My first AR-15 configuration, comments/suggestions welcome!

Hey everybody! With a little luck, I should be an "official" member in a few weeks. I'm price shopping receivers and checking out reviews right now, and hope to have everything finished by September. Now, I've never owned or even shot an AR-15 before, so I've spent the past few weeks researching what it is exactly that I want out of it. (I love the fact that it's such a modular weapon - customization is fun... :) Here's my ideal configuration (tentatively) and I'd like to hear any comments/suggestions you guys might have!

Mega Gator complete lower receiver with M4 adjustable stock. (The jury's still out on whether I'll go with Mega - I'm awaiting feedback on it's "real world" quality apart from the glowing gun-writer write-ups. Any time a review starts off with "I was skeptical as to whether so and so could really live up to their standards of quality and attention to detail with this product... etc. etc. etc." I tend to disregard the rest of the article.)

RRA complete mid-length chrome/moly flat-top upper. After all my research, I've finally decided on a 1:9 twist 16" barrel (seems a good all-around standard size for what I'll be using it for, and with my limited experience.) with the extended sight radius. (I can use all the help I can get sight-wise!) I like the flat-top design because it's easy to scope, and I could always add a carry handle later if I wanted. As far as barrel lining, I figured chrome/moly was a good compromise between stainless and chrome lined, considering I won't be competing professionally - just blasting away with eventually some expectation of accuracy.

DPMS titanium bolt group and charging handle.

Did I miss anything? I'd be interested in whatever feedback you guys have on the configuration!

Cant comment on mega lowers. I Haven’t even held one, just seen pics of them. Most all lowers are about the same. As long as the pin holes are good, everything else is a wash. I really dont care what written on the side of a lower.

Rock River stuff is great. Uppers and lowers. I would get a complete gun if I was shopping around for an off the shelf gun.

For a first gun, I would get a 20 inch gun with a removable carry handle. They tend to have less issues with running, they kick less than a 16 and are easier to shoot accurately. And a fixed buttstock is one less thing to break. They just dont look as cool as the 16s.

Ti plated stuff is a complete waste of time. Just pimp looking stuff actually.

You'd best wait for more experienced hands than mine, but I can't resist a comment. I've heard from several sources including our own Jeff Carpenter:

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Buy a quality rifle / carbine and don't try to build one. In the classes that I have been to approximately 90%+ of the "built" guns have gone tit's up.

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I have an RRA gun, got it early this year (that's how new I am) and have had no major problems with it.
A shooting buddy had one of the hotshot dealers build him an AR especially for 3 gun matches and he is constantly cursing it for failure to feed and eject.

So why are you building a gun from so many components?

Maybe some of the experts here can shed some light on the next question for me:

Which is more likely to cause him trouble - the mixed-brand bolt group & upper or the mixed-brand lower & upper?

I'm a relative newby myself. All I can really say is listen to Tom.

I'm also a HUGE fan of RRA, and I'll echo his comments that you're better off buying a complete rifle. You'll hear it over and over and over again -- the guns that fail the most are the "Frankenguns" of different upper / lower or things that people put together themselves.

If you do decide on the 16", definitely go with a mid-length gas system.

18" barrels with a rifle-length gas-system are the ****. I know CMMG offers some. Not sure of anyone else does (short of custom).

I really, really hate the M4 adjustable stock. Really.

The Magpul is nice, but its heavy. I've read good things about the Sully stock. I've got an A1 (Cavalry Arms) and a couple A2's (Armalite). I like them.

Mike

Gives me an excuse to post a couple pics:

http://homepage.mac.com/michael_aos/...5/IMG_5514.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/michael_aos/...I/IMG_5808.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/michael_aos/...0/IMG_5512.jpg

Like You needed an excuse. [wink]

spoke with a guy who is ex-infantry and now doing semi-custom builds. I asked him about RRA (Mind you I have a 20" RRA complete rifle and love it) uppers and he said to be warry if you are mixing and matching. This is a good rule of thumb anyway you look at it. But, if you're going with RRA, just get a complete RRA.

Gman seems to be real happy with his Stag, and I'm pleased with my 8 year old Bushmaster. Just look for true milspec components. They will run a tad more, but not enough to pink too hard. LMT has a nice rig too.

Take a look at Free Floating the upper if accuracy is the desire. you might even investigate the 18" uppers (aka mid length) as a compromise between that arena.

As for sights, look at the A.R.M.S. #40L ... and if you're looking for a good mounting/ring setup for your optic (if your going for a real scope vs. red dot or holosight) don't skimp, get the Larue SPR mount. It's about $190, but damn well worth it.

Still for your first one I'd say buy off the shelf and get the same manufacturer for both components. Folks around here can hook you up with some parts that we don't need anymore and are willing to part with for a reasonable price.. just post in the wanted area.

Welcome to the addiction!

Thanks for all your comments guys! Well, I did see a RRA LEO marked lower (I know, I know - it doesn't add any intrinsic value - just coolness) on Gunbroker a while back - maybe I'll just make the whole thing RRA. The only reason I was going with DPMS for the bolt carrier was an ar-toting friend of mine said it wasn't as critical which bolt group I picked up, as long as I had a dedicated group for each upper I used. (He said headspace tends to wear when you use the same bolt for different uppers.)

BTW, Tom - I appreciate your advice, but don't worry about the recoil bothering me. This is FAR from my first gun - after bills, most of my paycheck either goes down my barrels, or into new additions to my already bulging gun safe. lol. My friend's short-barreled (shhhh-don't tell anybody) .308 FAL doesn't bother me a bit, so I doubt I'll have much issue with a shorter AR-15. I just opted for the shorter length because I'd like a back-up SHTF gun if it came down to it, and I don't have the money for multiple uppers right now. Right now, I'm relatively certain that a decent chrome/moly free-floated (thanks for that suggestion guys - I almost forgot about floating it!) barrel will shoot better than I can. :oops:

Thanks for all your input everybody!!

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Buy a quality rifle / carbine and don't try to build one. In the classes that I have been to approximately 90%+ of the "built" guns have gone tit's up.

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I think that the key part of this statement is "in the classes that I have been to..." That percentage can't be that high world-wide; I believe that it would be ALOT lower. It would be interesting to find out why those 90% failed, though. Bad parts and/or workmanship would be my guess.

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Mega Gator complete lower receiver with M4 adjustable stock.

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AFAIK, Mega doesn't make stocks or LPKs. Yet, anyway. All I've seen from them are stripped receivers and charging handles so far. Question the brand of components that they're using. Mega receivers are very good, but a deal isn't a very good one if you have to put up with bad internal parts. Good luck!

The 2-day class I attended with Jeff, we shot ~800rds the first day and maybe 400rds the 2nd day.

That's probably more rounds in less time than most people normally shoot.

I suspect that's why "issues" show up in class that don't show up elsewhere.

Mike

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Originally Posted by Caliber357

don't worry about the recoil bothering me.

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Its not that there is much recoil from a 223, but the recoil impulse from a shorty is much more than a full length gas system. Full length guns are just easier to shoot well.

The rifle-length gas-system disrupts your sight-picture a lot less.

You can actually see your impact and get back on target more quickly.

Mike