OK, FNG here again, apologies if I have drawn-out a dead thread or wasted space here or anything like that, I am not the most IT savvy guy around, but I was engaged in a thread regarding a side-charge upper for my first AR15 build, cannot find my last post, and was really looking forward to whatever responses it might have drawn, so here goes again.  yes, I am stoopid, but I am also persistent. SO, my first build,I have a aero-precision lower, waiting on a dpms LPK & a Spike's SS battle trigger. really digging the LAR Grizzly side-charge upper receivers. this first build will be the only AR I can afford like, forever, & it  will be used for home-defense & recreational shooting.  I have a bolt-gun for deer hunting & coyote-control. here is my question, is the LAR forged side-charged upper receiver a reasonable choice for my first build, considering my intended purpose for this weapon?  I just plain like the side-charge design, for as  why I am interested in it. I have no experience with this design, but have spent plenty of time with M-16A1 & A2s from my time with the USAR & ARNG way back when. will this choice make my first build more difficult?  little things like finding the proper barrel for this receiver, and setting up the gas system, have me a little worried. oh wait, I have to worry over those issues no matter what I build, unless I go with a regular pre- assembled upper. I think I will go with the 5.45 caliber for this project, mainly because I had to decide on one or the other, & that round is widely available. to make things more complicated, I am really stuck on having a decent-quality 18" stainless barrel. it seems as if those extra two inches over the way more common 16"barrels are extremely expensive, but I am looking for something between a lightweight CAR shorty & a full rifle configuration. looking for comments, advice & such, mainly regarding my choice of upper receivers, & also my initial choice of barrel length. as always, I truly appreciate the collective knowledge at my fingertips here. Thanks all for your time, 47knuckle

Welcome.
I can't read your post as written.  
Best advice I can give you is do a search.

I tried to help.

Here

Thanks for making the OP somewhat readable

If you are right handed and the upper charges from the right side I find that akward and uncomfortable.

If it were me just get a good AR and be done with it. Spend your money where it counts and get a good barrel. If I were to build another for a HD role then I'd go lightweight and short . Thoose 2 inches might not be much but you will be lighter and more manuverable with a 16