P: Nice looking rifle, building it yourself is priceless. FWIW, here are a few suggestions:
- Its a modern military rifle, so get a bayonet for it, the older M7 model is best IMO, available used on ebay for about $35. Keep it sharp.
- Swap out the barrel for one with a mid-length gas port, that way the bayonet will fit correctly and the bullet's dwell time is reduced. Green Mountain makes just what you want, 1in8, chrome lined, 5.56 chamber. Quality is excellent and price is amazingly low. ARP is another good maker for a little more moola.
- Magpul makes MOE slimline handguards in mid-length
- If you don't already have one, Magpul's MOE K2+ is the grip I use for this kind of rifle. It has a rubber skin on it that grips tight even when hands are slippery
- Consider painting all exposed surfaces to match the color of the furniture. Military rifles should blend in to the surroundings
Good luck and please post some pics of your best paper targets. - CW