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Well, recently Gun Digest ran a 30%-off-almost-everything sale, so I snagged the complete digital collection of our former boardmate Patrick Sweeney's (anyone ever hear from him anymore?) books on the AR-15, plus Kevin Muramutsu's customizing guide, and started taking some notes to plan a build from.
Operator biomechanics: Three probable operators, fourth possible.
--Operator #1 (me) is 5'6", ~200# +/- (right now a skosh more "+" than I wanna admit to), limited pectoral/upper-body strength and a very difficult shoulder to make a stock fit to. The only southpaw of the group,
--Operator #2 (my mother) is same height, almost 60, probably high 300-low 400# range--definitely well into Morbidly Obese (let's put it this way, literally calves as big around as my head and a torso somewhere between half-again and double the total mass of my own on similar spine-length), thinks shopping for groceries is the Bataan Death March.
--Operator #3 (my aunt) is around 5'8", late sixties, low to mid 300#s. Gout issues, old right-elbow injury. Of the three of us, probably middle of the "Least Unfit" ranking. Fairly active, her day-job as a paraeducator routinely involves herding rugrats around the school playground, and despite being the oldest of my grandparents' three kids I expect her to be the longest-lived.
--Operator #4, the "possible," is 5'10", mid-forties, 150-160#-ish (if you must know, 36-30-40 measurements). Low center of gravity (she's a bit pear-shaped but not portly or obese like the rest of us, just carries her weight more in the butt and hips) and blown-out knees. Has handled bolt-action rifles before with fair accuracy. Might have longer fingers, the rest of us have short stubby mini-baseball-bats for digits.
Build goal: Primarily a non-NFA Home Defense carbine, able to turn in good performance in competition would be nice but is second to "Practical Application." Starting with more "economy class" parts and gradually upgrading is possible, but I'd like to have a roadmap for each step up the ladder as upgrades go on and I work toward that "best possible fit" end goal in around $100-150 increments. Considering a polymer receiver for weight reduction; also very big on starting with an 80% PCR--all of us around the house know our way around basic machine tools, and I'm hoping that having my relatives do their own work on these will help foster Pride of Ownership and a stronger interest in caring for their own creations. (Tends to run in the family, things we buy are more readily "throwaway" but things we build we tend to hold onto sometimes longer and harder than we should.)
The concepts...
1. I'm thinking a 16" barrel for compactness in HD--we have narrow hallways and tight quarters; suppressors are not an option for paperwork-PITA reasons, and I'm thinking a muzzle-heavy build should have some of the same effect as a compensator without all the nasty flash and noise. (If YOU think firing an AR at night and indoors would suck, imagine what it'd be for my sensitive eyes and ears! I have to wear polarized lenses under most normal lighting conditions, and can sometimes hear some dog-whistles.) Mid or possibly full-length (if possible) gas system for recoil mitigation, Direct Impingement for less moving parts to fight with. Chrome-lining is a must if not stainless, preferably 4150 or ETD 150 carbon-steel (yes, I know Milspec's only 4140) or for stainless 416 or precipitation-hardened 17-3 alloys. Of course, it has to be a 5.56 NATO barrel (which will handle vanilla .223 Rem better than the other way around) with a 1:9 twist rate--I don't see this thing running 69-grain Sierra MatchKings beyond at most once in a *very* long while if at all.
2. As noted, I'm looking at both polymer lowers to reduce weight and PCR's for the "No S***, *I* built this?" factor, and just happen to have found a plastic PCR that I'm considering--do any of you guys have a rep-check on the crew at Polymer80.com? Their "Buy-Build-Shoot" PCR+parts-kit package does have a certain "quick start" appeal, even though I'd want to upgrade to a full-on 5.56 NATO barrel ASAP rather than rely on an uncertain ".223/5.56".
3. I really like LMT's Monolithic Rail Platform as a concept (despite the added weight), but one look at the sticker-price darn near had me having to shove my guts back up my backside--two of those uppers ALONE, with no other parts, could buy an OK used car, or enough decent entry-level complete ARs to equip the entire homestead plus set one aside for my gal when she gets a chance to visit. (Angle: Visiting her relatives in BC got her bit by the shooting bug, and I'm hoping setting the hook into full addiction will help make the idea of settling down with me on this side of the border more attractive. Don't they say "the couple that shoots together STAYS together"?
) Tangent aside, if the MRP's worth putting on the roadmap it has to go on as a "stepping stones up to" item with lesser quad-rail forearms and flat-top uppers being gradually upgraded toward it--I figure aside from the initial drop on the basic build, I'll be about to throw maybe $100 at a time at this project. I know Sweeney and Muramutsu mentioned quad-rails from Hera Arms of Germany (heavier, steel, typical German overengineer) along with Daniel Defense's Omega Rail and Midwest's Gen 2, and I know Yankee Hill makes one--the question is, what's the line between an economical "starter part" vs. something fit only for airsoft toys. Definitely want a free-float handguard, though.
4. Sights: The three of us are all nearsighted--my aunt needs bifocals and my prescription is so far gone that I'd be considered "Aircrew Ineligible" by the Air Force. I'm a big fan of co-witnessed BUIS'es paired with a holosight or red-dot--thinking I'm gonna ask you guys to recommend your "Top Fives" of each, then go with what seems to be consistently recommended "in the pack". (We each have our own favorite #1s, but if there's a consensus on #2 that's a pretty strong endorsement in its own right unless there's a stronger one on #1.) #4's never filled me in on her prescription type, but corrective optics are known in her case too.
5. Grips: I'm not sure how rifle biomechanics compare to pistol, but if it helps to know I'm one of those oddballs who handles 1911s better with an arched mainspring housing than without--and I can't hit the broad side of a barn with a Glock and a Beretta 92/96 hurts my wrist just to LOOK at never mind shoot. My gut is suggesting I should look for a grip with 1911-like ergonomics, but I thought I'd better ask for a double-check on that--for the others, I need to somehow drag them into a shop and try things on for fit.
6. Stock: definitely collapsible--my ideal would be a combo telestock/folder but that takes way more buffer and bolt-carrier machining/fab/cutting work than any of us are up for. I'm assuming with that range of sizes and weights, I'd need to have some pretty extreme length-of-pull variation from crammed-up-against-receiver for my mother out to near full extension for my gal. Given my love of "on-board storage", I'm thinking something similar to an Vltor Modstock or IMOD, not the longer EMOD.
The ideal upper I'm thinking would be a flattop or monolithic rail, bearing a long DI gas system (mid or full) on a 16" chrome-lined lightweight-profile barrel with flash hider (Sweeney recommends the Vortex), with the rails ending about 1" from the muzzle or possibly dead even with it, assuming that wouldn't create any kind of safety risk from muzzle proximity, flash, etc.
Any suggestions as far as what to start assembly with, what to set as "goal" or what to use as intermediate steps in between? Bear in mind, you're dealing with primarily a WWII-issue guy who until recently has neither known nor wanted to know much about AR's beyond the basics of the operating controls and major subassemblies just in case... so the rookie needs an "AR's for Complete IDIOTS" crash-course , hopefully without all the BS from a particular asshat relative I don't speak of's douchewaffle ilk at Barfcom or whatever the hell they call it.
Operator biomechanics: Three probable operators, fourth possible.
--Operator #1 (me) is 5'6", ~200# +/- (right now a skosh more "+" than I wanna admit to), limited pectoral/upper-body strength and a very difficult shoulder to make a stock fit to. The only southpaw of the group,
--Operator #2 (my mother) is same height, almost 60, probably high 300-low 400# range--definitely well into Morbidly Obese (let's put it this way, literally calves as big around as my head and a torso somewhere between half-again and double the total mass of my own on similar spine-length), thinks shopping for groceries is the Bataan Death March.
--Operator #3 (my aunt) is around 5'8", late sixties, low to mid 300#s. Gout issues, old right-elbow injury. Of the three of us, probably middle of the "Least Unfit" ranking. Fairly active, her day-job as a paraeducator routinely involves herding rugrats around the school playground, and despite being the oldest of my grandparents' three kids I expect her to be the longest-lived.
--Operator #4, the "possible," is 5'10", mid-forties, 150-160#-ish (if you must know, 36-30-40 measurements). Low center of gravity (she's a bit pear-shaped but not portly or obese like the rest of us, just carries her weight more in the butt and hips) and blown-out knees. Has handled bolt-action rifles before with fair accuracy. Might have longer fingers, the rest of us have short stubby mini-baseball-bats for digits.
Build goal: Primarily a non-NFA Home Defense carbine, able to turn in good performance in competition would be nice but is second to "Practical Application." Starting with more "economy class" parts and gradually upgrading is possible, but I'd like to have a roadmap for each step up the ladder as upgrades go on and I work toward that "best possible fit" end goal in around $100-150 increments. Considering a polymer receiver for weight reduction; also very big on starting with an 80% PCR--all of us around the house know our way around basic machine tools, and I'm hoping that having my relatives do their own work on these will help foster Pride of Ownership and a stronger interest in caring for their own creations. (Tends to run in the family, things we buy are more readily "throwaway" but things we build we tend to hold onto sometimes longer and harder than we should.)
The concepts...
1. I'm thinking a 16" barrel for compactness in HD--we have narrow hallways and tight quarters; suppressors are not an option for paperwork-PITA reasons, and I'm thinking a muzzle-heavy build should have some of the same effect as a compensator without all the nasty flash and noise. (If YOU think firing an AR at night and indoors would suck, imagine what it'd be for my sensitive eyes and ears! I have to wear polarized lenses under most normal lighting conditions, and can sometimes hear some dog-whistles.) Mid or possibly full-length (if possible) gas system for recoil mitigation, Direct Impingement for less moving parts to fight with. Chrome-lining is a must if not stainless, preferably 4150 or ETD 150 carbon-steel (yes, I know Milspec's only 4140) or for stainless 416 or precipitation-hardened 17-3 alloys. Of course, it has to be a 5.56 NATO barrel (which will handle vanilla .223 Rem better than the other way around) with a 1:9 twist rate--I don't see this thing running 69-grain Sierra MatchKings beyond at most once in a *very* long while if at all.
2. As noted, I'm looking at both polymer lowers to reduce weight and PCR's for the "No S***, *I* built this?" factor, and just happen to have found a plastic PCR that I'm considering--do any of you guys have a rep-check on the crew at Polymer80.com? Their "Buy-Build-Shoot" PCR+parts-kit package does have a certain "quick start" appeal, even though I'd want to upgrade to a full-on 5.56 NATO barrel ASAP rather than rely on an uncertain ".223/5.56".
3. I really like LMT's Monolithic Rail Platform as a concept (despite the added weight), but one look at the sticker-price darn near had me having to shove my guts back up my backside--two of those uppers ALONE, with no other parts, could buy an OK used car, or enough decent entry-level complete ARs to equip the entire homestead plus set one aside for my gal when she gets a chance to visit. (Angle: Visiting her relatives in BC got her bit by the shooting bug, and I'm hoping setting the hook into full addiction will help make the idea of settling down with me on this side of the border more attractive. Don't they say "the couple that shoots together STAYS together"?
) Tangent aside, if the MRP's worth putting on the roadmap it has to go on as a "stepping stones up to" item with lesser quad-rail forearms and flat-top uppers being gradually upgraded toward it--I figure aside from the initial drop on the basic build, I'll be about to throw maybe $100 at a time at this project. I know Sweeney and Muramutsu mentioned quad-rails from Hera Arms of Germany (heavier, steel, typical German overengineer) along with Daniel Defense's Omega Rail and Midwest's Gen 2, and I know Yankee Hill makes one--the question is, what's the line between an economical "starter part" vs. something fit only for airsoft toys. Definitely want a free-float handguard, though.4. Sights: The three of us are all nearsighted--my aunt needs bifocals and my prescription is so far gone that I'd be considered "Aircrew Ineligible" by the Air Force. I'm a big fan of co-witnessed BUIS'es paired with a holosight or red-dot--thinking I'm gonna ask you guys to recommend your "Top Fives" of each, then go with what seems to be consistently recommended "in the pack". (We each have our own favorite #1s, but if there's a consensus on #2 that's a pretty strong endorsement in its own right unless there's a stronger one on #1.) #4's never filled me in on her prescription type, but corrective optics are known in her case too.
5. Grips: I'm not sure how rifle biomechanics compare to pistol, but if it helps to know I'm one of those oddballs who handles 1911s better with an arched mainspring housing than without--and I can't hit the broad side of a barn with a Glock and a Beretta 92/96 hurts my wrist just to LOOK at never mind shoot. My gut is suggesting I should look for a grip with 1911-like ergonomics, but I thought I'd better ask for a double-check on that--for the others, I need to somehow drag them into a shop and try things on for fit.
6. Stock: definitely collapsible--my ideal would be a combo telestock/folder but that takes way more buffer and bolt-carrier machining/fab/cutting work than any of us are up for. I'm assuming with that range of sizes and weights, I'd need to have some pretty extreme length-of-pull variation from crammed-up-against-receiver for my mother out to near full extension for my gal. Given my love of "on-board storage", I'm thinking something similar to an Vltor Modstock or IMOD, not the longer EMOD.
The ideal upper I'm thinking would be a flattop or monolithic rail, bearing a long DI gas system (mid or full) on a 16" chrome-lined lightweight-profile barrel with flash hider (Sweeney recommends the Vortex), with the rails ending about 1" from the muzzle or possibly dead even with it, assuming that wouldn't create any kind of safety risk from muzzle proximity, flash, etc.
Any suggestions as far as what to start assembly with, what to set as "goal" or what to use as intermediate steps in between? Bear in mind, you're dealing with primarily a WWII-issue guy who until recently has neither known nor wanted to know much about AR's beyond the basics of the operating controls and major subassemblies just in case... so the rookie needs an "AR's for Complete IDIOTS" crash-course
, hopefully without all the BS from a particular asshat relative I don't speak of's douchewaffle ilk at Barfcom or whatever the hell they call it.
