3 Attachment(s)
First AR build--not exactly new
This one was late 2016-early 2017 and hasn't been tested with live ammo, but I've done every bench test possible and it's passed so far. Some stuff the community will look down your noses at to be sure, but bear in mind this was a "Baby's First AR" meant as a plinker and range iron with Home D being an "In Case of DIRE Emergency" role as backup to my 1911, and was before I began soaking up knowledge here so yes there are some rookie mistakes. Also, do note that I didn't pay full price for ANY of this except the lower... aggressive use of some 15%-off codes at Jet and hitting Black Friday sales went a long way. Sorry about the crappy photo-studio; when you have to be a live-in caregiver to packrats you take ANY free space of sufficient size you can get, and some of these are utter drizzleshit from being shot with a phone in a shaky hand.
I'm mainly posting this as a point of reference to compare the evolution of my AR education and builds, though I'm toying with the idea of trying to rebuild this thing into a "modernized Holland" somewhere along the way, or at least a foundation to start training on then go for a Holland when I get to the point where "system holds operator back."
Lower: Anderson, group buy for a PNW firearms forum--I was part of the crew that lobbied for our site-owner to put a custom-engraved lower run together as a site fundraiser, so I felt obligated to put my money where my mouth was.
LPK: Palmetto. In retrospect, probably shoulda gone a-la-carte since I replaced all the pins, the safety and the grip.
- Takedown pins: Yankee Hill EZ-Pull. This weapon spends most of its time disassembled and the pins get pushed and pulled a lot, so something more finger-friendly was important.
- FCG pins: KNS anti-walk. I like the frame reinforcement provided by those spacers, though I would really prefer a version that screws to both pins. For future builds, will mainly stick to these for 6061 or poly lowers and skip on 7075 from reputable brands.
- Grip: We all know and hate the A2. I wanted something both more ergonomic and that could be folded aside to snuggle the rifle in closer to the ground or bench for rested shooting, which led me to FAB Defense's AGF-43S. These things have a mixed reputation, but I've had good luck with my two.
Buffer assembly: a milspec CAR of unknown origin, given to me by a boardmate as a Pay It Forward. Plan to replace with an Vltor A5H2, then hand it over to the next "First Time Builder" at NWFA.
Stock: Based on lessons learned with an SOT friend's Thompson, I use a stock more as a counterweight than a shoulder connection. I tend to like these heavy for that reason, so FAB's GL-MAG gave me that with a ten-round reserve mag in a built-in carrier, combined with their MBA recoil-pad monopod providing additional ballast and rear support. It's a bit gimmicky, but has its virtues.
Upper: CBC Industries. They're a newer player--at the time I did my research on them, they did not yet have the pile of negative reviews that have accrued at BBB and Yelp. Next time I'm over at Deep Storage, I'll try to get detail close-ups of the upper so y'all can give me your take. https://www.cbcindustries.com/produc...handguard-rail
- Barrel: 5.56" 1/7. I wanted a 1/7 .223 Wylde, but nobody had 'em available at that time--I was insistent that I wanted to be able to run Mk 262's if the need arose.
- Forearm: 15" free-float Keymod. I was fresh off reading Kevin Muramatsu's book on AR customization, and liked the idea of free-float for barrier/bipod support plus the "easy as assembling shelving" aspect of Keymod. Still don't regret it, but debating about moving to M-Lok since I expect KM to eventually go the way of Betamax and Laserdisc. Originally wanted longer to extend the rail and Keymod around the planned BFD collar, but in retrospect it's a good thing it ended up at 15.
- Muzzle device: Standard A2. I was planning to remove the factory part and replace with a combination of Precision Armament AFAB (slightly better braking performance, negligible noise change/flash brightness and better flash diffusion) plus Indian Creek BFD (to contain and hide the AFAB's flash from my light-sensitive eyes). With not having a barrel block and vise to remove the A2, it remains installed and the AFAB and BFD have been handed along to another AR build--I may do the refit later.
Sights: Diamondhead. These had a reputation of being better for corrective optics, and mine are so bad that once the glasses come off I might as well have empty eye-sockets in my skull, plus for some reason my eyes process visual data such that they handle straight lines, points and corners better than arcs and curves--and the DH set of diamonds (rear wings, reticle, front wings) give me more points to index from to help with that.
Optic and Mount: Bushnell TRS25 on a Leapers UTG. Cheap starter/plinker optic, and the UTG was better value than buying the Bushnell high-rise AR-specific optic. Not meant to stake my life on; eventually will be combined with my first poly EPL on a .22LR but wanted something simple and basic to start learning "optic shooting" on before stepping up to the Big Boys.
Accessories:
--Foregrip, Bipod, Light: I didn't want to fight with a lot of weight from both bipod and grip, so I went with another FAB gimmick--the built in light is a convenience, as is the fact of everything mounting on one rail section. (Don't really need one that bright for nav, so may scoot the front Diamondhead back and trade a little sight radius for a Princeton Switch Rail's lower power red beam.)
--Rail section: A bit of an impulse buy--I knew I needed one, was subscribed to Midwest Industries' newsletter, and when they had a sale on grabbed it and some BCM Keymod covers.
--Keymod covers: BCM, sprayed with Rustoleum Olive Drab. Wanted Foliage Green, MI were the only ones that had it listed as available--they ran out right before pulling my order but I was in no hurry so I said "give it a month then switch to black," BCM was not forthcoming with either parts or estimate on when they might do another run in FG, so we put Plan B into effect. High marks to Andy, Kelly and Linsy at MI for service before, during and after sale.
--Custom painting: The NWFA engraving is monochrome, basically "just take the anodize off." To better match the site's logo colors I added a spritz of transparent-red spray paint used for model car taillights, and I plan to add a clear topcoatto protect both paint and bare metal in that area.
Thoughts and constructive criticism are appreciated, and if there are any questions I've missed let me know and I'll try to get 'em squared away.
