Hello everyone,

I've always bought my ar15s lightly used to avoid the initial depreciation but late last night I started looking at picture threads and decided to piece one together.

Like the title says this is to be a cheap range toy only. I have a lot of heavy guns and I wanted a lightweight one. Never had a skinny rail so I thought I would try one of those out also. Local range just expanded to 550 yards and for this build I would like it to be minute of 45% IPSC steel target with quality reloads at that distance. Last but not least I wanted (needed) the parts now and wasn't interested in waiting for the perfect deal to become available.

Upper:
Aero precision receiver
Psa nitrided bolt/carrier
GUNtec 15" mlok rail
Faxon 18" gunner barrel -rifle length and pinned gas block
Anderson charging handle
Spikes melonite gas tube
A2 flashhider for now

Optic:
Leupold 3-9 mark AR
Aero lightweight mount

I have no experience with any of these companies except for aero and that's only because I have a set of scope rings from them. I'm most nervous about the quality of the rail because it was so cheap and it uses a crappy aluminum barrel nut which I'm strongly thinking about replacing with a steel one.


Lower-
I'm just going to use a already owned LMT lower with sopmod and hipertouch 24c trigger until I figure out if I even like the way the upper feels and what kind of lower would compliment it the best.

Hopefully everything works out how I have pictured and it fills the requirements. Will post pictures when everything arrives and is pieced together.

Feel free to comment, redicule or compliment as you see fit!


Parts purchased after the thread was started
Anderson Lower (May just buy an aero so the finish matches the upper)
Colt lower parts kit (I actually try to stay away from colt at all cost but it was cheap)
Daniel Defense grip (loved the feel in the store but don't like the angle now that it's on my lower)
Magpul ACS-L/tube/buffer/spring (Bought off EE for cheap)
VG6 epsilon muzzle device

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Update 10/21/2016
First time out to the range besides a earlier function test. 5-10mph winds at 10 o'clock. Steady rain and about 55 degrees.
OCW test.
100 yards
53gr vmax
LC brass #1 fired
CCI primer
H335
Charge weight 24.4, 24.7, 25.0, 25.3, 25.6, 25.9

5 of the 6 groups were under .75MOA and 1 group was 1.02 MOA. The best group was 0.68 MOA and that was 25.9gr. I understand OCW isn't about group size but this atleast can be used for a reference. However, the test did show a little concern because there was significant change in vertical grouping at each charge weight.

Better news is I was able to hit the 400 yard plate (40% IPSC torso) with 100% hit rate with my cheap bulk 55gr SP loads and that is all I can ask for from that ammo.
Further testing will be done but this build shows excellent potential.

Looks good to me.  I have a 16" Faxon Gunner build that has become my favorite all around AR.  I also used an Aero upper.  The feed ramps lined up perfectly with the Faxon barrel.  No complaints so far.

Do yourself a favor and go with a better quality rail.
I have had great service from Midwest Industries newer Gen 3 standard and light weight M-Lok models.
For the price there offer extremely high quality and typically not difficult to find in stock.

Believe me I had the MI rail in my cart and almost checked out a couple of times but ended up downgrading. I'm one of those guys who reads a lot and thinks he shoots a lot but really doesn't. Not because I don't want to but time always seems to be lacking. I'm not tough on equipment even though I always buy tough, durable items with a great warranty that are over kill for my actual needs. I figure downgrading on the rail was a step in the more logical/realalistic direction.

Do you have first hand experience with the Guntec rail? If it reveals it's of poor quality I will sell and suffer the lost then purchase a MI or maybe give Faxon a try since they are from my home state.

Great to hear about the barrel RK and I hope my accuracy expectations are realistic.

The guntec rail will be fine, you're not even mounting anything on it

The only thing I would have mounted to the rail would be a Harris bipod from time to time

That may change things.

OP, No I do not have any first hand experience with the Guntech rails. I came close to buying one but my gut said not to.
And, like you I am no door kicker/tier 1 dude and everything I build is a budget build. I am also not purposely easy on gear, it does get used in run-n-gun type use often.
However, I would much rather just start with good quality and be done with it.
There are too many great quality parts that are very reasonably priced. Midwest Ind., FAXON, ALG, etc.
But for a QUALITY, Light weight, slim, easy to mount (No gas tube OR barrel nut alignment), readily available rail I'm looking at MI gen 3 first every time.
JUST MY OPINION...

ETA, if the Guntech rail mount bolts bolt into an Aluminum barrel nut (I don't know if they do or not) there is no way I would go that route.

OP, atleast get something like an ALG rail, for their price they're very light.

Well... this is about what I expected. Rail is already shipped so too late to back out now. The aluminum barrel nut is also a concern of mine but I had the same feelings towards plastic magazines, lowers and pistols initially and there's a lot of happy owners of those out there now. I'll be sure to report back with my findings.

I'm 95% sure I'll go with Faxon's 15" if the guntec shows to be unacceptable.

Thanks guys for the comments. Any issues with the other components I ordered?

I have had no problems with:
Faxon 14.5" Pencil, mid gas, pinned GB
Aero upper receiver (non FA)
Aero light weight scope mount
Multiple PSA BCGs
Spikes Melonite gas tube

I had one Anderson Lower that Gen 2 & 3 Pmags would not fall free but a small amount of sanding the magwel by hand fixed it in 10 minutes.
Probably would have worked itself out with a few shooting sessions.

I just finished a LW 18" build and the key components I wanted for reduced weight were:

• 18" Faxon Gunner rifle barrel
  15" Leepers UTG Ultraslim 4/15 handguard

This combination, price, and the quality of both components is top notch! Fit and function are spot on.

I just finished a build using a 16" Faxon Gunner. I'm tempted to pick up one or two of their pencil barrels.

Definitely this!  (I've mounted one for a friend and its nothing I would use)

I've not been happy with the MI mounting system however.

ALG has a better mount, its slim, its light weight, and less expensive...I highly recommend them.

Rail came along with most the other parts. Still waiting for my lower part kit/stock and muzzle device. Will update the original post with the items I decided to purchase.

The rail is as I expected but until I actually get out and shoot with it I'll hold my review. I will say I had more trouble than anticipated getting it to index properly. Seemed like 1 shim was too little and 2 was too much. Hopefully should have pictures by this weekend.

I second this^

For my first upper build, I used an ALG EMR V3 and was extremely happy I didn't buy the Matrix or Guntec rails I was looking at.  If you watch the EE or wait for a blem sale on ALG's website, you can get one of their rails for about $90 or less...

The ALG and Geissele mounting systems are rock solid and they both use aluminum barrel nuts IIRC...love them rails.

I have to chime in again.
I have 2 ALG rails and 4 MI rails.
I find having to "time" the barrel nut on the ALG (and similar) much more of a pain than the
simple tightening of the nut with no timing involved on the MI gen 3 rails.
No gas tube alignment, no shims and no rail bolt holes to line up.
It couldn't be much more simple.
What am I missing?
Obviously the ALG models are cheaper.

Pictures added. Will get to the range Thursday and get some rounds down the barrel and report back.

The gun was cheap to build, parts were shipped immediately and it is light weight (compared to my other firearms). As long as accuracy and function is good then I will be a happy camper.

The finish on the rail does seem delicate but it was cheap so you have to give up something somewhere. The design of the rail looks good and it mounted up tight and secure. As of right now I do not have any regrets. Only time will tell. I am fortunate to have a lot of really nice stuff but it is completely doable to have a low end ar15 built to your liking that is fairly light weight and accuracy reports pending will function fine.

Disclaimer,
If I used a rifle for a living I would not have went with this rail.

Accuracy update under the pictures in the original post.

Nice build!
Where in Ohio you located this range sounds awesome?

I'm located in Newark Ohio but Briar Rabbit in Zainsville Ohio is the range. I really enjoy it but try to go only on member only days so I can avoid groups of people who just mag dump their ARs at the 50 yard berm.

Maybe my calipers need calibrated and or my contacts were dry so that could of thrown my measurement off

I'm no mag dumper I am about an hour from Zanesville up north so Ill look it up.

Thanks man have a good weekend!

MI rails still use that POS clamp system, never again on any rifle of mine...bolt-on or cam-locked only.

Takes me about 10 minutes to install an ALG rail, start to finish.