The idea for this build started on Thanksgiving weekend, 2013. My dad and I went to shoot my 6920 at the family farm. I also had a few 1 pound Tannerite packs with me. My dad isn’t really into guns, but we had a great time.
When I left for the weekend, my dad asks “why don’t you just leave that rifle with me?”
That started the idea for this build. I knew getting my dad to spend even $500 on a rifle would be hard, much less $900 or more for a Colt or other quality brand. I also realize my dad will never run his rifle hard, and it probably won’t see 200 rounds a year, but still I didn’t want to leave him with a DPMS, Wyndham Arms etc.
So the goal was a “KISS” rifle at a low price point using quality parts. I also tried to use small brick and mortar shops when possible and took advantage of Christmas and other sales to save a bit more. Here is how it broke down:
An Aero Percussion stripped lower was a Christmas gift to my dad from me. I bought it at Primary Arms and IIRC it was $59 during their Christmas sale. Despite the BS Aero pulled by jacking up their prices during the panic, I still think they make a quality product and the Aero lower went together with a DD LPK without issue. Also the Aero upper and lower mate perfectly.
At my suggestion, my mom bought my dad a Daniel Defense LPK as a Christmas gift. I think it was $79 or $89 from DSG arms, also on sale. She also picked up a DSG arms buffer tube, H buffer and spring for around $40. DSG claims these are mil-spec, and the tube is a mil-spec diameter, but I don’t think the metal is mil-spec. While fully-functional, and zero issues thus far, the buffer tube and buffer tube spring just don’t seem as “beefy” as a Colt.
After my dad had his gifts, we build his lower together on Christmas day. It was like being kids again getting toys with “some assembly required.” I really enjoyed showing my dad how to build his lower.
Next we started looking online at uppers. Again, we’re shooting for a KISS budget build so I showed my dad some PSAs, a few Spikes with FN barrels and the Sionics Patrol line. I also explained to my dad the difference between mid-length and carbine length and twist rates. After reading about the Sionics he was sold! However, “the one who holds the cash” (mom) put a stop to his $550+ purchase right after Christmas.
After talking to my mom, I was able to get her to agree to buy one upper part per month and we would surprise my dad once we had everything we needed. I always looked for things on sale, so here is what I came up with.
Rainier Arms BCG on sale for $99. This is a 9310 bolt, and given the price and Rainier’s customer service and warranty, I think it’s a steal. One thing I did notice the staking was a little less deep compared to my Colt bolts, but it’s still acceptable. This is more of an observation than a complaint. And yes, MarkM did shear the lugs off a Rainier bolt recently, but, for the price point I think its perfectly serviceable for my dad’s intended use.
An Aero Precession stripped upper from Red Barn Armory, $60 on sale. Added $30 for the dustcover and forward assist.
16 inch Sionics barrel. This was pretty much non-negotiable, as my dad really liked the Sionics. I regret not taking any photos of the barrel during the build. Also, the feed ramps on Aero upper and the Sionics barrel match perfect. The barrel I ordered had the FSB installed and it was right at $240. I think the price for the value is pretty darn good. The barrel was back-ordered about 8 weeks, but communication from Sionics was excellent.
My dad also liked FDE furniture. Originally he had picked out a Magpul STR stock, MOE grip and MOE hand guards. After trying a B5 SOPMOD and a BCM Mod 3 on one of my rifles, he changed his mind. He ended up with a B5 Bravo stock, a BCM Mod 3 grip and MOE hand guards. The B5 was also $25-30 cheaper than the STR, and a bit lighter too. The price between the two grips was a wash.
The charging handle, A2 flash hider and Magpul Gen 2 rear flip-up sight are all take-offs from one of my Colt rifles when I went with a Troy sight, Raptor and mini AFAB.
So this Fathers Day everything to finish the build had arrived and it was time to surprise dad. I think he really liked it. It was back to the shop to build the upper, again, we were like kids at Christmas and then to the farm to shoot a few rounds.
Together we’ve only put about 200 rounds through the rifle, but so far have had zero issues. We would have shot more, but were on a time crunch. The rifle ran very smooth and the Sionics barrel is dead nuts accurate. When I have time, I plan a side-by-side comparison between my dad’s 16 inch mid-length 1/8 twist Sionics barreled upper and a 16 inch mid-length Centurion arms 1/7 twist barreled upper I have.
Below are a few pics
