I want to build a long range AR

I've been doing some thinking lately, which is scary. Very scary.

I have come up w/ the idea that I want to build me a 300+yd AR. I've never much been into long range shooting, but I do have my 82a1. It's just not very portable if SHTF. SOOOOO.. in keeping w/ the ammo I already have... I thought a rifle length AR.. 20"+?

What say you guys? I don't want to venture into a new caliber. As much as I would rather it be larger than a .223/5.56, I just don't want to collect another bunch of ammo. I figure I'm not going to be shooting at hardened targets wearing body armor, and a 5.56 should be more than enough for zombies.

I've started looking at rifle length uppers, and know NOTHING about them. I can't seem to find any builds that I like.. there is a place I've been getting bits and pieces from for years, but they're either out of business, or they broke their website for the past few weeks.. Their precision rifle uppers have always made me drool...

So about building one. I was thinking about a monolithic upper. I know VLTOR makes a rifle length mono. It's pricey but I figure I'm going to dump some $$$ into getting exactly what I want anyway..

What are your feelings on mono uppers? Yay? nay? Just go w/ a free float?

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Originally Posted by Monky

What are your feelings on mono uppers? Yay? nay? Just go w/ a free float?

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Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Mono is cooool, but more expensive and doesn't add and accuracy benefit. I can make it out to 600y no problem with a 16" barrel (pdog size targets). I think 18"-20" is fine, there are more choices at the 18" length. Scope, trigger and ammo will make the biggest difference.

You can easily double the cost trying to go from 1.5 moa to 1/2 moa. Larue and JP come to mind for pre-built uppers, but not cheap. You could always find your scope and barrel, then go to Bower's for the rest. BCM and Rainier have nice barrels in stock (for now!)

Talk to Rob. I decided on a nice DMR. I can shoot at 400 all day long. It's been to 600, but I don't really have dope on it yet. It eats everything, but shoots 68gr really good.

16" DD 1x7 Mid length
2-10x vortex viper pst in larue Spr
Troy/vtac 13"
Rock river upper and lower and match BCG
troy BUIS
moe + grip
ctr
Bad lever
surefire MB556

It only needs a new trigger, Giessele SSA, and ambi safety.

Wanna go shooting let me know.

It's all in the barrel. I just put one together with an 18" White Oak barrel from Brownells ($265), and it absolutely shoots the lights out. With 77g SMK's over Varget, it shoots into 5/16" for 5 shots at 100 yards. It's free floated, of course, but that's the only "special" treatment it got. You could go with their 20" barrel if you wanted the extra velocity, but I like the handiness of the 18".

I was out with Scratchy a few weeks ago at his home range, and we were putting shot after shot into the head of a a full size silhouette target at 550 yards. That's a 6" square for reference, and I had only a 6X optic. It was stupidly easy.

Get a good barrel. ^^^^

Also, ammo at longer distance will make a HUGE difference as well.

I have a DPMS upper with a DPMS SS 24" bull barrel (1 in 9) on a RRA lower with a RRA match two-stage trigger and PRS magpul stock. I put a Sightron SIII 3.5-10x tactical scope with a mil-dot reticle on top of it. It's a straight up frankengun and I shoot 8" plates out to 600 yds with it. I load 69gr and 77gr SMKs for it. It's accurate as hell and cost about $1500 with the scope. 300 yard shots are flat out boring with it.

I know some people aren't Rock River fans, but my 20 inch varmint with their two stage trigger is stupid accurate. Every time I take it out and shoot it, I'm always extremely pleased with how it shoots. 77SMK sitting on top of Varget. It's got the 1/8 twist and Wylde chamber. I can't say enough good about that rifle.

As ColoWyo mentioned the RRA Varminit 20" upper is very accurate, my buddy has one, and it's a shooter. Good value for the money spent. I recently bought a LMT MRP rifle length upper with 18" stainless SPR barrel. It's a sub-moa upper, and with Black Hills red box 77-gr, I shot a 0.24" group with it. I was lucky because the trigger is pretty bad, but think I could shoot consistant groups like this if I had a better trigger.

I have a 20" DPMS bull barrel that is very accurate. With 40gr VMax Fiocchi ammo, I am able to hit a 10" plate at 600yds very consistently. It really likes the 69gr bullets as well. I purchased it the last time the current president was elected, and didn't have many choices. With a 4-16x50 scope, bipod and sling, it is around 14lbs. One of my buddies lucked into the same gun with a fluted barrel, an it takes a pound or two off. Makes it much nicer to carry around for pdogs.

Another + for the WOA barrels. Pretty good value for the money. Also agree with all the others with wscope,trigger and ammo beign the other 3 components needed. I have an 18" WOA barrel mid length 1/7 twist. Pretty happy with it.

If it is in your price range, check out LaRue or JP. My 18" JP is simply amazing (and lightweight for it's size). All the LaRue rifles and uppers I've seen all shoot amazing as well. Noveske ain't a bad choice either.

Another vote for RRA. I have the 20" Predator Pursuit and it shoots very well.

When I started planning mine, a White Oak barrel was my first choice then I decided to get a completed upper as it was my first build and was a little overwhelmed. I ended up with a RRA 20" Varmint A4. Went low budget on the lower with an Aero Precision and sent that to JP enterprises for a trigger. I haven't started reloading yet but it shoots .75 MOA with cheap Ultramax 68GR HP Match. This thing is pretty damn fun at 300-400 yards.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...8/IMG_1052.jpg

I would not go with a monolithic upper. Tried them, no advantage except price and lack of modularity.

I have the Nordic Competition AR barrels that I helped design available locally. They are sub-MOA with most any quality ammo. 1/2 MOA is not unreasonable at all. You can put together a top of the line upper with the best parts for under 1K no problem. The accuracy is all in the barrel to receiver fit and the barrel itself. We also happen to make the best Carbon Fiber handguard on the market. :D

I think that I need to build my own.. I've been looking at some and holy hell they think highly of their rifles. If you guys are saying built for under 1k.. I think I need a parts list :)

I've got a nothin' special 20" barrel, 1 in 7 twist, iron sighted ar. If you have somewhere to reach out to 400 yds we can meet up and you can check it out and see what you would want to add on above what I have. I've shot it with iron sights out to 400 yards and can count on at most 4 min of angle groups, and on a good day much less. I want to add a Burris M-Tac 1-4 scope to it this winter but will have to see how money goes. I've got Sun, Mon and Tuesdays off of work.

I know lots of guys that shoot iron sighted ARs out to 600 yards all the time and can keep most of their shots inside a 6 inch circle.

Spend your money on a good barrel and a good trigger.

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Originally Posted by Hoser

Spend your money on a good barrel and a good trigger.

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These two items alone are going to be right at $500. I don't know about getting in under a grand. Depending on the stock and fore end choices, $1,200 - $1,400 is probably more realistic. In the end, you will have yourself a true long range hammer. Money well spent.

I built a long range one based around a 20" shillen
thing is awesome 60gr vmax over tac is killer on dogs. Still trying to find a load it likes with 68 grains.
Base rifle was right around 850 to build

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Originally Posted by Tim K

These two items alone are going to be right at $500. I don't know about getting in under a grand. Depending on the stock and fore end choices, $1,200 - $1,400 is probably more realistic. In the end, you will have yourself a true long range hammer. Money well spent.

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Nope, the Nordic is $269 and a Jard is $115, $385 for those.

What about piston systems on a long range AR? yay? nay? Adjustable if I wanted to put a can on it?

NAY! NEIGH! NEY!

You can get adjustable gas blocks for DI guns too. The Syrac is the best on the market right now. They are available locally at Machine Gun Tours, or several on-line retailers.

Nay

I'm not a fan of pistons.

Maybe get a build done for under $1000, but that doesn't include glass or a high end trigger (gieselle). Any 2 stage would work, until you could afford it.

All 3 guns are gas and shoot suppressed just skippy.

This isn't rocket science , get a good barrel , any length will work but I prefer something in the 18 - 20 range , put whatever free float tube on it that strikes your fancy , and mate it up to a lower with a good trigger , I prefer the JP gunsmith triggers . Feed it good ammo and get to shooting . No reason you couldn't put the upper together for 5-800 bucks depending on parts selection .

IMO 2 stage triggers are a hindrance on a precision rifle and would be my last choice especially the JARD as every one I've ever seen has had issues .

The reciprocating mass on a piston gun is going to make it harder to shoot well because the extra motion on the recoil impulse .

While chances are you have already picked parts/assembled, on the ammo front I am a huge fan of the 77gr OTM from Black Hills aka mk262 mod1.

Im planning on building a precision upper for my LMT. Ive got a 14.5 pinned on it now that im keeping for a general purpose carbine. I plan to SBR a second and then this distance gun. I've decided on an 18" DD and free floating it from there. My problem is building the rest. I want to stick with a collapsable stock due to my shorter LoP. But yeah Im used to bolt guns so SPR ARs are not my cup of tea.

RRA varmint series is a great platform in any length
RRA also make very good triggers compared to other stock triggers
Armalite national match 3 position adjustable triggers for $145 direct from armalite is also a great upgrade
ultramax ammo is very good

I've got a tricked out colt accurized that'll shoot 1/3 inch 5 shot groups with handloads
and an armalite 20" HBAR SPR that'll shoot 1/2 inch 5 shot group with hand loads
at some point accuracy just becomes academic
like another poster said...to get the armailte to shoot that extra 1/8th gets expensive and time consuming

I'd payup for a trigger and better glass with a proper mount

Like this?

100m group
http://i994.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMAG0685.jpg

200m group
http://i994.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMAG0686.jpg

thats black hills 77gr otm from a 16" barrel. It's all about the barrel and trigger (like previously mentioned)