Displaced Texan

Good deal!! Building an AR isn't 'rocket surgery' by any stretch of the imagination. Good looking budget build!

I'd be willing to bet that there have been more rounds put downrange through a Colt AR (peacetime, or otherwise) than all other AR mfgs combined. Colt has nearly 50 years of building AR's for the US military, and military/police units all over the world, I'd say that is a VERY safe bet. I'm not saying that Colt is perfect, they are not. No mfg, is perfect. They have been known to put out a lemon from time to time. Statistics of manufacturing. Colt is the 'bare minimum acceptable standard for a hard use firearm'. Maybe it is one way to look at it, however, Colt can PROVE it MEETS the standard. How many AR mfg's can PROVE they MEET the 'minimum acceptable standard', much less exceed it. It's one thing to claim it, it's quite another to prove it. Put up or shut up.

I stock and shoot M193 and M855, from Federal, IMI, and PMC for my standard 'everyday' ammo. Out to about 300 yards the M193 works well enough. I find that from 300-600, the M855 is a little more consistent, although it is nowhere even close to being 'match' ammunition. I shoot Black Hills 77 gr SMK's for longer range, higher precision shooting.

I fancy the Colt monolithic uppers...the 6940's. Have 2, and love them.

Interesting to see the flexing of the rifle....barrel, receiver extension, and the receivers. I would like to see how my monolithic uppers flex in comparison.

Doesn't NJ have some stupid law that a pistol cannot weigh more than 50 oz, presumably to keep people from making an AR pistol? At least making it difficult to do so. Maybe I'm on crack....but I seem to remember reading that.

Near Cherry Hill. I shoot at SJSC.

I stand corrected.Sometimes I shoot my big, redneck mouth off a bit prematurely. Just for fun, I ordered one. We'll see if I get it in a timely manner.

I stand corrected.

I bought my latest TA01NSN 2 years ago, I paid $800 for it. Brand new. The list price was $1250 Last August I bought a new TA31RCOA4 for $1395. List was $1600. Keep looking around. Street prices are a lot lower than what Trijicon lists. And BTW, if you are down in south Jersey, you are welcome to try out my ACOGs.

I'd like to see what the recent decision by the 9th circuit court will have on this. Love to see CCW legal in NJ before I leave this state.

I would replace the buffer tube, as has been suggested previously. I prefer the mil-spec tubes from BCM.

When you count property taxes, sales tax, and all the other crap we pay here, I believe we are the highest taxed state in the nation. If not the highest, damn close to it.

That's mighty lovely country out there....

We can't get out of here fast enough. I already own property in west Tx ( a little west of Abilene), house/barn already built. Had it before I married my wife (Yankee girl I met soon after I got transferred here). We don't have kids. She has about 5 years left before her job will allow her to retire with full benefits. Once that day rolls around, we're outta here! She and I are both fed up with NJ. Taxes, cost of living, politics, ect. Of it had not been for my wife, I'd have beat feet long ago. Don't know how I've lasted 13 years here!

We have about 5 more years here and we are headed back to Texas. Not soon enough.

I had one, loud doesn't adequately describe it. Concussive. Felt it through my whole body. Pissed off whomever was next to me. It didn't last long in my rifle, and I'll never have another one. It did control the muzzle though.

I don't know how true this is, and I have no experience with it myself, but someone once told me they poured copper solvent down the bore and let it sit for a few days. The bullet was easy to remove from the bore after that.

A guy that I work with has a Huldra upper. Hasn't shot it yet, so no range report. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

Upper and lower vice blocks, as well as a decent vice, are highly recommended if you are ever going to do anything serious with an AR. Add a good torque wrench to that for tightening barrel nuts. A good set of brass punches.

Seems to me that someone I know has one. I'll make a few inquiries today and see if I can find some information for you.

I have shot mid length, even owned a middy upper for awhile. I didn't find a huge difference in follow up shots between it and a carbine for me. Decided I preferred the reliability of the carbine length gas system. Just my personal preference.

I don't believe the fancy coatings make a whole hell of a lot of difference in BCG's. In my opinion, they are not much more than a gimmick. A standard, mil-spec phosphate finished BCG will serve you quite nicely. I cleaned one of my rifles last night that had about 3000 rounds of accumulated crud built up on it and it wiped clean with little to no effort. I am in the camp that believes that unless you are after something very specific in an upper receiver, that it's cheaper/easier to buy one outright than to build it. Palmetto State Armory has a nice selection of uppers. I will only buy the 'premium' uppers from them, the ones with the cold hammer forged barrels (CHF). They are made by FN, and regarded as excellent barrels. Bravo Company also sells some uppers of excellent quality. Both of these companies sell out stock quickly, so check in often and be ready to strike when your part is in stock. While I have the tools to build an upper (and if you don't, you'll need to add this into the cost of you building an upper), I find that the time consumed by scrounging around different vendors for parts negates any cost savings. The advice above is excellent....buy an armorer's manual.

Some good advice from Vlad above. I differ with him on one point, and it's minor. I prefer a carbine length gas system over middy. Why? It's what I know, what I have experience with over a few decades of working with AR's. I also prefer 1/7 twist barrels. They handle a greater selection of bullet weights. Like Vlad says, get a good comp/brake. You can get a good one without spending a fortune. I use the Gen II comp from Evolution Gun Works. It's not a BattleComp by any stretch, but it doesn't cost $150 either. Should you like to try the EGW comp, and you live in the South Jersey area, yo can try one of mine. Spend some money and get a good bolt carrier group (BCG). Palmetto State Armory has their house brand premium bcg for about $130 these days. It is made from the proper mil-spec steel (Carpenter 158), is high pressure/magnetic particle tested.

This forum has quite a bit of knowledge. Feel free to ask anything you want to know!!