I want to build a long range AR

[Monky]

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?

[Delfuego]

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

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!)

[TriggerHappy]

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.

[Tim K]

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.

[TriggerHappy]

Get a good barrel. ^^^^

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

[SA Friday]

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.

[ColoWyo]

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.

[Alpine]

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.

[encorehunter]

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.

[sako55]

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.