Long Range AR Build Opinions

[maxumwake619]

Hello all,

I purchased a stripped lower recently and want to turn it into a long(er) range rifle.

After reading some threads here as well as doing some research I came to the conclusion that I could use some Calgunners opinions on this topic.

Please don't reply with "go 6.8 or 300 black or 308. I am going straight 223/556 on this one.

I plan on buying a LPK without the FCG so I can drop in a two stage Geissele trigger.

When it comes to the upper, should I just go out and buy a 20" rock river varmint upper? Are they all that great?

Building my own upper would be cool as I like the CIV Tactical upper as well as the look of the fluted barrels.

Wanting to stick to a 20" barrel, maybe stainless with a free float handguard.

thoughts guys?

Also, what kind of optics are needed to shoot out to 600 or so yards?

Thanks!!

[peter209]

I asked a similar question not that long ago about a precision shooting ar build. The answers I got were to go with a 24" barrel for competition style precision shooting. I know rock river builds a 24" upper if you didn't want to build it yourself. As for optics, with everyone's recommendation I decided on a bushnell elite tactical 5-15x with the burris pepr mount

[audiopro74]

I run a rock river predator pursuit, timney trigger, magpul prs stock, and a 4-16x scope on the one I built for doing the same. I've only got her out to about 300 so far, but she holds nice groups even with surplus ball ammo. Even tighter with black hills. I have no doubt she would stretch out to 600 with no issues.

[damon1272]

Nothing wrong with the RRA.I had great success with my old one. Personally I would call white oak and talk with them as the owner is very knowledgeable and builds for competition. Also may want to talk to compass lake.

I have built my own and have been very happy with then, it takes making sure all the parts fit correctly and quality components. Most of the industry uses Wilson barrels. Lilja makes a very nice barrel at a good price if you are looking to build your own upper I would also order a fitted bolt to the barrel when doing a build.

[BrassCase]

I have a PSA upper with a 20" SS barrel. It is a great shooter. I also have a PSA BCG with an 80% lower using a PSA LPK w/stock. It looks like Nikon is phasing out their Monarch (not the Monarch 3 series) series of scopes. You can get a 5-20 x 44 for under $400 with a BDC reticle.

[Munny$hot]

A stainless free float 20" 1/8 Wylde chamber would be ideal for shooting any ammo that will fit in a magazine out to 600 meters. Anything longer IMHO is very difficult to move around with and the extra barrel length isn't worth the weight. PSA did have an awesome deal on FN 20" stainless 1/7" hammer forged barrel free floated with a MI ss15 rail for 479.00 The 1/8 Wylde and a standard 1/7 accuracy isn't huge especially for 479.00. Not mine but here is a pic of the PSA upper. The muzzle break is not part of the deal.

[Justintoxicated]

I'm happy with my BCM SAM-R Barrel 20" stainless barrel. Shoots sub MOA if you do your part you can clover leaf it at 100 yards. The White oak stainless with WYLDE chamber is really good too. The SAM-R Barrel has it's own version of WYLDE chamber, probably slightly looser though for reliability purposes. Either will work great.

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-20-SAM-R-SS410-Barrel-with-Rifle-Length-Gas-p/bcm-ss410-samr%20brl%201.htm

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-20-SAM-R-SS410-Barrel-with-Rifle-Length-Gas-p/bcm-ss410-samr%20brl%202.htm

http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17565&cat=250&page=2

http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17566&cat=250&page=3

Between the two it's hard to say which will be better but I would lean towards the White OAK potentially being better. Pretty sure the SAM-R chamber will be a bit more reliable, but the tighter chamber would be preferred for precision.
Get a fluted one if weight is a concern, if not the extra weight will just mitigate recoil. The BCM gives you more bang for the buck since you can get it unfluted for about $100 less, however white oak makes a really nice affordable complete upper with BCG, grated I think it comes with a 20" varmint barrel, but it's still good stuff!

Get a good trigger Geissele High Speed or, my new favorite, the AR Gold trigger.

spend the rest on glass, Bushnell makes some great scopes for the money around the $1000-1200 mark. G2DMR reticle is awesome.

[G21Shooter]

For a precision rifle build you need a quality match grade stainless barrel, a free float hand guard, and a good trigger.

I went the Rock River Varmint 20 inch upper rout with my precision rifle, and its a nice upper. Quality, very accurate, and never had any reliability issues over 1k + rounds.

The RRA Varmint upper is one of the most accurate uppers on the market, but its heavy. Some guys don't like that, but if your using it as a bench gun with a sandbag or bi-pod the weight is a advantage(helps you hold the crosshairs still). Getting sub MOA groups is almost too easy, with any brass 55gr load. I have taken mine coyote and pig hunting and with a nice padded sling its not that bad to carry.

Here is my RRA Varmint build, it has a Timney 3lb trigger which is excellent.




edit: PK Firearms has the 20 inch Varmint in stock ready to ship, got mine from them and got it in 4 days after ordering.

http://pkfirearms.com/RRA_Stainless_Uppers/204/c

[bombadillo]

You want a serious long range AR, look no further than the .300 Win Mag NEMO

[SDM44]

Not to thread jack, but going off of what the OP said....

He wants to stick with .223 or 5.56 and I know that a higher grain bullet in say a 1/7 twist rate barrel will have better accuracy/flight compared to say a "standard" 55gr in the same barrel.

My question is, does it matter when using a .223 55gr round vs a 55gr 5.56 higher pressure round when shooting at long distances?

[Yerman]

I was in the same boat as you a few weeks ago. I went with an RRA 24" with the new handguard (upgraded to the XL length) http://rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?f...ategory_id=270

I put the order in and now I am waiting. Quote was 3 months but I expect it might take a little longer than that.

To go with this upper, I am adding:
Mega lower
Magpul PRS stock
Monopod
Geissele hi speed match trigger
Harris bipod
Nikon M-223 3-12

Can't wait till I get it all together.

[russ69]

...Personally I would call white oak and talk with them as the owner is very knowledgeable and builds for competition. Also may want to talk to compass lake...

I have both, great guns at a fair price.

A stainless free float 20" 1/8 Wylde chamber would be ideal for shooting any ammo that will fit in a magazine out to 600 meters...

GTG.

...I went the Rock River Varmint 20 inch upper rout with my precision rifle, and its a nice upper...

GTG.

...He wants to stick with .223 or 5.56 and I know that a higher grain bullet in say a 1/7 twist rate barrel will have better accuracy/flight compared to say a "standard" 55gr in the same barrel. My question is, does it matter when using a .223 55gr round vs a 55gr 5.56 higher pressure round when shooting at long distances?

There is no difference when you handload. The 55 grain match bullets will shoot fine in just about all barrels. To get out past 600 yards you'll want a heavier bullet.

[maxumwake619]

Thanks for all the opinions and help guys. This was very useful info and I'm glad this type of community exists here in California.

[HKRick]

White Oak Armament. If you can wait the 6 month backorder you can get one of the most accurate uppers at a very fair price.

[problemchild]

Noveske with a matching bolt