Deciding on upper specs. 1st build. ARGH!

This is my first build and Im a new member. I am having a helluva time deciding on what upper I wan't for my machine. I am going to use this for plinking aroun, but also want it to be accurate to 200 yds. I would like to shoot the most economical round which I have learned is the 55gr 223 and it is readily available in bulk.. Im not interested in just spraying ammo down range, or spewing lead into the forest, but more shooting targets.. I would say 80% of the time it would be maxed out at the 200yd range.

Where i am stumped is what twist to get and what length..
After hours and hours of being on the interwebs, I seem to be leaning to the 1/7 twist in a mid length. 1/7 being just dandy at 200yds with a 55gr and have the ability to go with the heavier grains if I want to and have great accuracy. Where the 1/9 twist is going to handle the 55gr better at long distance, but wont handle the heavy bullets well at all. I have been told by a few AR gurus that the 55gr will be just fine at 200yds and close without stability issues.. Can I rely on this info?

Nest is the lenght.. I am leaning toward mid for the lesser stress on the gun and also the lighter recoil for targets. In addition, I have long arms and it seems to fit me bettter..

Lead me in the right directions oh wise ones.. I am going shopping tomorrow to buy my parts and pieces to start my project..
After shopping, I will give my reviews of the various shops in town that I have visited and where I purchased my stuff and why. How exciting huh?

shooting 55gr a 1/9 works well including utilizing the 75gr TAP ammo from Hornady.
2 schools of thought
1) buy what you budget allows
2) save up and buy high end.

regarding accessories, why pile a lot of money on top of a gun being your first one? There are numerous post here and other sites where you can by low mileage accessories to suit your needs. A hint about them, those selling have already decided to upgrade OR realized they really did not need that shit in the first place. YMMV

I'm not interested in putting an added bling on my gun. No fancy shit. Just want to get the upper squared away for the shooting I will be doing. Don't want to make the wrong choice on the barrel twist mainly. Budget allows for some upgrades that helP performance. Not interested in looks. Shooting mostly 50-200 yds. Would like to shoot the bulk cheaper ammo

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Originally Posted by colorider

I'm not interested in putting an added bling on my gun. No fancy shit. Just want to get the upper squared away for the shooting I will be doing. Don't want to make the wrong choice on the barrel twist mainly. Budget allows for some upgrades that helP performance. Not interested in looks. Shooting mostly 50-200 yds. Would like to shoot the bulk cheaper ammo

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1:9 16" bbl no problem hitting (on a good day) 300 yds. For the nay sayers i'll add thsi now. go out and buy a few boxes of wolf (Yes WOLF) polymer coated 55gr once you obtain the upper and see how it runs for you. I have No Issues running it in ANY AR or SIG platform i own.

Slow down and breathe. You are overthinking this WAAAAY too much.

Forget about 1:7 twist and length.

Get a 16" and go shoot the gun!!

1:7 is just fine for 55gr ammo. And 200 yards is not exactly super far.

Im hitting 200 yards EASILY with my M4 and an Aimpoint.

Get a rifle and go and shoot it

I do tend to ge ahold of something and overthink the hell out of it.
Only other question I would ask of ya at the moment is carbine VS mid.

http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcar...cat=250&page=2

Here you go. No need to think about it at all. Just have to have a little patience.

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Originally Posted by colorider

I do tend to ge ahold of something and overthink the hell out of it.
Only other question I would ask of ya at the moment is carbine VS mid.

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That IMO is personal preference. Thats it.

I dont like Mid-length at all.

Its like asking Eotech or Aimpoint, .40 or .45 etc.

I prefer my M4, I LOVE...my M4.

Thanks again for all the assistance ! Can't wait to start finding and buying instead of looking and asking. !

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Originally Posted by colorider

Thanks again for all the assistance ! Can't wait to start finding and buying instead of looking and asking. !

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You need to be careful what you read. Take it with a grain of salt. All those questions build up and youre gonna end up confusing yourself.

Dont even think about twist rates and long distance shooting.

Get a gun. Shoot it.

Worry about the rest when youre good enough to notice...then start the process

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Originally Posted by colorider

I do tend to ge ahold of something and overthink the hell out of it.
Only other question I would ask of ya at the moment is carbine VS mid.

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I can identify with that- I tend to over-analyze technical decisions, too.

for 55gr only, the twist won't matter much, 1 in 7 to 1 in 12 will all work
it's the extreme light or heavy bullets that need the right twist to stabilize...
1 in 7 can make 45gr or lighter bullets self-destruct, but will shoot 55+gr fine (over-stabilized at 55gr, but that's not a real problem)
1 in 9 may not stabilize 75gr, and at longer ranges you'll keyhole (but may be fine at 200yds, and 45gr won't self-destruct)

it almost sounds like you answered your own question on the gas length- mid-length will shoot softer, with a possible slight sacrifice in reliability when dirty... and if it fits you better, go with it.

Again, thanks for the info and help.!

Forget about mid length.... Stick with carbine or rifle... Mid lengh doesn't do anything better and not worth messing with....

1-7 16" CL carbine. If you need help finding a set up, lmk I can recommend some places.
And they aren't anymore expensive than the 1-9.

1-7 offers more options of bullet weights to shoot, plus you can shoot the heavy weights. Most people shoot bulk 55 gr. Or 62 gr.

The 1-9 is "supposed" to be good for lightest bullets up to 60gr. I have shot my 1-9ar with 62. At 25m on a simutated 300m man Target. And it did fine tight group. How ever it wasn't really 300m. I don't know if it would stabilize the beaver bullets. According to my reloading manuals it won't.

Ymmv...

Nordic sells a nice Wilson barrel. 16", midlength gas, light profile cut without the M4 notch to mess up harmonics, 1:8 twist, stainless, wylde chamber. $179. It should be a 1moa barrel out to 300yds with most quality factory loads from 55gr up to 77gr. Sub MOA if you develope your own tuned load and make it yourself.

http://shop.nordiccomp.com/Wilson-No...23-16M-WIL.htm

Nothing wrong with midlength gas. It works fine and won't over gas your carrier group like carbine length, while still providing more carrier pressure than rifle length. Midlength is also the longest gas you can reliably run on a 16" barrel. Carbon will last slightly longer but stainless will be more accurate and hold up to heat better than carbon in terms of heat warping. Stay away from barrels with the grenade launcher cut just in front of the gas block. That little cut turns a 1moa barrel into 2moa.

Free float the hand guard. There are many inexpensive options here and you can KISS it or get as fancy as you desire. Good luck with your build.

Got a LMT full upper in 1/7 and carbine length. I can't wait to get everyrhing together and start shooting. Once I get more rounds through it , I will see if i want to change anything. Have only shot Bolt action for target and long range.