When I first found this forum and posted a request for advice on buying my first two AR 15s, one of the first and most common comments I got back was that "These guns tend to breed....". Well, I understand that now. I'm looking at building a third gun for various reasons and would like to ask for some help.
I've got a good idea of what I want to build and wanted to pass my expected parts list by everyone on the forum. The guidance I got that led me to my first two guns was spot-on and awesome, and I wanted to just get thoughts and recommendations again before I start collecting parts to put together a third.
I don't know that I could have done better than the direction I got here to buy the LWRC DI and build out the Sionics upper. I love both guns and all the research I've done since then has confirmed my opinion of the quality of both guns.
For anyone that wasn't on that thread my two existing guns are
I don't have any special purpose for this third gun I just want one to keep it in a different location than the current two (some planned land for camping). I'm thinking of this third gun as kind of a repeat of the other two. Just a high quality all around gun. BUT, if anyone has any different ideas or thoughts to focus on for this third gun I'm open to them. I'm not made of money but want a good gun and, as with the first two, I would like to get as good a value as I can. If there are options that save money without hurting the quality of the rifle I'm all for that.
One thing that I've decided is that I definitely want to build this gun (just the lower, using a complete upper I think). I don't want to buy a factory complete gun. I just enjoyed putting together the Sionics last time.
I may even machine out my own lower, I haven't decided yet. If anyone has any thoughts, experience, or guidance on finishing an 80% lower, I'd really love to hear it. This is an attractive option to me.
I've been looking at the Sionics uppers since I'm still fairly new and the LWRC and Sionics are the only brands I have experience with. The LWRC uppers are expensive and I don't personally know enough of other brands to know if there are others at the same price as the Sionics that would be as good.
I originally thought that I'd like to try doing an 18" gun this time just to get experience with a different set-up, and to try out something different than the two 16"er's I already have. I'd really still like to do an 18" gun but the Sionics 18" Overwatch uppper is a stainless steel barrel and I think I'd like to stay with Moly. It is also 100.00 more expensive.
So here's my tentative parts list so far....
Also, a couple of ammo questions.....
If anyone can recommend some good and cheap lead-free ammo I would appreciate it. there is some county land right by my house that they allow shooting at but they require lead-free ammo. I found some federal XM556NT1 lead-free frangible that are well priced but the bullets are 50gr and I'm assuming that they aren't going to play well with my 1x7 and 1x8 barrels. Any suggestions??
When I bought the two guns I stocked up on a bunch of M193 and M855 ammo because ther're inexpensive. Since then I've found the Frontier rounds that Hornady just re-introduced and have started buing those in different weights to try out. They seem like they'd be really good multi-use rounds that I could even hunt with but are cheap enough to use for target practice. Anyone have any feedback on these rounds or maybe others that they might recommend that I look to stock?
I've got a good idea of what I want to build and wanted to pass my expected parts list by everyone on the forum. The guidance I got that led me to my first two guns was spot-on and awesome, and I wanted to just get thoughts and recommendations again before I start collecting parts to put together a third.
I don't know that I could have done better than the direction I got here to buy the LWRC DI and build out the Sionics upper. I love both guns and all the research I've done since then has confirmed my opinion of the quality of both guns.
For anyone that wasn't on that thread my two existing guns are
- LWRC DI (LWRC grip) (with a VOrtex 2,5x10 PST optic)
- Sionics complete 16" upper, 1x8 twist with BCM grip and extra wide stock, Spikes lower with Sionics lower parts kit. (with a VOrtex 1x4 PST Optic)
I don't have any special purpose for this third gun I just want one to keep it in a different location than the current two (some planned land for camping). I'm thinking of this third gun as kind of a repeat of the other two. Just a high quality all around gun. BUT, if anyone has any different ideas or thoughts to focus on for this third gun I'm open to them. I'm not made of money but want a good gun and, as with the first two, I would like to get as good a value as I can. If there are options that save money without hurting the quality of the rifle I'm all for that.
One thing that I've decided is that I definitely want to build this gun (just the lower, using a complete upper I think). I don't want to buy a factory complete gun. I just enjoyed putting together the Sionics last time.
I may even machine out my own lower, I haven't decided yet. If anyone has any thoughts, experience, or guidance on finishing an 80% lower, I'd really love to hear it. This is an attractive option to me.
I've been looking at the Sionics uppers since I'm still fairly new and the LWRC and Sionics are the only brands I have experience with. The LWRC uppers are expensive and I don't personally know enough of other brands to know if there are others at the same price as the Sionics that would be as good.
I originally thought that I'd like to try doing an 18" gun this time just to get experience with a different set-up, and to try out something different than the two 16"er's I already have. I'd really still like to do an 18" gun but the Sionics 18" Overwatch uppper is a stainless steel barrel and I think I'd like to stay with Moly. It is also 100.00 more expensive.
So here's my tentative parts list so far....
- Lower - TBD
- Upper - Sionics Patrol III 16" mid-length gas system with BCG (Sionics M Lok rail)
- Whatever upper I get I'd like it to be a 1x7 or 1x8
- Lower parts kit and trigger - Sionics ambi lower parts kit with enhanced mil-spec trigger
- ( I like the idea of the NP3 coated mil-spec trigger but would go to another if it weren't too expensive. I don' want one that is too light though.)
- Stock - Fab Defense GL Core
- (just read some reviews that say it's a really good stock...)
- Grip - TBD
- I really like the rubberized LWRC grip I have. If someone can recommend a good (inexpensive) grip that is rubberized I'd appreciate it.
- Buffer tube Kit - TBD
- Would appreciate help here. With all my reading it seems like I'm kind of OK with any respected brand buffer tube as long as it's mil spec sized??
- Sling - TBD
- Open to recommendations. want a good two point sling with easy adjustment.
- Optic - I'll probably just keep looking to see what pops up at AAoptics. I really like my Vortexes.
- Alan told me last time to go with 2 different types of optics so to ensure that I can use the guns however I want to as I get more into shooting them. that's how I ended up with the 2 scopes that I have now. for this third one, I think I'd like to do another of the 1x adjustable Vortexes like my current 1x4 (the new Vortexes are now 1x6) I really like that scope and the ability to use it as a red dot, which honestly is how I use it most of the time. My issue is that the new 1x6 is really expensive, even as a refurb from Alan. Will need to save up for this.....
Also, a couple of ammo questions.....
If anyone can recommend some good and cheap lead-free ammo I would appreciate it. there is some county land right by my house that they allow shooting at but they require lead-free ammo. I found some federal XM556NT1 lead-free frangible that are well priced but the bullets are 50gr and I'm assuming that they aren't going to play well with my 1x7 and 1x8 barrels. Any suggestions??
When I bought the two guns I stocked up on a bunch of M193 and M855 ammo because ther're inexpensive. Since then I've found the Frontier rounds that Hornady just re-introduced and have started buing those in different weights to try out. They seem like they'd be really good multi-use rounds that I could even hunt with but are cheap enough to use for target practice. Anyone have any feedback on these rounds or maybe others that they might recommend that I look to stock?