Need some advice on my first ar build

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ew2x4

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Hey guys. I currently have a PSA magpul assembled lower. I'm looking for an upper to pair in the $400-$500 range.*

Some things I've decided on-
16" Barrel
Mid-Length gas
flat top receiver
The thinner the profile, the better
1:8 twist, 1:7 is acceptable.

Some things I haven't decided on-
What do I want the gas block to be? Almost all I have seen (Sionics, Spikes) that fall into what I want, have an*A2 front sight. I'm worried about flexibility, if I want to scope or red dot it. SAA has an upper that mostly falls into what I want with a railed gas block. I can't find much on the quality of their uppers.

What are your thoughts? I'm heavily leaning towards a Sionics Patrol Rifle I upper, but this has me hesitant.
 
What is your price range? The front sight post won't hinder you much as far as optics. For red dots you can cowitness with irons or just look above them. With magnified optics the sight post will disappear after 3x? I'm sure someone will correct me on this. I had my M&P15 (F-Marked sight) set up with an Aimpoint CompM2 and didn't even notice it when I was firing.

For a very short time I had a rifle with a Sionics Patrol III XL upper w/ Eotech. It was an attractive rifle and shot well, but I don't think I had enough time with it to give a full opinion. My dad has it now and only complains about the polymer lower under it (zero issues there, he just doesn't like the polymer lowers). If the Sionics is what you want, don't let that sight post sway you.

For what it's worth Palmetto State Armory has some good deals on uppers with BCG and charging handle. The one linked below has just about everything you're looking for except its carbine length gas system and M4 profile barrel.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/inde...pper-w-m16-bcg-charging-handle-rear-mbus.html

I also found this one from Del-Ton. Looks like you might be able to customize it to your liking. Middy, light weight, has 1:9 twist though.

http://www.del-ton.com/Custom_Upper_p/cu108.htm
 
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I went with a PSA blem upper with the SQR slim rail, which also included the BCG and charge handle for $495 after shipping. No sights though. I really like the rail, long slim and smooth where the hand grips the rail and then still plenty of rails up front for mounting stuff plus full length top rail.

I'm not sure about being a regular customer of Brownell's gives you discounts right up front or not, but I was able to get discounts under the LEO membership. Not sure if that applies to you or not. That's where I got my MBUS from.

Someone also mentioned to watch DSA for really decent price uppers, but they said you might have to wait quite some time before you get it. That's why I just watched PSA for the aforementioned upper.
 
I got my last couple of uppers from runnerrunnerguns.com. Great to deal with.
 
This is strictly a matter of preference. I don't like an A2 front site. I do prefer a mid length gas system. A free float hand guard gives you more flexibility in outfitting your AR as a rule. Build your own.
 
If you build your own it's likely it will cost more unless patience and opportunity are used. My upper was a $49 LAR Grizzly blem - great price. The barrel, etc tho was ARP in 6.8, I wanted quality and certain features, like nitride finish.

I mounted a lo pro gas block on it, then added a clamp on FSB to hold up the rifle handguards. Now, I'm looking at a free float tube to change that all out. First, the FSB with irons in just a "nice to have." I've been using a red dot since I bought the first generation Aimpoint, which I still have, and quality red dots don't fail. Neither do quality scopes, which is why iron sighted bolt action hunting rifles all but disappeared on the market - back in the 1970's.

While the issue series rifles may still have a contracted front sight, we simply don't need them. They are dead weight. Few three gunners use them now, and the HK's used by the teams to hunt down Osama bin Laden aren't equipped with a fixed front sight either. The progress of firearms marches on. We've issued the first M68 Aimpoints in 1999 - 15 years ago. It's combat standard, the BUIS left in the fanny pack or duffel bag. No complaints from the troops over that at all.

None from me, either, other than I spent money on something I already knew was heavy and less user friendly. Go with a light no rail free float tube, mid length gas, and a good quality red dot. You'll be a better shot, and the dead weight won't be missed one bit.
 
Tirod said:
. We've issued the first M68 Aimpoints in 1999 - 15 years ago. It's combat standard, the BUIS left in the fanny pack or duffel bag. No complaints from the troops over that at all.
Click to expand...

I've seen this statement on here before and it is just false. We don't remove our BUIS, at least not in any of the units I've been in or worked with in America or overseas in combat. I've seen a number of optics go down in combat, usually permanently from being hit with shrapnel or a bullet. Everyone of those guys was happy to have his matech flip up sight still on the rifle.

According to big Army your weapon is deadlined/deemed unfit for service without the BUIS installed. A little extreme, but it shows how important we feel iron sights are still.


Back on topic - if you want to shoot irons get an upper with an A2 front sight gas block, if you're wanting to use only optics, go flat top. If you're unsure get a rifle with a free float rail fore end and have the ability to mount a sight up front.
 
The nice psa bcg is only $90. I think I'd spring for the psa. What are the pros/cons of stainless barrels? I heard they are more accurate and don't last as long as a cmv barrel. Any truth to that?
 
I'm not an expert, but I don't think an average shooter will notice much of a difference between a stainless, melonite or any other barrel finish, assuming all the barrels are of the same quality. Most don't shoot enough to wear out a barrel and most aren't good enough shooters that a barrel finish will be apparent on the target. Again, that's assuming all things are equal other than the material/finish of the barrel.
 
I went with the Sionics upper. Aside from the FSB and the wait time, it's exactly what I wanted. Thanks for the help everyone.
 
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