Custom SHTF Build (.223 wylde)

[James Mccracken]

Looking at building a custom SHTF rifle vs buying one of the big names. I’m thinking maybe the radian upper/lower. Magpul stock is a given.

Maybe geissele ssa-e trigger? I want a light two stage for longer range, but also a short enough take up that CQB will be more doable.

Where I get lost is barrels. I don’t know the first thing about barrels. What would you guys recommend and why?

 

[Old Man with Gun]

I would want short, light and suppressed so 300 blackout 8-10" SBR. If not suppressed I would go 6.5 grendel 12-16" depending on if you SBR it or not.

If sticking with 5.56, go 16-18"

 

[James Mccracken]

I would want short, light and suppressed so 300 blackout 8-10" SBR. If not suppressed I would go 6.5 grendel 12-16" depending on if you SBR it or not.

If sticking with 5.56, go 16-18"

I wanted to go 16” or possibly P&W 14.5”. Just don’t know the differences in barrel manufacturers.

 

[wade2big]

Looking at building a custom SHTF rifle vs buying one of the big names. I’m thinking maybe the radian upper/lower. Magpul stock is a given.

Maybe geissele ssa-e trigger? I want a light two stage for longer range, but also a short enough take up that CQB will be more doable.

Where I get lost is barrels. I don’t know the first thing about barrels. What would you guys recommend and why?

A SSA-E trigger has a long take up and a long reset.

 

[James Mccracken]

A SSA-E trigger has a long take up and a long reset.

I’ve never shot them. Just always heard they’re gold standard

 

[wade2big]

I’ve never shot them. Just always heard they’re gold standard

They are a good trigger. They just have about the longest pull and reset compared to anything else. I wouldn’t consider them for anything but a precision/dmr build but some people like them for all around use as well.

 

[Old Man with Gun]

Geissele makes good triggers, but for a defensive rig, I'd look more to the Super Dynamic Combat or Single Stage Precision.

 

[Old Man with Gun]

I wanted to go 16” or possibly P&W 14.5”. Just don’t know the differences in barrel manufacturers.

I like ballistic advantage and faxon. There are plenty of good ones. My trunk gun has a Faxon 16".

 

[UpSideDown]

I like ballistic advantage and faxon. There are plenty of good ones. My trunk gun has a Faxon 16".

Those are both very low quality barrels with a high end-user reject rate. Occasionally they get it really right, but way too many guys dump those barrels.

If you want a barrel that’s made right that’ll run with modest accuracy, you can get a chrome lined barrel:
FN
BCM
Centurion
Colt (maybe, I’ve heard good about their SOCOM barrels)

Or stainless:
Criterion
White Oak
Compass Lake
Shilen
Several other good ones but you might have to wait to get it

 

[Old Man with Gun]

Those are both very low quality barrels with a high end-user reject rate. Occasionally they get it really right, but way too many guys dump those barrels.

If you want a barrel that’s made right that’ll run with modest accuracy, you can get a chrome lined barrel:
FN
BCM
Centurion
Colt (maybe, I’ve heard good about their SOCOM barrels)

Or stainless:
Criterion
White Oak
Compass Lake
Shilen
Several other good ones but you might have to wait to get it

I guess it depends on if the OP is looking for a DMR or a basic run and gun.

Some of those are north of $600, I do not spend that much on an AR that will probably not have the optics to go sub MOA or get a diet of match ammo.

I agree those are some good and great barrels.

I have a bunch of the BA Hansen barrels and for the price I can put black hills 60gr V-Max into about 1 MOA with a LPVO all day long.