SF18C, with that budget, might as well go for the MR556 upper :D I was talking with SOF exchange students from Germany, Singapore, and Estonia few days ago and they all love their 416. The manual even says not to clean it. Likewise, the ***/**** personnel I exchange thoughts with highly recommend the platform. If it ever breaks, good luck with the customer service though lol

or consider this
http://www.laruetactical.com/larue-t...r-system-lt011
air177 here has one and should be able to provide you range report
or you if you look hard enough, sometimes there are OBR 5.56 upper for sale on gunbroker

or this solid newcomer
http://www.usamade-ar15parts.com/category-s/34.htm
http://www.usamade-ar15parts.com/product-p/tmc.htm
I have personal experience with the ultralite platform and with the gas tuned, it's the softest, smoothest AR you'll ever shoot. 200m headshot with M855 all day long. If you google for groupings, it's legit. Mr Barnes is a solid guy who stands behind his product, employ SF vets, and he does offer mil/SOF discount.

Also, with choices for excellent upper, please don't skim with the lower. I believe in investing in good trigger to fully bring the full accuracy potential of the upper.

In my next build I'm focusing on barrel, free-float rail, gas-bufferspring or piston, action, solid fitting/staking, and trigger for overall reliability/accuracy package. Everything else is gravy.

BCM Used
 

Following the advice a writer put forth several years ago, I have built several M4 clones, so that my boys will have something available. You never know when Our Dear Leader will pull the rug our from under us.

I used Palmettos State Armory stripped lower receiver, with mostly Bravo Company URGs. One I built with Noveske components for a super barrel. The PSA lowers were manufactured by LW or FNH.

A friend worked at Picatinny Arsenal and shared some insight into some of the manufacturers. He told me that Colt is not what it used to be, and there were many no-go scenarios when they went up to do spot inspections on the manufacturing facilities.

The BCM components are outstanding and the important thing for me is they usually have their products in stock. Something I considered with BCM complete uppers is they are properly configured, with correct headspacing. No concerns something will fail... or blow up.

Though many companies have come forward and started producing AR parts and even complete rifles, there have been more than a few with parts not within the specifications of the data pack. I have stuck with traditional M4 parts, as going with a company manufacturing unique shapes and gizmos becomes a support/ supply problem when the next gun grab shows its face.

I will have to check out the Sine Pari Series M4 Upper Receiver Group, though I wonder about the muzzle device coming loose. I would like to support a Veteran that went into business, especially one making Freedom Tools!

Something to consider is order up one of the LaRue rifles, as the back log is pretty lengthy. You can always cancel it if you select another manufacturer.

When I looked at that URG in the OP, it reminded me of this one from BCM: LINK

Also, Daniel Defense offers a military discount: LINK

So first off I will state that I currently work for SIG SAUER, so I will not put forward what I think you should get. I will say that the rifles that the others suggested are all good rifles from good companies.

That being said i will tell you that i did have a straight jacket job done to my AR back in 2011. First I did not have a reduction of weight on the gun. The gun was shooting 1 MOA to begin with, when I got it back it was still able to shoot 1 MOA, maybe better, I am not quite good enough to shoot better than 1 MOA. Now it did rapidly reduce the barrel tempature, however it made my barrel more sensative to heat as well.
I was shooitng 20 round shot groups and my shot groups open 2 to 3 times the size by the time i started the 3rd magazine, and started to have rounds impact outside the 6 inch target i was using. I step away from the gun for less than 5 minutes and fired the forth mag and the shot grops size reduced back to less than half of the previous shot group.

Now i dont know if he has improved the process or not since then, so I cannot speak to what is currently coming out of his shop, I will say the technology would improve the accuracy on a bolt gun but I am not sure on a gas gun. I did take a look at the outside lab report Telydyne has on their website and if you read it the data for it was collected on a remington 700 not an ar platform.

So that is my $0.2 base off my experience with the system about three years ago.

Did you call the shop or email Alan or Rob about the issues?

About a year ago the previous CEO was fired and the place is under new leadership. A few of the lingering issues with QC was taken care of in the change.

As a matter of fact, C/3/7 currently has a couple of the 12" Sine Pari URGs and the initial reports are that the SP's are blowing the Daniel Defense 10" URGs out of the water across the board. Rob is still waiting on the official report.

Chris Costa (for those who care what he has to say) has one of the 12" as well.

Does he pronounce his name -- "Millah"?

I did have a couple of follow on conversation with someone from their shop, although I don't remember who, and I think that was before I got into seriously into testing the system. I don't think that I discussed this with them and I chalked up to overcoming the capability of the technology.

I think that the technology was still a little new when I had it done, and may not have been ready for the AR platforms. I haven't any recent experience with their stuff which is why I can't speak as to what is coming out of their shop now. I do see the benefit to the system on a bolt gun and have thought getting done to one. I would like to see someone's test data on a current AR platforms to see what they do, I always like to see the new technology for firearms, and like to see vets doing well.

The gun I had it on has been my evolving frankenbuild precision AR for the last few years, I have been making improvements to as I find something I want to try. I just recently put an Shilen barrel on it and I putting a Samson Evo rail as well. I kind of use it as a test bed for other guns infant to build.

Yep... The One and Only...

Very Nice............but, my arms room has 4 of the same weapon's system (.22 Pistols & Rifles, 9mm Pistols & Rifles, .45 Pistols & Rifles, 12 gauge Pump & Semi) I look for quantity verses quality wtshtf ..... (Think Repair parts & community)

Well, anyways, you planted that seed, time to go look at "Gun Porn".:cool:

For what you're spending on that Eotech combo, you could have yourself a variable power optic. Lighter weight, lower profile, less moving parts.

Thanks for all the feedback...lots of good info!


Quick update....I just bought a Jeep and not a cheap one either!

Still plan to build my AR, just going to do a little more research, I don't think my plan will change much (other than the optics). Still liking what I hear about that Straightjacket Upper and kinda just want the USM4 lower because of the SFA crest! probably look at swapping out the trigger guts.



FWIW...2013 Jeep Wrangler MOAB edition....note the cool ass SF crest on the hitch. I have had that thing for years and nothing to put it on!

Just a piggyback question on your thread, if i may?

I would like to put together an AR15 also, using the USM4 lower (for the crest and support of SF Assoc). I just want a reliable gun. I am not concerned as much with precision long range accuracy.

What is the most cost effective prebuilt upper (no sights, optics or carry handle-just upper with barrel, charging handle, bolt carrier group and rails)?

I've been very happy with my PSA upper. Runs like a scorched ape. Eats everything I've fed it so far, even dirty Wolf. Quite accurate. 5.56, chrome lined, 1x7, etc. Everything you want in a business gun. Think I paid less than $500 for mine including b/bc/ch. Palmetto did send my upper with the wrong color hand guard, which they happily rectified by sending me an appropriate replacement. And there was an issue with the fit of the hand guard. Sucker was really wedged on there. Was either an out of spec hand guard cap, Magpul's production run for that batch of hand guards was slightly off spec, or the FSB was mounted a bit too far to the rear. They offered to take the whole upper back, but I'm a handy guy and had it squared away in less than 30 minutes.

Depending on what you want to hang off your rifle, you may not necessarily need rails. There are kits out there that you can use to mount things to a Magpul hand guard.

Check out http://www.del-ton.com/Custom_Upper_p/cu104.htm You can make a series of choices to upgrade based on requirements vs. budget and get a quality upper for a decent price. Customer service in my experience has been exemplary.

I've had good experiences with them as well.