McCannicalBob

Try these pics:

For some reason the pictures did not attach. I think they were too big. Let's just say they are beautiful in FDE, and fit together really well, as well as any of my other rifles. I'm really happy with them. When I get a chance I'll post some good pics.

Got my receivers in Friday, and they were the right color! LPK and buffer tube kit also came in last week, so this weekend this is what I did: All parts went together pretty well, though I had the same problem AdamO had with the mag catch button seemng too short. If I thread in the catch to a good depth, the button is sucked into the lower. I left it so the mag release projected about the same amount as on my other guns. Looks like it ought to be OK, though I think it should be threaded in a bit further. The only other issue was with the rear takedown pin detent. In the Aero lower the spring and detent drop in vertically in the takedown pin hole, as opposed to coming in from the back behind the receiver extension plate. It was a MF'er to get the detent in that hole! I installed the trigger that came with the LPK and it wasn't horrible, but one of the other members here tipped me off to a place where I got a Geissele SSA-E for under $200 with free shipping. When that one comes in, I'll swap out triggers. I'll also eventually put in a decent safety. So far I'm really happy at how things are progressing. It's going to be a fairly long process, but I'll document the whole thing here.

I started another thread earlier this week, "The Rocky Start" and got a lot of great tips from you guys. I know this topic has been beat to death, but I'm still having a hell of a time deciding on a barrel. I could go either 16" or 18", I'm not too picky that way. If I go rifle length gas in either length, I could probably do without the adjustable gas block (I think). If I get mid-length, I'll go adjustable. So here is what I'm looking at so far: Rainier Select 16" or 18", mid length, 1:11 twist. Comes black, which I like, and Rainier has a good accuracy claim and good return policy. $272 and in stock. Mega, same as above but 1:10 twist, $310. Rainier Match, same as above, but not black. $315 in stock. Fulton Armory has the 18 1/2" rifle length stainless barrel, 1:10 twist. Kind of heavy, but very good reputation. $335 in target gray, and in stock. Rainier Ultramatch, also sort of heavy, in stainless, $435 (I think this just came down about $50; may be mistaken). Lothar-Walther 18" rifle length, 11.25 twist, stainless, with match bolt, $445 and in stock. I already have a complete bcg, so I'd have to sell the bolt. McGowen 18" mid length match, stainless, fluted in stock at $325 I don't think there are any real duds here, and all are with $150 of each other. Thoughts? What will $150 get me? I guess I should be happy I have so many options.

That FDE Raptor is AWESOME looking. And probably twice as much as the Tac Ops! I contacted SLR. Posted weights include barrel nut and all mounting hardware. The Griffin 7.62 Flash Comp looks like a good one, and reasonably priced. I'll add that to the list of candidates.

Thanks for all the replies! I got the USPS shipping notification overnight; Schuyler Arms is sending my receiver set today (Wednesday), not Monday as promised. I'm in no hurry, but I prefer people to stick to their word. I will take all the suggestions into consideration. I've never shot a Geissele G2S; I'll have to look into that. A local gun shop stocks a ton of Magpul stuff. I can compare several of their stock there. I haven't looked into ballistics for comparable bullets fired from 16" vs. 18" barrels. Sounds like a good project to do at work today. SLR lists their 15" Solo Lite at 12.5 oz; Midway shows the MI keymod rail at 14.8 oz. I don't know if either or both include the weight of the barrel nut. Again, thanks for the help!

Having made up my mind I'd like to build something bigger than a 5.56, and somehow getting the green light from my wife, I'm diving into a new build. I want to have something I can use to fairly reliably make 800 shots on targets, whether the targets are steel, cardboard, or rocks. I don't want it to be a hog because there's a chance I'd like to take it out for deer/antelope/sheep, but it will primarily be a target gun. My first impulse was to go .308, and for now that's the direction I'm heading unless someone thinks I'd be a lot better off with a .260 or Creedmoor. I want to stay under $2000. I bought a matched set of Aero Precision receivers in FDE from Schuyler Arms for a great price. When they arrived, they were black. This happened last Friday. I contacted Chris at Schuyler and he said he'd get the right set in the mail Monday (yesterday), along with a shipping label so my dealer can send the black ones back. The FDE set should be here tomorrow. I bought a BCG from SI Defense. It arrived yesterday, and when I unwrapped it I found the roll pin that holds in the ejector plunger was mangled and sticking out of the bolt. I called SI, talked to John, and sent him pictures of the bolt. He immediately sent me a return shipping label to send back the BCG. He told me he would quickly exchange the bad one for a good one. I also got a AP LPK and RE/buffer/spring kit from Schuyler Arms. I haven't looked them over too closely yet, but I'm not too worried about them. So, so far I've had some bad luck, but also what appears to be pretty good customer service. I just need a buttstock to complete my lower. I'm leaning towards an ACS-L at this time. I like the idea of a UBR but don't want that much weight. I may go with a polished up stock trigger from my LPK to start with, though I'll probably end up going with Geissele before all is said and done. As a fashion statement I plan to use all black parts on the receivers, to contrast with the FDE. Black stock and pistol grip, safety, mag release, bolt release, ejection port cover, FA plug, charging handle, and barrel. Everything else will be FDE. A lot of people here seem to like the TacOps-1 CH, so I'll likely go that way. I'm still stuck on the barrel, and even somewhat on the caliber. I do reload, so non-308 wouldn't be a problem, though I like the idea of having it chambered for something common to military and police for the sake of availability in a pinch. Assuming I go .308, I'm leaning towards any of the Rainier barrels in 18", though I've been looking at the Black Hole Weaponry barrels because I could get rifle length gas, and the Fulton Armory/Criterion stainless barrel because of it's good reputation. With Rainier, I'd also get the sub-MOA "guarantee" and the 90-day no questions asked return policy. For that alone my front runner is the Rainier Select in 18". It's black, has a pretty good rep for being accurate, is cheap, and I can send it back if I don't like it. Is this good reasoning? If I get a Rainier barrel, it would be mid-length, so I plan to use a SLR Rifleworks adjustable gas block. I also really like the looks of their Solo Lite handguard, and they'll Cerakote it for $40. Hopefully Aero Precision can tell me the exact Cerakote color they use on the upper/lower. On the muzzle I'm thinking PWS PRC or FSC30. I want to soften the recoil without going too crazy with blast like I'd get from something like the JP, Rolling Thunder, or Titan. Glass will have to wait. I have a Vortex Viper on an LMT 5.56 and really like it. I'll probably go that way again. Any thoughts/comments/criticism/ridicule for me? I'll keep this thread going as I continue on the project.

Greetings from Nevada! Just joined today after lurking for a while. I'm sure I'll need some assistance at some point in this project so thought I'd join up so I could get some help and maybe even provide some help. I've never built a .308-based gun before but so far I feel I'm doing OK figuring out most of what I want to do and what parts I'll use. I plan to stretch this project out for a while; I'd feel guilty if I got a cool new toy for Christmas but my wife and kids get nothing. Anyway, now that I've checked in I plan to start a thread in a more appropriate category detailing what I've done so far and where I'm going. I think I'll call it "The Rocky Start".