Iam now putting together my first AR15 build. I just purchased a Aero Precision M4E1 AR-15 Upper Receiver + GEN 2 Free Float Rail and iam looking at a Aero
AR15 Ambidextrous Lower Receiver and a Prime Weaponry DIAMOND (DLC) BOLT CARRIER GROUP. I need some advice on purchasing a 16" barrel. What does the group recommend?
To answer your question from the build forum about the BCG the “Diamond Coating” just seems gimmicky to me and i would just go with standard mil-spec with carpenter 158 bolt. The one you are considering is 9310 steel which is fine if it is heat treated properly, but i don’t know much about the company that makes it. I don’t like to get to cute with coatings on a bcg and there are few companies that do it right like Sionics NP3 and WMD NIB, but i have heard of enough issues from other companies with the coating flaking off etc that I like to stick with phosphate or nitride. If you wanted a coated BCG i would recommend Sionics NP3 or a Toolcraft Nitride from WcArmory. As far as the barrel goes you said you wanted mid-length. What is the purpose of the rifle? The Faxon Gunner is a solid option that is lightweight and accurate. AIM sells them with a pinned gas block. Criterion is a good option if looking for chrome lined
I don’t know what the purpose is because it wasn’t stated. The barrels I used are Ballistic Advantage and Daniel Defense CHF. My default is BA, but if there is a barrel length I need and they don’t make it (11.5 for example) then I go to Daniel Defense’s CHF.
I have used Ballistic Advantage barrels in many of my own builds and all the builds for my friends. They are very accurate, high quality barrels. I’ve built 10.3 - 18 and if I had to do it all over again I wouldn’t change a thing. On my precision guns I also use the BA BCG. On all other builds LMT BCG.
I agree with the previous comment. There is nothing wrong with a phosphate or nitride finish on a BCG. It doesn’t need to get fancier than that.
So is this a GP build?
And congrats on deciding to build your own.
Just don’t compromise quality on the important parts: Barrel, BCG and a good trigger.
Stay away from gimmicks and do your homework.
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If general purpose, I agree with Faxon barrels or Ballistic Advantage(Aero Precision IIRC). There are many others out there but these have worked well for me and many others.
If you are looking for a precision build, I have personally had good luck with Rainier Ultra-match barrels and recommend them to friends building a precision rig. You can get Bartlein or Krieger or Lilja but most won’t see the difference in accuracy for the price.
As for the bolt/BCG coatings, many, many people and our war fighters do just fine with standard phosphate MIL-spec versions. Go with what works. Easy-peasy.
I agree completely.
Have you ever used a DLC BCG or barrel before?
I don’t and I should have made it more clear I was questioning the source he was buying it from more so than the DLC coating. I know of its use in the oil industry and it looks to be an option if done properly. That being said this is still his first build and I would still recommend keeping it more basic with milspec hpt/MPI bolt
Look at centurion BCG as well. Ballistic advantage on the barrel. I mean there’s plenty of good options and better out there but shop around, primary arms has BA barrels on sale from time to time. These guys know more than I do, but I thought is toss my .02 in there.
I’m probably going to go with a BA Hanson profiled barrel and a toolcraft bcg on my build of builds.
If you decide to go with ballistic advantage Right To Bear and Monmouth Reloading have really good prices on their barrels
Well I decided to go with a standard Aero lower receiver,
Ballistic Advantage 556 Performance Series 16 Hanson Barrel, and a BCM .223/5.56 Bolt Carrier Group. Now ian looking for a buffer tube kit, adjustable stock, and muzzle device.
All solid choices. I like the B5 Sopmod stock personally. For the buffer system most kits come with a carbine weight buffer so you might want to buy components separately if you want to run an h buffer or heavier. BCM sells a buffer kit for around $60. Just make sure the buffer tube is 7075 aluminum with whatever you end up buying. VLTOR A5 buffer system is also a good option
Good solid choices. I’ve used Aero lowers in many builds and have never had a spec issue or even a finish issue. And I’m an unapologetic fan of BA barrels in spite not not owning a single piece of BA swag. The BCM BCG is a solid choice as well.
Now ian looking for a buffer tube kit, adjustable stock.
I would scratch the carbine buffer system in lieu of the A5 buffer system. Consider the following:
Either get an complete A5 Kit (RE tube, A5 Spring, and A5H0 buffer). Here is BCM’s version:
https://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Intermediate-Buffer-System-A5-Kit-p/bcm-intermediate-shk.htm
You’ll be hard pressed to find a complete Vltor branded A5 Kit minus the stock.
Or you can get The Vltor spring and buffer spring separately and buy an RE tube from Magpul. (I use mostly Magpuls, although I do have a couple of BCM kits and a few Vltor’s. I prefer the Magpul tube). It’s called their “Magpul Enhanced Receiver Extension SR25/M110”.
You can get the spring end plate and buffer here:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/148116/vltor-a5-recoil-system-spring-and-buffer-kit-ar-15-carbine
You can pick up the A5 tube from here:
Magpul 10 pos. A5 (SR25/M110) buffer tube
https://www.magpul.com/products/firearms-accessories/buttstock-accessories/magpul-enhanced-receiver-extension-sr25-m110
The main difference I saw at least when I bought mine, was that BCM and Magpul didn’t put the stock position numbers on top of the tube. The Magpul is a 10 position tube, BCM is a 6 position tube (If I recall correctly?) and Vltor comes in 6 or 7 positions)
Function-wise they are all the SAME, just more minute adjustments on your stock.
For stocks I really like the Vltor eMod, especially on my precision guns. For my SBR’s I prefer Magpul SL-S. I am replacing my LMT’s and B5 Enhanced SOPMOD stocks with the Magpul SL-S, they really got it right on this stock in my opinion. Especially if you want battery storage which I do.
and muzzle device
Depends on what you want out if it. If you are going to run a can, the can will likely drive the muzzle device. For suppressor devices I use AAC Brake Out or BlackOut 2.0
My favorite comp, NOT to be used with a suppressor is the Precision Armament AFAB.
https://www.rainierarms.com/precision-armament-afab-mini-compensator
https://precisionarmament.com/product/afab-flash-hider-compensator
It is an outstanding all around device. Outstanding flash suppression and it works well as a comp also. I started my 11.5 build with one of these based on the recommendation from a friend who uses KAC MAWS several of his KACs. After using it on my 11.5 and night firing, I pulled the Battle Comp 2.0 off my 10.3 and installed an AFAB on it. Precision Armament also makes an EFAB, which I have not used, but I couldn’t be more pleased with the AFAB’s.
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I do not believe that was ever offered, only buffer, spring , castle nut & end plate kit you linked.
They are 8 position.
For some reason I remember one of the very first Vltor A5’s I bought came as a kit. I even think I got it from Vertex Ops, but you’re right. I never have seen the set since, if even then. Maybe they just put a set together or something. Or I dreamt it. I’m getting old so there’s no telling.
They are 8 position.
Thanks for setting me straight on that. I almost started pulling all my AR’s out to find the BCM tubes, but that post took long enough as it was to type out on my dang phone. Lol
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Good luck on your build. Just doing my first build too. Glad I found this thread. Lots of great info.
Buying a buffer kit what weight buffer do you go with?
std 3.0oz
H 3.8oz
H2 4.6oz
H3 5.4oz
9mm 5.6oz
Have you considered an A5 system?
I have looked at them, the price is up there. Are you talking the complete system including stock? For about $110.00 I can get a BCM system and a Magpul AR-15 CTR Carbine Stock Mil-Spec . Whats thee advantage of the A5 over others??
Aero Precision makes a very nice 14.5" barrel that is perfect for a new build. Im pretty sure Ballistic Advantage makes their barrels now. A pinned and welded flash hider would do great and it’d be a nice working/all around gun. With a T2 buffer itd be a smooth shooter. The barrels at Aero were $169 and a mid length gas system last I checked.
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I have the Aero upper/lower and a Ballistic Advantage 223 Wylde Premium Series 16 Hanson Barrel. Would the T2 buffer be a good match with a 16" barrel?