3-Gun Upper Advice

[Husker95]

I'm thinking about getting an upper for 3-gun competition and need some advice. I currently have a pretty bone stock 20" Armalite A2 that shoots well and I like it as a varmint/predator rig. However, its a&& heavy - especially with the big ol piece of glass on top. Would i have any performance issues with snapping a different 18" or 16" upper with a lighter profile onto my A2 Armalite lower? Do i have to stick with a rifle length gas system with this lower or would it run with a carbine length? Budget is a consideration so I'm trying to find the most cost-effective way to get to a solution - not sure a completely new AR-15 would fly with the wife.

I am new to the AR world so forgive the basic question. I have plowed through a lot of posting out here trying to answer this and am still a little confused. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

Husker

[Fromk]

Here's my 2 cents. I'm making these suggestions based heavily on the words "3-gun competition" so keep that in mind. I'm also not sure what kind of experience or skill level you're bringing.

If budget is a concern I'd go for a decent 16" mid-length barrel with a low profile gas block. Get an adjustable one if you can.

Get the longest and least cluttered handguard you can afford. A 15.5" one is the longest you can with that. I don't like exposed rail on mine and have basically a long cylinder.

Get a muzzle brake instead of a flash hider. VERY important. At least get a cheap Stag or Miculek brake. This doesn't have to break the bank.

Spend some money on a quality optic and mount. A 1-4x is pretty popular but there are a lot of ways to go here including offset irons. Just remember that close range is at least as important as distance shooting in this case. Burris makes a pretty good entry level scope. Depending on the match you plan to go to a red dot can last you a while. The phrase "buy once cry once" really makes sense here. I'd even suggest shooting irons instead of rushing with a cheap scope and save up.

I think that's a pretty good start.

[MarkCO]

The most common (because it is generally accepted to be the best) is the 18" stainless barreled upper with rifle length gas. After that, there are a lot of paths. If you have a competition barrel with a reduced diameter gas port, then a low profile clamped non-adjustable gas-block provides the best combination of reliability and performance. Balance at the magwell is a huge benefit and one of the main reasons we came out with the Carbon Feather hand-guards. These make for the handling of a light profile upper but the with medium profile barrel. The 18" guns can be used from contact to 600 yards with ease. They are softer recoiling, so faster on splits, but long enough to keep at it on the long range stuff. Sure, 16" guns with mid-length gas will do fine, but not quite as soft and your trajectory will be affected a tad.

If you have questions, feel free to call me at the shop and I can help you out with getting set-up. We build some of the best 3Gun uppers going borne out of use in competition and use of our own parts designed specifically for competition performance.

[davsel]

^^^
+1 for Carbon Arms - they know what they're talking about / doing regularly.

[DocMedic]

You could stick with your 20" rifle and put some different glass. Its really not about the rifle so much as what you can see, and what I mean is can you see up-close and shot out far? This way you can save some money and see what others have to know what you really want. As Mark has said get a decent 1-4x scope, I believe burris is still one of the better price ones with a BDC, hell I think you can even buy a "kit" with scope and mount cheaper then you would anywhere else.

[CareyH]

18in with a rifle length gas system. Just like mark said. You should go to a few matches and see what everyone else is using. You will get a better idea of what is needed that way.

[Husker95]

Thanks for the info guys that just the kind of intel I'm looking for. I have shot a lot of pistol in local matches for IPSC, ICORE, Steel Challenge and bowling pins. I've only owned an AR for about 18 months and have never shot 3G competition - but have talked with a lot of friends who do and looked at the local forums. I think it would be a cool thing for my son and I to get into together - starting small and slow at first of course. I thought about popping the scope off my 20" Armalite and working with that, but even without the scope its a 9+ pound gun. Right now I'm just evaluating whether the smart move is to get a new upper or a whole new gun.

[MarkCO]

Match at CRC September 7th, Class on September 6th. Great chance to see what is all about and make a more informed choice.

[DocMedic]

Thanks for the info guys that just the kind of intel I'm looking for. I have shot a lot of pistol in local matches for IPSC, ICORE, Steel Challenge and bowling pins. I've only owned an AR for about 18 months and have never shot 3G competition - but have talked with a lot of friends who do and looked at the local forums. I think it would be a cool thing for my son and I to get into together - starting small and slow at first of course. I thought about popping the scope off my 20" Armalite and working with that, but even without the scope its a 9+ pound gun. Right now I'm just evaluating whether the smart move is to get a new upper or a whole new gun.

I've ran a 12lbs setup 20" barrel for my first 2 years of 3gun. Current gun with glass maybe 9.5. It's not so much the weight but where it is balanced

[belizejet]

Try the 3-gun match in Lake George when it starts up again. Friendly match to start with. Don't get a lot of "professional" 3-gunners. The big September match is the only one where they show up to get the trophies. Safety first but people are not unapproachable. Many people would be willing to help you out and even let you shoot there equipment. You can shoot mine and see what the minimum is. :) Dont buy something without knowing what you will need. i have some 3 gun equipment that I did not need and now it is taking up space and a waste of money.

[Hoser]

The big September match is the only one where they show up to get the trophies.

Funny stuff right there.

[Hoser]

For most matches anymore you will be well served with a 16 inch upper with mid length gas and a good brake. A good free float tube like PRI is a nice to have, but not a must have.

Put in some time learning how to build a position from awkward props and practice making tough shots up close to gain confidence.