Just another AR build

[GunnyUSMC]

It all started with this. I wanted a FDE frame for my Advantage Arms 22 conversion, but the place my LGS gets them from was out, but they had the OD Green frame so, I ordered one. Now I could have ordered the FDE frame from somewhere else but it would have cost me $35 to $60 more.


Once I had the pistol built I got to thinking that it needed a matching AR that I could drop a 22 conversion kit into. Does that sound like a good enough excuse to build another AR??


The next thing was to decide on how I wanted to build the AR. For duty and hard use, I like a front sight tower on an AR. I find them more durable. I also like a mid length gas system. It gives you two more inches of handguard to grip, longer sight radius, and you can mount a bayonet if there’s ever a Zombie apocalypse.
Wouldn’t you know, I had a 16” 1/9 mid length barrel with a sight tower. It’s the barrel I used when I built my daughter’s purple AR. Right after I finished the build she said she wanted more purple so, I replaced the barrel and had a 15” rail coated to match the rest of the rifle.



I like the Magpul MOE Slim handguards more then the standard MOE handguards for three reasons. They are slimmer, cover the lower area of the sight tower and the look better. But you have to use a round handguard cap. The barrel had a triangle cap that needed to be changed. So I went through my upper parts box and a few minutes later the barrel had a round handguard cap.




I’m not a big fan of a parkerized finish on a barrel because, if you don’t keep some oil on them, they will start to rust. So I coated the barrel with Brownell’s Matte Black Aluma-Hyde II.



The next step is to go through my parts to see if I have everything else I need.

 

[entropy]

Bet you do....

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Gunny
I’m looking forward to the rest of the build being documented.
One question though... why not a free float handguard?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Gunny
I’m looking forward to the rest of the build being documented.
One question though... why not a free float handguard?

I’m going more for a duty type weapon that can take more abuse and rough handling. The type of rifle that can be thrown into the truck or trunk without a case. Free float rails are nice, and I have a few rifles set up with them, but I really like a solid front sight mounted to the barrel. There are some free float rails that would fit but then I would loose fore grip area.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I’m going more for a duty type weapon that can take more abuse and rough handling. The type of rifle that can be thrown into the truck or trunk without a case. Free float rails are nice, and I have a few rifles set up with them, but I really like a solid front sight mounted to the barrel. There are some free float rails that would fit but then I would loose fore grip area.

Thanks for the explanation
I’ve always wondered why freefloat wasn’t used on all ARs. So that helps fill in some of the holes in the knowledge bank.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

How do you like the Brownells rattle can alumi-hyde as opposed to say... Krylon, duracoat, and cerakote??

 

[GunnyUSMC]

It’s an epoxy base finish is that is pretty hard. Almost as strong as cerakote. It’s easy to apply and can be heated to speed drying time.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Here are some of the parts I’ll be using that I have on hand.
OD Green MOE buttstock
OD Green MOE Plus grip
MBUS rear sight
Strike Industries Enhanced mag catch
Strike Industries extended takedown pin set
Hiper Fire EDT2 Fire control group
Matrix Arms upper
Aero Precision Gen 2 lower
Brownell’s Black nitrid gas tube

I had to order the MOE Slim handguard


The Brownell’s Black Nitrid gas tubes are nice .

 

[imashooter]

Gonna be a nice one for sure. Very nice. I used one of those tubes (carbine length) on my pistol build the other day. First time.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Love AR builds

 

[LoonWulf]

Sounds like alot of awsome right there! Love looking forward to another great build.

 

[WestKentucky]

Gunny, I hate to break it to you, but now you have the little big pistol, and the big big carbine, but’s there’s a couple glaring holes. You need a little big, and a little little. Little big would be a really nice ar pistol in which you can use the 22lr adapter. The little little could be any number of the tiny pistols. I suggest a matching cobra derringer just to say you have the full range. Then last but not least you can outfit a matching heavy target rifle for distance work with the 22.

While I’m spending your money, throw in a big little...heifer defense .223.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Gunny, I hate to break it to you, but now you have the little big pistol, and the big big carbine, but’s there’s a couple glaring holes. You need a little big, and a little little. Little big would be a really nice ar pistol in which you can use the 22lr adapter. The little little could be any number of the tiny pistols. I suggest a matching cobra derringer just to say you have the full range. Then last but not least you can outfit a matching heavy target rifle for distance work with the 22.

While I’m spending your money, throw in a big little...heifer defense .223.

I was thinking maybe a 458 Socom next.

 

[LoonWulf]

I was thinking maybe a 458 Socom next.

DOO EEEET!

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Gunny you still haven’t given us an updated “family photo” of all of the ARs together!

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Gunny you still haven’t given us an updated “family photo” of all of the ARs together!

Two have to make it back to the house first.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I just built my first and now want to build more, I've been looking at the 458 socom or the 6.5 Grendel..... I really enjoyed building my first and am looking forward to building another one

 

[badkarmamib]

I was thinking maybe a 458 Socom next.

I am sure you already have the parts laying around, but, for anyone on the fence, Primary Arms has a Bear Creek barrel and free stripped upper for $100.
https://gun.deals/product/barrel-upper-458-socom-combo-9999

 

[BSA1]

Once again Gunny you show why you are The Man! A Glock and AR seamlessly blended together in the same post. Very smoothly done.

As usual your posts are timely for my projects. I have question about using the Aluma-Hyde as I have a new Del-Ton 16" Parkerized barrel that I am going to use. How do you prep the surface of the barrel and did you spray the barrel with the tower fixed sight base still on the barrel?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Once again Gunny you show why you are The Man! A Glock and AR seamlessly blended together in the same post. Very smoothly done.

As usual your posts are timely for my projects. I have question about using the Aluma-Hyde as I have a new Del-Ton 16" Parkerized barrel that I am going to use. How do you prep the surface of the barrel and did you spray the barrel with the tower fixed sight base still on the barrel?

For prep I just degrease the barrel. Aluma-Hyde II adheres to the parkerized surface very well. I like to have the sight tower in place so that I don’t have to worry about touching it up later.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Two have to make it back to the house first.

Yea yea

That or you can do the pic and have a cartoon for the two missing like tv family or school pics!

 

[adcoch1]

I was thinking maybe a 458 Socom next.

Yes! Go for it! I am in the middle of a few, one is a 16" dissipator inspired by yours shown in one of the build threads...

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I’m going to hold off on the 458 Socom for now, maybe a winter project.
I did pick up another part for the build, a QD back plate.

The only other parts I need are, an OD Green trigger guard, Strike Industries bolt catch and decided on the flash hider I want.
Here are the ones I have.


I think it will be between these two.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The trigger guard and bolt catch are ordered and should be here in 3 to 5 days. Then I can put everything together.

 

[Sistema1927]

When Gunny says "just another AR build" that is similar to looking at Gisele Bündchen and saying "just another model".