It is time for a confession - I do not own an AR. There, I said it. But, I am willing to make amends if I can get some advice and help.
First, 11 years in the U.S. Marine Corps provided me enough opportunity to shoot, clean, clean again, clean some more, then go shoot and repeat with the M-16/A2 that I I never saw the need nor desire to own one of my own. Ditto for the M-60E3 and the SAW (though I really did like shooting that thing), the Maw Duece would be a fun gun to own but where would I mount it, and the 240 Golf came online just a few years before I got out - I think it has proven itself, but I am still old-school in that I prefer the M-60E3. All that is to bring me to a point in my life where I have noticed that A2 style guns are no where to be found and that means I must have one.
Looking online, there are few choices, but there are some A2 uppers out there, in fact, a complete 20"pre-ban A2 upper can be had for $427 right now. Throw in a stripped lower with kit, buttock, buffer and spring and the whole kit and kabudle would be ~$600. But, it would be NATO 5.56 and I am wandering if there is enough advantage to the 223 Wylde to make the jump.
I reload, and I own zero military brass. Most likely, I will stick with 223 brass and rounds. But for the 223 Wylde (since I want a 20" rifle barrel) I am limited to a SOCOM or heavy barrel. I am thinking of customizing this all the way, engraved barrel (Green Mountain has some beautiful work), engraved receiver with my call sign on it (I spent many years in Mortars so I may have a 60mm mortar engraved on the receiver with my call sign and "Fire for Effect" underneath. I even considered having gold inlay put into the engraving and adding wood furniture but that would make a serious show piece, meaning I have to build two so I can shoot one.
Ideas are abundant but the first decision out the gate is barrel/chamber. The 223 Wylde SOCOM is $100 less than a Government profile 5.56 if I build from ground up, but if I am going 5.56 it makes sense to buy the complete upper and move from there. Since this is strictly for my own personal pride (i.e. I am willing to spend more to get it the way I want it and I have no concern about resale value) the extra weight of the SOCOM is not an issue. Whether or not the wood furniture will fit over the SOCOM is definitely an issue - so anyone with knowledge on that fact please advise.
Otherwise, what is the general consensus? If building and price is not the #1 concern (I do want to keep it under a $grand but it appears that I can build one beautiful rifle on that budget) - what would you do?
1) NATO 5.56, Rem 223, or 223 Wylde?
2) SOCOM, Heavy Barrel, or Gov't profile?
3) Twist rate? 1:8 or 1:9? The complete upper is 1:9.
4) Wood furniture - pros/cons?
5) What other items are a must have on your respective list?
First, 11 years in the U.S. Marine Corps provided me enough opportunity to shoot, clean, clean again, clean some more, then go shoot and repeat with the M-16/A2 that I I never saw the need nor desire to own one of my own. Ditto for the M-60E3 and the SAW (though I really did like shooting that thing), the Maw Duece would be a fun gun to own but where would I mount it, and the 240 Golf came online just a few years before I got out - I think it has proven itself, but I am still old-school in that I prefer the M-60E3. All that is to bring me to a point in my life where I have noticed that A2 style guns are no where to be found and that means I must have one.
Looking online, there are few choices, but there are some A2 uppers out there, in fact, a complete 20"pre-ban A2 upper can be had for $427 right now. Throw in a stripped lower with kit, buttock, buffer and spring and the whole kit and kabudle would be ~$600. But, it would be NATO 5.56 and I am wandering if there is enough advantage to the 223 Wylde to make the jump.
I reload, and I own zero military brass. Most likely, I will stick with 223 brass and rounds. But for the 223 Wylde (since I want a 20" rifle barrel) I am limited to a SOCOM or heavy barrel. I am thinking of customizing this all the way, engraved barrel (Green Mountain has some beautiful work), engraved receiver with my call sign on it (I spent many years in Mortars so I may have a 60mm mortar engraved on the receiver with my call sign and "Fire for Effect" underneath. I even considered having gold inlay put into the engraving and adding wood furniture but that would make a serious show piece, meaning I have to build two so I can shoot one.
Ideas are abundant but the first decision out the gate is barrel/chamber. The 223 Wylde SOCOM is $100 less than a Government profile 5.56 if I build from ground up, but if I am going 5.56 it makes sense to buy the complete upper and move from there. Since this is strictly for my own personal pride (i.e. I am willing to spend more to get it the way I want it and I have no concern about resale value) the extra weight of the SOCOM is not an issue. Whether or not the wood furniture will fit over the SOCOM is definitely an issue - so anyone with knowledge on that fact please advise.
Otherwise, what is the general consensus? If building and price is not the #1 concern (I do want to keep it under a $grand but it appears that I can build one beautiful rifle on that budget) - what would you do?
1) NATO 5.56, Rem 223, or 223 Wylde?
2) SOCOM, Heavy Barrel, or Gov't profile?
3) Twist rate? 1:8 or 1:9? The complete upper is 1:9.
4) Wood furniture - pros/cons?
5) What other items are a must have on your respective list?