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I'm pretty settled now on the DD 10.3" barrel, Geissele Mk14 rail, Geissele Airborne CH, LaRue MBT trigger, and probably a regular BCG from PSA. Only thing I need to figure out now is iron sights.

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Sounds a lot like my current 10.3 setup. Still needing to pick up the Geissele charging handle but using a gas buster for the time being instead.

I put an LMT Enhanced BCG in mine, wanted the tad longer unlock time and bolt that should be a bit stronger than standard Milspec.

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/268530/rifle1-631919.jpg

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A1 grip is best grip.

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+1

I wish someone would start making them again.

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BROWNELL'S

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/grip-parts/pistol-grips/ar-15-retro-pistol-grip-prod109338.aspx

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Inferior?
I have become a fan of QPQ/ Nitride although I also find chrome lined to be an excellent barrel finish as well. Either will last a lifetime so either is acceptable really.
The benefits of Nitride are=
Nitride is a process that hardens and makes corrosion resistant the outer layer of steel rather than being a coating like chrome. Since Nitride does not change the dimension of the steel like a coating it does not effect accuracy like a chrome lining.
Nitride can be done to existing barrels and stainless barrels unlike chrome lined.
Nitride protects the entire barrel inside and out unlike chrome lining. Chrome lining requires another finish on the exterior of the barrel.
Nitride is as hard as chrome but is much thicker.  Chrome lining is approx. .0005'' and M249 is around .001''. Nitride is approx. .01-.024''. Even M249 chrome lining is less than a tenth as thick as Nitride.
Nitride is more corrosion resistant than chrome and again protects the entire barrel.
Some will say that chrome degrades slower than Nitride in extreme heat from sustained full auto but I have seen no evidence to this. The only side by side testing I know of in sustained full auto showed Nitride to last better. If chrome does indeed degrade slower in extreme heat, it is a temperature that is not attainable in a semi auto weapon anyway. Only hundreds of rounds in sustained full auto can produce temperatures high enough for it to even become relevant. Again, the benefit of one over the other in extreme heat from full auto is unproven either way at this point.
This is why a chrome lined/ parked barrel finish is inferior to QPQ. Chrome lining/ Parkerizing is also more time consuming than Nitriding so the barrel cost is greater. The cost of chrome lining being higher is why I assume some still prefer it, assuming it is a higher quality barrel finish. In reality, a Nitride barrel will last longer, be more accurate, more corrosion resistant and cost less than than an identical chrome lined barrel. Manufacturers wanting to sell higher priced barrels and consumers assuming higher cost equals higher quality is the only reason chrome is still used, IMO.

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Why do you want an inferior chrome lined/ Parked barrel finish when QPQ Nitride is not only less expensive but superior in all ways?

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Wanted to resurrect this thread for another question pertaining to my go-to rifle rather than start a new one.

Optics:

I have always had Aimpoint red dots. First M2s and now a T1. I absolutely love the T1. But lately I've been seeing the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 and really like how they look. I've been thinking about picking one up, but I'm on the fence about using it on this carbine. Are there any real advantages to using the newer EO's over the T1 other than wider FOV? I know the T1 wins in battery life, but I like the idea of the small dot and ring on the EO. What say the hive?

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Oooooh, can o' worms right there.  The fanbois for/against each will be along shortly.  

I don't have any Aimpoints personally, but I've used more than my fair share hither and yon.  I have an older SOF trade-in 553 that I got cause it was cheap and clone correct.    I haven't experienced the ghosting issues others have complained about (and which prompted the massive buyback from L3).  A lot of people got all pissed off about it when they didn't even have any issues on their own personal sights...they just wanted to jump ship cause it was what all the cool hipster kids were doing.  Those bitches probably all wear flannel anyway.  

If I were closer I'd bring my 553 to you so you could see what's what, and give it a go side-by-side with a Strikefire (not an aimpoint, but fairly close in design).  Aimpoints are great for both-eyes-open kinda stuff, the eotech *DOES* give me quicker target acquisition though if I'm honest.

As I age, though, I'm moving more into magnified (even if it's just a 1-4x) optics for essentially everything AR, blackpowder, and bolt-action flavored in the safe.  My AKs, SKSs (ess kay esses?) and 1851 Springfield will retain irons though.