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Posted: 8/4/2012 2:40:11 PM EDT
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Greetings everyone, I'm a long time lurker but first time poster. I am planning my first AR build, but I am not new to firearms. I own a handful of rifles, shotguns and handguns. I am planning to go with a PSA 16" Midlength upper with a hammer forged barrel, and an Aero Precision lower with a DPMS parts kit, and standard furniture. This gun will be used for target shooting, plinking, maybe some varmint hunting, and SHTF. I had a question regarding lightweight vs. standard barrels, and which I should choose. I am leaning towards a standard barrel, but would it be better to go lightweight? How noticeable is the weight difference? What are the major pros and cons of each? Thanks.
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Welcome to the forum.
If you want more replies to your questions you should structure your posts so they are a little easier to read... a block of text on a forum (even a small block of text) can tend to all mush together and people typically will just skip it instead of taking the time to read it. Also your question is a pretty normal everyday question that really could've been answered by yourself with a tiny bit of research on your own end... people tend to get tired of answering the same questions over and over again, especially if they are questions google would have answered easier. But to answer your question - As with any rifle your pro's and con's are the same ... lightweight barrels heat up faster but are easier to carry and run while heavy barrels heat up slower and are a pain in the ass to lug around and shoot offhand. This is kinda one of those questions only you can answer. I personally think of it like this : If it is a rifle that I need to hunt/defend myself/carry around then it gets a lightweight profile... if i want to shoot for target groups all day (which i never do  ) then it gets a heavy barrel.... i never again will buy an M4 profile or a Gov profile.
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Quoted:
Greetings everyone, I'm a long time lurker but first time poster. I am planning my first AR build, but I am not new to firearms. I own a handful of rifles, shotguns and handguns. I am planning to go with a PSA 16" Midlength upper with a hammer forged barrel, and an Aero Precision lower with a DPMS parts kit, and standard furniture. This gun will be used for target shooting, plinking, maybe some varmint hunting, and SHTF. I had a question regarding lightweight vs. standard barrels, and which I should choose. I am leaning towards a standard barrel, but would it be better to go lightweight? How noticeable is the weight difference? What are the major pros and cons of each? Thanks. Skip the DPMS LPK and get one of the ALG enhanced kits from PSA while they are on special. You can also get a complete furniture kit from PSA and save $$ I'm used to packing heavy rigs around...shotgun/bolt rifle so weight doesn't bother me much. I use a 16" HBAR rig and it seems normal to me. I would suggest handling some various ARs locally to see what you think before you commit to a barrel contour. That was a good post by Durabo explaining why so many may have skipped your post. I too, will often skip big blocks of text, although yours wasn't humongous like some. Op/Ed: Typing on phones and taking pictures with phones still supremely mega sucks. There's room for growth there, for sure. |
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Thank you for the input guys, I appreciate it. I will try to make my posts more user friendly in the future.
I handled a couple ARs at the LGS, a DPMS and an M&P 15. Both of them felt pretty light weight but not front end heavy, but the DPMS did feel "cheap" and not very solid if that makes sense. I too am used to heavier guns for hunting, but I think the lightweight barrel would make the AR feel more balanced. Any other suggestions for an AR noob? |
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Does a fluted barrel cost a lot more? If the cost is negligible then that is an option. This is a "budget" oriented build and I'd like to keep at under $1,000 including shipping and transfer fee, etc.
I am thinking of going with a flat top/A3 upper. Here is what I am planning to buy. HERE I plan on running iron sights for a while then decide where I want to go with an optic. The PSA upper setup has the option of adding an rear MBUS, and it has a standard front sight and gas block. I have a couple scopes lying around, 3x9s and fixed power stuff, but I have little experience with red dots or holos. |
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A lot of people do not like a standard front sight with optics.
YHM fluted barrels are reasonable for builds. Red dots good for fast and close. Magnified optics are definitely slower for most people. You probably should mention things like budgets up front. I had a different impression of what you up to. Have you considered just buying a Colt or possibly S&W? That way you would have a warranty. |
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What did you think I was up to? I want a good entry rifle, preferably a mid-length gas system, and start off with iron sights but have the ability to move to optics later on.
I also want to spend under $1,000 when it's all said and done. I had thought about the M&P 15, but I am attracted to the idea of building a rifle myself with the parts I want on it. A warranty is nice sure, but not a necessity. |
OK, here's a pic of a musket that I put together a little while ago....
It's basic with pretty good parts. I tried to stay around $700 but this ran me about $890. Perhaps something like that only with a lighter barrel profile ? Lower Receiver: Aero Precision Upper Receiver: CMT (Continental Machine Tool) Bolt Carrier Group: SAA Charging Handle: LMT Tac Lower Parts Kit: Daniel Defense Trigger Guard: Magpul Aluminum Receiver End Plate: Noveske QD Barrel: Wilson Arms 16" 1/8 SS Wylde chamber HBAR contour Flash Hider: A2 Gas System: Mid Handguard: Magpul MOE Rear Sight: Troy Buttstock Assy: MagPul CTR Buffer: H2 Sling: BFG Victory Runs schweet and smooth....4:00 eject w/LC XM193 |
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Quoted:
What did you think I was up to? I want a good entry rifle, preferably a mid-length gas system, and start off with iron sights but have the ability to move to optics later on. I also want to spend under $1,000 when it's all said and done. I had thought about the M&P 15, but I am attracted to the idea of building a rifle myself with the parts I want on it. A warranty is nice sure, but not a necessity. I'm not sure how this will come across, but it's just a personal view. I have trouble understanding the idea of someone wanting to "build" their own and then proceed to buy a complete upper. At that point it's pretty much not building and more like attaching the 2 halves. It's fine I guess if that's what you want but it's not terribly difficult to actually build the upper too. Shop around, find all the necessary parts, make sure they are as cheap(cost) as possible and of a quality/brand that you prefer/trust, and have it. I have less than $1000 in my mid build and think I used some decent quality components. I am very pleased with my results, although I have yet to take and post pics. |
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Quoted:
OK, here's a pic of a musket that I put together a little while ago.... http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/6563/p1000291snri.jpg It's basic with pretty good parts. I tried to stay around $700 but this ran me about $890. Perhaps something like that only with a lighter barrel profile ? Lower Receiver: Aero Precision Upper Receiver: CMT (Continental Machine Tool) Bolt Carrier Group: SAA Charging Handle: LMT Tac Lower Parts Kit: Daniel Defense Trigger Guard: Magpul Aluminum Receiver End Plate: Noveske QD Barrel: Wilson Arms 16" 1/8 SS Wylde chamber HBAR contour Flash Hider: A2 Gas System: Mid Handguard: Magpul MOE Rear Sight: Troy Buttstock Assy: MagPul CTR Buffer: H2 Sling: BFG Victory Runs schweet and smooth....4:00 eject w/LC XM193 Direct-Drive- Yes that is pretty much what I am going for, looks sweet! |
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Quoted:
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What did you think I was up to? I want a good entry rifle, preferably a mid-length gas system, and start off with iron sights but have the ability to move to optics later on. I also want to spend under $1,000 when it's all said and done. I had thought about the M&P 15, but I am attracted to the idea of building a rifle myself with the parts I want on it. A warranty is nice sure, but not a necessity. I'm not sure how this will come across, but it's just a personal view. I have trouble understanding the idea of someone wanting to "build" their own and then proceed to buy a complete upper. At that point it's pretty much not building and more like attaching the 2 halves. It's fine I guess if that's what you want but it's not terribly difficult to actually build the upper too. Shop around, find all the necessary parts, make sure they are as cheap(cost) as possible and of a quality/brand that you prefer/trust, and have it. I have less than $1000 in my mid build and think I used some decent quality components. I am very pleased with my results, although I have yet to take and post pics. So is it not considered building a rifle if the upper is assembled? I suppose I want an assembled upper because it seems easier to me, I do not possess a vice or other necessary tools, and I guess I feel more comfortable that it was put together by a qualified professional. I can see how this contradicts my desire to put the lower receiver together myself, but I feel that an LPK would be easier for me to do and I can save a bit of cash by doing that myself. How much can be saved by assembling the upper half on my own? I would like to buy something that fit exactly what I want, but I am having some trouble finding that "perfect" rifle. Before I joined here, I originally planned on buying a Spikes Mid-Length ST-15 LE complete rifle, but after reading about 3-6 month wait times, I thought it would be better to do it myself. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
What did you think I was up to? I want a good entry rifle, preferably a mid-length gas system, and start off with iron sights but have the ability to move to optics later on. I also want to spend under $1,000 when it's all said and done. I had thought about the M&P 15, but I am attracted to the idea of building a rifle myself with the parts I want on it. A warranty is nice sure, but not a necessity. I'm not sure how this will come across, but it's just a personal view. I have trouble understanding the idea of someone wanting to "build" their own and then proceed to buy a complete upper. At that point it's pretty much not building and more like attaching the 2 halves. It's fine I guess if that's what you want but it's not terribly difficult to actually build the upper too. Shop around, find all the necessary parts, make sure they are as cheap(cost) as possible and of a quality/brand that you prefer/trust, and have it. I have less than $1000 in my mid build and think I used some decent quality components. I am very pleased with my results, although I have yet to take and post pics. So is it not considered building a rifle if the upper is assembled? I suppose I want an assembled upper because it seems easier to me, I do not possess a vice or other necessary tools, and I guess I feel more comfortable that it was put together by a qualified professional. I can see how this contradicts my desire to put the lower receiver together myself, but I feel that an LPK would be easier for me to do and I can save a bit of cash by doing that myself. How much can be saved by assembling the upper half on my own? I would like to buy something that fit exactly what I want, but I am having some trouble finding that "perfect" rifle. Before I joined here, I originally planned on buying a Spikes Mid-Length ST-15 LE complete rifle, but after reading about 3-6 month wait times, I thought it would be better to do it myself. Honestly, building your own upper: I'm not sure if there are any savings over buying one complete. I didn't find it all that difficult to do, and I didn't have all the special equipment to help during. I'm still waiting on the Yankee Hill forearm wrench. That is the one thing I can see possibly giving me a challenge. Then again. maybe not. I will find out soon enough if I need to track down a vise. You hit on another sweet spot. Sure, you could have just bought a complete rifle, and possibly saved a bunch of money. But, if it isn't exactly how you prefer, that savings and then some can go away fast. Trust me on that. :) I searched really hard to find, what I thought at least, were excellent deals on the pieces I wanted. I figured I could put it together for around $600-$700. I have yet to do a complete total, but at last rough figure, I was over $800. I really have no idea how that happened. :) Although, I did find a real good price on an in stock BCG and decided to grab it for a reserve. Not a big name, but it is a M16 BCG and I got it for $99 with good shipping cost. I feel your pain though. I knew nothing(and still really don't) and shot a friends for my first AR experience. Like it a lot and went and bought a Sig M400, at a good price. Then came on here to learn...and this place is what forced me to spend more money and build my own! It's not my fault, it's theirs! :) |
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this is what I did.
I wanted an accurate shooter that was UNlike everyone elses. I didnt want any cheap low budget UTG parts. so i bought this lower set up 
then I ordered the upper 
then the barrel came in the mail 
I put this gas block and a midlength tube on it 
slid in this BCG 
I used a quad rail by C-more and basically had this when I was done. 
don't sell yourself short you HAVE the skill to do a complete "build" yourself. everyone does. just ask questions and go for it. the only tools I used to assemble this was a standard barrel wrench and a homemade "DPMS" upper reciever holder that I milled at work. 
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my biggest mistake on that build was to cerakote it .....
you see the color in the pic above. way too light , it just sucked. I just last week got all that crap off it and its back to black..... the original build was in 2005 and the total cost was right under $1100. the trick is buy a good barrel, you can then hunt down cheaper parts. the BCG I used was a BCM, I have an Ionbond local to me so I took it in and had it chrome nitrided, not plated. the rail I had lying around already, you could use a Magpul MOE to cut the price and still buy quality. I used a gas tube and charging handle from Rock River. the barrel is the heart, add a good trigger later on. you can find a stripped upper pretty cheap. get a cheapo muzzle device and upgrade it some other day. do it like that and you'll be able to stay close to your budget, shop at http://www.rainierarms.com/ they have good stuff at good prices. |
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Or you could just buy a complete AR for your first one, take a class and that will help you learn what works for you. This Colt 6720 would be a perfect AR to start on at $975 and you can always put a rail on it in the future IF you determine that's what you want. Standard M4 or Magpul MOE hand guards might do everything you need them to (mount a light, keep your hands from getting too hot).
Build your second one...and third one...I promised myself I'm stopping at 3... |
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