[cpttango30]

Ok So I am wanting to try building an upper.

I just want one that will chew up blasting fodder doesn't have to look great.

Now to the questions.

1. On the 16" barrel I thought 18" was the shortest barrel you could have? Cause I don't want one of them stupid looking bloop tubes on the front maybe just a std M-16a2 type.


2. For a range fodder gun would you go with 16 or 18"?

3. what tools am I going to need to purchas?

[Dgunsmith]

18" is a shotgun barrel. A rifle may have a barrel of 16" and be legal as long as the overall length of the firearm is 26".

Build a 16" and blast away !

[mjkeat]

18" is the minimum for shotgun barrels and an overal length of 16" for a rifle barrel. You can have a 12.5" barrel w/ a permenantly attached flash hider measuring 3.5". As long as the overall length of the barrel is 16" or greater you dont need to mess w/ all the paperwork.

"one of them stupid looking bloop tubes" - please explain

[jeepcreep927]

Tango-
I'd go with a 16". You're not losing anything between that and an 18".

If you're starting with a barrel with extension installed, a stripped upper and a box of parts, the only tools (other than a poundy thingy, which I know you have) you would need are a barrel nut wrench and a set of roll pin punches for the forward assist retaining pin and gas tube retaining pin. Though if you're careful you can do it with a drift punch.

Good luck.

[cpttango30]

Ok The bloop tube thing.

Noveske Krink KX3 Flash Suppressor with Pig

That thing I don't want on my AR.

So I want a flat top with Picatinny mountable sights.


Here is what I am looking for as of right now.

A2 flash hider threaded 1/2x28 [SAFH510] - $9.95 : Spikes Tactical

M4 Flat Top upper (Cosmetic Blem) [SFT50M4-B] - $60.00 : Spikes Tactical

Mil-Spec 303 Stainless Steel Gas Tube [SUGT00x] - $12.95 : Spikes Tactical

Spike's Tactical HPT/MPI M16 BCG (223/5.56) [ST5BG01] - $149.95 : Spikes Tactical

DPMS Barrel AR-15 223 Remington .920" Muzzle Diameter 1 in 9" Twist 16" Stainless Steel with Aluminum Gas Block - MidwayUSA

[jeepcreep927]

What made you decide on a heavy barrel, just out of curiosity?

[Highpower]

Originally Posted by jeepcreep927

What made you decide on a heavy barrel, just out of curiosity?

Because if it won't shoot bug holes, Tango want's no part of it....

AHEM..... Bloop tube:
A piece of pipe that clamps to the barrel to allow you to move your front sight forward, in order to increase your sight radius.



p.s.
Tango, you linked to an un-threaded bull barrel. Why the flash hider?

[cpttango30]

oops I forgot that it was unthreaded. I was looking a a few different barrels. all the threaded ones had the stupid triangle front sight and not what I wanted. I think I may just get a 16" and put the low profile picatinny gas block on it.

As far as the bloop tube what do you call the stupid looking thing I posted.

I am wanting to just get a cheaper upper for blasting at dirt clods with my kids and save the nice accurate one for ground hogs and long range zombie plinking.

What are a decent set if flip up sights with wouldn't break the bank? I was thinking a red dot but I think one needs to be open sights.

[Highpower]

Ok, It dawned on afterward you were looking to make legal barrel length - but you're good to go with a 16. The Noveske is an over-sized flash suppressor for really short barrels. Black helicopter stuff.
(I could use one for my 10" .223 Contender though.)

I don't use any of the flip-up sights, so I'll let those that do own them answer that one....

As far as tools go, I use an upper receiver holding block for barrel work, but you can get away with a set of barrel blocks that hold the barrel in a bench vice if you are careful not to twist the receiver when torquing it down.
A barrel nut wrench or strap depending on your forearm type, and some pin punches should just about cover it.

Of course you'll have to post pics of your build ya know.

[Gatekeeper]

Originally Posted by cpttango30

oops I forgot that it was unthreaded. I was looking a a few different barrels. all the threaded ones had the stupid triangle front sight and not what I wanted. I think I may just get a 16" and put the low profile picatinny gas block on it.

As far as the bloop tube what do you call the stupid looking thing I posted.

I am wanting to just get a cheaper upper for blasting at dirt clods with my kids and save the nice accurate one for ground hogs and long range zombie plinking.

What are a decent set if flip up sights with wouldn't break the bank? I was thinking a red dot but I think one needs to be open sights.

Just a little FYI. If you find a good deal on a barrel with a standard FSB already installed. You can always chop the sight tower off and do a little grinding with a dremel tool to make your own lo-pro gas block to fit under a freefloat rail.
All the fitting work is already done and it keeps the factory taper pins that are a bitch to get out and aren't going anywhere....ever
Thats what I did with my M&P, it was pretty easy.


For flip ups, the magpul MBUS polymer's are hard to beat for the price. I use a rear one and its very sturdy. I don't use the flip up front, I like the fixed picatinney mounted tower, but alot of guys run the Magpul polymer front and I haven't heard anything bad, I think Lon has 'em IIRC.