I'm building my first AR-15 and definitely need some advice here. My Lower is PSA its already assembled with FDE Magpul parts and what not( Palmetto State Amory). I'm looking to get the parts from Palmettostatearmory.com
(Im going to also use a PSA Upper also) I have a charging handle and auto nickel boron BCG already!

My needs are a 16" barrel with 1:7 twist 5.56mm . I do like the stainless but IDK how it'll look with a FDE Parts. So I was looking more at the CHF barrels. I wanted to put a free float 10-12" rail system? (something that covers the gas block of a Mid-length) but I'm not sure how much all that will cost seeing I have to buy the tool and upper receiver holder. (If I need to i will buy them though, I'm getting the building fever and want to build more!)

1) First off I want to know if a stainless is actually better than a CHF ( Chrome moly vanadium barrel is actually the least of the three correct)?

2) Would a 10-12" rail system be fine for my need or can I go a bit shorter and be fine with that gasblock?

3) Is it the same price or more to build a complete upper and barrel with what i need or is it cheaper to buy a complete with just a regular grip system and buy a free float later.

Considering these for the price and adding free float later. Are these good deals? OR SHOULD I BUILD THE UPPER AND HOW MUCH ? THANKS IN ADVACE

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/barreled-upper-assemblies/psa/5-56-nato-223/psa-16-mid-length-stainless-1-7-freedom-upper-without-bcg-ch.html

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/barreled-upper-assemblies/psa/5-56-nato-223/psa-16-chf-mid-length-premium-upper-without-bcg-or-charging-handle.html

1) Stainless is a material, CHF is a forging / rifling process. A stainless barrel can be cold hammer forged. Many of the target / varmint barrels that you see are just straight 416 Stainless Steel

2) A 12" is a standard rifle length handguard, more than adequate for most people's needs.

3) You really can't beat PSA's prices, but you can build it exactly how you want if you do decide to build. If I were you, I'd buy this and be done with it:

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/16983/s/psa-14-7-chf-ml-lw-w-wilson-combat-trim-fde-12-rail-unpinned-with-out-bcg-or-charging-handle/category/4220/

14.7" barrel, 1:7 twist, special FDE color TRIM rail by Wilson Combat just for PSA. At $590, that's about what you could build it for, and you don't have to buy any extra tools, etc. You'll need to have a gunsmith pin & weld the bird cage... or if you want to find another compensator / flash hider, you wouldn't have to worry about unpinning the flash hider. You will need to have it pinned and welded before you put it on your upper, otherwise you are committing a felony of a SBR on a non-SBR lower.

You may also get into a grey area of constructive possession, but take care of it timely and you won't have any issues... But then again, this advice is worth what you paid for it.

Buy stainless if you want a precision build. For a "battle rifle" get a standard chrome lined barrel - CHF or otherwise.

Pick something off of this page and sell the bcg and compensator on the ee since you already have a bcg and get a regular a2 flash hider and you're ahead.

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-16-Mid-Length-Group-s/27.htm

Buy this one.
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/barreled-upper-assemblies/psa/5-56-nato-223/16/psa-16-chf-stainless-steel-5-56-1-7-lw-ssk12-upper-without-bcg-or-ch.html