Evening all,

New member. After running a M4/A4 service rifle for some time now in the Corps, I finally am beginning to build my very own AR. I picked up a Spikes stripped lower and wanted some valid insight into my projected build. End goal is a smooth running precision 5.56 for hunting, paper punching, and ringing steel. I am including my projected build list, and if you could kindly comb it over and give your thoughts on the parts I choose and what you think, I would greatly appreciate it.

Spikes lower
Spikes or DD lower parts kit
Timney or Gieselle trigger (partial to Timney, but open to suggestions)
Spikes stripped upper
WOA SPR 18" barrel, 1'7 twist Wylde chamber with rifle length gas system (other barrel options?)
BCM Gunfighter or PRI Gasbuster charging handle (thoughts on the two)
BCM BCG (open to suggestions)
BCM Keymod free float rail, 13 or 15 (thoughts on length/ecommend a better one?)
Adjustable gas block (need suggestions on one)
Magpul or Gunfighter grip
Magpul PRS or UBR stock (thoughts?)

That about sums up the build plan right now. Please feel free to let me know what you think, as well as any changes you would make. This is my first build and I believe in the build it right the first time routine.

Thanks,

Big Country

Spikes LPK
Geissele trigger
SLR block

Spikes lower
Spikes or DD lower parts kit
Timney or Gieselle trigger (partial to Timney, but open to suggestions) ALG would do, GI spec.
Spikes stripped upper
WOA SPR 18" barrel, 1'7 twist Wylde chamber with rifle length gas system (other barrel options?)
BCM Gunfighter or PRI Gasbuster charging handle (thoughts on the two) No need unless you shoot under a clock with ammo that won't ignite.
BCM BCG (open to suggestions)
BCM Keymod free float rail, 13 or 15 (thoughts on length/ecommend a better one?) About any freefloat would do. What kind of holes are in it make little difference, they all still have to sell short rails to bolt on the majority of the accessories on the market. And keep that in mind - it's mostly just an expensive accessory to mount expensive accessories.
Adjustable gas block (need suggestions on one) Isn't needed until it's a proven problem.
Magpul or Gunfighter grip A2 will do just as well, there are no vendor guarantees promising increased accuracy.
Magpul PRS or UBR stock (thoughts?) See above X2

Look to the Service Rifle modifications and parts, many of those can shoot circles around a custom build. How they do it is tuned assembly, optics, practice and handloads developed for the rifle.

What I see is an emphasis on popular Brand names and current popularity in parts. That is driven by vendors who sponsor 3Gun competitors who get the stuff free and tell us it can save them from losing a place in a match. We are talking split seconds in standings or one bullet better scoring at that level.

Better to build a simple quality rifle and then start changing parts when a known issue comes up with a skill level developed to understand what is causing it. Precision rifle shooting hasn't changed that much, what has happened in the last ten years is a lot more are selling parts because they can.

As far as the fire control group goes, I have an ALG ACT trigger paired with JP yellow springs in one of mine and it breaks clean and I've not had any light strikes through about 650 rounds. I think it was $85 total after shipping costs. I've been very happy with it.

Thanks for your service first and foremost!

List looks great!  I run a Spikes BCG in my Spikesbuild and it runs great.  Also running a ST-T2 buffering mine.  But are you set on Rifle length?  Mine is a midlength and it runs great.

Good luck!

You have a good list of quality parts there. One thing to keep in mind though, I bought a DD lower parts kit and while it was a quality kit, with a surprisingly good trigger for mil spec, I had already intended to upgrade the trigger (I went ssa) and use a different pistol grip, like your plan. Once you do that you are paying a premium for a couple of cheap small parts. If you intended to use all the parts in the DD kit, I'd highly recommend it but, with the plan you have, you are wasting money. Congrats on starting the build though and you should be more than happy with that parts list.

edit: I run a bcm bolt carrier group and mod 4 charging handle and have been happy with them.