Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles First Build Arriving Piece By Piece...

So, as I stated before I didn't have any idea about black rifles before I decided to build a HRC gun before I can't do it anymore. It's been fun learning along the way. Here is where I'm at. Wondering if I'm doing alright or if there is areas I definitely mucked up that need changed. I'm open to all comments as it's all an education to me. Thanks for your input.

Lower. - assembled the other night in 1.5 hours with help of a 6er of black & tan.
Anderson multi - caliber
Joebob lower parts kit
Rock River two stage trigger (probably should have upgraded this, though it's not bad and should become a bit lighter)
Magpul CTR stock kit
Hogue grip

Upper
Aero blem with forward assist and dust cover already installed
Barrel is a Spinta Precision lightweight, mid gas, 16 inches. 1.5lbs. (I guess this was a gamble but I really couldn't find anything negative...time will tell)
Midwest Industries Gen 3 M-Lok 12" free float handguard
PSA premium BCG
Yankee Hill low profile gas block
Forget the brand of gas tube
BCM Gunfighter medium charging handle
Cheap A2 flash hider

Did I forget anything?

What's the deal with headspace checking with hen building an AR? Find a lot of differing opinions.

Only need scope mount. I'm probably gonna put a redfield revolution 3-9 on it. Should I go two piece or one piece mounts? Do the mounts need to be offset?

Any idea what weight range I'm gonna be in with this build?

Thanks

Can't see anything you forgot.

Head space is set by the barrel maker and I'm sure there's a barrel and bolt out there that doesn't match up but I've yet to see one or even know anyone who has seen it. If you want to check to be sure, buy a Field gauge from Brownells for less than $25.

One piece cantilever mounts are pretty easy.

Scoped you'll be in the 8lb range.

Stake the castle nut on the receiver extension, don't go crazy when tightening the flash hider, less torque means less stress, same with the barrel nut 40-50' pounds is where I try to stay, buy plenty of magazines and have fun.

I'm working on my 6th AR15 build now, for my dad. And accumulating parts for a .308.

You'll like the MWI Gen3 handguard. Super simple mounting system and seems foolproof to me. The torque plate ensure anti-rotation and locks onto the backside of the barrel nut to keep it from sliding forward. If they'd go to that system on thier .308 handguards I'd have one. As it is I'm going with SLR.

Checking headspeace is a personal choice, as noted above, finding one that doesn't pass is pretty rare. Good idea if you have the tools. If it doesn't pass, you are limited on options, usually with just replacing the bolt. Changing a barrel extension is well beyond the scope of the majority of AR builders on the hobby bench.

The edge of the rear bell of your scope is probably going to sit directly over the back of the charging handle, to get you in the eyebox/eye relief of the scope.

With the Redfield, the length of the scope will most likely need an offset mount to get the scope far enough forward over the front handguard.

Without a cantilever scope mount, generally, the foward scope ring is on the back of the front rail/handguard to clear the scope adjustment housing in the middle of the scope, and the rear ring is on the upper receiver.

Whether you use two piece offset mounts or a one piece offset, the logic is to attach them both to the same piece on the rifle. This should help reduce variables in accuracy, induced between the upper receiver, and the rail over the barrel.

^^^^^^^^

Good point. The Aero Precision mounts would be great for your purpose. The SPR should give you enough forward offset. Sign up for their email list and watch for them to come on sale. Usually a $20+/- savings.

To give you an idea of what AH64 said.

The top rifle has a Redfield TAC-MOA 3-9X40 in a SWFA SSALT mount (knock-off of the Burris PEPPR). The scope is identical in dimensions to the scope you mention.

8lbs. Man, I was hoping to be less. Oh well. Where is the best places to cut weight on one of these?

How come AR scopes are all mounted so high?

It looks like in the picture above that you could have got away with just a set of high, or extra high standard rings and they could have both been mounted on the upper receiver. But I guess you want extra height?

Magazines. Yes, I need a few. Any brand better than another? Metal or polymer? Best place to pick me up at a reasonable price?

Barrel. And, go light on optics, sights if you can. That Tromix is just under 7 lbs.



The barrel is in a straight line with the buttstock, unlike a conventional stock that has drop at the heel. With conventional rings/mounts, the scope is actually too low to get a typical cheekweld.

Weight will sneak up and bite you in the butt. Due to residing in an AR-unfriendly state, I'm limited to H-bar configured rifles. My 20" H-bar + scope and cantilevered one piece mount = a 9 pound rifle, with full magazine. Disappointing, but just a little, as I don't plan to drag it around in the woods (well, maybe, but so what) nor do I foresee my 63 year old self doing any of the "run and gun" games with it. It's ok (and shoots like a MF'er), but the next one (there's always a next one, eh) will be an iron sighted 16" (again with the mandatory H-bar) with as many weight saving features as possible. The goal for that one is 7 pounds or less.

They do make pencil barrels with no threads.

It's not about whether it's threaded or not here in Maryland, it's about barrel profile which translates into weight. Barrel profile + minimum overall length (29½") are the basic parameters here. It's unclear at the moment if a heavy profile barrel that has been fluted is legal. I suppose it'll take a court case to decide that issue.

A 16" barrel under most circumstances will meet the length requirements. All of this is moot for those rifles which pre-existed here before 2013 when these draconian regs were put in place- if you have a lightweight shorty it had better have a pre-2013 serial number on it too, if caught with it.

As bad as it sounds here, it's not really all that horrible. The LGS's are full of myriad styles of AR's, parts, ammo, etc. Plus, we booted out the Socialist Progressive governor we had back then and installed a moderate Republican who is making all the right noises and instituted reforms to balance the scales in many areas of life here. There is hope for the future.

JMHO, AR scopes mounts are high for the front sight tower on standard AR barrel, even though you can't see it in the scope, there is an internet fear that the front sight "blocks" the scope view.

It doesn't, but you usually can't convince the person that hasn't looked through the scope on the AR.

Plus, scope marketing for the tac-ti-cool rifle crowd have been slanted towards "Hubel telescope" objectives on the front end. Can't be cool without a coffee cup sized view...

AR scope mounts are still pretty much a "one-size-fits-all applications" for height.



Yes and yes,

For polys - Magpul will be fine for most uses and last longer than most will shoot - they designed to be disposable, and they don't "dent". You may split one from continued abuse, but you going to work at it before it happens.

A metal magazine doesn't really wear out, surplus or brand-name, watch the on-line sales for a deal. They will dent if abused, but there are enough surplus mags that you should be able to stock up without breaking the bank.

If you shoot with the stock fully extended, you should be able to use standard rings in extra-high height (approx 1.5inches) with the Redfield 3-9. Definitely not if you will be shooting nose-to-charging-handle.

My favorite magazines so far are the translucent, 20 round Lancer L5 AWM's. For shooting at the bench I like the Magpul 10 rounders.
Add a bunch of 30 round Magpul/PSA(D&H)/ASC/Brownells mags for good measure.

Most scope mounts are on the same plane as the sights and the sights were designed to be that high for the simple reason that most people need them that high to comfortably use them due to the bore and stock being in a straight line.

Sure some can get by with a shorter mount but to me and most others it doesn't line up without mashing my head onto the stock. Have you ever seen anyone use the comb adjustment on a PRS stock?

What are the lightest scopes out there. I'd like to stay with a 2-7 or 3-9, maybe a straight 6x. I mentioned putting a redfield revolution 3-9 on only because I have two laying around but they're pretty heavy. Can I cut that weight in half with something else?

I used the JP spring set with RR trigger with good results.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/57...-spring-kit-ar-15-3-1-2-lb-reduced-power



The Leupold ultralight are good quality light weight scopes. The 2-7 is 8 ounces I belive and 3-9 maybe one ounce more.

I used aero ultralight 1" extended mount. It is 1/2 the weight of the closest alternative. Three ounces! You do have to be careful and patient to master how the scope will rotate as you tighten the mount. Not for the mechanically challenged.

http://aeroprecisionusa.com/ultralight-1inch-extended-scope-mount.html

I have a leupy vxii 2-7 sitting around that will probably fit the bill even though I had it slated for another rifle. I also have a weaver straight 6 as well as the redfield rev 3-9. We'll see.

I ended up ordering an ace arfx skeleton stock too. Now I have a magpul CTR and the ace. I couldnt decide between fixed or collapsible so I picked the two I liked best in terms of looks and positive reviews. I'm leaning towards fixed. Is there any advantage or disadvantage between the two?

What's up with PSA, does their shipping take forever? I should t say their shipping but just getting the items processed and out the door. I ordered the BCG a couple weeks ago and it hasn't shipped yet...WTF!