JMJ

I built my Areo M5 from a receiver set back around 2018 mainly as a hog and whitetail rifle and as a harder hitting counterpart to my 20” bushmaster predator. I went with all Aero Precision parts and a 20” 308 medium-heavy barrel after researching it being a risky situation if you mix parts from different manufacturers. I originally went with the rifle buffer system and a Magpul MOE A1 length stock mainly for reliability reasons after seeing so much about questionable reliability on carbine buffer systems. Then I discovered this forum in 2020 and learned about the Armalite carbine/Vltor A5 buffer systems that run 308 rifle springs and H3 carbine buffers being as reliable as the rifle system. I finally decided I was making the switch on my M5 before this deer season opened so I picked up a 9 position FCD A5 carbine extension, H3 buffer and Magpul ACS stock. In that time period since building it I had run across a Leupold VX2 2-7x33mm on closeout at a Bass Pro for a steal and thought it’d make a perfect hunting scope for this rifle. I mainly put this rifle together as a less meat destructive option to my 7mmRM A-bolt. I don’t hunt marsh anymore and mostly hunt thicker woods with occasional gasline right of ways or timber trails that go 500 yards or so but most of my shots have been under 150yds and a 7 mag can be a bit messy inside of that range for my liking. I grew up hunting with a Remington model 4 semi in 30-06 and missed having larger game semiauto rifle especially after hogs spread into the areas I whitetail hunt.

My favorite small frame AR, 20” Bushmaster Predator upper I swapped out the factory forend from it for a 15” YHM Todd Jarrett forend. Lower is a SAA stripped lower I built out using a mil spec parts kit with JP low weight/high reliability springs and a set screw up the grip screw hole to adjust travel out the trigger, mil spec carbine buffer system with standard weight buffer and LMT SOPMOD stock. The scope is a Leupold vari-x iic 3-9x50mm in a Burris PEPR mount.My wife’s 5.56 rifle, 16” Ballistic Advantage modern series govt profile mid length gas barrel, aero precision upper receiver, forend from the bushmaster Predator, aero precision BCG. Lower is another SAA stripped lower built with a mil spec LPK that also has the JP lower weight/high reliability springs with set screw up the grip screw hole for adjusting trigger travel. Rifle buffer system with Magpul MOE A1 length stock. Scope is a Vortex crossfire 2 3-9x40mm in a Primary Arms mount.

I’m still in debate if I want 7mm-08 as a bolt action or upper for my M5. I’ve also been BS’n with a gunsmith friend about a barrel to build a 16” upper in .458x2” American(the wildcat that spawned the 450Marlin) since I’ve got a 7mmRM I’ll have plenty brass for making cases to load and I already have a 45/70 I’m stocking component bullets for. That cartridge can be loaded to hot 45/70 levels. Either one will be a bit before I move on it, just joined a new deer lease in north Louisiana so that’ll be my focus for a bit along with taking my daughter on some hunts.

Been a bit since I’ve logged in here. Over the last couple years I’ve regretted not going with a carbine receiver extension and stock on my Aero M5 when I first built it cause I find those setups a lot handier in box stands and still hunting in thick woods. I went A2 with the Magpul MOE fixed stock mainly cause I’d read so many things about buffer system problems and cycling issues. After reading through the forum and seeing all the advice on carbine systems I finally bit the bullet and changed out my 308 A2 system for a Forward Controls Design 9-position A5/Armalite length buffer tube, H3 Aero Precision AR15 length buffer and the original 308 A2 action spring with a Magpul ACS stock. I think this this configuration will be much more suited to hunting with this rifle and it setup very similar to how I have my main hunting 5.56 a bushmaster predator. I did some parts swapping on a few of my rifles the last two years since I’ve posted.

Thanks guys, that’s the sorta things I was hoping to hear! So far I’ve shot the 10’s the most and like the lower profile for the thickets I tend to tromp through. I gravitated towards 10’s and 20’s with my AR15’s for hunting also for those reasons, but own more 30’s than everything else.

I’m looking for opinions based on the collective experience with both of these. I’ve got two 25rnd pmags that I’ve had since building my M5 along with tw 20rnd KAC’s I was gifted and three 10rnd pmags. I have 5 20’s arriving Tuesday from Primary Arms that I bought cause they were in stock during this shitshow election and the money I was spending went further on 20’s than it would’ve on 25’s. Just curious as to which are the most used and if going with my gut was the right decision?

Welcome from south Louisiana!

Welcome from Louisiana!

Thanks! What area of Arkansas do you live? I lived in Booneville and Fort Smith for a few years and still have close friends in Fort Smith. Such a beautiful state and a I miss it.

Welcome from south Louisiana!

I welcome from another new member!

Thanks! I bought this G22 cheap at Cabela’s as a police department trade in and sawed the grip down and shaped it with files myself to match my wife’s G27’s grip when I first got my CCW permit. I later got another G22 and left it as is, that’s what I carry now that I’ve gained more confidence that I’m not printing. I still carry the “G27L” some when I’m having to dress up with a tucked in shirt. That’s awesome! I’ve been wanting to get a G24 since I’m deep in 40sw ammo, but if I ever buy a factory 9mm it’ll be a G17L or G34. I currently have a Lonewolf 40-9mm conversion barrel and 9mm mags to go with my G22’s so I’m covered on using 9mm. I’ve also got this Gen3 G20 as my woods gun/hunting pistol and my Wife’s G27. She’s since gotten me to ditch the pink hogue grip sleeve and put her a black one, which added it to my carry rotation.

My G27L

I got into the small frame AR’s cause Barry and his friends didn’t want me owning them and quickly took to the ergonomics and started hunting with them. Greatly enjoyed my 450 bushmaster for hunting, but got nervous and traded it because at the time in 2013 the ammo was becoming scarce since Remington never got it going well and Hornady was talking about only doing runs once a year or so. I hunted some with 5.56/223 and had great success with killing hogs and whitetail with it, but wanted something that had more authority and more distance capabilities. I bought an Aero Precision M5 receiver set and was thinking I’d go 7mm08 since it was always on the shelves during previous ammo shortages then my best friend gave me a 50cal ammo can with 550rnds of M118LR as a Christmas gift as a push to go 7.62 NATO. So here I am. I’m still considering that 7mm08 upper since I’ve got an A-bolt stainless stalker in 7mmRM and plan to start handloading. seems like it’d be a no brainer like having my 300blk in that I can share projos with other rounds and use empty brass from other cartridges I’m shooting as well.

Here’s some of the other AR’s I’ve got in my collection. First is a 16” mid length gas 5.56 built with an Aero Precision upper, Ballistic Advantage barrel and YHM Todd Jarrett rail, Surplus Ammo and Arms lower and LMT SOPMOD stock w/ ACOG. Second is my first AR15, Bushmaster Predator 20” 5.56 complete upper on another SSA lower, now wears a Leupold Vari-x ii 3-9x50mm. Lastly is a 300 Blackout pistol i built from spare parts I had sitting around from upgrading others AR’s and from an 18” 223 Wylde JSE upper I got in trade for a 20” Bushmaster .450BM upper I regret letting go now that the ammo isn’t scarce like it was then. I plan for this little blackout to be short yardage hunting rig in the woods and for worst case HD. The barrel was gifted from a friend, the upper parts and YHM Todd Jarrett rail were from the JSE varmint upper. The lower is an Anderson poverty pony with milled trigger guard and the cheek weld/brace is a Thordsen Customs buffer tube/cover system with MFT cheek saddle. Optic is a Vortex Strikefire and a Vortex 3x magnifier. I’ve also got a 16” carbine gas 5.56 PSA upper on a regular Anderson lower with Magpul MBUS sights as another worst case HD house gun.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! Thats what I hope for! So far I’ve got no issues or regrets about any of my small frame or large frame AR decisions. Well except trading off my 20” bushmaster 450BM upper in 2013 when the ammo production was being rumored to drop or drastically reduced. It was really fun setup and hunting rig for thick woods. The 223 Wylde upper I received in trade got disassembled and build into a 300blk pistol. Traded the 18” 223 Wylde bull barrel for 200 rounds of M118LR 175gr.

Welcome from one state over!

Thanks everyone! Thanks, sometimes I feel like I go overboard researching something before I try my hand at it, but I hate having issues with something then realizing it was cause I rushed a process without understanding full whatever it was I was doing. Through my time lurking and researching on a few different AR forums I really grew to like and respect the attitudes and helpful demeanor here vs the others.

Here’s my AP M5 308, pretty basic rifle but fills the role I have in mind pretty well. I’ve swapped the Leupold Vari-x II 3-9x50mm for a VX2 2-7x33mm since it seems to fit my uses better. I’ve also got an ATN X-Sight Gen 1 I plan to use on it some that’s served me well on my 5.56 rifles.

Ran across this site back in 2015 while researching parts to build out my Aero Precision M5 receiver set. The wealth of wisdom here resulted in my sticking with all parts from AP/Ballistic Advantage and going with an A2 length receiver extension and fixed stock along with 20” barrel and rifle length gas system. Originally built it as a hog and deer hunting rifle and wanted a very reliable rig, which is what I got from following the advice others were given here. I’ve been lurking here reading more and more over the last 7 months to a year and finally decided to join. I’ve been a hunter and gun enthusiast since I was a child and shot some competitions while in jr high and high school. I got into building and shooting small frame AR rifles back around 2009 and have been hooked ever since, eventually after playing with 450BM and a few other small frame alternative cartridges friends had I decided I would be better off with a large frame AR as a dedicated hunting rig in either 308 or 7mm-08.