AR need some advice.

[dune870demon]

Need tips on making a AR shoot precise.. Any help?

[JAE]

Do a search for "headspace" on the various forums. You'll get enlightened. If your worried about it buy some gauges. Probably come in handy down the line anyways. Should probably check every 1000 rounds or so. Can't do much about it if it is out. Get a new barrel I guess. Stuff is set at the factory. Not sure you can get a barrel where this hasn't been set. Maybe in the old days.

Building these is dead simple. Been done over and documented so much. All the ballistics and procedures printed in military manuals galore, tone of YouTube stuff, tons of PDF manuals and guides, specs and blueprints.... don't worry about it. If you can change the oil and rotate the tires properly on your car you can build one of these on your coffee table by mail order. Never even go out of the house except maybe to the range. Hey man maybe you have a really BIG house? Lucky you then!

Do yourself a favor and buy one of those armorers kits and some nice roll pin punches made for the AR's. The kits come with nice little mats with diagrams and torque wrenches and barrel wrenches and all kinds of goodies. Good investment if your going to get into this.

Look around for deals. TM awhile back had 80% forged lowers for $54 and stripped uppers for $29. Shop eBay for the common stuff like forward assist and dust covers. Gas blocks and tubes. Bolt carriers look around I picked up a couple Ares Armor NiB ones for $99 on that Black Friday thing they had. Very nice for the price. Right now need to go test a 20" stainless fluted barrel with one of those I scored on eBay for like $130 it's Wylde and advertised 1/2 MOA capable at 400 meters. We shall see. Look and learn you find what's good. Mistakes will be made I bought some trash that's okay.

All my assembled stuff has worked just fine for several hundred rounds apiece now. Watch out this hobby is addictive and fun!

[SonofWWIIDI]

Most will tell you it's not really necessary. But if you're concerned, buy the go/no-go gauges to double check.

And here's a video about it.

[kcstott]

Buy your barrel and BCG as a unit and 99% of the time you will have no issues.

[dune870demon]

Thank you for all the info guys!!! I really appreciate it!

[bohoki]

things are built to a very exacting standard attaching the barrel to the upper does not change headspace it is set when the barrel is attached to the locking collar

ive never checked headspace

[dune870demon]

Headspace is how far the actual bullet goes into the barrel, right? I know some stuff about reloading.

[kcstott]

Headspace is how far the actual bullet goes into the barrel, right? I know some stuff about reloading.

you think you do

It's not how far the bullet goes into the barrel but how far the CARTRIDGE seats in the CHAMBER

Headspace is the distance from the bolt face to the datum line on the shoulder in terms of a non belted non rimmed bottle necked case.

Rimmed cases headspace off the rim and belted cases headspace off the belt.