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Posted: 9/10/2008 10:38:49 AM EDT
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looks like it's time to put together an upper for one of those two lowers i bought a while back. Les Baer Upper - Flattop w/out F/A w/ Port Cover www.lesbaer.com/pricnga.html - $129 16" Pencil Barrel - www.model1sales.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=BCE16L&storeid=1ℑ=bar16lw.gif&CFID=5801622&CFTOKEN=44351073 - $165 (or is the chrome lined worth the extra $35?) CF Handguard - www.hiperform.com/hand-guards.htm - $125 Fulton Slickside BCG Complete - http://www.fulton-armory.com/M6Parts3.htm#UpperParts - $165 Larue Buis - stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/Detail.bok?no=29 - $89 Gas Tube & Roll Pin - www.model1sales.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=BAP003&storeid=1ℑ=barasparts.gif - $12 What else do I need? Other than that, all I'll need is a light. Anyone know where I can find some lengths of pic rail to mount a light? |
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You need a: Upper Reciever BCG Charging handle Forearm Gas block, tube and pin barrel muzzle device BUIS I didn't follow the links but the only thing I don's see is the charging handle and muzzle device. I'd recommend getting the chrome lining as well. Any reason why you are going with an upper that doesnt have a f/a? Interesting choice in a forearm. I've never seen them before. You can find rails at walmart with the mounting hardware. |
You're wasting money on the overpriced LB upper receiver and skimping on the barrel. I wouldn't trust any chrome carrier other than Young. That Fulton BCG is most likely DPMS, given that it has no provisions for a forward assist. And DPMS chrome carriers - crap. |
Also, I surely don't need forward assist provisions in a slickside upper. |
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I'd have to agree with 87GN. Get a CMT upper and BCG. Save yourself 60 bucks and put it towards a barrel. There are lots of good barrels to be had for less than 300 bucks. I'm a little concerned about the carbon fiber forearm. Personally I'd buy a YHM lightweight FF. Brightflashlights has them for under $100. ETA: Still curious about why a slickside? |
LB just buys other people's parts and resells them. Their carriers are Young. I'm not aware of a single part actually made by LB. For the same price as that non-FA carrier group, you could have a Young chrome carrier group. Yeah, it has FA cuts, but that won't affect function. And you'll know where it came from. And Young has an excellent reputation. For the barrel, if you want to save money, go with a Bushmaster... yeah, a little pricier, but generally higher quality than M1S. There are plenty of quality barrels out there, if you're willing to spend an extra $50. And that LB upper has a shell deflector, right? So it isn't really a slickside. You could get a standard flattop upper for ~100 bucks...have something against the forward assist? It just sits there if you don't use it. |
The CF forearm was suggested by a friend who was suggested it by a leading instructor. Why slickside? Why anything? I'm going for as light as possible. |
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Heck, for that price on the Baer upper, you're close to the SunDevil billet slickside upper... but just get the CMT upper with BCG, you'll be a LOT happier. Young MFG would be a good choice as well, but unless you're shooting tons of ammo, the chrome won't be of much practical benefit. Normal FSB should do, although if you went with a different free floated handguard, it would be possible to use a lower profile gas block, and then mount the front sight to the handguard (e.g. VTAC, PRI Carbon Fibre) In keeping with the lightweight setup - Surefire Scout light. If I was doing that build - it would have a TROY or VLTOR Gas block, VTAC handguard, Surefire Scout light in the 10:30 position (or VFG, scout light mounted on the right side), and either fixed front sight and LaRue BUIS, or TROY flip BUIS all around. |
That last ounce is going to make that much of a difference to you? If so why not get a Young lightweight bolt carrier? Much lighter than that Fulton/DPMS piece. |
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What are the weight differences between a slickside and a standard A4 upper? I'm guessing less than a few ounces. How much does the CF forearm weight. What do you know about the company? Will they stand behind their product? It's your project so by all means buy what you want. Just curious, is this your first AR build? ETA: If you're looking for a super strong BCG Denny's IonBond is the best out there. The ionbond coating is stronger than chrome. |
I'll check out the Young LW BCG. I appreciate that suggestion. |
Slickside? maybe a few ounces differene but it all counts when you're doing a LW build. If I weren't, I wouldn't be considering it. The company was suggested by a friend who was referred to them by a top instructor. Last I checked, top instructors don't just suggest people they don't believe in. Yes, it is. Well, my current AR was built to my specs as far as options but I did not assemble it. |
Don't get me wrong - I love lightweight stuff. But certain parts that I know to be quality/reliable (ie a CMT A4 upper) aren't worth trading for a DPMS part or no-name part (to me), which to me all LB parts are unless I know otherwise. They certainly don't have a forge. I believe - but could be wrong - that you would be better off with standard handguards weight-wise. Check the weight before you buy something else - that CF handguard might be lighter than an aluminum piece, but probably not lighter than plastic handguards. |
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The Hiperform ultra LW shorty handguard weighs 5.5oz, is a single piece, and is so strong you can run your truck over it... for $100-ish bucks. You can also drill holes where you actually want stuff, as opposed to having rails all over the place for no good reason. Anyone know for a fact the FA bolt is a piece of crap? I have a couple and was told they are MPI'd. As far as the Baer upper, got that too, and it is as well made as anything I've seen, and isn't much more than a "regular" upper. I know Spanky and have built a very similar gun. Mine weighs in at 6.25 lbs *with a scout light*. The model one barrel is a ER shaw. I have one and it shoots fine for a 0-200 yard piece that you actually intend to shoot in training or for defense. It isn't a target barrel, but very few people on this board can outshoot the mechanical capability of that rifle... I shoot high power and am perfectly content with mine. It is a great rifle concept - everything you need, nothing you dont. |
You were told they were MP tested? By whom? Are they marked as such? Fulton Armory is known to use DPMS parts. DPMS chrome carriers are known to flake off their chrome. For the same price you could have a Young. For $30 less you could have an LMT or BCM, both of which are outstanding BCGs.  Forward assist. EOTech 552. Railed handguard. VFG. Flashlight. Vortex FH. M16 bolt carrier - heavier than the FA piece. H buffer - also heavier than a standard buffer. 6.85lbs. I could take my EOTech off, add a rear iron sight (there is a front sight on that rifle) and be lighter than your rifle by 2 ounces. I've shot it at 600 yards and was pleased with the results. 1.5 MOA at 100 yards with M855. It's a $215 Bushmaster barrel. I've built M1S guns before and they are good but if you're spending $165 on the BCG and $130 on the upper you can spend more than $165 on the barrel. |
| I was thinking going slick side for my next build. The options I have found are LesBaer, DPMS, Sun Devil, and any 9mm upper (with a little work). I just put a FA BCG from young into my franken gun. Since I've tossed in the FA BCG I have not shot it yet, but playing with it at home sometimes it doesnt lock up fully, and I use the forward assist for the last 1/8th inch or less. Prior to that I've never had that problem. Just something to think about. |
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