Ok, this is all good stuff - at least there seems to be some consensus on this forum.
Regarding the lapping tool, is the Wheeler tool decent enough, or are there others that are better? I'm not opposed to spending some money on tools if I feel it's warranted, although I don't know how many more ARs I'm going to build.
How necessary is it to bed the barrel? Very necessary? Necessary only for improved accuracy? Just curious.
The barrel on this first build was pretty snug in the upper, which was a PSA blem upper that I got on the cheap years ago and finally decided to put to use. All I know is that the rifle is a pretty solid shooter - my son and I are doing 20 shot groups at 50 yards that aside from the odd flyer which is probably our fault, are slightly bigger than a quarter. Is that super accurate? Nope, but that could also be attributed to the ammo - 55 gr reloads out of a 1:7 twist barrel. (1:9 would be better for 55 gr)
I'll employ some of this on the next build - I've got all the parts on hand or in the mail, so I'll probaby pick up a lapping tool. The upper on the way is an Aero upper, so hopefully it's pretty solid and won't need a lot of work, and hopefully the barrel fits pretty snugly.
I use the Wheeler lapping tool and it works just fine. Personally I always bed the barrel even if it’s a tight fit.
I just helped a friend do a build and he had an Aero upper and lower. Barrel fit was snug but I still used the bedding compound.
Even if the fit is snug, bedding it takes away any gaps no matter how small and will minimize barrel movement inside the upper especially when the barrel gets hot.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
2:
That's something I don't want to bite me in the ass.
