AR Facts..

AR15 FACT: While there are reasonably generous tolerances, they are not "plug-and-play" or "big boy Legos". Hard to tell if you're wrenching together a range toy that only sees a few mags a year. If you're looking for a that shoots tight, runs reliably and is going to give you 20, 30, 40k problem-free rounds, it's not as simple. While folks have gone nuts with the specs SOTAR (School of the American Rifle) puts out, it shows that it's not as cut-and-dry as many assumed.

(Note: Getting into building large-frame is even worse with multiple pattern styles to contend with...SR25, AR10, and other *******/proprietary designs)


AR15 Observation: Given the above, even when attempting to assemble identical guns or buying duplicate models, don't assume everything will be the same. The precision world has long since known that every barrel has it's own personality...and until you know what you've got, don't assume anything. Just because brand 'x' gave you a sub-MOA with your favorite ammo flavor doesn't mean every one will.


Driving AR15's: If shooting for the utmost precision, one needs to be wary of the forces applied to various parts of the rifle (specifically the fore end and barrel). Different barrel nuts/rail construction, different barrel thickness and materials will all respond differently to loads/force. Users quickly find that if zeroing from say a bench off a bag/rest and then move to a prone bipod, impact shifts may occur (especially if load is applied to the bipod), and then going to say a sling-supported/barricade can yied yet another POI.


AR15 Observation: No secret there's a ton of garbage components, but there's also a great deal of unnecessary add-ons that (at best) do nothing or hinder function. Case in point...ask any forum about buffers and springs:
"I run silent capture...it's the best"
"I run Tubb flatwire...it's the best"
"I run Geissele braided Super 42...it's the best"
"I run Vltor A5...it's the best"
"I run Surefire OBC...it's the best"
The "best" system is what works in tandem with YOUR gas system. Your gas system being not only your system length (pistol/carbine/mid/intermediate KAC/Intermediate/Rifle/Rifle +#) but also the gas port size, barrel length, ammo type, and suppression (if any).


...that's a start at least.

I've owned a large variety of guns over the years, including a pair of full autos, but I finally bought my first AR four weeks ago. I wasn't looking to buy, but it fell into my lap. I had an issued Colt for years, but it got turned in when I hung it up. This one will stay the way it is and won't get decorated with tactical exuberance. Late '70s Colt SP1.

They multiply in the safe.

@pointblank4445 I've found that the tolerances are much tighter than I was led to believe when I first began to build my own. I've not experienced any of the slop or play that other's have spoken of yet. Good thing for me as I hate a loose firearm. I once owned a Colt 1911 that rattled it was so loose, I like Colts BTW Addicts so don't hate on me!


They have been called adult Lego's by many including me, jokingly though. They are not a complicated design but you need to have the proper tools and at least the right level of skill to be successful. I carefully plan out each build and I'm never in a hurry when I do. I put a good amount of research into parts that I've not used before I buy. I never ever buy parts with the mindset "because they are the most expensive they must be the best" that's true sometimes but not always. I try to stick to buying the highest quality parts for the money. My goal at the end is to have a very solid and 100% reliable build that looks good and performs flawlessly. It doesn't matter if it rarely gets fired of if it's one I take to every range trip.

Here is a new-ish product that I find very cool for Subsonic/super sonic & as well as supressed/ Unsuppressed changes on my AR.
(300blackout. SBR 5.5" BARREL)

EASY ACCESS, NO TOOLS REQUIRED, ADJUSTABLE GAS BLOCK by Riflespeed.

It's worth investing into a nice charging handle. I have tried a bunch of different ones but now all my AR's have a Radian like this one.
They are robust and it's extended on the right side just like I like. The left isn't and I like that. The left side rests against me when I'm using my slings. They are the best and that's a fact. In my humble opinion that is.