Hi! New member from ENC

[StevieP]

Greetings from coastal NC. 2017 transplant from the Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts.

I've got the typical free state starter set of guns. EDC 9mm. A 1911. A .357 revolver. A 10/22, an 870 shotgun, a .308 Gunsite Scout rifle, a .308 AR built off an 80% lower, a 20" varmint/target AR, and a 14.5" carbine AR, both chambered in .223 Wylde. I built both of them up from stripped lowers, too. I see no reason anyone would ever buy a 'factory" AR-15.

I've got two more stripped AR lowers and figure it's time to start building at least one of them into a functional gun. Hence my reason for joining.

I'll be starting to amass parts for a 6.5 Grendel hunting rifle for deer, hogs, and bear, as well as typical range use. The range I go to has steel plates out to 500 yards. I don't see myself wanting or needing to shoot farther than that. I don't compete.

I hate inaccurate guns though, so while price is important, performance is more of a priority.

I'm looking forward to looking through all the build and picture threads to see what works and doesn't.

Thinking 18" barrel. Not too heavy, but not a pencil barrel either. MLok handguard. I like the looks of the DD buttstocks and will probably go that way. I like Geissele triggers but will look at Timney and others.

I may actually sell my .308 AR (or part it out) to fund this build. The .308 is too heavy of a bench gun to be useful for much else. It has a Nikon M308 scope with BDC reticle that should work well.

Thanks to the Admins for the quick approval. I'm sure I'll have questions but will do my best to search before asking stupid or repetitive ones.

[sundowner]

Welcome to the horde from Wisconsin .

[VASCAR2]

Welcome to the forum SteveiP!


Some barrels that usually are good performers, Lilja, PF, Craddock, JP, Criterion, Wilson Combat and LaRue. You read way more positive reports on these than most other brands discussed on this forum. I’m not trying to give a ranking but just some barrels where members post positive reviews. Buying a cheap barrel is a gamble and if you draw a poor quality barrel by the time you waste ammo, range time and expense of sending it back it’s usually cheaper to buy a better barrel.

I have an 18” 6.5 Grendel AR-15 and I think it strikes a good balance for a rifle capable of handling many tasks.

[Sputnik]

Welcome aboard. I am also from ENC (Jacksonville) and I believe I shot at your 500 yard range near Havelock once. There are several other members in North Carolina and plenty of good advise to be shared by forum members.

[just_john]

Welcome to the clan, SP, from the great nation of Texas! You're off to a very busy start. Might as well sell your 308's 'cause the Grrr will more than suffice. Don;t worry about the questions, if it is a "stupid one" I doubt that you will be the first and while some questions may seem repetitive, it usually means the subject hasn't been covered well enough across these pages/ So, ask away. And, don't worry so much about picking the "right" barrel length because eventually you will build the others as well anyway.