COBrien Posted December 21, 2017 Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 (edited) If you've followed my other "[...] for the Wife" thread, you know I've realized a light(er) patrol carbine in 5.56 is what my wife wants for a duty rifle. In the process of putting a preliminary parts list together (which is always subject to change depending on her preferences...), I've come across the Troy Battlerail. Primary Arms has them on sale for $119.99 (MSRP $199.95). Does anyone have an opinion about these handguards? I know PRI, KAC, etc. handguards are preferred here. I'd prefer one of those, too, for a rifle I'm building for myself. But they're also at least twice the cost and twice the weight of the Troy. Are they that much better, in a LE patrol rifle context? Edited December 21, 2017 by COBrien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelDeVille Posted December 21, 2017 Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 I have a $60 UTG on one rifle and a $200 Midwest on another, I don't see the cost to performance payoff on cheesegraters. My wife stole my A1 from me so I just built another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtallen83 Posted December 21, 2017 Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 20 minutes ago, AngelDeVille said: I have a $60 UTG on one rifle and a $200 Midwest on another, I don't see the cost to performance payoff on cheesegraters. The advantages in the Midwest Industries tube will show up under hard use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainTrain Posted December 22, 2017 Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 (edited) I only see the SOCC Battlerail on sale. I don't have experience with them, but I do have a lot of experience with the Alpha and Bravo rails and they are solid rails. I currently run the Geissele M4 and they are certainly a step up. Edited December 22, 2017 by StainTrain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted December 22, 2017 Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 Im no operator or leo but ive had good times with my chandlerhardwoods.com ffhg's ! the 458pistol is sporting one and is rock solid thus far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COBrien Posted December 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 2 hours ago, StainTrain said: I only see the SOCC Battlerail on sale. I don't have experience with them, but I do have a lot of experience with the Alpha and Bravo rails and they are solid rails. I currently run the Geissele M4 and they are certainly a step up. That’s the one — the MLok version. I should have been more specific... At 7.8 oz. with all the hardware, it’s awfully light. Pair that with a Criterion ADM/Lightweight 16” middy (1.5ish lbs.), and I think it’d be a pretty slick setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainTrain Posted December 22, 2017 Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 Only one way to find out....Build it and see. Troy doesn't make crap so you likely won't be disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelDeVille Posted December 22, 2017 Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 27 minutes ago, StainTrain said: Only one way to find out....Build it and see. Troy doesn't make crap so you likely won't be disappointed. I just got my first set of Troy sights, and I must firmly agree... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COBrien Posted December 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 Well, we shall see. I went ahead and pulled the trigger on one last night... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COBrien Posted December 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 Got the Troy SOCC Battlerail in. Seems like a substantial piece, even though it's lightweight. What I wasn't expecting (but am not upset about...) is that this handguard tapers down just forward of the barrel nut, ending up in a slim profile. It also uses a mil-spec barrel nut, not some proprietary abomination. I'm still a but unclear about the clamping system, but I'm sure how it works will become evident once I get around to installing it. I like it so much I bought another one. Considering starting a dedicated .22 LR upper with a Beyer barrel and CMMG BCG. I think this will be right at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelDeVille Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 At $119 that's getting into the realm of possibility. Be sure to post pics of the finished product. I only spent the $200 on the Midwest because options were limited for an armalite build. I scoff at some of the pricey "modern" AR items, but I have made up the price on some Nodak uppers and lowers.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted December 30, 2017 Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 On 12/28/2017 at 8:12 AM, COBrien said: Considering starting a dedicated .22 LR upper with a Beyer barrel and CMMG BCG. I think this will be right at home. Check out the Taccom3G gear... and FUKC CMMG! If you're going to build a dedicated upper, then get a dedicated barrel. I believe TacSol also has a dedicated system now too. Here's the .22lr I built for my wife to plink with. It uses the Taccom ULW barrel and BCG. MAG Tactical upper and lower receiver Midwest Ind 13" key mod Magpul CTR Stock Magpul MOE+ grip Taccom 17" barrel Taccom NiB BCG Taccom receiver plug Norgon Ambi Mag Release ALG Trigger BAD Inc 45° Safety BAD Inc ETP/ETP CMMG Anti-Jam Charging Handle w/ Badger Latch Tactical Link Bolt Release Magpul MBUS Gen2Magpul AFG1 KAC Keymod covers Bushnell AR22 2-7X32 VTAC Padded Sling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNP Posted December 30, 2017 Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 I think it's really cute that he designed it to camouflage in with the kitchen floor. Now she can keep the family safe from squirrels AND make sandwiches at the same time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted December 30, 2017 Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COBrien Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Thanks for the heads up, Robo. That looks suspiciously like the coffee table I had in law school... I was looking at a Beyer dedicated barrel, and just using the CMMG BCG. I've heard great things about Clint Beyer's barrels for 10/22s (my first accuracy obsession is 10/22s...). I'm wondering now if TacSol or Taccom's BCG is similar enough in design to work with one of Clint's barrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Also.... Look at the “Better-Mag” by Redi-Mag. It allows you to use S&W M&P15-22 mags in a standard AR15 receiver. If I had it to do all over (and I might still do it) I would’ve gone with the S&W mags vs the Black Dog mags. Black Dog makes a good mag, but not having the bolt hold option is aggravating. I even installed the dedicated 22lr bolt catch, and it only works about 30% of the time. The ProMag (M&P15-22 compatible) version holds 32 rounds, is easier to load than the BD, and can be found for $15-$17. (Also, if all you can find are the 10rd mags, there a bunch of YouTube vids on how to unlock them to full capacity). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COBrien Posted January 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Well, after amassing quite a parts spreadsheet (I'm an Excel junkie...) and finding the best possible prices on most of them (and waiting for Fulton Armory to have a site-wide sale...), I've decided to do the simple thing: I'm going to give my wife the lower tonight, and open a conversation about parts she'd like on this rifle. I'm sure she'll talk to her coworkers, find out what they're running, and give me ideas. Having said that, I think I know what she's looking for. And I think what I have in mind would be perfect for her. But at the end of the day, it's her rifle. And, as much as I'd like to surprise her with it, I'd rather only have to build it once. Also, as an aside, I finally got some decent (above 30°) weather to install one of her Christmas gifts in her work car. Unfortunately, she told me no, she did not want the locking version of the rack, that the regular old rack would be fine. [In best Maury Povich voice] "Policy says....that's not true." So the lock kit is on its way from Condition Zero now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COBrien Posted January 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2018 Her reaction to the lower was not as expected... "Oh, you're going to build me an SBR?!" "Um, well, I hadn't planned on it. But if you want one, we can build one. But if you want it for work, I'll just build you an upper and you can check out one of the LESO M16s. That way you're not carrying a personally-owned SBR at work." "Oh. So what's the lower for?" Fawk... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted January 18, 2018 Report Share Posted January 18, 2018 hahaha! ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted January 18, 2018 Report Share Posted January 18, 2018 I like her style Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted January 18, 2018 Report Share Posted January 18, 2018 Ps. The DD Mk18 comes in a complete upper. It’s practically perfect right out of the box. BCM makes a comparable 10.5” with their Alpha rail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted January 18, 2018 Report Share Posted January 18, 2018 8 hours ago, Robocop1051 said: Ps. The DD Mk18 comes in a complete upper. It’s practically IS perfect right out of the box. Thought I'd throw my $0.02 in there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelDeVille Posted January 18, 2018 Report Share Posted January 18, 2018 I made my wife a pink M4, and she still stole my A1. selling the M4 at the next gun show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted January 19, 2018 Report Share Posted January 19, 2018 4 hours ago, AngelDeVille said: I made my wife a pink M4, and she still stole my A1. selling the M4 at the next gun show. The Pink M4 should go over real well ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelDeVille Posted January 19, 2018 Report Share Posted January 19, 2018 1 hour ago, survivalshop said: The Pink M4 should go over real well ! I got your PM, yes I take PayPal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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