Building a custom AR

[blackwolfe]

Seeing KPR's new AR got me thinking.  If you were building up a lower, and then either building or buying an upper, what would you put together?

I'm not sold on the gas pistons yet as there seem to be so many variations out there, so for now I would stick with the conventional gas system.  I like the mid length gas system on a flat top.  Free float tube with not a lot of rails. Hogue grip. Rock River tactical carry handle rear sight and conventional front sight, or maybe a railed gas block with a removable front sight.  I like the Rock River coyote rifle gas block.  Probably a enhanced trigger guard.  Collapsible stock, but nothing fancy. 

[kilopaparomeo]

Hey BW

Like you said, I just built a new AR so I've been thinking about the same thing.  As I mentioned in the other thread, there are a few things I like and put on almost every AR I have. 

• Ergo or Hogue grips
• Magpul enhanced trigger guard
• Decent flip up BUIS
• Middy or RLGS for reliability
• Good FH...not just the A2 birdcage

I'm with you also...I'm souring on a lot of rails.  Overdone and I don't hang that much on my rifles.  I like the smooth handguards that allow you to put rails only where you want them.  YHM makes a nice one that is about 1/3 the cost of others.

KPR

[Badgersmilk]

No offense intended!  But it is good stuff.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782

[Pathfinder]

Magpul MIAD grip with multiple cores
VLTOR stock
flat-top upper
good back-up sights, e.g. ARMS

I agree with KPR on the smooth fore-end - I got a YHM fore-end that has full rails on the top and sides, but a short forward rail on the bottom, with a smooth (parkerized) round shape where the hand goes.

[USSA-1]

It really depends upon two things.  What you want to do with the rifle and how much you want to spend.  There is such a huge aftermarket parts and accessories industry that many times it comes down to what looks good to you.

I would suggest you look at some of the pictures threads on AR15.com or M4Carbine.net to get an idea of how you may want to build up your AR and what it may look like before you lay out cash on your pet project only to find you don't like how a particular part "looks" on your setup.

USSA-1

[Sponsor]

[Big Frank]

I don't really pimp mine out. I just changed grips and put a free float tube on one of them. The other one has a $6 plastic rail on it to hold a foregrip and flashlight. I put a JARD trigger in one and changed a couple other small parts.

[twyacht]

Agree with jumbo,.... simple, functional, high speed, low drag, just enough to cover your application.

Less is more. Put the "goodies" in the "guts, nuts, and bolts" and it will be a real keeper.

[2HOW]

Seeing KPR's new AR got me thinking.  If you were building up a lower, and then either building or buying an upper, what would you put together?

I'm not sold on the gas pistons yet as there seem to be so many variations out there, so for now I would stick with the conventional gas system.  I like the mid length gas system on a flat top.  Free float tube with not a lot of rails. Hogue grip. Rock River tactical carry handle rear sight and conventional front sight, or maybe a railed gas block with a removable front sight.  I like the Rock River coyote rifle gas block.  Probably a enhanced trigger guard.  Collapsible stock, but nothing fancy. 

Im not sure that building is the way to go since prices are so good. Gas piston rifles under 900.00 and a good duty carbine under 700.00. From there you can add on. Depends on how many bells and whistles you want.

[kilopaparomeo]

Im not sure that building is the way to go since prices are so good.

Except I got to build it the way I wanted from the get go, versus buy a "good duty carbine" for $700, spend time taking it apart, putting all the new parts on, then either trying to sell them one by one or just putting them in a box.

I didn't build to save money.  I built to get the gun I wanted.  And I can guarantee you the gun I built isn't offered by anyone as a stock item.

[garand4life]

I didn't see this thread when I posted mine 5 minutes ago so I'll take mine down and repost here.
I am going to bite the bullet (haha) and build an upper for me, myself and I. I want an upper built off a STAG upper reciever (just like my M&P15) with a 11"-14.5" barrel. Any recommendations on who would offer such a thing or parts there of. And are there any legal issues with the length if I'm building it myself. I am in Ohio so there are no WHACKED out laws here to speak of. My vision is a flat top with free floated barrel 11"-14.5" with quadrail and troy flip sights. Look at the M&P15T but shorter. Any thoughts ideas or suggestions. I know you guys are never short on opinion.