Contemplating building another 3-gun upper

I have a nice 3-gun build, but I'd like another as a backup. I'm using the same lower, which has been flawless, unlike my current upper. So, I have a flat-top upper receiver in hand. I'd like to use this hand guard https://brigandarms.com/shop-3/brigand-quad-rail-15-2/ and this barrel http://www.ar15performance.com/inc/sdetail/11562/12294 . AR Performance sells BCGs and bolts, and if bought together with the barrel, will check head-space on the combo. or ?

Handguard seems a little light duty by appearance. Have you ready any feedback about deformation from handling, shooting knocks and dings?

I like barrel contour and the melonite is tough to beat.

jimbobborg said:

I have a nice 3-gun build, but I'd like another as a backup. I'm using the same lower, which has been flawless, unlike my current upper. So, I have a flat-top upper receiver in hand. I'd like to use this hand guard https://brigandarms.com/shop-3/brigand-quad-rail-15-2/ and this barrel http://www.ar15performance.com/inc/sdetail/11562/12294 . AR Performance sells BCGs and bolts, and if bought together with the barrel, will check head-space on the combo. or ?

Click to expand...

You know I decided the same thing last year. Not that I did not like my Stag based setup but I wanted something in a slightly different direction. Did not know what that would be until I saw someone in the classifieds here selling an ABS carbon fiber wrapped 16" AR-15 barrel (out of business and assets bought by the guy who makes CF wrapped barrels for LR and hunting bolt gun shooters). Turned out to be another 3-gunner from PNTC (a friend of a friend). So I decided to build a lightweight 2gun/3gun rifle and see how light I could make it. Turned out pretty light. Built the entire gun knowing if the lower was iffy I'd use my current 3 gun lower. Did not go the CF handguard route, instead going for low cost using an ALG Defense alloy handguard which is dang light for aluminum (I like the feel of it). ATI Omni 2nd gen steel reinforced polymer lower (no lighter than alloy but I had it left over from my 3 lb. AR-22 rifle build), JP+Speedhammer trigger, Rogers/Safariland Super Stock. Used the BCG from the Stag that got replaced by a WMD NiB-X BCG. Mounted my previous 3-gun scope, Burris MTAC 1-4x24. A bunch of these parts I had laying around from other projects. Like always my uppers are usually Aero-Precision when building something other than a .22, and charging handles are generally BCM Gunfighter medium ones.
Ended up with a rifle that is a full 2 lbs. lighter than my regular 3-gun rig. Put my old AR-Stoner comp on (originally replaced the Stag one when I got it). The ABS barrel is a mid-length like the 18" Stag barrel so used the same YHM gas block as most of my other builds. Some test rounds down range says it functions fine, but no sight in as yet.

ALG Defense rail:

http://algdefense.com/ergonomic-modular-rail.html

Just about the cleanest hand friendly (no sharp edges) metal handguard I have even owned.

Magnumite said:

Handguard seems a little light duty by appearance. Have you ready any feedback about deformation from handling, shooting knocks and dings?

I like barrel contour and the melonite is tough to beat.

Click to expand...

I realize it's expensive, I was hoping someone who got one would chime in as the reason I know about this hand guard is someone posted on it here.

photoracer said:

You know I decided the same thing last year. Not that I did not like my Stag based setup but I wanted something in a slightly different direction. Did not know what that would be until I saw someone in the classifieds here selling an ABS carbon fiber wrapped 16" AR-15 barrel (out of business and assets bought by the guy who makes CF wrapped barrels for LR and hunting bolt gun shooters). Turned out to be another 3-gunner from PNTC (a friend of a friend). So I decided to build a lightweight 2gun/3gun rifle and see how light I could make it. Turned out pretty light. Built the entire gun knowing if the lower was iffy I'd use my current 3 gun lower. Did not go the CF handguard route, instead going for low cost using an ALG Defense alloy handguard which is dang light for aluminum (I like the feel of it). ATI Omni 2nd gen steel reinforced polymer lower (no lighter than alloy but I had it left over from my 3 lb. AR-22 rifle build), JP+Speedhammer trigger, Rogers/Safariland Super Stock. Used the BCG from the Stag that got replaced by a WMD NiB-X BCG. Mounted my previous 3-gun scope, Burris MTAC 1-4x24. A bunch of these parts I had laying around from other projects. Like always my uppers are usually Aero-Precision when building something other than a .22, and charging handles are generally BCM Gunfighter medium ones.
Ended up with a rifle that is a full 2 lbs. lighter than my regular 3-gun rig. Put my old AR-Stoner comp on (originally replaced the Stag one when I got it). The ABS barrel is a mid-length like the 18" Stag barrel so used the same YHM gas block as most of my other builds. Some test rounds down range says it functions fine, but no sight in as yet.

Click to expand...

Yeah, my current rig is pretty heavy, which is why I'm trying this out. I REALLY wanted a fluted SPR barrel but they're pretty pricey compared to the AR Performance barrel ($200). Plus the guy from ARP helped me out when my 6.8 AR went down so I'd like to throw some business his way.

I'm going to get that barrel before the end of the year, along with the BCG from him. Before the panic starts again. I'm pretty sure $500 hand guards aren't going to be flying off the shelves anytime soon.

And just an FYI, I haven't found a review for that hand guard yet. Lots of announcements, but no reviews.

I saw a few builds with the Brigand handguard on Facebook. So far, it's been reliable for the folks who dropped the coin on one of these. And the 15" handguard with barrel nut weighs 3.9 ounces.

Have you considered a Faxon "Gunner" or Ballistic Advantage "Hanson" barrel?

OrbitalEllipses said:

Have you considered a Faxon "Gunner" or Ballistic Advantage "Hanson" barrel?

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This build was on hiatus due to weird things going on in my life. Now that the other crap is taken care of, I'm looking again. Thanks for pointing out Faxon, I'm actually looking at this barrel http://faxonfirearms.com/14-5-pencil-5-56-nato-mid-length-4150-qpq/ I'm also looking at this gas block http://suparms.com/collections/adju...le-low-pro-clamp-on-gas-block-melonite-finish this hand guard https://algdefense.com/ergonomic-modular-rail.html (thanks photoracer!). The Faxon barrel can come with just a matched bolt, which I will probably get, although I might be going with the lightweight complete BCG.

I'm getting a dedicated 9mm upper receiver, and swapping out the current receiver that's on my 9mm upper for this new 3-gun upper.

I'm ordering this rifle barrel http://faxonfirearms.com/16-legal-slim-perm-3-port-brake-14-5-pencil-5-56-nato-mid-length-4150-qpq/ with a low profile adjustable gas block and matched bolt for $412. I will get a lightweight BCG when Faxon gets them in. At the end of next week, I'm buying this upper receiver https://www.cmmginc.com/shop/upper-receiver-assembly-mk4-22lrmk9/ and swapping out the 5.56 upper receiver that's currently on my 9mm build. That should settle my OCD for a while, as the cutouts on the 5.56 upper don't match my CMMG 9mm lower. I have a newer lower for this build, I'm going to ditch the Magpul MOE stock for either http://www.midwayusa.com/product/30...ble-ar-15-lr-308-polymer?cm_vc=ProductFinding or http://www.battlearmsdevelopment.com/sabertube-tm-qd-end-plate-bad-lbs-lightweight-stock-combo . Not sure if I'm going to drop a ton of cash on the handguard.

Barrel, bolt, and gas block should be arriving today. I ordered a keymod 13" handguard from Joe Bob's, that's getting here today, too. I ordered the CMMG 9mm upper receiver today from Primary Arms, let's see how long that takes to get here. I'm buying a Voodoo Innovations Low Mass BCG from a fellow 3-gun competitor for $200. I'm picking this up http://www.battlearmsdevelopment.co...ght-butt-stock-for-milspec-receiver-extension when they come back in stock.

The parts came in last night The 9mm upper and charging handle are supposed to get here on Monday, so I'm taking all of this stuff to my smith on Tuesday to swap upper receivers and get the new one built.