AR Essentials

[A 7.62 Exodus]

Well, the AR bug is hitting me again. I'm even leaning towards trying my hand at an SBR, but that is to be determined. I've build two AR's now, and each one was vastly different from the other, and I still can't quite determine what a "must" is for an AR15. So what says INGO? What is an absolute must when assembling and personalizing an AR15.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

A must? Just like anything else, triggers and sights.

I run the ACT trigger from ALG. I like the Troy iron sights. Lots of good optics. I am digging that new 1-8 by Trijicon but, dude, there are so many solid options

I want a pistol grip that does not have the gap. The Duckbill is cool and I have the Tango Down grip too.

I want a rail for a light. 11 or 12, not really picky.

I like the Vortex flash hider but have Phantoms too.

I like a light gun so pencil barrels, no exploder, no crap or Brownell's catalogue on the gun.

No problem with a fixed stock, the A1 stock is cool. The CTR stock works well with my Charlie Brown head. I like the lock on the CTR for tomato staking, or just being me (I am hard on guns)/

I use $3 gun show slings. I prefer them soft so they stick to clothing at sling arms in class.

My polestars: lightweight, excellent trigger, clean sights, no pinching my fingers with the grip and a simple sling that avoids the Tacticool look and the problems that come with it.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Why do you want an SBR?

 

[NyleRN]

Don't waste your $200 on a stamp for an SBR. Buy an SB tactical SBA3 or SB PDW brace. That way if you ever want to take it with you on a trip and happen to cross state lines it's still just a pistol

 

[A 7.62 Exodus]

Why do you want an SBR?

My "main" AR is heavy. I love it to death, but man. I went with a mid length Adams Arms with a mid length rail. My trunk AR is a 10.5" pistol with a SB PDW brace. It's nice, but the brace is rather awkward, and in an actual SHTF scenario, I'd much rather have a stock. That, and not being able to put a foregrip on it. As I've been looking at my options, I've come down to two. A mid length gas driven upper, or start the SBR process and throw a 12.5" upper on that puppy. I've recently moved south for work to a big city, and having an SBR for trunk purposes and all around SHTF scenarios is very appealing.

@NyleRN

 

[M67]

A silencer is a "must" for me anymore

Being for a truck gun....I'd still run a muzzle device that allows me to attach a silencer but wouldn't leave one on it for a truck gun

For my truck gun it's a midlength with a fixed front sight post, folding rear, red dot, and attachment so I can add my Saker to it if I have it on me

 

[Vigilant]

My "main" AR is heavy. I love it to death, but man. I went with a mid length Adams Arms with a mid length rail. My trunk AR is a 10.5" pistol with a SB PDW brace. It's nice, but the brace is rather awkward, and in an actual SHTF scenario, I'd much rather have a stock. That, and not being able to put a foregrip on it. As I've been looking at my options, I've come down to two. A mid length gas driven upper, or start the SBR process and throw a 12.5" upper on that puppy. I've recently moved south for work to a big city, and having an SBR for trunk purposes and all around SHTF scenarios is very appealing.

@NyleRN

With a 10.5” what is the OAL? If it’s over 26”, you are gtg with a fore grip.

 

[Tyler-The-Piker]

BCM hand stop, Troy HK style fixed battle sights, ok here's my oddball preference: USGI A2 pistol grip with a (Glock 42/43) Hogue Handall beaver tail grip sleeve.

 

[Hop]

I'm really getting hooked on the Larue MBT triggers. I now have 3!!! I might even sell my Giselle SD-E and get another MBT.

I have different grips, stocks & optics on all mine. The one "must" are QD sling mounts. Every sling from my Troy padded 1 point, Magpul MS3, mil-spec & ERT all use a QD.

 

[Hohn]

The "musts" depend on what you'll use the gun for. Is it a workhorse, or showhorse? Tool or instrument?

For a combat-grade gun, save the money on a big dollar trigger and just get the ALG or BCM triggers which are 80% of the premium trigger at 30)% of the price.

Maybe save the money on a high priced handguard, and maybe even skip free floating. Use a standard delta ring and double shield handguards and move on.

The BCM Mod 3 grip is now a "must have" for every AR of mine. Cheap and excellent.

Must-have for most builds for PD or HD should be a lightweight barrel. Faxon Pencil is cheap, light, and reasonably good quality. Save the heavy barrels for precision or varmint work or mag-dump-upon-mag-dump usage.

*QUALITY IRONS* are a must. Troy is IMO the best. My next build will likely have fixed Troys (not flip up)

Full Chrome lining in chamber and bore is a good idea. Way easier to clean than NiB or QPQ in most cases.


Think of all the things "missing" from XM177 or early model A1s. They were still perfectly serviceable rifles in most cases.

 

[breakingcontact]

Don't waste your $200 on a stamp for an SBR. Buy an SB tactical SBA3 or SB PDW brace. That way if you ever want to take it with you on a trip and happen to cross state lines it's still just a pistol

I have both.

Moving with the SBR was a headache.

The braces are pretty awesome now.

 

[aaron580]

Spend 200 on a stamp, and buy a silencer. Both must for an sbr

 

[breakingcontact]

For a combat-grade gun, save the money on a big dollar trigger and just get the ALG or BCM triggers which are 80% of the premium trigger at 30)% of the price.

The BCM triggers are really nice and smooth for the $

 

[MCgrease08]

The BCM triggers are really nice and smooth for the $

I've personally found that I like my PSA enhanced trigger more than the comparable BCM. Not by much, but the PSA does seem to be a tad more polished, resulting in a smoother pull & crisper break. That said, the are both awesome single stage options for the money, and the PSA trigger has seen more use. I am expecting the BCM to smooth out over time with more rounds down range.

I would also give BCM a slight edge on the rest of the components for the LPK, but I don't know if they are truly better built, or if it a bit of a perception thing that comes with the BCM brand name and rep.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

My "main" AR is heavy. I love it to death, but man.

Ok, then lighten it up like Uncle Eugene intended. Guys build varmit rifles, big goofy barrels, bipods that support a water-cooled M1921, or optics suitable for photographing the moon, and then clamp the Brownell's catalogue on it.

Pencil barrel, leave The Exploder off like Uncle Eugene intended, uncomplicated stock, don't put anything on the gun unless it fixes a problem, FOR YOU, and no goofy elaborate slings that look like they are from Japanese bondage porn.

One more thing: the charging handle. It is not your friend. I find the BCM Medium to my liking.

 

[A 7.62 Exodus]

With a 10.5” what is the OAL? If it’s over 26”, you are gtg with a fore grip.

Ok, y'all might be saving my ass here. I did not know about this stuff. I have a Noveske pig style device on the end, so I'm sitting at 28" with my SB PDW brace collapsed. One complaint I had was the handguard being short, but since I've put the pig wannabe on, I could easily order and throw on a 12" handguard for more space.

EDIT: Welp, looks like it's still no dice on the foregrip. The muzzle device doesn't count into the overall length unless it's pinned or welded, or both, which it is not. I'm back under 26"

 

[Onebad06vtx]

Trigger,a good barrel and good glass is the only thing I use.
Im talking like a lilja,Krieger or shilen barrel.
The trigger I only use is a Jard 1 1/2 pound single stage adjustable.
All my AR rifles and pistols are set up for hunting.
I want the best accuracy possible.

 

[NyleRN]

Ok, y'all might be saving my ass here. I did not know about this stuff. I have a Noveske pig style device on the end, so I'm sitting at 28" with my SB PDW brace collapsed. One complaint I had was the handguard being short, but since I've put the pig wannabe on, I could easily order and throw on a 12" handguard for more space.

EDIT: Welp, looks like it's still no dice on the foregrip. The muzzle device doesn't count into the overall length unless it's pinned or welded, or both, which it is not. I'm back under 26"

As mentioned upthread get a handstop.

 

[A 7.62 Exodus]

Ight y'all, just keeping everyone updated with a few more questions. I've decided to save some cash, and just enhance my AR pistol. I ordered a longer hand guard today, and will probably order a polished trigger later this week. I've got backup irons already, and will start looking at a light and glass to complete my rig. Is anyone running a Sparc AR 2? They're cheap, and look to be very practical. What light is everyone on their shorter rifles? Also, does anyone run contoured pistol grips on their guns? For whatever reason, the magpul grip I currently have on it is bugging me, and I'm considering trying one.

 

[croy]

Ight y'all, just keeping everyone updated with a few more questions. I've decided to save some cash, and just enhance my AR pistol. I ordered a longer hand guard today, and will probably order a polished trigger later this week. I've got backup irons already, and will start looking at a light and glass to complete my rig. Is anyone running a Sparc AR 2? They're cheap, and look to be very practical. What light is everyone on their shorter rifles? Also, does anyone run contoured pistol grips on their guns? For whatever reason, the magpul grip I currently have on it is bugging me, and I'm considering trying one.

For a budget optic I really like the holosun. The sparc is good but the battery life on the holosun is what did it for me. Down side to the holosun is the mount. I replaced it with an American Defense Mount. You might have been with me when I zeroed it in?