help me build a new AR15 upper

For a shorty build, I opted for the 7" Troy, which ends right in front of my fixed front sight base. I think the fixed front sight looks better on 10.5 or in my case an 11.5" AR. I purchased all the parts I needed to build up the rifle here on CGN in the EE. Just waiting on a gas tube and I'm done pretty much.

I'd suggest you take a look at STAG ARMS products. They're well made, quality parts that I personally like much more than Bushmaster or DPMS & there are many who consider STAG a superior product to them. Its not quite Colt or LMT, but for top tier ARs, you're going to have to pay a premium, especially here in Canada.

IIRC, Walt at Arms East has a number of stripped uppers that he was selling at a discount. I believe that they were all flat top A3 uppers. That'll get you started! Keep your eyes peeled for other parts in the EE and don't hesitate or try to bargain when they come up at a reasonable price! You need to move fast, otherwise someone else is going to beat you to the punch! As such, you really need to do your research and know the current retail prices of the parts you're looking for as offered by companies like Wolverine Supplies, Questar, Arms East, etc... Do that, and when a key part comes up for sale, you'll be prepared.

Have fun with the project!
 
On a related note, how are barrel lengths measured? Or more specifically, if I have a 10.5" barrel how long is it when installed and measured from the front edge/face of the upper receiver?
 
Here's the link to the Troy rail I was talking about. CQB Services here on CGN is a Troy dealer. Dangertree, aka Walt at Arms East is a distributor for Samson, which is the exact same rail pretty well.
http://www.troyind.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=44

7" MRF-C for M4/AR15 carbines
[MRFCM4-BK]

MIL-STD 1913
The Troy designed MRF provides an uninterrupted rail extension and hand guard in perfect alignment with the host weapons flat top receiver. The Troy Patent Pending locking system reinforces the factory installed barrel with a robust clamp and four anti-rotation alignment lugs. The Troy MRF is the strongest user applied free floating rail system in the world today. All MRF rail systems are constructed from hardened aircraft aluminum and finished in MIL-STD- Type III Hard Coat Anodize Flat Black or USSOCOM Flat Dark Earth. Troy MRF’s are available for all M16/M4 and AR10/SR25 weapon systems equipped with original factory hand guards and delta ring assemblies. MRF replaces the factory delta ring assembly only which does not require removal of the front sight or barrel. Made in USA.

You can check out the Samson rails and STAG uppers/lowers at: http://www.armseast.com/

Wolverine supplies is a Daniel Defense dealer. They offer good quality rails, however, they aren't continuous like the Troy/Samson. You can find their website though the banner ad at the top of the page.
 
X-man said:
Wolverine supplies is a Daniel Defense dealer. They offer good quality rails, however, they aren't continuous like the Troy/Samson.
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Thanks for that tip, I'd like to get a continuous one so Ill go with Troy or Samson. Like I said, I emailed Walt yesterday to ask him some questions and do see what parts he has available to do a build like this. Im waiting for a response.

If he doesn't have everything I need I'll probably at least order a stripped upper and a bolt/carrier assembly to get me started.

Thanks
 
Wolverine carries the Midwest Industries rails which are the same design as the Troy/Samson but are a little cheaper. I went with MI because Walt was OOS on the 7" and the MI was $250 vs $320 for the Samson. I have been very happy, I love the continuous rail look and it was defiantly a great investment.

Try calling Walt, I always can get in touch with him over the phone.
 
Hey,thats the guy that put me on to MI
I'am always looking to add stuff to my ARs too,can't stop.
What aboutTroy folding Battle sights,or maybe a Samson folding front(from ARMSEAST) and a ARMS #40 rear BUIS,

Have a look at a Vortex flash hider,have one on my 11.5" works nice but was kind of looking at the Noveske KX3 (if you can find/afford one), looks like a can,Hear it directs more of the noise down range.

It would be easier to get 16"er and dress it up,thier not as noise as the shorter barreled ones. they also look more balanced.
 
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Greenhorse six said:
Hey,thats the guy that put me on to MI
I'am always looking to add stuff to my ARs too,can't stop.
What aboutTroy folding Battle sights,or maybe a Samson folding front(from ARMSEAST) and a ARMS #40 rear BUIS,

Have a look at a Vortex flash hider,have one on my 11.5" works nice but was kind of looking at the Noveske KX3 (if you can find/afford one), looks like a can,Hear it directs more of the noise down range.

It would be easier to get 16"er and dress it up,thier not as noise as the shorter barreled ones. they also look more balanced.
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Would you mind doing a quick measurement of your 11.5 barrel for me?

Im particularly interested to know exactly how long the barrel is to the tip when measured from the face of the upper receiver... so between the red lines, or until the yellow one depending on how long the flash hider is I guess...

ar15measure.jpg


I'd appreciate it.
 
Greenhorse six said:
Have a look at Midwest Industries MCTAR-24 its a 10" carbine length free floating forearm,Wolverine carries them.It'll give you a MRU look.
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Beat me to it...
Have a look at VLTOR VIS, they look sweet and are not as pricey as LMT monolithic uppers.
 
darko said:
Would you mind doing a quick measurement of your 11.5 barrel for me?

Im particularly interested to know exactly how long the barrel is to the tip when measured from the face of the upper receiver... so between the red lines, or until the yellow one depending on how long the flash hider is I guess...

ar15measure.jpg


I'd appreciate it.
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Thats pretty much my AR,but mine has a Smith Vortec flash hider .
Not home for awhile,will post when I do.IIRC its 11.5" from the bolt face to the crown (use cleaning rod)and the flash hider adds 2" to the whole thing.

With the A1 upper you not as likly to spend more money on sights,and it works.
 
Were you looking to build one like the 11.5" DAR701 below:

smallerres.jpg


I used Midlength MI FF rails to cover the low profile gasblock:
gasblock was YHM rails just cover the gasblock assembly. Centurion HK diopter sights rather than Tango Down folding fronts and rear.. Smiths vortex FH. Overall Im impressed with the quality and price of the MI rails.
 
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Shazam, yes the lower rifle in your pic is close to what I want. I'd want the barrel shorter or the rails longer though, so just the flash hider is visible... but yes that looks very close.

Maybe I'll get a hold of Dlask to see if they can build an upper or something with a 10.5" barrel and go from there...

How long exactly is the midlength handguard from Midwest? It doesn't specify the length on their site...
 
I think you would be better off with the rifle hand guard since you are getting a low profile gas block and want the rail aslong as you can get away with.

MCTAR-24 (Two Piece Free Float 10" Length Forearm)Made at Midwest Industries, Inc.

MCTAR-21 (2 Piece Free Float Mid Length Forearm)Made at Midwest Industries, Inc. would be 9" inches.
 
I did something similar with 10.5" LMT. I used 12.0" Daniel Defence rail with cutout for FSB. Topped it off with Noveske KX3. The way it sits only about 1/4 of a noveske sticks past the rail.
 
How long is the KX3? That's interesting, I never would've gone with a 12" rail on a 10.5" barrel, I would've figured it'd be too long...

Have any pics of the whole rifle?

edit; nevermind I just checked their site, the KX3 is listed as 3.28" overall length... thats pretty long.
 
No pics sorry I don't usually post pics of my stuff. I didn't like how the KX3 looked at the end of the barrel so I decided to cover it with a rail as much as possible.

Kind of one of a kind look I was after.
 
steyr_m said:
Is it possible to buy a 16" and have it cut to 14.5" and inform the CFC?
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You won't need to inform CFC, because simply shortening the barrel doesn't change the rifle's status. They're already restricted, and the only way you could change the status is by shortening the entire rifle past the legal length. As far as "legal length," the rules describing what's restricted & what's prohibited are so confusing that I have given up trying to decifer them. What I do know for certain is that an 11.5" upper is still just restricted, and I'm pretty sure that there's nothing wrong with 10.5" either.
Anyone out there know for sure?

Cheers.
 
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