jmac2112

I've been reloading for 9mm and .45 ACP for a couple of years, but now I'm building my first AR and I'm researching the reloading process for that. This will be a relatively lightweight build, and I've narrowed down the barrel to either a Faxon Gunner Match 16" 223 Wylde or a Faxon Gunner 16" 5.56 NATO. It's my understanding that, all other things being equal, a 223 Wylde barrel will be more accurate than a 5.56 barrel. It's also my understanding that this is due partly to the longer bullet jump with the 5.56 chamber (and the fact that the chamber is a little looser). So, my question is, how much can this difference be minimized by loading with a longer OAL for 5.56? The reason I'm building this gun is to use it in the 2-gun matches at my local range, and I realize that extreme accuracy is not really necessary for that purpose. 2 or 3 MOA vs. 1 MOA is not a huge disadvantage in this arena. Still, part of me doesn't care about that and just wants the gun to be as accurate as possible. There is about a $50 difference in the price of these two barrels, though, and I don't want to throw away money for no reason, especially if reloading technique can make a 5.56 barrel almost as accurate as the Wylde. Any advice appreciated! Thanks, John

Again, thanks for all the suggestions, especially to emjbe for the in-depth report!

Just answered my own question about Delta Team Tactical with a Google search, and it didn't take long. I thought the price sounded too good to be true.... Lots of reports of people waiting forever for their parts, or never getting them at all.

So many to choose from! I do appreciate all the recommendations, of course. I found the Hiperfire Reflex for $190 with free shipping at Delta Team Tactical. It's starting to sound tempting, as long as I can verify that this is a reputable outfit (Delta Team Tactical, I mean). Anyone ever dealt with them? There's a Cabela's within driving distance, so I might have to check out the AR Gold as well.

Great, thanks for the feedback, everyone. Anyone else have a suggestion? If I recall, the Timney triggers tend to be well over $200, but I will give them another look.

Hi! My first AR-15 build is coming along, and I thank all of you who contributed to the first thread a started on this topic. Right now I'm trying to decide on a trigger. People offered advice on this in the other thread, but I'm still bewildered by all the choices. This is for a gun that will be used primarily for general range use and 2 gun/3 gun competition. Based on what I've read so far, I want a single stage trigger, and I'd like to keep the price under $200. Here a list of contenders that I have come up with: 1) Velocity 3 lb. https://www.ebay.com/p/Velocity-3lb-Drop-in-Competition-Trigger-With-Anti-Rotation-Pins/1286103279 2) CMC 2.5 lb. https://www.primaryarms.com/cmc-ar-15-ar-10-drop-in-competition-match-grade-3-gun-single-stage-2.5lb-curved-trigger-mil-spec 3) JP Enterprises Competition Trigger https://www.midwayusa.com/product/162489/jp-enterprises-competition-trigger-group-with-trigger-hammer-and-anti-walk-pins-ar-15-small-pin-154-3-lb-single-stage 4) Geissele B-GRF Rapid Fire Trigger https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/triggers-parts/triggers/ar-15-enhanced-triggers-prod67223.aspx 5) Rise Armament Super Sport trigger https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/triggers-parts/triggers/ar-15-super-sport-trigger-prod109431.aspx #4 is actually a 2-stage trigger, but supposedly it "pulls like a single stage but resets like a two-stage." It's also on sale at Brownells for $149. I'm kind of leaning toward the JP Enterprises, even though it's not a drop-in trigger. I'm pretty handy, and I've done a fair amount of amateur gunsmithing, so I'm not put off by the prospect of fitting it. The thing that makes it so hard to decide is the fact that every single trigger on the market has its vehement detractors, so 2/3 of the reviews say "Greatest trigger in the history of mankind!" and 1/3 say "Total piece of garbage, don't waste your money!" I suspect that a lot of the bad reviews are from people who can't read or follow directions, but who knows. So, if anyone can comment on one of the triggers listed above, or submit another one for consideration, please do so! Thanks, John

Thanks for the input, mvmojo! I have tried a few things and have settled on using a close-focused lens (basically "computer glasses") for my right eye and no lens at all for the left. I don't like using both lenses for that pair of glasses because then the targets are very blurry. My distance vision is good enough to see the targets without vision correction, so this setup works pretty well for me. Astigmatism is my main problem when it comes to distance, and it makes everything a little fuzzy. My bifocal prescription has some magnification for distance, and when I tried using that lens for my left eye along with the "computer glass" lens for my right eye, it seemed very awkward due to the different magnification. At some point I will probably get a pair of glasses that correct for astigmatism only, and then I'll try using that for my left eye paired with the computer glasses lens for the right. Or maybe I'll throw up my hands and get a dot....

Looks great! "Joy to shoot," that's what I'm aiming for! Can you tell me about your sights? That's something I haven't thought about very much. From what I've seen, though, it's very easy to spend more on optics than on the rifle itself.

Ah, now I see! Thanks for the clarification.

I was just looking at a BCM Gunfighter charging handle, and in the description it says "NOTE: Not compatible with adjustable gas keyed bolt carrier groups." I'm leaning toward the Brownells adjustable BCG at this point, so can anyone tell me whether this warning applies? Nothing in the Brownells description says anything specifically about being "adjustable gas keyed." Thanks! John

Chip3: Thanks for the info! Snausages: I already ordered the 12" handguard, as part of a builder's kit no less, so looks like I'll be using that for a while at least.

Thanks, Chip3! I see you've got the clamp on version. Do you think the set screw version would fit just as well? I've never seen either of them up close and personal.

Great! Thanks, Snausages and DesertTortoise! And thanks to everyone who has helped me with these questions. I'm feeling confident that I can move forward with this build without worrying about any major problems.

Thanks for the input, wgj3! The barrel I have in mind is made for mid length, so looks like I'll be going with that. As to the trigger, I'm leaning toward the CMC based on your input among others. And the buffer kit I bought is the carbine variety with the standard weight buffer, so it sounds like that should work fine. Does anyone have any thoughts on whether there is a downside to using a light weight BCG? This will be a competition/range use gun, but I still want it to be reliable. Did Stoner decide on the stock weight (11.5 oz., I think) just to be EXTRA SURE that the gun would go bang every time? Will a light weight unit result in significantly more stoppages? Or does the fact that you can tune the gas with an adjustable gas block mean that you can also reduce the amount of fouling, thereby making up for the loss of inertia? Or do I simply not know what I'm talking about?

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions! Southpaw brought Primary Arms to my attention, and I ended up ordering the Aero Precision mil spec carbine buffer kit, a Magpul armorer's wrench, a lower parts kit (without trigger or grip) and a Magpul Miad grip from them because their sale prices were better than the current prices on Brownells. I have now spent all the money I can justify for the moment, but this should be enough to allow me to start building.

As long as I've got you all here.... Any recommendations on special tools needed for this build? I've got a garage full of tools, and even a few (like punches) that are geared toward working on guns, but I imagine that there are some things that really require the right tool.

Thanks, JayDee! Regarding your use of H2 buffers, is that in addition to a low mass BCG and adjustable gas block, or is that with the standard setup?

OK, thanks to both of you for your replies! One point that I'm not entirely clear on is whether or not I would need to mess with the standard buffer and spring if I were using a lightweight BCG and adjustable gas block. One of DesertTortoise's replies above makes me thing that this would not be necessary, but I just wanted to check. Also, from what I'm seeing on Brownells, it looks like their lightweight BCG is very reasonably priced even compared to "regular" BCGs. It looks like only the most basic units are cheaper. Am I missing something? Seems odd. Thanks, John

Thanks for the reply, DesertTortoise! If I could pick your brain a bit more: 1) What do you think of the Brownells lightweight BCG? https://www.brownells.com/search/index.htm?k=078-000-405WB +M16+Lightweight+Bolt+Carrier+Group+Nickel+Boron&ksubmit=y 2) Does this Brownells buffer kit seem like a good place to start? It has a 3.0 oz. buffer: https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/receiver-parts/buffer-tube-parts/buffer-tubes/ar-15-m16-mil-spec-buffer-tube-assembly-prod56055.aspx 3) What do you think about the Miculek compensator? https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/muzzle-devices/compensators-amp-muzzle-brakes/ar-15-miculek-compensator-22-caliber-prod123146.aspx 4) Any recommendations for a good trigger, preferably under $200? Thanks!

Hi, I've been shooting pistol for a couple of years now (USPSA, Steel Challenge, other), and now I've decided to get an AR15. I like building things, so I decided to do this myself, but I could use a few pointers. First of all, this will be used primarily for competition and general range use. I'm trying to keep the total cost below $1000 (minus optics), but that's not hard and fast. I'd also like it to be fairly light wieght, and with decent accuracy out to 400 yards. In the end, I want a gun that is a pleasure to shoot without breaking the bank. Here are the parts I have ordered so far: M4E1 Builder Set w/ ATLAS S-ONE Handguard (stripped lower with integral trigger guard, assembled upper with FA, 12” M-Lok handguard) https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m4e1-builder-set-atlas-s-one-handguard I also plan to get this: Match Series- 16" Gunner, 223 Wylde, Mid-Length, 416R, Nitride, 5R, Nickel Teflon Extension (https://faxonfirearms.com/match-series-16-gunner-223-wylde-mid-length-416r-nitride-5r-nickel-teflon-extension/) I've been told that a mid-length gas system is the way to go for my purposes, but I need to know exactly what that means. Specifically, I am unsure what to buy in terms of the buffer/spring/buffer tube. Do I want a carbine setup, or rifle? Standard buffer, or one of the heavier ones? Brownells sells this one, which seems to be meant for general purposes: https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/receiver-parts/buffer-tube-parts/buffer-tubes/ar-15-m16-mil-spec-buffer-tube-assembly-prod56055.aspx Also, is there any benefit to getting an adjustable gas block if I keep everything else stock? Or is that like adding a fart-can muffler to a Honda Civic and expecting to go faster? And lastly, please feel free to correct me if I'm not even asking the right questions! Thanks, John

I hear ya there. It's hard for me to shake it off when I have a bad run. Staying positive, staying in the moment and not trying to rush anything is critical, but as soon as I start thinking that something is critical, I'm in trouble! As to the phrase or thought, I'm still trying to decide what to do. One thought I had was to try to picture the A zone as a powerful bullet magnet or bullet vacuum. Or I could go with something more conventional like "firm grip, front sight." That appeals to me because I have a tendency to forget about those two things when the buzzer goes off.

Thanks, jkrispies, I'll look into that! Sounds very handy.

Anyone? At the very least, the sound of crickets is telling me that this particular journal is not a favorite!

Just an update: What I've ended up doing is using just the "computer glasses" lens for my right eye (dominant eye) and no lens at all for my left eye (wearing hardware store safety glasses over it). I can see well enough at a distance without glasses, so this works OK. I tried using my regular distance prescription lens for my left eye, but I really had a hard time getting used to the different magnifications. My next step, one of these days, will be to get an "astigmatism-only" lens for my left eye, i.e. without any magnification, since astigmatism is by far my biggest problem as far as distance vision goes. It would be nice to be able to see a little better at a distance, although I don't know how much of a difference it will make in my shooting. In any case, I'm pretty satisfied with my current setup.

Thanks for the input, HoMiE! I've been doing the dry fire, but not very much visualization. Gotta work more of that into my routine....