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Posted: 5/12/2015 9:12:17 PM EDT
| I currently have a SMITH & WESSON M&P 15. Great gun but I wanted to build my next one and wanted it to be a little more custom and higher quality parts over a regular off the shelf AR. So I decided to go with a SPIKE'S TACTICAL build. What's your opinions on these guns etc? Just want a great quality gun. Today I just received my SPIKE'S Lower and also purchased and received the GEISSELE SSA Trigger. I wanna make this a mostly "ALL SPIKE'S Rifle. Upper, Barrel, BCG, Etc. Just want some input on these guns and my choice. Are these above average Quality and am I making a good decision by building an ALL Spike's Gun. 99% = Range and Plinking 1% = ZOMBIES if needed |
| Spikes uses/sells good quality parts in their builds, but if you use all spikes parts, then its not very custom. My main question would be are you going to build a rifle to shoot for accuracy or just plinking at the range? If you're just plinking at the range I'd say that SSA trigger is a bit much, but then again I'm a fan of single stage triggers |
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First post pretty much nails it.
Some people are turned off by Spikes, but all their stuff I have used has been top quality. The SSA is a fantastic trigger, it will serve you well for plinking and when you go back to a regular trigger - you will be shocked with how nice the SSA really is. Like the previous poster, I am a single stage fan. To each their own. It sounds like you are building the next one right. If you are not bent on doing a 100% spikes gun, give BCM uppers a look. They are really impressive. |
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I always start with the barrel.
The Market is flooded with near match quality barrels super cheap , and no one ever bitched about the rifle being to accurate. I don't really like flutes , I would rather reduce overall profile then flute, but that's just me and you will find as many that like them as them who don't. Odin works, BA, WOA, and many others make great barrels, I think even spikes has a few good tubes. I don't do fancy triggers, I just don't see any physical advantage in time or accuracy. Again to each his own I like full length freefloat handguards, everyone makes them, they protect the barrel and allow the hand to move as needed. The advantages are many ,they are almost a requirement with me. Grip, what ever one fits you well other then that I run stock everything else, dont need a fancy safety or BAD lever |
| Pretty much as others have said as well, don't limit yourself to just spikes. Like I posted, they have quality stuff but there are many great companies out their for AR parts. BCM, Aero, Noveske, Colt, KAC (if you can afford them), Vltor, PSA....the list goes on |
| Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm pretty new to the AR world so...My main question I guess was if I was to build a MOSTLY ALL SPIKE'S Rifle, would that be considered a top tier AR like BCM, Daniel Defense, etc. I already bought the Spike's Lower and wanted to build a rifle that was mainly all the same company. Is that something that us AR guys aren't supposed to do? Is it common to mix it up, or keep it all the same? Like I said I'm new to this game but I'm very interested. |
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Quoted: Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm pretty new to the AR world so...My main question I guess was if I was to build a MOSTLY ALL SPIKE'S Rifle, would that be considered a top tier AR like BCM, Daniel Defense, etc. I already bought the Spike's Lower and wanted to build a rifle that was mainly all the same company. Is that something that us AR guys aren't supposed to do? Is it common to mix it up, or keep it all the same? Like I said I'm new to this game but I'm very interested. It's top tier if a) it's reliable and b) you outshoot everybody else @ the range. Apparently the accuracy money in AR's is in the trigger & the bbl. You've got a good start w/ the trigger. Check out White Oak, et al, for your bbl. |
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Are you wanting to build your entire rifle? You could just buy a complete Spike's upper. That way it's fully assembled. Not a bad idea to just buy one that is preassembled by the good guys.
Not saying in any way that you're not capable of doing it yourself. Swords are for Zombies. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm pretty new to the AR world so...My main question I guess was if I was to build a MOSTLY ALL SPIKE'S Rifle, would that be considered a top tier AR like BCM, Daniel Defense, etc. I already bought the Spike's Lower and wanted to build a rifle that was mainly all the same company. Is that something that us AR guys aren't supposed to do? Is it common to mix it up, or keep it all the same? Like I said I'm new to this game but I'm very interested. I would think so...don't make too much of this Tier stuff. In building your rifle, there are no real rules..just mix and match or keep it the same, whatever your preference is. Here;s one I put together a couple of years ago with a Spike's lower and BCM upper 
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Quoted:
Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm pretty new to the AR world so...My main question I guess was if I was to build a MOSTLY ALL SPIKE'S Rifle, would that be considered a top tier AR like BCM, Daniel Defense, etc. I already bought the Spike's Lower and wanted to build a rifle that was mainly all the same company. Is that something that us AR guys aren't supposed to do? Is it common to mix it up, or keep it all the same? Like I said I'm new to this game but I'm very interested. Spec. Vs. spec., those other companies don't have anything better, except a better bigger marketing budget. If you want precision, check out Spikes Lothar Walther SS barrels. Top tier Want battle-rifle durability, get one of Spikes Optimum FN cold hammer forged HPT/MPI barrels built from M249 spec steel. Want lightweight, Spikes can do that too. Their LW barrels are some of the best. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm pretty new to the AR world so...My main question I guess was if I was to build a MOSTLY ALL SPIKE'S Rifle, would that be considered a top tier AR like BCM, Daniel Defense, etc. I already bought the Spike's Lower and wanted to build a rifle that was mainly all the same company. Is that something that us AR guys aren't supposed to do? Is it common to mix it up, or keep it all the same? Like I said I'm new to this game but I'm very interested. Spikes is nowhere near being a "top tier" manufacturer, although they do make respectable parts that should treat you well. I'm personally not a fan but to each his own. Don't worry about keeping everything the same company. Mix it up however you like and forget about it mismatching. |
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Spikes is nowhere near being a "top tier" manufacturer, although they do make respectable parts that should treat you well. I'm personally not a fan but to each his own. Don't worry about keeping everything the same company. Mix it up however you like and forget about it mismatching. Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm pretty new to the AR world so...My main question I guess was if I was to build a MOSTLY ALL SPIKE'S Rifle, would that be considered a top tier AR like BCM, Daniel Defense, etc. I already bought the Spike's Lower and wanted to build a rifle that was mainly all the same company. Is that something that us AR guys aren't supposed to do? Is it common to mix it up, or keep it all the same? Like I said I'm new to this game but I'm very interested. Spikes is nowhere near being a "top tier" manufacturer, although they do make respectable parts that should treat you well. I'm personally not a fan but to each his own. Don't worry about keeping everything the same company. Mix it up however you like and forget about it mismatching. So your saying Spike's Uppers Barrels BCG's Lowers etc. are nowhere near an upper tier company?? Why not and what will a top tier gun do that this one wouldn't?? Just curious cause I'm new to this and I was really excited about building a gun that was more than just a factory gun |
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So your saying Spike's Uppers Barrels BCG's Lowers etc. are nowhere near an upper tier company?? Why not and what will a top tier gun do that this one wouldn't?? Just curious cause I'm new to this and I was really excited about building a gun that was more than just a factory gun Quoted:
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Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm pretty new to the AR world so...My main question I guess was if I was to build a MOSTLY ALL SPIKE'S Rifle, would that be considered a top tier AR like BCM, Daniel Defense, etc. I already bought the Spike's Lower and wanted to build a rifle that was mainly all the same company. Is that something that us AR guys aren't supposed to do? Is it common to mix it up, or keep it all the same? Like I said I'm new to this game but I'm very interested. Spikes is nowhere near being a "top tier" manufacturer, although they do make respectable parts that should treat you well. I'm personally not a fan but to each his own. Don't worry about keeping everything the same company. Mix it up however you like and forget about it mismatching. So your saying Spike's Uppers Barrels BCG's Lowers etc. are nowhere near an upper tier company?? Why not and what will a top tier gun do that this one wouldn't?? Just curious cause I'm new to this and I was really excited about building a gun that was more than just a factory gun Top tier changes based on what you're going to do with it. Spikes makes quality parts, and based on your use listed above, will last you many, many years. If you take your time and build it right, it should be a dependable, accurate rifle that will serve you well. However, if you're dressing in dark blue or camouflage to head somewhere that the targets shoot back, you're probably going to want something that's closer to what is issued to our troops (Colt, FN). If you're looking to do classes, you may want either an issue rifle, or something from LaRue or Noveske for a bit more flair. If you want to shoot Service Rifle and get to Camp Perry, you'll want something like a White Oak upper. If your game is precision long range, you'd want a better barrel, and maybe a matched bolt. Want to be the next 3-gun nation champion? You'd probably want to drop the change on a JP Enterprises. All of these would be "Top Tier" in their given field. For a general purpose range gun, a Spike's build is just fine. As far as mixing parts - if you just want to build a gun buying everything from Spike's is fine, but most folks start building when what they want isn't available off the shelf from a single company. When I built my 3-gun rifle, the barrel I wanted wasn't available as part of a pre-built upper. I knew what rail I wanted, and I wanted a specific stock. I had parts coming in from Troy (sorry, it was before that...), Rock River Arms, Bravo Company, VLTOR, Spike's, DPMS, Nordic Components, Chip McCormick, Magpul, Impact Weapons Components, and Brownells. 6 or 7 UPS shipments. The fun was heading down in the basement with that pile of parts and coming out with a rifle that was built EXACTLY how I wanted. It worked, and was accurate. I was stoked. Were I buying all Spike's parts, I probably would have just bought a complete rifle and been done with it. |
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Quoted:
So your saying Spike's Uppers Barrels BCG's Lowers etc. are nowhere near an upper tier company?? Why not and what will a top tier gun do that this one wouldn't?? Just curious cause I'm new to this and I was really excited about building a gun that was more than just a factory gun Quoted:
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Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm pretty new to the AR world so...My main question I guess was if I was to build a MOSTLY ALL SPIKE'S Rifle, would that be considered a top tier AR like BCM, Daniel Defense, etc. I already bought the Spike's Lower and wanted to build a rifle that was mainly all the same company. Is that something that us AR guys aren't supposed to do? Is it common to mix it up, or keep it all the same? Like I said I'm new to this game but I'm very interested. Spikes is nowhere near being a "top tier" manufacturer, although they do make respectable parts that should treat you well. I'm personally not a fan but to each his own. Don't worry about keeping everything the same company. Mix it up however you like and forget about it mismatching. So your saying Spike's Uppers Barrels BCG's Lowers etc. are nowhere near an upper tier company?? Why not and what will a top tier gun do that this one wouldn't?? Just curious cause I'm new to this and I was really excited about building a gun that was more than just a factory gun Correct. There are plenty of "factory guns" that will outperform a Spikes parts build in a few different realms. If you want a top shelf rifle that epitomizes accuracy, durability, reliability, and has the track record to prove it, you would be looking at brands like LaRue or KAC. I'm sure Spikes will be perfect for your needs, but it is certainly not one of the highest quality options on the market. Personally, I consider them to be an upper-mid level manufacturer similar to Colt, PSA Premium, etc. In that price range, I would rather have a BCM, which should only cost a small margin more than Spikes. That said, don't build a rifle based on what othes think, because a lot of us have different opinions on this stuff. Build something that you personally like, and enjoy it for what it is. If you like Spikes and want to use their components, then by all means do so, and forget about whether or not you have a "top tier" rifle according to other people's criteria. |
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OP, you will be fine with Spikes. You don't need to listen to a bunch of guys on the internet for approval.
Many of the guys that bash Spikes have no reason to do so since they don't have enough experience with the product, or they did not get the answer they wanted when they had an issue with 1 product. I have a lot of ARs. I have been fortunate enough to put a lot of ammo through those ARs. I have various Spikes components, and I have one complete upper that Tom from Spikes assembled for me. It has been rock solid, and accurate, and I have zero problems recommending the product based on my experiences. I don't care for spiders, so I never bought the lowers, but the lowers themselves are great quality. Top Tier? Hell, I don't know, but if we base that on reliability, accuracy, fit, finish and customer service, then it would be right up there one would think. Their CHF barrel line specifically begs to challenge the bashers. My sample size is small, in the scheme of things. It is just a humble opinion from one guy based on actual use, and positive experiences with the vendor. |
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Top Tier - the AR that sells for more than you can afford. Quoted:
Quoted: Does anyone even know what "Top Tier" is anymore? I think it's personal preference more than anything. Top Tier - the AR that sells for more than you can afford. Lol.. OP based on what you need, Spike's will be more than enough gun for you. I have used LOTS of parts from them and have never had any kind of issue. As someone else stated, grab a Spike's or PSA Premium CHF barrel of your choice and a Spike's BCG and build it. I also really like the SAR rails. Grab some barrels shims with your order to make the install easy. |
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