Matched... or not?

[Dave_L]

Depends on what you're building. I generally like to match upper/lower for higher end stuff. But for basic rifles, nope, mix and match all day long.

[BigBear]

Depends on what you're building. ....

I see this a lot on different forums about building... can you indulge me a little and explain. An AR is an AR isn't it? Just with different options such as barrel length and handguards etc. It's been likened to a guys barbie doll with accessories. What do you mean it depends on what I'm building? I'm building an AR... something to shoot at the range. I'm not a super secret squirrel. 5.56, prefer 14.5 (short so the wife can handle easier too), eventually suppressed (hopefully), lightweight, accurate, reliable, and quality.... The one thing I do NOT want is that A frame front sight, I prefer folddowns...


I don't know what I want. I've shot a bunch of different ones.. even a few FA's, but this would be my first one to own/build.

[CS1983]

14.5" w/ pinned muzzle device... so basic AR.

yeah, Matched makes no difference.

[Dave_L]

I meant, are you building a Noveske (or the like)? If so, matching parts is important in the Noveske world. It also helps the "lines" of the gun to line up. I mean that in reference to the design style, not any functioning part.

If you just want a functioning rifle, then mix and match with the parts you want and don't worry about it. You have the basic idea of what you want so go with it. At the end of the day, there is zero reason you can't mix/match. It just depends on how anal you want to be about it.

[ray1970]

It just depends on how anal you want to be about it.

Winner.

[Great-Kazoo]

I see this a lot on different forums about building... can you indulge me a little and explain. An AR is an AR isn't it? Just with different options such as barrel length and handguards etc. It's been likened to a guys barbie doll with accessories. What do you mean it depends on what I'm building? I'm building an AR... something to shoot at the range. I'm not a super secret squirrel. 5.56, prefer 14.5 (short so the wife can handle easier too), eventually suppressed (hopefully), lightweight, accurate, reliable, and quality.... The one thing I do NOT want is that A frame front sight, I prefer fold downs...


I don't know what I want. I've shot a bunch of different ones.. even a few FA's, but this would be my first one to own/build.

1: your budget

2: you've established a lightweight build

3: reliable, buy from vendors that warranty their products and or have positive feed back from actual shooters. Getting No name hand guard because it's $40 less than a known brand. That's on you



lightweight : I would suggest a Faxon 14.5" lightweight / pencil bbl (.625 dia) they are 1:8 twist 5.56 chambered. Just swapped out a 12.5 M4 to the faxon for the spouses LW SBR

From the 12.5 M4 with carbon float tube, A2 front sight to the faxon 14.5 LW with magpul mid-length hand guards , low pro gas block. I knocked another 8 oz off


accurate: this is a 16" build a retired school teacher (66 yrs old) did. I helped her with the upper, she did the lower.
LOWER:
stripped bushmaster with dpms LPK.
UPPER: PSA mid-length s/steel bbl, A marked flat top upper, used 12" float tube, lo pro gas block. Bushnell AR223 1-4 lower end scope

Her only interaction with a long gun was an .06 remy and S&W M&P 15-22 Lots of hand gun trigger time..
. Sight in @ 25.


Zeroed after 10 rounds



25 yds off hand 10rds



25 yds off hand 11 rds


Is this great shooting, not really. Considering this is a first time AR15 shooter using mix & match parts with OTC (American Eagle) ammo. it's pretty good.
If a 66 yr old retired school teacher with arthritis can do this. You can do the same if not better. ALL with off the shelf moderately priced AR parts

[brutal]

Build to a budget.

Buy a matched set, get a lower with the snubber screw, or just put in an accuwedge.

All of my AR's have an accuwedge, even the tier1 Noveske N4 that I bought as my first AR before building the rest.