quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
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quote:

In the past, I've had good luck with Faxon barrels. They make a 14.5" pencil barrel with an integrated flash hider.

That's actually one I've been looking at. Have you actually used that barrel, and if so how has it performed for you accuracy-wise?

Adequate accuracy is kind of subjective..... I felt it was quite up to the task, but I never shot beyond 50 yards. I built it for range and competition, and it was accurate enough. I was using a red dot sight, so I never determined the exact group size. I sold the gun to a friend. And I'm actually thinking about buying another Faxon barrel just like this one.

BTW....I respectfully disagree with some of the other posters about the lightweight BCG. I've used them in a number of builds and never had any problems BUT yes, I do start with H2 buffers right away. (I don't even try a regular buffer). Nothing wrong with an adjustable gas block instead. That works, too.

Another factor to consider (IMO) when buying a barrel, I avoid buying shorter barrels when they have a mid-length gas port. The distance between the gas port and the end of the barrel seems to be underappreciated when choosing a barrel (I think it's called dwell time ??). But it's a factor in reliability and recoil.

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:
92fstech, are you ruling out all polymer one-piece lowers?

Not necessarily, but I'll admit that I have a bias towards aluminum. I can't objectively say that it's more durable, but the polymer lowers don't give me warm fuzzies, and a standard lower offers the benefit of exact commonality with my other guns.

92fstech,

Since you're looking at free floating the barrel, a pencil profile barrel can be very accurate. Nevertheless, high volume shooting, when the barrel gets quite hot -- accuracy won't hold like it will with a heavier barrel. Consider a pencil barrel from a quality manufacturer such as Wilson Combat. WC will give you a sub-MOA capable barrel, which most of the commonly-recommended barrel producers cannot provide.

Also consider going with just an upper. This doesn't sound like a rifle you'll use on a consistent basis.

quote:

Originally posted by 1KPerDay:
Handsome rig. What’s the weight please

Been a while since I weighed it, but from what I recall it was mid-6 pound range without ammo.

I could get that down a bit with a lighter handguard and stock, and removing the rail covers.

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Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by 1KPerDay:
Handsome rig. What’s the weight please

Been a while since I weighed it, but from what I recall it was mid-6 pound range without ammo.

Impressive!

quote:

Originally posted by fritz:
92fstech,

Since you're looking at free floating the barrel, a pencil profile barrel can be very accurate. Nevertheless, high volume shooting, when the barrel gets quite hot -- accuracy won't hold like it will with a heavier barrel. Consider a pencil barrel from a quality manufacturer such as Wilson Combat. WC will give you a sub-MOA capable barrel, which most of the commonly-recommended barrel producers cannot provide.

Also consider going with just an upper. This doesn't sound like a rifle you'll use on a consistent basis.

Honestly, the WC barrels aren't too badly priced either. I could definitely see myself going that route.

If I get around to building it this gun will probably start out as just an upper...but those always have a way of growing lowers eventually.

If you're seriously looking at WC products, you should time your purchases with their sales. They are currently in a 20% off Christmas sale. There is almost always a Memorial Day sale, and in some years there might be a late winter sale.

WC's 16" pencil barrels are both $216.76 now.
The Ranger weighs 23.8 ounces. The Ultralight Hunter weighs 19 ounces.

By comparison, my preferred fluted WC Recon barrel weighs 27 ounces.

****
"If I get around to building it this gun will probably start out as just an upper...but those always have a way of growing lowers eventually."

I don't see why folks consider that to be an inevitable outcome. I have two AR10 uppers that share one lower. I have two .22lr uppers that don't have a dedicated lower. I one 300blk and two 223 uppers which don't have dedicated lowers. These aren't high-use uppers, so I don't see the need for dedicated lowers. No need for the additional expense, and there's less space consumed in my safes.

Don’t know if you want a complete upper. I have a few from Midwest Industries, very lightweight, good reviews.

https://midwestindustriesinc.c...k-223-wylde-1-8-ulw/

Old Thread Alert!!!

Resurrecting this old thread since I finally got around to building this. It's just an upper, at least for now.

I stumbled into a deal on BCM blem uppers for $50, and scored a BCG at the same time for $58. That got the ball rolling, and the rest came together pretty quickly from there.

I ended up going with a 16" Wilson Combat "Ranger" profile barrel. It's all stainless and uses their proprietary "intermediate" gas system, which is a bit longer than a mid-length but shorter than rifle-length.

Installing the barrel in the upper was a bit of a process. The receiver is thermal fit, so you have to heat it and expand the aluminum to get the barrel extension to fit. That was a bit of a pain, but that thing is in there like it's a single monolithic piece now...I'll probably have to cut the receiver off if I ever want to remove it.

I wanted an Aero Atlas S-One handguard, but apparently Aero is going out of business and those can't be found anywhere. So I did some research and this UTG Pro that is a few ounces heavier but offers a similar profile. It'll work, but I'm not sure I can recommend it. The rails seem to be a bit out of spec...I had to hammer the front MBUIS on, and the rail section at the front has the slots spaced so you have to mount it about 1/2" back from the front....it can't sit flush with the front of the rail like they do on pretty much every other handguard I've ever set up. Also, the MLock slots are a bit undersized...I had a heck of a time getting my single-slot MOE rail segment installed because you could fit both of the screws and lock nuts through at the same time. It was just barely too tight...like it was a few thousands out of spec, or maybe the anodizing was too thick. Like the front sight I had to use the hammer, but did finally get it in. Workable, but not ideal. It does mount up solid and doesn't appear to flex excessively, and I like the way it feels in the hand.

The machining on the chamber of the Wilson barrel looked a little rough, but I've had no function problems with it and it was consistently putting up 3/4" groups at 50 yards when I was zeroing it, and that was with my bulk 55gr plinking reloads. Ejection is positive and between 2:00-3:00, and that longer gas system makes for a very smooth and soft recoiling rifle.

I took the Streamlight polytac off of my other upper (cheap, lightweight, and effective), and the blue force gear sling...just waiting on a sling swivel to come in today so I can mount it. Found a Gen2 Romeo 5 for $110, so that's what it got...not my favorite optic but it's what they put on our work rifles and so far we've had no failures with them.

I still want to get out and try some 10-round groups at 100, and run some more drills with it to prove reliability, but so far I'm happy. I haven't weighed it yet, but it's definitely lighter than the M4gery, and the gas system and longer handguard make it quicker for followup shots and transitions.

I do need to reconfirm zero again because after we got home last night I was trying to witness mark the optic screw and I pushed too hard on the paint pen and it exploded all over the rifle . I had to remove the optic to clean under it, so we get to check that out again.