Need a .243 Win. AR-10

Seeking_Coyotes

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Minuteman
May 11, 2017
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Looking to build a very accurate, not heavy rifle. If anyone could recommend upper, lower, trigger, barrel, mags, and ?. Want to do a 20" threaded barrel with a 1:11 or 1:12 twist. Need a rail or portion of a rail under the hand guard to clamp into my RRS rest. Trigger around 3# +/-.

Will probably get someone to assemble the parts for me. Like to keep it around $1,000.

Decided the ones offered by Rock River and DPMS are not exactly what I am looking for.
 
You're gonna be piecing that one together man, but the fact that the 243 is based off the 308 case, you can use everything but the barrel from a 308 build. So... Piece together your favorite gear (or go easy and buy an Aero large frame builder set) and a WC barrel or any other you like...
 
It’s hard to beat the Aero set for the money. I think the 12” twist barrel will be a custom. Call Paul Craddock of Craddock Precision. I’ve never measured them but BCM triggers with JP 3.5 lb springs is fairly decent for about $85. As long as your ammo is under 2.80, use Magpul Pmags. If you need more room, Knights Armament are the best and allow near 2.85”. I use them but load 2.83 and have room to spare.
I have a DPMS Lite Hunter in 243. It doesn’t have a threaded barrel but I plan to have it threaded and replace the carbon fiber handguard with an M lock rail soon. It’s a 10” twist though.
 
I am currently playing with an Aero Precision 18” 6.5CM. I know that’s not the caliber you asked about, but the Aero upper/Lower is absolutely fine for what I want the gun to do.
I’m just building it to mess around with.
I already have a GAP-10 and a KAC SR-25, so I’m covered on the “serious” side of things.
The build is solid, shoots MOA or better.

I’d say build on an Aero receiver set and go with a custom .243 barrel.
As a side note, and I’m serious here: buy 2 barrels. You will like the system, you’ll shoot it a bunch. .243 will burn out in 1500 rounds or so. That’s EASY to shoot in a soft shooting, hard hitting caliber on an AR-10 platform. No reason to have to wait while your second barrel is spun up.

Lastly, go with an adjustable gas block up front. Might as well do it on the initial build. You WILL want one. I use Superlative Arms, but there are others that are decent too.
There’s ALOT of gas to deal with on these large frame AR’s. Most of it you don’t need. An adjustable gas block makes brass pile up about 4 feet away in a nice pile. Without one, brass is 20’ away, and beat up.
 
I am currently playing with an Aero Precision 18” 6.5CM. I know that’s not the caliber you asked about, but the Aero upper/Lower is absolutely fine for what I want the gun to do.
I’m just building it to mess around with.
I already have a GAP-10 and a KAC SR-25, so I’m covered on the “serious” side of things.
The build is solid, shoots MOA or better.

I’d say build on an Aero receiver set and go with a custom .243 barrel.
As a side note, and I’m serious here: buy 2 barrels. You will like the system, you’ll shoot it a bunch. .243 will burn out in 1500 rounds or so. That’s EASY to shoot in a soft shooting, hard hitting caliber on an AR-10 platform. No reason to have to wait while your second barrel is spun up.

Lastly, go with an adjustable gas block up front. Might as well do it on the initial build. You WILL want one. I use Superlative Arms, but there are others that are decent too.
There’s ALOT of gas to deal with on these large frame AR’s. Most of it you don’t need. An adjustable gas block makes brass pile up about 4 feet away in a nice pile. Without one, brass is 20’ away, and beat up.
Thank you for your expertise and experience, it really is helpful to me.
 
Why such a slow twist? 1-10 is more "standard" for a 243, and should handle anything from light ~55 gr varmint bullets, up to ~100 hunting bullets (not VLD-types). You might like the platform so much that you decide you want to deer hunt or shoot longer range with it. I just think a 1-11 or 1-12 is not nearly as versatile as a 1-10.

I had a DPMS AR10 in 243 that had the 20" 1-10 barrel, and it shot both the 58gr v-max and the 95gr SST very well.

IMO: Lightweight, Very Accurate, and under $1000 is going to be tough to do. Pick 2.
 
A $1000 AR-10 build is going to be a piece of shit. No getting around it.

I’d look at BHW for a barrel, sometimes they have some over runs and ones they made for customers that didn’t follow through that they sell for about half price if you’re not too picky. Then catch some parts as they go on sale. The Seekins builder set is pretty much the best for building on and you can pick up a 30% off coupon on here for $25-$50 pretty easily to get a nice discount on that and some of the other parts.

You can stay close to your budget if you get the right deals but I don’t think your going to make it happen for a grand.
 
It will be tough to build a decent 243 for $1000; especially one that’s “not a heavy rifle”. Here is a thread with a parts list for a light 6.5 Creed, all you would have to change in this build to make it a 243 is a barrel. This one weighs 6.5# with a 20” match barrel. Take a look at the parts list as it may give you ideas on how to lighten your build if you choose a different receiver set. Food for though anyway.

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/lightweight-2a-arms-xanthos-6-5-cm-build.6877340/
 
Been looking for the same only pre-made. I noticed Wilson Combat and Alex Pro make models for over two to three times what you are looking to spend. AR-15 Parts makes an upper in your price range. And Bear Creek Arsenal makes budget $600+ models with magazine issues per Alaskan Ballistics (at least on the 22-50) unless you pay a hundred dollars for one of BCA's ten round magazines or modify a Lancer magazine... or so Chuck and the Interwebs tell me... Just thought I would throw out a little more information that I have found and let the Autistic/AR (in this case I'm using AR to stand for Anal Retentive and not Armalite) types go at it... Obviously, a Wilson Combat product should be quality, but if you can put together how many decent rifles for the price of one Wilson???
 
Been looking for the same only pre-made. I noticed Wilson Combat and Alex Pro make models for over two to three times what you are looking to spend. AR-15 Parts makes an upper in your price range. And Bear Creek Arsenal makes budget $600+ models with magazine issues per Alaskan Ballistics (at least on the 22-50) unless you pay a hundred dollars for one of BCA's ten round magazines or modify a Lancer magazine... or so Chuck and the Interwebs tell me... Just thought I would throw out a little more information that I have found and let the Autistic/AR (in this case I'm using AR to stand for Anal Retentive and not Armalite) types go at it... Obviously, a Wilson Combat product should be quality, but if you can put together how many decent rifles for the price of one Wilson???
After four years, I’m hoping the OP was able to get his rifle assembled.
 
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