Went like crazy today chasing the kids and having big family fun. Finished it off with a big family dinner which was cool too.
I have been doing some research on Project Upgrade AR. I am thinking Bravo Company for the manufacturer. Leaning towards one of their middy uppers with a 14.5 or 16 inch barrel (still need to do some research here). Torn on a normal profile with the front sight/ gas block or the recce thing. If just for simplicity I like the normal front sight. For the sake of expediency I will stick it on a complete lower that I have. Eventually I will pick up another lower, ideally a BCM but anything decent is fine.
Anyway soliciting input:
What I want is to get a nice mil spec M4agery with a flat top that will serve me well for a long time. I DO NOT want to come back and re do this in 4 or 5 years. The currently rifle I have now is perfectly functional though probably not as rugged as it could be. Instead of going cheap here I would just keep it.
The budget is not super important though I would like to be out the door for around a grand for a stripped rifle so not counting BUIS, optic, sling and such. I am however not willing to pay a ton just to get a name like Noveski, La Rue or Daniels Defense. I am inclined to stick with 1 manufacturer unless I can get a deal (on comparable quality stuff) or there is some compelling reason company A makes a better whatever than companies B, C and D. Those are the broad parameters.
Your input BASED ON PERSONAL FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE would be greatly appreciated.
I have been doing some research on Project Upgrade AR. I am thinking Bravo Company for the manufacturer. Leaning towards one of their middy uppers with a 14.5 or 16 inch barrel (still need to do some research here). Torn on a normal profile with the front sight/ gas block or the recce thing. If just for simplicity I like the normal front sight. For the sake of expediency I will stick it on a complete lower that I have. Eventually I will pick up another lower, ideally a BCM but anything decent is fine.
Anyway soliciting input:
What I want is to get a nice mil spec M4agery with a flat top that will serve me well for a long time. I DO NOT want to come back and re do this in 4 or 5 years. The currently rifle I have now is perfectly functional though probably not as rugged as it could be. Instead of going cheap here I would just keep it.
The budget is not super important though I would like to be out the door for around a grand for a stripped rifle so not counting BUIS, optic, sling and such. I am however not willing to pay a ton just to get a name like Noveski, La Rue or Daniels Defense. I am inclined to stick with 1 manufacturer unless I can get a deal (on comparable quality stuff) or there is some compelling reason company A makes a better whatever than companies B, C and D. Those are the broad parameters.
Your input BASED ON PERSONAL FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE would be greatly appreciated.
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13 comments:
Personal experience:
I have over 10,000 rounds on a rifle built for NRA/CMP service rifle competition, using mostly Rock River parts and Kreiger barrels. Admittedly, the bolt was changed when the barrel was at about 4500 rounds (still original bolt carrier; and it's probably past time to rebarrel again). I am still waiting for my first malfunction of any kind with that rifle.
Also in the safe is my back-up rifle, set up pretty much like the one above, using Bushmaster basic parts. Purchased used from another shooter getting out of high power, it also has been rebarreled but has approximately 7500 rounds on the upper and lower receivers. Still waiting for my first malfunction with this rifle.
Granted we're not running several hundred rounds per match, but I think that's pretty good.
Having said that, don't think you can go wrong with BCM. Daniel Defense also comes to mind, but not sure of their pricing.
Frankly.....I'm looking very strongly at SIG 556 for my next carbine. They're very close to your budget and a proven system.
H
If you're building from scratch, I highly recommend an Apex Handguard system. Not only does it allow the barrel to float freely (unlike the normal AR handguard), but the things are tough as nails. It'll probably outlast the rest of the rifle entirely.
Their website is www.apexhandguard.com
I can't say enough about them to do them justice. You just have to see one and hold one in your hand to understand how awesome they are.
PG
I have a BCM 14.5" midlength upper with pinned/welded flash hider.
I shot it at a 4-day front sight practical rifle course and at two Appleseeds. I figure I've put 1-3K further rounds through in my own practice.
Out of the box I had some malfs and then started running it a bit "wetter" than I normally do and ever since it has been fine. Maybe 4 stoppages total, 3 of which could be traced to a cruddy magazine.
Accuracy is fine. I shot 1-2 MOA groups from the bench and 4 MOA groups from field positions with it over the weekend.
I have the A2 sight and it works fine. I started with basic Daniel Defense A2 style BUIS only and it worked nicely. I have recently switched to an AIMPOINT PRO with MBUS. For a "CQC" rifle I'm fine with having the front sight on there as it cowitnesses with the red dot anyways.
Right now I am just running Magpul furniture. I want to free float but am thinking about doing that with a 20" bbl upper later.
The 14.5" is nice; it definitely swings and points a bit handier than the 16". I ponied up for a nicer flash hider than the A2 birdcage and had it welded. The 16" does give more flexibility for configurations though.
FInally, for deals on uppers, I'd keep an eye on Palmetto State Armory. I've heard good things about their products and they are running nice specced uppers for $279... BCM and Spikes seem much more expensive than that these days.
I just bought a Rock River 16" upper, 1/9, chrome lined, flat top with low pro gas block, chrome bcg, for about $675 shipped. It arrived after an approx 4 month wait due to back orders (typical for AR makers now). Haven't put a great deal of rounds through it, but its zero'ed on magpul buis and an eotech 512, and is giving me 1-2 moa groups from bench easy. Its a very good upper receiver.
I bought the midwest industries 15" free float SS series rail. Its super light (10.5 oz for the 15" model, IIRC) and comes with plenty of attach points for slings, lights, etc.
I use a 90's era bushmaster lower, magpul str stock.
Kang
I have a Stag 16" barrel, 1/9 twist, carbine length upper. It has been great. Do over, I'd buy a 14.5" midlength in 1/7 twist and have a Battle Comp pinned on. Probably BCM. Lots of higher speed dudes than I will ever be run 'em by choice.
Just did my first build with a BCM 16" upper a few months ago.
Spikes Tactical stripped lower. Lower build kit from Palmetto State Armory. BCM 16" mid upper with front sight base. Just slapped a magpul forend on for now.
I only have about 200 rounds through it at this point but I am very happy with the quality of the BCM upper.
I'm under 900 for the whole thing at this point.
Thanks everybody for the advice!
Plead ignorance on the Sig 556 but I will look into it.
I need to do some research and see what the extra 1.5 inches of barrel does.
I've got a BCM 16" standard weight middy, and a PSA lightweight 16" middy. Both set up the same with MOE forend, BCM charging handles and pistol grips, and VLTOR Modstocks. Both have fixed front sight, and MBUS rears. The lightweight seems to get grabbed more often than the standard when it is range time.
If I was going to do it over again, I would have bought 2 BCM lightweights. No complaints about the PSA upper right now, but their customer service rep lied to me (probably through flat out ignorance instead of ill intent) and left me sour.
I would buy a complete BCM lower, or at the least their LPK and receiver extension, before the PSA kit again. The quality of the RE on the BCM was much nicer than the PSA and I ended up replacing the PSA RE, spring, and buffer with a VLTOR RE and BCM spring and buffer to make the scraping stop.
The lightweight handles so much quicker and easier than the standard that it is almost hard to believe. I would go with a lightweight 16 before a standard weight 14.5 if you want quick handling
I opted for the 16" barrels to a) avoid spending extra cash on a better FS or comp right now and pinning it and b) leaving my options open in case of suppressors becoming legal in MN somehow, some day...
A BCM rifle out the door would run you 1100 or so depending on what your FFL gets.
Hope this helps!
BC, Thanks. That helps a lot.
Some discussion of SIG 556 here:
http://www.warriortalknews.com/2012/08/my-impressions-of-the-sig-556-classic-and-sig-556-swat.html
They also make the 556R in 7.62x39 and it runs on regular old AK mags.....
H
H, I have been following that. Thanks,
R
Stag Arms Model 2 (http://catalog.stagarms.com/cart/images/stag_arms_model2.gif) seems to fit the bill. MSRP of $940, but dealer on it is $780 which leaves you plenty of room for accessories. $740 for the Model 3 flattoop with no sights at all.
My bad, you were talking uppers...not complete rifles. #2 upper is $445 dealer, #3 upper is $395 dealer.
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