AR build help

[nekshot]

I am slowly getting the goodies together for my son's ar 15. I just received the upper from MidState firearms and all I can say they are fast-prompt! My question is on this buffer tube kit, do I want mil spec or commercial and what is the differance? I handled one of these complete guns for the first time about 3 month ago and I am ready to hock off all my levers and bolts for ar's(well almost). I want one in 6.8spc. I have done alot of research and still don't know much but my neighbor is a retired military man and he said he would show me how to assemble it so that should be better then me learning by myself. The upper we got is in 223 wyde.

[Gunor]

Buffer Tube - Mil Spec. Mil vs. Commercial - Difference is diameter. I think there are more (a lot) butt stock options with the mil. spec tube.

4 or 6 positions (buffer tube) - what ever....you want.

Buy a nicer trigger - two stage Rock River is a good value.

6.8spc - If Walmart (or LGS) had ammo - easier to find 223/5.56 or 300 BO. Neat to have special calibers - but building/reloading/making ammo is a lot easier in the two above.

[Bzcraig]

The commercial tube is slightly larger in diameter than military and I order mil spec just because it makes it easier for me to remember. After you've done your first you will know how easy they are to build.

[94Doug]

...also a slight slant at the rear of the commercial tube.

[dragon813gt]

Commercial tube is slightly larger diameter. I use MilSpec to make it easy. Doesn't matter which one you use as long as you order the correct stock. You can build one in a short amount of time. They're just like Legos.

[bruce drake]

As one of my sergeants in the Armament Shop said to me, "Sir, the M4 is so easy to build, I'd even trust one of the LTs to make one as long as I looked over their shoulder..."

So easy even an LT can make one...classic. Eugene Stoner should be ranked right alongside J.C. Garand, Paul Mauser and Mikhail Kalishnikov when it comes to designing rifles.

[Electric88]

It has already been said here, but I would go with the mil-spec option. More stocks are available in the Mil-spec diameter.

[nekshot]

thanks fellas for the input, I had a funny feeling milspec would be the better uniform way. What I like is the weight and ability to balance these units coupled with the accuracy ability. I and my son are not gadget guys so the add ons and gadgets are moot for us! I looked out window yesterday and saw this box propped against the mail box for all the world to see and thought thank God for honest folk driving by!!!

[nekshot]

thanks fellas for the input, I had a funny feeling milspec would be the better uniform way. What I like is the weight and ability to balance these units coupled with the accuracy ability. I and my son are not gadget guys so the add ons and gadgets are moot for us! I looked out window yesterday and saw this box propped against the mail box for all the world to see and thought thank God for honest folk driving by!!!

[Mauser48]

I would also get a mil spec tube because of the stock options. I got a complete buffer tube and stock set for $100 at pegasus defense. It came with a magpul ctr stock, the buffer, buffer tube, and spring. All you need is that and a lower parts kit.

[GabbyM]

Generally speaking the butt stock kit with all the parts is less money than purchasing individual parts. If you don't have a box full of left overs to use up I'd look at a full kit. Then all parts should match up.

[jrap]

All of my builds have a mil spec tube

[Houndog]

Either stock setup will work just fine! I've used both, but lately the commercial setup has been found at a better price, at least when I was buying. If you aren't a gadget nut (I'm not) it really doesn't make any difference.

[FergusonTO35]

Never been much of an autoloader guy but prices on new AR's are falling and alot of folks who bought them in the recent panics are now selling them at a loss to get their money back. Lee now makes a 55 grain boolit and so I've been wondering if the stock AR-15 is a viable cast boolit gun. I'm talking about trying for mild loads at .221 Fireball/.222 Remington level, just enough to cycle the action and wallop pests. Does lead and boolit lube tend to build up in the gas system? I really have little interest in shooting FMJ. Would I be better off just getting a bolt action?

[Moonie]

Never been much of an autoloader guy but prices on new AR's are falling and alot of folks who bought them in the recent panics are now selling them at a loss to get their money back. Lee now makes a 55 grain boolit and so I've been wondering if the stock AR-15 is a viable cast boolit gun. I'm talking about trying for mild loads at .221 Fireball/.222 Remington level, just enough to cycle the action and wallop pests. Does lead and boolit lube tend to build up in the gas system? I really have little interest in shooting FMJ. Would I be better off just getting a bolt action?

This gets asked about 3 times a month, or used to anyway. .223/5.56 is a decent cast boolit shooter. I've never had an issue with lead or lube buildup in any of our uppers, whether they were 5.56, 300 or 6.8. At moderate velocities they are accurate as well.