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Posted: 12/24/2014 12:28:42 AM EDT
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Hello AR15.com! My name is Blake and I live in Las Vegas.
I am currently serving in the USAF and am deployed to Afghanistan for the next few months. I have always wanted my own firearm and have fallen in love with the AR platform and how customizable and versitile it is. I have been frequenting this site and a couple others, reading up on different things from building piece by piece to complete builds and everything in between. I have decided that I would like to build my own, by putting together pre-assembled parts, such as the upper and lower and whatnot. I feel like this would be a good starting point for a new-comer. I have searched around on PSA and Amazon for parts to start my first build and would like to see what you guys have to say about them. Upper: PSA Blem. 16" Lower: PSA lower. ACS-L Magpul BCG: PSA Nickel Boron BCG 2xMags: Magpul PMAGs Charging Handle: BCM Gunfighter MOD4 Rear Sight: Magpul GEN2 I still have about 3 months until I would be able to order anything so I know that things could change, but I would like to know if I'm on the right track. If I were to assemble these now, would I be able to go to the range and shoot? My primary use for this rifle would be for going to the range an home defense. Thank you all for your time and comments, I look forward to them! |
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I had a few more things in my original post, but I was limited to 2000 characters. If you guys have questions or I missed anything, please let me know.
I am currently carrying an M4 out here as well and I would like mine to be somewhat similar. Minus the price tag, of course. It is the standard Colt M4 w/ quad rails, Aimpoint CompM4 red dot, and collapsable stock. I can take a picture if that would help you guys out, just let me know. Thank you again. |
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Blake, welcome from KommieFornia. Thank you for your service. You are definitely on the right track. PSA'S parts are a great value. The parts you reference are GTG. I have never bout a complete upper and lower but I have used all this parts just seperatly. PSA is SLOW to ship. The parts are worth the wait. Sounds like you have some time till your home anyway. If you want to build the upper and lower, then I would look at Del-Ton Rifle kits as well. I have never used the NIB BCG from PSA but I run the same BCG minus the NIB coating in all 7 of my builds. I am not a fan of the ACS stock. I use MOE or CTR stocks from Magpul.
Merry Christmas |
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Thank you for your response! Merry Christmas to you as well.
I would love to build a rifle piece by piece, but I don't have the tools for it right now. Maybe down the line I will do that. I feel like, as a first time builder, I should start with some pre-assembled just so I have the reassurance that it was put together properly (hopefully). As for the NIB BCG, the main reason I want to run that kind as opposed to a non-NIB, is just because I like the look of the bright chrome against the black of the rifle. I hope that this isn't an issue when it comes to proper operation since that is the main concern. What would you recommend when it comes to stocks instead of the ACS stock? I also use a 3-point sling on my issued M4 and like the feel of it. I usually have it snug and close to my chest as well. Thank you again. |
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Trust me the Ares Armor nickel boron BCG I put in my buddies M4 Clone looks and shoots Bad Ass! I just meant I haven't used one (YET!!)
the ACS on my father in laws rifle seems heavy to me. I know the CTR has a hole for QD sling built in. Merry Christmas. Your Country Thanks You. We know your sacrifice protecting our country keeps you from your family. Stay Safe and we will say a prayer for you and the other Protectors of our Freedom! |
I appreciate your prayers 
I would definitely like a lighter weight stock then, if that is the case. I will check out the CTR Magpul ones. I did read that the MOE ones have issues with them sometimes? I can't remember what issues people said, but something about wobbling and/or fit? |
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I appreciate your prayers
I would definitely like a lighter weight stock then, if that is the case. I will check out the CTR Magpul ones. I did read that the MOE ones have issues with them sometimes? I can't remember what issues people said, but something about wobbling and/or fit? CTR has a friction lock that works well. Also look at Mission First Tactical's Battlelink. I have heard it is very tight with no wobble. I am looking to try one. I have two Magpul STR stocks on my two full rifles and a CTR on my wife's. |
| I think most of the Magpul stock wobble issue is caused by less than stellar buffer tubes. I have MOE basic buttstock on 2 of my builds and they wobble very little. Not really noticeable! They may not be the most expensive but I use the PSA lower build kits. Whatever buffer tube that's in the kit seems very well made. I am very happy with these kits. I will from now on not use the stock trigger in these kits. Not because they are garbage. Actually when people check out my rifles they ask if I have upgraded my triggers because PSA triggers are pretty smooth and not gritty. I have put the PSA LBK in 7 out of 8 builds. I am using ALG defense triggers. Stock trigger style and geometry. They have worked the triggers over and for $50 bucks on sale best single upgrade I have done! |
| Well the reason I like the STR and ACS-L ones, is because of the cheek weld. I feel like it would be more comfortable for shooting as opposed to the standard circular shape. I read that the CTR ones have risers? Someone said this causes issues with charging handles if they aren't extended. And I usually only extend mine 1 or two notches. |
| Not real sure about the risers. I like the way my MOE feels when shooting. I used the giant magpul fixed adjustable stock on my bro in laws .308. I found it hideous. I am not the best on why/why not on the CTR or others as I've only shot rifles with the MOE and a buddies cheap (surprisingly solid) Blackhawk adjustable buttstock. The nice thing with buttstocks is you can always swap it to something different if you find something you like better |
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Not real sure about the risers. I like the way my MOE feels when shooting. I used the giant magpul fixed adjustable stock on my bro in laws .308. I found it hideous. I am not the best on why/why not on the CTR or others as I've only shot rifles with the MOE and a buddies cheap (surprisingly solid) Blackhawk adjustable buttstock. The nice thing with buttstocks is you can always swap it to something different if you find something you like better I definitely do not want a fixed stock, but I don't think I have to worry about that with the few stocks I've picked out. Being able to swap them out however is a nice feature to have so I'm not too worried. |
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Sorry for the double post, my replies are limited to 2000 characters still.
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I think most of the Magpul stock wobble issue is caused by less than stellar buffer tubes. I have MOE basic buttstock on 2 of my builds and they wobble very little. Not really noticeable! They may not be the most expensive but I use the PSA lower build kits. Whatever buffer tube that's in the kit seems very well made. I am very happy with these kits. I will from now on not use the stock trigger in these kits. Not because they are garbage. Actually when people check out my rifles they ask if I have upgraded my triggers because PSA triggers are pretty smooth and not gritty. I have put the PSA LBK in 7 out of 8 builds. I am using ALG defense triggers. Stock trigger style and geometry. They have worked the triggers over and for $50 bucks on sale best single upgrade I have done! If the buffer tube is the issue, will I be able to upgrade it to an H2 buffer tube? Would this make a difference? I don't want to start throwing in a bunch of parts at first. I want to start out pretty simple to get an overall feel for how the rifle handles. I don't really have any experience with any triggers other than the one thats on my issued rifle, so I'm sure whatever type is in the PSA lower will be good. Do you know the main differences between the MOE stocks and CTR/STR? Thanks! |
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Here's alot of info on the Magpul collapsible stocks. Obviously you want mil-spec items.
Magpul Stocks Also the H2 buffer will fit in any mil-spec buffer tube. I agree keeping it simple. I have only ran standard carbine buffers in my 6 position buffer tubes. All 8 of my builds cycle perfectly. They are in 16" carbine length, 16" mid-length even in a 20" rifle length in a M4 Stock! |
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Here's alot of info on the Magpul collapsible stocks. Obviously you want mil-spec items. Magpul Stocks Also the H2 buffer will fit in any mil-spec buffer tube. I agree keeping it simple. I have only ran standard carbine buffers in my 6 position buffer tubes. All 8 of my builds cycle perfectly. They are in 16" carbine length, 16" mid-length even in a 20" rifle length in a M4 Stock! Just checked it out. I think I will want to go with the MOE stock. Simple and light is what I would idealy want. And like you said, they're easily replaceable if I want to go tacticool. What would the benefit of an H2 buffer be as opposed to the stock one? Assuming the rifle functions and cycles just fine. Does it help with recoil? I know that the carbine length gas systems seem to have a harsher recoil and I believe that is what I am carrying out here. |
| With no real life knowledge I have read that an H2 can soften recoil. I may be completly wrong as only used standard carbine buffers. I know my wife's mid length gas is noticeably smoother than my carbine. That being said the 20" rifle length I built for my buddy is like shooting a BB gun compared to my carbine. It's smooth as silk. I used a M4 stock with a carbine buffer just to see if it would run. He likes it so much we left it alone. All my builds use PSA M4 buffer tubes and standard carbine buffers. I thought about playing with buffer weight on my M4 clone, but it works perfect. If it ain't broke kinda deal |
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If it was me, I'd spend $30 extra on a midlength upper. I have both a carbine and midlegth; both shoot fine but the longer forearm feels less cramped when I'm shooting.
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If it was me, I'd spend $30 extra on a midlength upper. I have both a carbine and midlegth; both shoot fine but the longer forearm feels less cramped when I'm shooting. I've seen quite a few people say this. It also provides a lot more room for your hand and other accessories. I may go with a mid-length then. Thank you for the suggestion! |
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