AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

[blue_ridge]

I need some advice planning my next build. I want to build an AR-15, 5.56 as a 16-20", Designated Marksman style rifle. So I don't want it to be "varmint" heavy, but I am hoping for 1MOA or better accuracy with middle weight bullets (62-75 gr.)

I have a Bushnell 3-12x FFP I intend to use with quick disconnect mounts and flip up BUIS.

So, when deciding how much money to spend to get the best bang for the buck, (spending less than $800 on the upper assembly)I'm assuming the barrel is a good place to upgrade. Currently I'm leaning towards a <span style="font-weight: bold">White Oak Arms 18" stainless 1:8" tw barrel for $270.</span> Any other recommendations on barrels?

Secondly, how important is the upper receiver? Is it a good idea to spend an extra $50-100 (or more) on something like a <span style="font-weight: bold">Rainier Ultramatch upper receiver </span>for $180? Also was looking at <span style="font-weight: bold">Noveske matched set </span>(upper/lower) of their standard forged receivers for $250? How about BCG?

Anything else I need to factor into my budget, keeping in mind I don't want to spend $1000 on the upper? I want to assemble this myself, for fun/experience, so any advice is appreciated. (especially on where best to spend my money!)

To lay out the specifics I'm looking at using for my build:

Rainier UltraMatch Upper - <span style="font-weight: bold">$180</span>
WOA 18" SS barrel 1:8 tw, weight 2.5 lbs - <span style="font-weight: bold">$270</span>
YHM lo-profile block - <span style="font-weight: bold">$21</span>
YHM lightweight free float quad rail - <span style="font-weight: bold">$135</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">Sub-total </span>- approx - <span style="font-weight: bold">$600 </span>+ BCG, lower, stock, misc parts

 

[Mr_Brass]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/2096.php

you're probably looking at something a bit different but I'm thinking of dropping my 24" and 1X9 car for that. seems like it might be a good middle ground for me since i shoot 75gr taps out to a max of 400 yards where i am now. if i want more than that maybe get another 24" later on.

 

[blue_ridge]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

Yeah, I had a varmint barreled upper once before and it was very front heavy, poor balance. I'm wanting to build something balanced and light enough, that I could use the flip up sights and run a 3-gun course with it. But also with good enough upper receiver and barrel that I could expect sub-MOA accuracy with decent ammo. I don't want to build a high end competition gun. I also don't have the money to buy all high end parts.

So I'm curious where people think the moeny is best spent? I mean, I could buy a complete Del-ton upper for $400. But I'm assuming with everything mass produced, mil-spec, chrome moly barrel, not free floated, that 1MOA would be the exception on that kind of upper.

So should I just sink some extra money in the barrel and a free float handguard and go low end on everything else? Or is the upper receiver a major consideration too?

 

[-=boone=-]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

Carrier Group (MPI) - Auto $139.95 Shipped
BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Charging Handle (5.56mm/.223) w/ Mod 4 (MEDIUM) Latch $44.95 Shipped Easier to use with a scope IMO
Upper Receiver Assembly (w/ Laser T-Markings) - M4 Flat Top (M4 Feedramps) - $93.95 Shipped
MI - T 12 Rifle 12" Free Float $155.00 shipped
SPR Barrel w/ Mid-Length Gas low pro gas block and gas tube $320.00 1/7 twist

$753 or $708 w/ out charging handle.

Your going to need a good trigger
Geissele AR15 Super Semi-Automatic Trigger $170.00 Shipped
Geissele SSA-E trigger $200



A good barrel free float hand guards and a good trigger will take you a long way.

Stay away from Chrome, go with stainless steel.

 

[OFIS]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

Tubb flat buffer spring.

 

[50-140]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

I used one of the Rainier billet M4 uppers in a build with a WOA stainless 18" barrel, it's excellent quality.
With that said, you can get a forged set, matched lower and upper from Rainier, that would work quite well for $249.
The barrel, WOA stainless is a good choice at a good price.
Geissele is a great trigger, SSA is my go to trigger.
BCM charging handle another excellent choice. When it comes to rails, you might look at JP VTAC, they are comparable price to YHM and a bit lighter.

 

[blue_ridge]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

I'm looking up all the stuff you guys are telling me. Also, I already have a RRA LPK w/ 2-stage trigger to use. Thanks.

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

This was my last SPRish build.

The rifle itself came in right at 10lbs, not including the bipod.

For the barrel, there are more than a few good ones out there that will do what you want. If you want the best in accuracy, then get a Krieger, but that will set you back about $500.

White Oak has a good reputation for being a good bang for the buck, but recently I've seen a few guys at the range that are normally good shooters stating their dissatisfaction with the performance of their White Oak tubes. For reasonably priced barrels, I like the offerings from Bravo Company and Superior Barrels.

The Bravo Company SS410 barrels are really nice. Smooth bores and great shooters. With my last 16" SS410 barrel, I was able to put 20 rounds through 1.25" at 100 yards. It stayed very consistent, even when the barrel was smoking hot. The rifle above is wearing an 18" barrel from Superior Barrels.

Superior Barrels uses Douglas blanks that are turned by White Oak and then they apply their coating to it. That coating is tough. When I got the barrel in, I raked the blade of a pair of scissor across the barrel and it didn't leave a mark. The barrel also shot very well, although I think that the Bravo barrel shot a tad bit better. Not enough to make any practical difference anyway.

I went with the 18" barrel because I wanted this rig to be a smooth shooter. I wanted to be able to see my hits without having to use a muzzle brake or a super heavy barrel. This 18" has a rifle length gas system. Of all of the rigs that I've shot, an 18" barrel with a rifle length gas system shoots the smoothest.

As for the upper receiver, you don't have to break the bank to build an accurate rifle. Don't kill yourself to get a billet receiver either. There's nothing about them that makes them any better than a good forged receiver. I do believe that a receiver forged of 7075 aluminum (I've seen some forged of 6061) is stronger than a billet receiver of the same physical size. Although the pic shows a Vltor upper receiver, I ultimately swapped it for a Daniel Defense receiver. The DD receiver offered a much tighter fit to the barrel extension, the face was square, there were no high spots and the bolt wasn't excessively loose in it. In fact, the DD receiver that I got was actually the best one that I've used.

For the bolt carrier group, just get it from Bravo Company and know that each part will do what its supposed to.

You can then take the money that you saved on the upper and dump it into a Geissele SSA-E trigger. It isn't a match trigger, but it's plenty smooth and crisp. Just a tad bit on the heavy side to be called a match trigger. The up side is that there's nothing to adjust. Drop it in and forget it.

Good luck.

 

[carbinero]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

Lots of good advice here. +1 on BCM barrel, BCG and handle.

I'd look for better than YHM on the rail. Troy shouldn't cost much more.

Why the pricey upper? Standard M4 from BCM is less than $100.

Agreed on selling the RRA as new and getting a Geissele.

 

[blue_ridge]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

Okay, thanks for all the advice.

Just ordered the Rainier Billet upper, a WOA SPR 18" barrel and Rainier's BCG.

I went with the Rainier billet upper for a few reasons. They are on sale for $180. They advertise very tight tolerances on the machining compared to standard forged upper and the price is good right now. Rainier had all three items in stock ready to ship together.

My next task is finding a decent free float quad rail that will cover the low profile block on the rifle length system. I think it is 12" to the block. I know Larue, DD, Troy and MI make them. Just looking for the best one for the money.

I also plan on ordering the Tubb flat buffer spring and BCM charging handle.

 

[-=boone=-]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

This is my current rail that I'm selling it's a 12".

This is the rail I'm switching to.

To cover the gas block on a rifle length upper you’re going to need a rail that's 15" in length.

Midwest rails are machined nice and lock up as tight as any high end rail maker on the market. Don't let people bullshit you that they don't. I had a buddy sell his Troy after seeing how rock solid my MI rail was. His Troy however was lacking.

If I didn't like the MI rails I would probably go with the JP handguard.

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

What's wrong with YHM? I've had a lot of their products, and have always been very satisfied with the quality, particularly for the price.

 

[carbinero]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

I used to buy what some people call "2nd tier" gun stuff, but I am a Murphy's Law magnet. Even top stuff fails sometimes, but the best companies will make it right, right now, and not BS you. This has included soft aluminum, out of spec gas port diameters, canted front sight bases, poor tolerances on rails/sights, the list goes on. You may get a perfect part from XYZ company, and that's great. Some people are immune to Murphy. For my time and money, I'll stick with time tested and proven companies that adhere to specs. That's my experience, so if yours is different, I won't debate that.

 

[blue_ridge]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

Well, I found a Daniel Defense 14.0 lite rail for sale on a forum and agreed to buy it at a discount. More than I intended to spend, but I think it will work with the 18" barrel and low profile block perfectly.

So I've got all the major parts, except a stripped lower, on the way now. I still will need buffer and spring for an existing A2 stock. I still need the rifle length gas tube. Hoping the DD 14.0 comes with the parts needed to mount that with the barrel and upper. And I still need a mount/rings for my Bushnell 3-12x44FFP and flip up sights.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm in to this build all the way up to my ears now. Lots of work to do.

 

[carbinero]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

DD is GTG. For your small parts, check out SAW: http://www.specializedarmament.com/catalog/Colt_AR_15_Parts-4-0.html

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

I see your point. I usually buy my stuff through reputable dealers like Midway, so if I ever have a problem they will let me return anything for just about any reason.

 

[blue_ridge]

Re: AR-15 build - bang for the buck parts?

Update: one of the reasons I ordered from Ranier was they told me, if it says "in stock" on our website, then we have it ready to ship. I like that, since many websites have almost nothing in stock, so you're browsing through 20 pages of gear and 90% of it says "not in stock" or "on order" (e.g. - BCM) Or websites say it is in stock, they take your credit card payment, then send you a note saying it is on back order.

So, I ordered a billet upper, BCG and WOA 18" barrel from Ranier on Wednesday. I'm off of work today and the post man just delivered a Ranier box with all three items in it! I live on the east coast, Ranier is on the west coast. Two days shipping across the country and they only charged me $7.95 shipping for a heavy box including billet upper and barrel. They've made a fan out of me already!