So I’m interested in putting together a 556 system for my girl to shoot. She is all of 5 foot tall and 100lbs so she wants something lightweight. All of my guns are combat ready and will eat any ammo (cheap steel and whatever else I can feed them) and I want this to be that way as well. Budget is 1k-1.5k. Help me piece things together with some suggestions, I have a shop locally that does transfers up to 5 at a time for 20$ so that will help with getting the parts in. I’ve never built an AR from the ground up (owned a wilson tactical super sniper before the AWB was over back in 2003). No SBR’s as I want to avoid the tax stamp and put that to use elsewhere.
In short, I want it to be reliable and lightweight. I’ve thought about buying a Daniel Defense lightweight but if I can build something better cheaper then so be it. I’m in no rush to get this done either, I have patience to wait for the right price/parts.
Piece together a lower, anyone you want with a good parts.
Get on the notify list on the BCM site for their LW uppers. Then I would put a Noveske NSR 9" rail on it, I did not realize till after that it is a few ounces lighter than my DD Omega X rail.
Research the Vltor A5 system for I have heard it will lead to better reliability and softer shooting,I cannot speak for it, though. Then throw a BCM comp, BattleComp, etc. on it for more recoil control.
If she wants a RDS, a R1 might do if you do not mind the color or will paint it. Or you can go for a H1 or T1- though will this be her “battle ready” carbine? If so, I’d go for the H1 over R1.
BTW, the only thing that your shop will have to transfer is the lower, or complete carbine you choose to buy, the rest can be shipped to your door.
I did a similar light weight build about 2 years ago using a Daniel Defense Upper. I now have several thousand rounds through the rifle with zero problems and it will eat every type of round that I have shot through it. Here is the thread that details the rifle.
Great, remember to get a rear sight since it does not come with one.
Also, you will need tools if you are going to replace the barrel nut yourself, and install the new one. Though, I am sure you are prepared for this since you are looking to build.
What lower kit should I be looking for? I saw PSA has a complete kit for 129.99. Should I hold off for a better deal (saw they did 79.99 at one point but who knows). I’m sure she would love a nice clean trigger break with a short reset with her small hands. Not sure about the style of grip either. Decisions decisions.
The PSA kit should work fine. I personally like the magpul MOE grip but the standard A2 also works. I never had a problem with the USGI style trigger and I would use the base trigger as a starting point and upgrade later if needed. It only takes 5-10 minutes to swap out triggers.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about DD and BCM but since they had a combo deal it was hard not to pick it up. Hell, I didn’t even think I would start ordering parts yet but why not since they happened to be in stock.
So I bought a stripped PSA lower and their parts kit, I already have PRI barrel nut wrench laying around in the tool box somewhere.
Do you guys really think I need a free float setup for her? I have a FN scar 17 on order and the only time she will use this is at a 100 yard range max. If she needs more she would pick up my Scar (though she probably couldn’t shoot much). I don’t even know that she wants a red dot (she hates my kids marlin that has a scope, preferred it when it was iron sights). Couldn’t I just go with a magpul mid length guard and vertical grip (she prefers the feel of vertical grips). I guess I can always upgrade later and the guard and grip are like 50$ shipped and returnable.
My 13 y.o. daughter shoots with me all the time. She far prefers my iron sight BCM upper with a magpul moe handguard. It’s simple and it’s light. She shoots just fine with it. She was shooting a 4" steel gong on Sunday from 50 yards standing and she went 20 for 20 at one stretch. Even though it only weighs a pound more, my Aimpoint Pro equipped rifle will drag her down in short order.
Awesome, that’s what I was thinking. Ordered everything today to put it together. Good timing i guess. Now all i need to do is fine some pmags at a good price and maybe a surefire for me to have fun with. ROFL.
If she likes the magpul hand guards go with that but I just put this MI freeloat on my new middy build and love it the 12" is only 9oz, its also form fitting to the barrel so very minimal no bulk to it and it looks pretty sweet, comes with itsown barrel nut and wrench for install, then you can throw a magpul RVG on it. Just food for thought.
I am probably the least experienced to reply so… grain of salt.
After building my first rifle recently, I found, and wish I had gone with, a billet lower just for the upper tension screw. I believe some forged lowers have implemented this, but am not sure. I am OCD and for a build that is meant to be reliable and sturdy it irritates - even if it does not hurt anything to have a wobble within the receivers. There are the accuwedges and o-ring fixes, but that made me feel I was jerry rigging my rifle. Next time I am going to make sure I rather buy the receivers as a set, or get one with a tension screw.
Yet, it’s nonsense for the reasons you pointed out. I would rather have a functional and reliable carbine now, than spend money on some gimmicky billet lower in the future.
I did not say put the majority of the money in a lower. For a rifle that will last as long as one would expect from a solid build, an extra $100 or so is not that big a deal to me personally. Plus a lot of them have more benefits than just that. So no, I do not think it is nonsense. Also, as I mentioned, I do believe there are forged lowers with it as well, example. It is an option to look into if you have a little bigger budget, and would like to make sure you have a nice snug fit. It is not a must that doubles the rifle cost. Thats all I was saying.
