I want to build a 5.56/.223 carbine for hunting and home defence.  I want to use the spikes tactical warthog stripped lower and I just wanted help finding the other parts since I don't know whats good and whats not. I would like to keep it under $1000.

Unfortunately, hunting and home defense aren't really compatible with each other. For home defense, you will want a 16'', for hunting an 18-24''. If you really want to go this route, then an 18'' SPR style might be for you, but it's going to be hard to build a decent SPR for 1000. This won't be what you want to hear, but go with a good old mil-spec receiver and spend the savings on the parts that matter, like the trigger.

Dual use optics are going to be tricky. For hunting, you will want a variable power scope in the 3-9 range. For home defense, you will want a red dot. About the best you can do in this situation is a 1-4 power dot scope, like they use in 3 gun matches.

There are other things to consider as well. For varmint hunting you will want to use 55gr ammo, which requires a 1:9ish twist. For home defense you will want 70gr hollow points, which requires a 1:7.

Ultimately, I would build the gun for home defense without making any compromises. It won't be ideal for varmint hunting, but home defense is much more important for obvious reasons.

I'm going to have to disagree with kaptanjak.  Depending on the distances you plan on hunting at, a 16" barrel will suit you fine.  Get a melonited 16" barrel in 1/8 twist and it will handle almost any round you will use except supper light rounds like 45grn.

I'd do a x2-7 powered vortex Viper for a dual use optic.  Dial it back to x2 and find the "dot" on the reticle that works for close distances.  I'd also run a offset mount and a small red dot like the Bushnell TRS25 for CQB.

Spend your money on the barrel and the glass.  Normally I'd say BCG as well, but there are a lot of REALLY good options cheap on those right now.  Look at the AIMsurplus Notride BCG for about $90 shipped.

I would DITCH the wort hog set completely and spend the cash on the barrel.

Too many assumptions up there /\/\/\. Disregard kaptanjak and listen to balloo

I am more interested in building a home defence carbine and I can go over $1000 I would just rather keep it as low as possible. I would really like to use the warthog lower what parts do you guys think I should use?

Buy spending near $300 on the lower by itself, you are cheating yourself out of options for really good parts.  That said I'd go:


Upper-
16" melonited 1/8 twist barrel
Free float handguard
Upper of your choice (or upper that matches with the wort hog lower)
BCM BCG
Gunfighter Mod4 charging handle
Offset magpul sights (If you run a scope....see optic)
Insight WML light with IWC thorntail mount

Lower-
Gieselle G2S or SSA FCG
Your choice of grip
Stock of your choice (I am partial to VOLTR)
QD end plate
BAD ASS ambi safety

Optic-
Home defense will be different from hunting.  You could use a x2-7 powered optic for both, but nothing beats a non magnified red dot for home defense.

The lower is way to much of your budget, you can buy a lot of ammo with the money saved if you'd buy a standard lower. But it's your build and whatever you choose is fine.

If you're sticking to the $1000 budget I'd do:

This psa upper for $329 with this bcg/ch for $89 shipped.

Then I'd wait for this $159 complete lower to come back in stock.

That puts you at $577 not including shipping and transfer fees. Figuring high, we'll say $650. That leaves you $350 for an optic/ammo/upgrading your trigger/light. If you're increasing your budget by a few hundred, you could still go this route and get an eotech, geissele g2s, light, and possibly some ammo/mags.

Side note on the geissele g2s. In my opinion it is the very best trigger out there for the money. I've pulled it side by side with the SSA and couldn't feel the difference. You don't have to upgrade the trigger, but if you want to I highly recommend the g2s. You won't be disappointed.

This is just one route you could go. You'd end up with a solid rifle with a decent amount of extras and even more if the budget gets increased.

Check the equipment exchange for optics, lights, triggers etc...

Okay lets for a second forget the budget and warthog. What is thet best stripped lower and set up for home defence?

Pick your favorite roll mark on a forged set and run with it.  I like Spike's tactical myself, but Aero and various other makers make solid forged set.  

I'd spend my money on the barrel, BCG, and weapon light for a home defense set up. Next thing IMO is a good optic.  Budget wise a Aimpoint PRO (comes with it's own mount and a battery life that allows you to set it on medium and leave it on for 5yrs straight!).  You can pick up a good weapon light on the Equipment Exchange here for a lower price.

I'd buy a nice scope next and a LaRue mount so that it will return to damn near dead zero when put back on.  Run the optic for home and the scope for hunting.

There are a lot of things you CAN do without.  Ambi safety (unless you're a lefty), aftermarket charging handle, and offset sights (Magpul GenII MBUS set will do you fine).

What is your opinion of spit scopes (scope with side mounted iron sights)

They work, but my only fear is how easy will they be to use in a high stress situation like a home break in.  I ran a Bushnell TRS25 on a offset mount to my scope and it worked, but I felt more comfortable clearing my house with a red dot and light.  The offset red dot worked pretty well with the red dot being zero'd at about 30-35yrds.  I knew my hold over on the lowest scope setting past 35yrds.  

Irons would work just as well with enough practice.  Make sure your light placement allows for quick activation and that it's not casting a show in the field of view of your irons.  Knowing where/who/what the target is should be the number 1 priority with a home defense gun/rifle.

Practice makes perfect, and if you train with that set up it should be fine.  3-gun guys use irons quite a bit under high stress and make hits....but again they practice/train.

Good thread to look at that has a couple of dual purpose setups in is the RECCE pic thread

I like this set up for a super simple HD rifle. Fixed DD sights and a Streamlight TLR

I am inclined to agree with you:



Only issue i have with my TRL is the height on the sucker.  With the red dot it's no so much an issue though.  As long as the scope mount is high enough (most are) it shouldn't be in the way and with offset sights I imagine the switch could be reached fairly easy.

Nice balloo...what hand stop is that?

Redneck one.    I used the base plate off of a 10rd SR9C magazine.  Drilled a small hole in it, used a sanding drum to put a arch so the rail would seat up against it.

Do you work in a gun store?

I've always wondered where this idea came from. Every gun I've ever shot or seen someone else shoot with a 1:7 twist rate and 55gr ammo has had no problem at all. I've heard of people having trouble with stuff like 45gr, but other than that I honestly believe it's just speculation.

Not trying to call anybody a liar or insult anyone's intelligence. If anybody's actually had firsthand experience with a 1:7 barrel not liking 55gr ammo, then I take it back. Just haven't heard of it yet.