Okay so here what I have come up with, but suggestions are always welcomed.
Complete BCM Lower with CTR
14.5 BCM lightweight middy with attached muzzle device.
Magpul MOE handguards
Aimpoint T-1 micro
So what muzzle device should I get her. I see Bravo has the option for a attached PWS FSC556, but I am scared this will be to loud and have to much concussion for her.
Should I skip the MOE handguards and go with a 9.0 DD Omega or will this add to much weight.
She will start off learning with a M&P 22, but I want to have her a great stick to transition to that is not to heavy and light recoil so she can enjoy our outings.
Battlecomp is the ONLY muzzle device on my list. On a 14.5" barrel it is especially useful because there is no ledge along the bottom, and the crown is visible through the front of the comp (but only when disassembled for cleaning, of course). The ledges on the bottom of certain muzzle devices can create a potential space for carbon, copper, etc between them and the barrel crown. This can lead to trouble in the long run if the device is pinned and there is no access for cleaning.
carbon still builds up on the muzzle… when i took my 1.0 off my SBR after a few thousand rounds to try out the 1.5, i had the weirdest formation of carbon ive ever seen on a crown… it was like i had 5 or 6 stalactites growing on the face of the muzzle.
nothing that was interfering with the crown, which was still clear… but it was weird. wish i’d taken pictorials. be interesting to see what would happen with a recessed target crown.
however, i’d still rather have little stalactites on the face than carbon mass buildup at the crown, which can definitely effect accuracy.
I’m actually jealous of the gun I put together for my girlfriend and shoot it quite a bit under the guise of " having to work a couple things out". It’s a BCM middy upper so, in reality, I’ve never actually had to work anything out besides when to go to the range.
She shoots TAPS matches with me and used to shoot competitive rifle in college and she’s a better shot than me . As a qualifier she’s 5’10" and has no problems with full size rifles.
It’s a LMT lower with LMT ambi-safety, ergo grip, Magpul CTR and Alexander Arms Trigger.
The upper is a BCM hammer forged midlength with standard handguards, Troy BUIS and an Aimpoint ML2. Overall the rifle is very light, fast and a pleasure to shoot. I forget which BCG I put in there but it’s a properly staked FA carrier ( Daniels Defense maybe??) with BCM charging handle.
The only problem is that she now wants pink handguards, buttstock and grip which would severely limit my quality time with it
It’s obviously going to depend a lot on the wife, but IMHO lighter overall weight and reduced recoil are good starting points. The problem comes in when the recoil reduction method causes excessive side blast that can bother some starter shooters.
I’m doing a 14.5" lightweight Daniel Defense barrel with a .625" FSB cut down as small as possible for a low-profile gas block. Gas system is carbine-length, handguard is FF Troy TRX Extreme 9.0. I’m not 100% set on optic yet, but for the lower I’m using a Troy Battleax pistol grip and “fiberite” style stock.
Brake to be determined after my brake test is complete.
I am in the process of acquiring parts for my girlfriend’s gat.
The goal is reliability, robustness, light weight and reduced recoil at reasonable expense. I plan on playing around a bit with buffers and springs to see where the balance between soft shooting and reliability best settles.
What I have settled on (well, about 99% settled on):
BCM 16" lightweight middie with fixed FSB
MOE Handguard
MOE Stock
MIAD Grip
MagPul enhanced trigger guard
DD Rear Sight
BCM BCG
BattleComp 1.0
I went with the 16" since I don’t want to have to wait for NFA paperwork to clear and want to be able to swap/remove muzzle devices, change HGs/rails as preferences become clear, and the weight savings by going to a 14.5 isn’t all that significant as far as her use is concerned anyway.
She wants OD green, which is delaying my purchase of the furniture until the OD MOE HGs are dropped.
I think that the MOE furniture represents one of the best cost-efficiencies on the market with appreciable durability. The HG fulfills all of her needs in a handguard (weapon mounted light) at low weight and low cost. The stock is light, comfortable, visually appealing, and balances a low-weight upper nicely at a low relative expense. I am going with a MIAD grip over the MOE grip to ensure that we can perfectly fit her hand to the selector and trigger. An enhanced/rounded trigger guard makes extended sessions less of a chore, and I have learned that most people lose a lot of interest when pain gets involved. The DD rear sight closely replicates the A2 sights she already knows. The only reason I haven’t gone with a carry-handle arrangement is that she doesn’t have much experience with optics, so she might want to put one on later when she gets more accustomed to them. The reasons for the BCM upper and BCG go without saying at this point, and the BattleComp seems like it will do a good job of reducing bounce without the side-blast and noise of other FH Comps. The fixed FSB is what she is used to, works with the MOA, and since the HG is relatively free of accessories it won’t affect her grip. If she develops a longer grip with use it won’t break my heart to ditch the inexpensive HG, chop the FSB, and install a longer system.
DD lower
G&R LPK, minus FCG
Giselle SSA
Magpul MOE grip
Magpul TG
Les Baer upper, no fwd assist
DD lightweight 16"middy BBL
VLTOR 0.625" GB
BattleComp 1.0
TRX 11" Extreme
DD fixed front sight
Cavalry Arms fixed rear sight
JP Rifles lightweight carrier
BCM (bolt, RE, buffer spring, H1 buffer, CH, & gas tube)
Noveske QD end plate
Colt Fiberlite stock
Leftover Duracoat from my Remy 700 SPS multicam job. This is NOT multicam, just a quick two day airbrush job using many of the same colors and a little OD/Magpul FDE.
5.2 lbs unloaded without the G2L and mount, 5.7 lbs with.
Initially, this was assembled and tested with a conventional FH, but muzzle rise was a huge issue given the lightweight front end. She purrs with the BC 1.0 now!
I have just a few small recommendations. Go with a 16 inch mid-length gas system barrel, it will have a higher muzzle velocity/ shoot flatter, not have as much sound/ muzzle blast for the shooter and for the people who have to have the latest and greatest muzzle accessory, you change it whenever you want. The 14.5 inch would have to have the flash supressor/ compensator permanently attached. As for other things I would recommend putting a good trigger in it.
As for rest, My suggestion would be: Involve her in the process, she may like just a plain jane carbine or a simple free float tube instead of rails. At worst involving her would mean taking her to the store or gun shows and showing her all the options available to her…
The FSC556 definitely has a bark, and my wife won’t shoot the SBR because of that, even though it’s much lighter and handles better. The BC 1.0, OTOH, no problem. I have a couple of BC 1.0 blems sitting around…just haven’t got around to switching them out.
YHM lower (I bought two a couple of years ago during the Obama scare)
Rainer Arms Upper
Adams Arms SS 16" 1/8 M4 barrel
YHM Phantom FSC
Troy TRX Standard 11" Battlerail
Centurion Arms HK Diopter sights
Magpul MOE Pistol Grip
Magpul MOE RVG
Vltor Imod stock on a Vltor 6 position extension
H2 buffer and spring
Aimpoint T1 on a LaRue QD mount
I see Bravo has the option for a attached PWS FSC556, but I am scared this will be to loud and have to much concussion for her.
If noise/concussion are an issue, stick with a 16" barrel - that extra 1.5" makes a big difference to those of us sensitive to such things. As a plus, you’ll then be able to run a standard A2 FH for a while, see how she does with that, and then decide if a $150 MD is necessary or appropriate, instead of finding out after you’ve got it permanently stuck on an upper.
Gfelber - I am building one nearly identical to yours (also inspired by the lightweight build) and I think your’s is perfect. Settled on the 16" for the above reasons as well.
Settled on the 16" for the above reasons as well.