First AR

[McRib]

Ended up a bit heavier than I otherwise would have wanted but at the end of the day it's a test platform so I can determine what I like/want/need and what I don't.

I am not a photographer.

Edit--Specs are:

Muzzle device: A2 birdcage
Barrel: Ballistic Advantage 16" 4150 chrome lined Hanson profile, QPQ finish w/pinned lowpro gas block
BCG: Sharps Balanced Bolt Carrier Group with Reliabolt coated in NP3+
Upper: Aero Precision M4E1 Enhanced, Forged
Handguard: Aero Precision 15" Enhanced Keymod
Lower: Aero Precision M1, Forged
LPK: Spikes Tactical
FCG: ALG ACT
Grip: Stark SE-2 w/hook mount
Receiver Extension: Spikes Tactical mil spec w/ST-T2 buffer
Charging Handle: BCM Gunfighter mod A44 ambi
Stock: BCM Gunfighter
Sling: Savvy Sniper Quad HK
Light: Streamlight TRL-1 HL Long gun kit
Light Mount: Haley Strategic Partners Thorntail Keymod offset
Foregrip: Gripstop K
Iron Sights: Cheap knockoff 45 degree offset folding
Scope Mount: Nikon M-223
Scope: Burris Fullfield E1 2-7x35mm

Final weight with everything: 8lbs 10oz. Not great. Not terrible, but not quite what I was hoping for (8lbs max).

Notes: We'll see if the irons hold zero. If not, I'll get magpul mbus pro offsets. With the HSP light mount I ended up not needing the long gun kit element of the TRL-1. Worth buying though--well designed. The gripstop is wonderful--perfect design, size, weight. I may end up replacing the A2 birdcage with either a YHM phantom flash hider or, more likely, a Precision Armament AFAB. I bought the Nikon M-223 scope mount only because the Aero Precision ultralight 1" scope mount is so hard to find in stock.
Love Aero Precision stuff. The M4E1 upper and handguard combo is a sweet deal. I bought the BCM gunfighter over the MFT battlelink minimalist stock solely because I couldn't find any drop test results on the MFT. I'm very interested in how the BA barrel gas port (.073) will work with the ST-T2 buffer. At some point I'm planning on doing some high speed recording of the bolt cycling and the ejection process. I'll report results.

I made a conscious decision to support companies that are trying to push the envelope a bit (provided their explanations made sense to me). The BCG and barrel are two specific instances of this. I've seen and heard reports of people breaking the reliabolt; Sharps issued a recall on a certain batch that were identified as not being correctly heat treated. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. If it doesn't work as advertised, I'll buy a mil spec.

I'm particularly excited about the Hanson profile barrel. I did tons of research on barrels, including emailing and talking on the phone with Clint Hanson who designed the profile. Very cool guy and his rationale for his design decisions made total sense to me. The workmanship is exquisite. I'm very anxious to see how it shoots (going to the range tomorrow the 2nd) with different factory loads.