryan]

that is fantastic accuracy right there. dime sized groups @ 268yds.

that would be impressive for a satern or shilen based rifle. just amazing from a factory rifle.

nice shooting.

 

[GLShooter]

The stock would have to go IMHO and try an ACE Skeleton. The 16" tube will suck the life out of a 500 yard 223 rifle on squirrels and PD's. You really need the velocity out there.

A standard BCG is perfectly adequate for your needs as the chrome really allows for easier cleaning and that is about it. You need the ability to mount a bipod if you want to reach out there. Studs are cheap and easy to install on the FF tube.

I don't shoot brakes on my long range PD guns but there is no reason not to. A heavy barrel in a 22" configuration is not hard to hump around IMHO. My rifles weigh right on 11 pounds with medium bull barrels and I like the extra weight out front.

Nothing but my option here and if you get done what you want with your choices I would really like to see the pics of the build and it in action.

Greg

Here is is my long stick 20 Tactical.



Greg

 

[redneck2]

that is fantastic accuracy right there. dime sized groups @ 268yds.

that would be impressive for a satern or shilen based rifle. just amazing from a factory rifle.

Kinda one of those days when the shooting gods were smiling down. My son-in-law shot that with my rifle and hand loads. He's a former Army Ranger, 10th Mountain, veteran of Mogadishu (Black Hawk down era)

Surprised both of us. Still, it's an incredibly accurate rifle. Personally, I think it's mainly about barrel and bullets. First time I shot my hand loads out of my 22-250 I was PO'd. One hit the target and the others missed. When I looked closer, all had gone into one hole. I quit there. Wish all my rifles shot that well.

 

[CmdrSlander]

I would really like to see the pics of the build and it in action

Get back to me in 10-15 years

 

[six 4 sure]

I didn't have this when I lived in Nevada, but a .223 version would be my choice. Mine is in .17 Rem

It started as a stripped RR lower. Upper is custom built by White Oak. I think I have around $1300 in it (minus scope and rings). The bulk of that is the upper and Jewell trigger. If you ordered a regular varmint upper from WOA you could knock a couple hundred more off. John at WOA builds amazing stuff.