First AR build - Page 2

Chowder · March 8, 2013, 11:25 PM

So I got all my ducks in a row. All the parts needed to build my AR finally, then I realized I didn't order one key part... my barrel nut. I am like a kid on Christmas who parents forgot to buy batteries lol. Oh well, just a bit longer I guess.

BerdanSS · March 9, 2013, 12:52 AM

You mean the Troy rail you bought didn't come with a barrel nut?!

The Vtac alpha uses a standard nut right?

Chowder · March 9, 2013, 01:34 AM

It did not come with a barrel nut, I believe the alpha uses a standard free float nut. I am going to go make the round at the local shops to see if someone has one tomorrow. I hope so I have waited so long. But if not... another week of waiting isn't so bad.

Achilles11B · March 10, 2013, 05:42 PM

Double check with Troy before buying a barrel nut. Some of the older ones use Troy's proprietary barrel nut while newer iterations utilize the standard AR barrel nut.

Chowder · March 12, 2013, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Double check with Troy before buying a barrel nut. Some of the older ones use Troy's proprietary barrel nut while newer iterations utilize the standard AR barrel nut.

Thanks for the info, I will have to check with the shop that I bought the troy off of if I need to order another one. They might be building my upper for me anyway as I just re injured an old ruptured tendon in my right hand.

Chowder · March 15, 2013, 02:18 AM

Doubled checked today, the Alpha rail uses a standard barrel nut. This AR should finally be build sometime next week!

Chowder · March 22, 2013, 10:26 PM

Finally done! Other than optics, which will be easy. I received my Upper back from the great people at Alaska tactical today. I am so excited but a bit bummed that I will be in a splint for another 4 weeks lol. Here it is.

-Black Rain billet upper receiver
-BCM gunfighter charging handle
-Wilson Combat match stainless barrel 1:9 twist
-Troy 11" alpha rail
-Wilson Combat low profile gas block
-Wilson combat muzzle break

The lower is I mentioned before but it is:

-Black rain Billet receiver
-CMMG lower parts kit w/ JP low power spring and polished trigger
-VLTOR Stock
-BCM Carbine buffer tube
-JP Tuned spring
-Colt Buffer
-Noveski Buttplate

Only things I might add is a BCM MOD 1 Grip as the standard AR style is a bit thin for me and some day I would love suppressor on this.

I Started a few threads on here asking specifics about this build but searching through all the old posts on this forum gave me a lot of the info I needed to build the EXACT AR I was wanting. I am possitive this rifle will be reliable enough spend my life time dropping 'yotes (hopefully) and defending my home

.

Marquezj16 · March 23, 2013, 12:47 AM

Congrats on your magnificent build. Hope you heal fast and get to sending lead down range soon. True test of a build is how it shoots.

BTW, I did not stop after building my first one.

Achilles11B · March 23, 2013, 01:11 AM

Great build, looking forward to the range report.

Metal god · March 23, 2013, 03:16 AM

That looks real nice and will shoot even better

I did not see the BCG on your list . What did you end up with ? Maybe I missed it in a earlier post .

I've been thinking about getting one of those alpha rails . How solid is it ? I'm a little hesitant to get a bolt on . I get the feeling if hit hard enough it would pop off the barrel nut . How does it attach to the nut ? could it come off if the screws stay tight .

Chowder · March 23, 2013, 01:01 PM

Quote:

That looks real nice and will shoot even better I did not see the BCG on your list . What did you end up with ? Maybe I missed it in a earlier post .

I've been thinking about getting one of those alpha rails . How solid is it ? I'm a little hesitant to get a bolt on . I get the feeling if hit hard enough it would pop off the barrel nut . How does it attach to the nut ? could it come off if the screws stay tight .

I got a no name BCG off gunbroker. It was the only reasonably priced BCG I could find but it looks to be good quality. If I have an issue with it I will eventually replace it with a BCM or JP when things start coming back into stock.

The alpha rail is rock solid, It is held with three fairly hefty screws to the standard free float barrel nut and I don't see it coming loose any time soon unless I take it apart. It is also very comfortable.

I am most likely going out to get some scope rings for it today and might have a friend do the trigger pulling to dial it in until my hand is healed. I just want to see what this is capable of haha.

Chowder · March 29, 2013, 01:39 AM

New pic with the optics installed. Hoping the weather cooperates this weekend and I can get it sighted in and post some nice targets

.

Justice06RR · April 23, 2013, 01:01 AM

Great build, congrats.

Are you planning to add a sling and BUIS?

Chowder · April 23, 2013, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Great build, congrats.

Are you planning to add a sling and BUIS?

Thanks! I will most likely look for a sling soon for when I take it hunting. As for backup sights I probably wont install any because they will just add weight and never get used. It was build to be a fun plinker/target/hunting rifle and I dont plan on battle or the zombie apocalypse lol. Although I have already tried a couple different optics and am now thinking about a red dot, so who knows what the future of this rifle is. That is kinda the reason I built an AR, I can play with a lot of different setups to depending on my mood.

March 8, 2013, 11:25 PM	#26
Chowder Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2012 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 222	So I got all my ducks in a row. All the parts needed to build my AR finally, then I realized I didn't order one key part... my barrel nut. I am like a kid on Christmas who parents forgot to buy batteries lol. Oh well, just a bit longer I guess. __________________ New Project I am working on to kill time http://sharpasamarble.com/Projects.html

March 9, 2013, 12:52 AM	#27
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Posts: 578	You mean the Troy rail you bought didn't come with a barrel nut?! The Vtac alpha uses a standard nut right? Last edited by BerdanSS; March 9, 2013 at 12:59 AM.

March 9, 2013, 01:34 AM	#28
Chowder Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2012 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 222	It did not come with a barrel nut, I believe the alpha uses a standard free float nut. I am going to go make the round at the local shops to see if someone has one tomorrow. I hope so I have waited so long. But if not... another week of waiting isn't so bad. __________________ New Project I am working on to kill time http://sharpasamarble.com/Projects.html

March 10, 2013, 05:42 PM	#29
Achilles11B Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Posts: 583	Double check with Troy before buying a barrel nut. Some of the older ones use Troy's proprietary barrel nut while newer iterations utilize the standard AR barrel nut. __________________ Good equipment will never be a substitute for good training.

March 15, 2013, 02:18 AM	#31
Chowder Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2012 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 222	Doubled checked today, the Alpha rail uses a standard barrel nut. This AR should finally be build sometime next week! __________________ New Project I am working on to kill time http://sharpasamarble.com/Projects.html

March 22, 2013, 10:26 PM	#32
Chowder Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2012 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 222	Finally done! Other than optics, which will be easy. I received my Upper back from the great people at Alaska tactical today. I am so excited but a bit bummed that I will be in a splint for another 4 weeks lol. Here it is. -Black Rain billet upper receiver -BCM gunfighter charging handle -Wilson Combat match stainless barrel 1:9 twist -Troy 11" alpha rail -Wilson Combat low profile gas block -Wilson combat muzzle break The lower is I mentioned before but it is: -Black rain Billet receiver -CMMG lower parts kit w/ JP low power spring and polished trigger -VLTOR Stock -BCM Carbine buffer tube -JP Tuned spring -Colt Buffer -Noveski Buttplate Only things I might add is a BCM MOD 1 Grip as the standard AR style is a bit thin for me and some day I would love suppressor on this. I Started a few threads on here asking specifics about this build but searching through all the old posts on this forum gave me a lot of the info I needed to build the EXACT AR I was wanting. I am possitive this rifle will be reliable enough spend my life time dropping 'yotes (hopefully) and defending my home . __________________ New Project I am working on to kill time http://sharpasamarble.com/Projects.html

March 23, 2013, 12:47 AM	#33
Marquezj16 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Posts: 2,067	Congrats on your magnificent build. Hope you heal fast and get to sending lead down range soon. True test of a build is how it shoots. BTW, I did not stop after building my first one.

March 23, 2013, 01:11 AM	#34
Achilles11B Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Posts: 583	Great build, looking forward to the range report. __________________ Good equipment will never be a substitute for good training.

March 23, 2013, 03:16 AM	#35
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 1,024	That looks real nice and will shoot even better I did not see the BCG on your list . What did you end up with ? Maybe I missed it in a earlier post . I've been thinking about getting one of those alpha rails . How solid is it ? I'm a little hesitant to get a bolt on . I get the feeling if hit hard enough it would pop off the barrel nut . How does it attach to the nut ? could it come off if the screws stay tight . __________________ http://imageshack.us/a/img191/8878/guns200.jpg Happyness ! Last edited by Metal god; March 23, 2013 at 03:23 AM.

March 29, 2013, 01:39 AM	#37
Chowder Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2012 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 222	New pic with the optics installed. Hoping the weather cooperates this weekend and I can get it sighted in and post some nice targets . __________________ New Project I am working on to kill time http://sharpasamarble.com/Projects.html

April 23, 2013, 01:01 AM	#38
Justice06RR Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 910	Great build, congrats. Are you planning to add a sling and BUIS?