Need some AR advice

2315 Views 21 Replies 0 Participants Last post by jeepinbanditrider, May 21, 2007

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Discussion Starter · May 17, 2007

Hello all,

My wife's B-day is in September. She wants a 20" AR though she dosen't know she'll be getting one for her Birthday yet. I'm setting aside money every week from here till the middle of Sept. to pick up an AR Parts kit and a lower. The upper will be assembled already and I'll assemble the lower myself.

Now the questions. I really want the chrome lined barrel chamber for this thing. More reliablity and with the company I'm looking at they only offer the 1/7 twist with the Chrome lined upper. 1/7 is a plus in my mind as it lets me shoot all the 5.56 out there, at least according to Ammo-Oracle.

The problem comes in to where it will costs 125 extra dollars for the Chrome upper compared to the Un-chromed upper with a 1/9 twist. I should also note that the 1/9 upper has a faux press on flash suppressor where the 1/7 chrome lined has the real deal with a bayo lug

. I'm trying to make this as close as possible to an issue M16. Leaning towards the A4 though since both of these have flat-top uppers.

Any advice for me I'm kind stuck in between the two.

Unlined 1/9 twist upper - http://www.m-aparts.com/productsDetail.asp?id=54

lined 1/7 twist upper- http://www.m-aparts.com/productsDetail.asp?id=52

In the end it may end up looking like the rifle below.

This is what the Marine Corps issues to grunts now. The rest of us still use the A2s

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1 - 20 of 22 Posts

G

Discussion Starter · #2 · May 17, 2007

chrome line 1/7 all the way. is well worth the extra $125.

you are a good husband.

G

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 17, 2007

I'm cool with cheapo commie guns (AKA SKS, M44) but she want's an AR so she gets one. Hopefully she lets me take it for a few test shoots everynow and then

G

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 18, 2007

What are you going to shoot with it? I would get the chrome lined 1/7 which is what both of my Colts have. If you need to be cheaper 1/9 is a good barrel too.

G

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 18, 2007

Broadside said:
What are you going to shoot with it?

What ever happens to be cheapest or on hand at the time

G

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 18, 2007

Chrome lined 1/7

G

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 18, 2007

ditto +1

cheers,

G

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 18, 2007

Chrome lined all the way.

G

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 18, 2007

Alright now that I got the chrome lined question cleared up (thanks by the way)

What would ya'll recomend for a stripped lower. It seems that if they go by the correct specs it shouldn't matter which one I get.

Thanks again.

G

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 18, 2007

Why not get a lined 1/9? I've read the 1/7 is too much twist to shoot the target size rounds (55gr and under). It's said that the smaller rounds can be torn apart.

G

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 18, 2007

cjive134 said:
Why not get a lined 1/9? I've read the 1/7 is too much twist to shoot the target size rounds (55gr and under). It's said that the smaller rounds can be torn apart.

Sorta depends on what he's gonna be using it for. A friend of mine has a 1/7 twist and it seems to handle the 55gr. bullets ok. Anything lighter and he starts throwing keyholes though. I you want to shoot 40gr spitzer rounds I'd go with the 1/9 twist.

G

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 18, 2007

1/7 is what the Military uses. It is a faster rifling and is supposedly needed to stabilize the heavier 75 and 77 grain bullets. 1/7 twist has no problems with M193 (55 gr) and M855 (62 gr), these are rounds that the military mostly use. Supposedly, 1/7 twist will rip apart a 40 gr bullet before it reaches it's target.

I myself think 1/9 is much better for civilians as it can handle the 40 gr frangible ammo. Bushmaster claims it's 1/9 twist barrels have no problems with 75 grain bullets. I have shot 75 grain prvi through my Bushmaster with no problem.

G

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 18, 2007

Basicly I'll be shooting whatever is cheapest at first (probabaly wolf) then when I get setup for reloading I'll probabaly be reloading a mid-weight bullet. I've probabaly got about 5-600 rounds of brass saved from going out shooting with friends at work who don't collect brass.

Also our issue rifles are rifled with a 1/7 twist which makes it more desirable to me since my wife wants something as close to our issue rifles as I can get.

The 1/9 twist upper from this company also is "post-ban" meaning no bayonet lug, faux flash suppresor ect.

No frangible ammo for this guy here. I don't care for it.

G

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 18, 2007

cjive134 said:
Why not get a lined 1/9? I've read the 1/7 is too much twist to shoot the target size rounds (55gr and under). It's said that the smaller rounds can be torn apart.

jeepinbanditrider said:
Basicly I'll be shooting whatever is cheapest at first (probabaly wolf)

Cheapest tends to be 50-55 gr. Were I in your position, I'd look for a chrome-lined 1/9 or 1/8. Both will stabilize the more inexpensive factory ammo and still let you move up to the heavier bullets if/when you start loading.

G

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 18, 2007

I too would opt for the 1:7 twist barrel, so you can shoot heavier bullets. I wouldn't get the 20" barrel because it's heavier and there isn't a difference in accuracy. Sure you will lose FPS, but it's not a substantial amount to justify the additional weight.

I have owned all heavy barrel rifles in the past, so my latest AR15 build, I made sure everything was about the weight. I have a light contoured barrel and light rail as well. It's a huge difference in weight and if you have to hump for a long period of time, it's not a big deal.

G

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 18, 2007

RobFMJ said:
Cheapest tends to be 50-55 gr. Were I in your position, I'd look for a chrome-lined 1/9 or 1/8. Both will stabilize the more inexpensive factory ammo and still let you move up to the heavier bullets if/when you start loading.

You hit the nail on the head! The terms "cheap" and "75gr" (or 77grn) do not belong in the same sentence. I'm not sure about the 77grainers, but I think a 1:9 will stabilize a 75 grain projectile just fine. Maybe someone has hard data/testing that can chime in.

The upper the original poster is looking at doesn't seem like such a good deal to me. $450 for a post-ban upper kit? That sounds a little steep to me. I think that's what I paid for my complete RRA upper a few years back (chrome lined, post-ban M4 barrel). Seems like there is abetter deal out there to be had, and since an upper can be sent directly to one's home, there's no need to get tied in to any one vendor, like one might do with buying guns locally.

G

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 19, 2007

Once again this is for the wifey. She wants a 20in. barrel so that's what she gets.

G

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 19, 2007

Folks at AR-15.com seem to give a lot of praise to Del-Ton. They sell a 20" rifle kit that you can option out as you wish and are quite reasonable. Their kits includes everything but the stripped lower. I've been doing my last few builds on Stag lowers and like them just fine. Stag lowers are made by CMT (Continental Machine and Tool) who provide lowers for Rock River Arms and the new Smith & Wesson AR's to name a few. I've bought my last few Stag lowers for $110.00 + tax. I think their catalog lists them for $120.00. Model 1 is another source for rifle kits. While I haven't used Del-Ton yet I have used a Model 1 kit to build a Dissipator rifle. It turned out very nice also. There are many choices for 20" rifles. Here's some links for you to check out. Good luck.
http://www.del-ton.com/Rifle_Kit_p/rkt102.htm

http://www.model1sales.com/catalog-list.cfm?Category=01&Subcat=Standard%20Rifle&storeid=1

http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop...ords=&match_criteria=&rec=25&gonext=Next+Page

If you're not familiar with the forum, this is "the place" for AR information.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/

G

Discussion Starter · #19 · May 20, 2007

Delton has some good deals too. Usually they have a monthly special of some sort. That being said, I got my upper from gunbroker from this seller:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=72403403

From this link you can look at all his auctions, but I took the liberty of finding a 20" pre-ban. It's a 1:8 twist, but not a bad price.

G

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 20, 2007

Thanks CIVIE

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