If you could do it all over again....

[Chris0nllyn]

I'm about to finally build my AR.

For those of you that have finished your rifles, is there any accessory you'd choose to install before finishing the build?

I plan on getting an enhanced trigger guard (Thanks to my sausage fingers), but are things like the BAD lever, or larger mag release really something to get?

Anything you guys regret buying (which is probably the better question)?

 

[jimbobborg]

I would prefer a much lighter handguard and a fluted barrel on my 3-gun rifle. And a can.

 

[teratos]

I'd put a Geissele trigger in it from the beginning.

 

[44man]

good triggers from the get go. I also would have had more spare parts around before starting.

 

[LargemouthAss]

I went with a lightweight barrel on my first build and it gets hot quickly. I wish I had gone with a heavier barrel but it has given me an excuse to build another one...

 

[IMBLITZVT]

If I could do all my ar/M16 buying over again... I would buy everything making sure you could use a Suppressor and a Registered M16 lower on it. So no 14.5 barrels with pinned FHs. All bolt carriers would be FA rather then semi only bolt carriers. If you would have asked me in 2005 if I would have ever owned a FA M16, I would have said no. However a decade later... thats not the case. Everyone is using suppressor now too. EVEN if you never plan on these two, maybe you will want to try it out in the future. Its not hard to buy with these things in mind and will keep you from having to re-buy stuff later.

I see lots of people dumping a lot of money on ARs. Don't do it. They all shoot well enough. You can drown yourself in accessories. Save the money for more guns. ARs are the "ken dolls" of the gun world. You can change their "outfits" all you want but its still the same gun. A lot of guns are really pretty perfect in their near stock state. Don't feel a need to dump a lot on the extras! Especially in the beginning, its hard to tell what you really want. Buy good quality guns and parts. If its cheap, there is probably a reason why. Its always best to try out accessories before you buy. However in the end, you need to decide what the point of this firearm is and work towards that.

 

[Jed195]

I wouldn't have used the ambi end plate when finishing off my lower/mounting the stock. The stock I chose was the ERGO f93 and that sucker has 5 points on it to mount a sling and the end plate with the left and right side sling attachment points rubs me the wrong way in the web of my hand. I will eventually fix that but for now I'm dealing with it.

 

[jimbobborg]

Since Jed mentioned it, I wish I'd bought more than one f93 setup from Maui back when he did that group buy.

 

[OrbitalEllipses]

Ambi-safety. I like flicking to SAFE with my trigger finger and from SAFE with my thumb (right-handed).

 

[clandestine]

I'm about to finally build my AR.

For those of you that have finished your rifles, is there any accessory you'd choose to install before finishing the build?

I plan on getting an enhanced trigger guard (Thanks to my sausage fingers), but are things like the BAD lever, or larger mag release really something to get?

Anything you guys regret buying (which is probably the better question)?

IMHO, large Trigger Guards IMO are a waste in most cases. The factory trigger guard flips down for gloved use. If you are looking for something that does not rub your fingers then thats a different thing.

BAD lever is bad IMO. I used to use them until I saw what a POS they were reliability wise. They can turn a properly functioning AR into a headache. If you insist on using one run the rifle without it and ensure it works properly first and locks the bolt on the last round on all of your magazines. The BAD does have merits for one handed operation but it also requires tools to remove before you can replace your magazine catch.

Larger Magazine releases are also a waste IMO unless you cant reach it. The raised area on an AR lower is designed to prevent accidental magazine release, adding a longer one just increases the chance of bumping the button and dropping the magazine when you dont want to. Some extended ones are blind drilled so you cant get as much adjustment as the factory button.

I'd put a Geissele trigger in it from the beginning.

This!

I went with a lightweight barrel on my first build and it gets hot quickly. I wish I had gone with a heavier barrel but it has given me an excuse to build another one...

This!

If I could do all my ar/M16 buying over again... I would buy everything making sure you could use a Suppressor and a Registered M16 lower on it. So no 14.5 barrels with pinned FHs. All bolt carriers would be FA rather then semi only bolt carriers. If you would have asked me in 2005 if I would have ever owned a FA M16, I would have said no. However a decade later... thats not the case. Everyone is using suppressor now too. EVEN if you never plan on these two, maybe you will want to try it out in the future. Its not hard to buy with these things in mind and will keep you from having to re-buy stuff later.

I see lots of people dumping a lot of money on ARs. Don't do it. They all shoot well enough. You can drown yourself in accessories. Save the money for more guns. ARs are the "ken dolls" of the gun world. You can change their "outfits" all you want but its still the same gun. A lot of guns are really pretty perfect in their near stock state. Don't feel a need to dump a lot on the extras! Especially in the beginning, its hard to tell what you really want. Buy good quality guns and parts. If its cheap, there is probably a reason why. Its always best to try out accessories before you buy. However in the end, you need to decide what the point of this firearm is and work towards that.

I agree about pinned muzzle devices and lots of stuff sold for AR's.

The areas I disagree wholeheartedly about are:

-Click Adjustable Gas Blocks (Pinned). Civilians have an infinite amount of options when it comes to ammo, gas system lenghts, suppressors, barrel lengths and such. A fixed gas port size is fine for the military where theres a handful of ammo choices and 2 gas system lenghts, no so much for the civilian world.

-Aftermarket Handguards. They replace factory handguards that can get too hot to hold and can melt/catch fire. Aluminim Handguards allow one to install FVG's which can allow alternate grip options when the handguard heats up, and allows storage of tools, lube, and replacement parts.

-Triggers. The only aftermarket trigger worth buying is a Geiselle. For a Select Fire the SSF, for Semi Autos theres a ton of options. Geiselle is an approved SOCOM trigger group.

-Grips and Buttstocks. They also allow one to store batteries for optics and lights, attach clearing rods, spare parts, or cleaning/maintenance items. They can also make shooting the firearm more comfortable, depending on the person.

-Springs. Standard Milspec Springs can reach end of life in 5k rounds. Specifically the Ejector, Extractor Spring, and the Action Spring. Chrome Silicone Action Springs can last up to 500K cycles.

-Ambi Charging Handles and Safeties. These can be an improvement as many aftermarket Chargers are beefed up to prevent bending and latch pin walking. Ambi Safeties can make it easier to work the safety. If a safety is difficult to reach or work, people tend to not use them which can lead to accidents.

Ambi-safety. I like flicking to SAFE with my trigger finger and from SAFE with my thumb (right-handed).

Agreed!

 

[IMBLITZVT]

...
I agree about pinned muzzle devices and lots of stuff sold for AR's.

The areas I disagree wholeheartedly about are:

-Click Adjustable Gas Blocks (Pinned). Civilians have an infinite amount of options when it comes to ammo, gas system lenghts, suppressors, barrel lengths and such. A fixed gas port size is fine for the military where theres a handful of ammo choices and 2 gas system lenghts, no so much for the civilian world.

Think that directly relates to what I was getting out with Suppressor use.

-Aftermarket Handguards. They replace factory handguards that can get too hot to hold and can melt/catch fire. Aluminim Handguards allow one to install FVG's which can allow alternate grip options when the handguard heats up, and allows storage of tools, lube, and replacement parts.

When the hand guard is that hot... its good sign that you gas tube is glowing...

You can dump a lot of money on these with little real benefit a glove would not cover... Somehow I doubt a new guy is going to get to this point anyway.

-Triggers. The only aftermarket trigger worth buying is a Geiselle. For a Select Fire the SSF, for Semi Autos theres a ton of options. Geiselle is an approved SOCOM trigger group.

I am not a big "trigger" guy. The stock AR trigger is not bad when comparing to others out there. Thats a lot of extra money for what I consider little benefit. More of an advanced shooter thing for me. Does Geiselles work with 9mm bolts? Did I hear there was an issue there?

-Grips and Buttstocks. They also allow one to store batteries for optics and lights, attach clearing rods, spare parts, or cleaning/maintenance items. They can also make shooting the firearm more comfortable, depending on the person.

Yeah but many of these grips and Buttstocks are junk. I just went around the Chantilly show and I think the stock stock is still about the best. I do like the bigger grips for the AR, like the tango down. However most replace with Magpul... which I don't think are superior to the stock furniture. A lot of rubber grips that don't live to actual wear/use.

-Springs. Standard Milspec Springs can reach end of life in 5k rounds. Specifically the Ejector, Extractor Spring, and the Action Spring. Chrome Silicone Action Springs can last up to 500K cycles.

So in 5K replace the basically free spring that it came with... We both know many guns are getting a lot more than 5K rounds and still working fine.

-Ambi Charging Handles and Safeties. These can be an improvement as many aftermarket Chargers are beefed up to prevent bending and latch pin walking. Ambi Safeties can make it easier to work the safety. If a safety is difficult to reach or work, people tend to not use them which can lead to accidents.

Again more of an advanced thing. If not left handed, they are expensive. Also many selectors/safeties are poor. Some having both sides able to detach... which means you could have a selector you can't turn. I bought a KAC, which has one side still attached. Left side screws in. Also some of these get in the way of my hand. Better to try them out first. Stock selector works fine and is basically free.

Charging handles are basically Ambi... just extra money not needing to be spent IMHO.

So, really for a lot of this, IMHO, its a lot of money that can but does not need to be spent. Some features are nice. Some are overkill. A lot of junk people put on their guns to upgrade these features are inferior products. I say spend more on a good quality manufactured gun. That will be a good base to start with. Look to the things not easy to change (for normal people), like a barrels.... Save the money and put a NICE set of optics on it.

 

[OrbitalEllipses]

I am not a big "trigger" guy. The stock AR trigger is not bad when comparing to others out there. Thats a lot of extra money for what I consider little benefit. More of an advanced shooter thing for me. Does Geiselles work with 9mm bolts? Did I hear there was an issue there?

• Many folks chase accuracy, a $200 trigger can cleanup your accuracy without doing anything else...it did for me!
• A ramped 9mm should be fine, I thought.

 

[clandestine]

• Many folks chase accuracy, a $200 trigger can cleanup your accuracy without doing anything else...it did for me!
• A ramped 9mm should be fine, I thought.

 

[ericoak]

Save the money you were going to use on accessories, buy more guns and receivers, and upgrade the ones you have later after they ban new guns. You are going to be prevented from buying guns and magazines way before you are banned from putting a nicer scope etc. on it.

 

[IMBLITZVT]

• Many folks chase accuracy, a $200 trigger can cleanup your accuracy without doing anything else...it did for me!
• A ramped 9mm should be fine, I thought.

Yeah for sure... but many don't.

Say a good quality AR is $1K... thats 20% extra for a nice trigger. Most will not get the value from this unless target shooting. If he wants to target shoot, probably want to free float the barrel and upgrade the barrel too. Maybe drop the FH... However the stock AR trigger is pretty nice. If you are not punching paper... probably not going to see the value IMHO.

However I don't like to assume people are going that direction. He did not say anything in his post about making is really accurate. Frankly a nice optic will get you better results than a 200 trigger for most out there... Thats why I say, wait until you know what you want before jumping into the mountain of accessories.

I like accuracy in volume... quickly!

Good to know on the ramped bolt

 

[teratos]

I have an SSA-E in my 9mm AR. Not only is the trigger nicer to pull, but I can put lead down range a LOT faster with a trigger with a short reset.

 

[clandestine]

Think that directly relates to what I was getting out with Suppressor use.



When the hand guard is that hot... its good sign that you gas tube is glowing...

You can dump a lot of money on these with little real benefit a glove would not cover... Somehow I doubt a new guy is going to get to this point anyway.



I am not a big "trigger" guy. The stock AR trigger is not bad when comparing to others out there. Thats a lot of extra money for what I consider little benefit. More of an advanced shooter thing for me. Does Geiselles work with 9mm bolts? Did I hear there was an issue there?



Yeah but many of these grips and Buttstocks are junk. I just went around the Chantilly show and I think the stock stock is still about the best. I do like the bigger grips for the AR, like the tango down. However most replace with Magpul... which I don't think are superior to the stock furniture. A lot of rubber grips that don't live to actual wear/use.



So in 5K replace the basically free spring that it came with... We both know many guns are getting a lot more than 5K rounds and still working fine.



Again more of an advanced thing. If not left handed, they are expensive. Also many selectors/safeties are poor. Some having both sides able to detach... which means you could have a selector you can't turn. I bought a KAC, which has one side still attached. Left side screws in. Also some of these get in the way of my hand. Better to try them out first. Stock selector works fine and is basically free.

Charging handles are basically Ambi... just extra money not needing to be spent IMHO.

So, really for a lot of this, IMHO, its a lot of money that can but does not need to be spent. Some features are nice. Some are overkill. A lot of junk people put on their guns to upgrade these features are inferior products. I say spend more on a good quality manufactured gun. That will be a good base to start with. Look to the things not easy to change (for normal people), like a barrels.... Save the money and put a NICE set of optics on it.

Im not going to disagree about people throwing junk on their AR's that is not needed. There are MANY people who buy just to buy, or to make their AR look cool. The things I listed are not for visual factors or a cool factor. People should think through accessories before buying.

The things I listed are functional improvements that have few if any negatives.

True, the Milspec M16/AR is a pretty refined machine, but there is room for improvement. Many of the thing I listed are things the military does to enhance their M4's.

I forgot the most important upgrade to the AR, its good magazines. Bad magazines and insufficient lube are the 2 main causes for AR malfunctions. Buy good mags.

Factory collapsible buttstocks break easier than a good aftermarket buttstock when doing a mortar type clearance drill. Collapsing the stock will help minimize this.

Same goes for the ambi chargers, which are also made in non ambi applications. The charging handle is used to clear malfunctions, especially when the brass gets above the carrier. Its not just the ambi function, its the beefed construction which can prevent the retainer latch pin from walking or the stem from bending.

Geiselle triggers work fine with a ramped 9mm AR. They wont work with non ramped 9mm bolts. They offer a better trigger pull with no reliability issues like other aftermarket triggers.

Yes, an AR will run with a worn action spring past 5K rounds. It can also increase failures to extract, break bolt lugs, crack bolts around the cam pin bore, and break carrier key bolts. It can also allow the buffer pad to mushroom which will allow the gas key to contact your M16 Lower receiver ring and CRACK it. If you have 20K lower or a MD preban lower that a under 29" SBR, that wont be a good thing.

Im not typing this to convince you that im right, you seem to have made up your mind. Im typing this to help others reading who are eager to learn.

Theres lots of educated and experienced people on this board, and I still learn stuff from others, but youll be hard pressed to locate someone like me who is willing to share what I know about this particular gun.

 

[bshedwick]

This post is really helpful as I prepare my build as well. Great group of folks here.

 

[clandestine]

Save the money you were going to use on accessories, buy more guns and receivers, and upgrade the ones you have later after they ban new guns. You are going to be prevented from buying guns and magazines way before you are banned from putting a nicer scope etc. on it.

That is pretty solid advice IMO.

Optics do make shooting more fun though, assuming they are good quality that hold zero and are suitable for the application.

 

[Jed195]

Knowing how to use a firearm, basic fundamentals of marksmanship, and proper technique and you'll get the most out of a firearm. Once you get to that point then the bells and whistles add to your abilities. You can buy all the high speed low drag parts you want and still be a lousy shot. On the other hand if you understand the basics and get as good as you can, you can get more out of a tricked out gun than a newb who isn't experienced enough to know what he's doing wrong. I've embarrassed a buddy of mine, who went out and spent a ton of money on a AR that came with all the available upgrades, with a PSA (mock) dissipator on a Spike's lower with enhanced LBK. He couldn't understand why his was shooting like snot. Learning to use the iron sights is another basic that is often left behind for good optics but what happens when the optic fails(dead batteries, no batteries or it just breaks), then you're up the creek without a paddle...