Results 1 to 9 of 9
-
27 December 2020, 12:19 #1
New Rifle Build??? Help me make a choice (another case of analysis paralysis)
I know a long time ago I was considering a larger frame AR but I shelved the idea (at the time) for a variety of reasons (dad's brain tumor being among one of them). Going forward as I come in to more money (hopefully) I will have more leeway in my spending.
I am openly asking for opinions as to why or why not for the choices mentioned below. As always I am seeking to make an EDUCATED purchase and I respect all of your opinions. I want you to make me think.
In my mind I keep going back and forth between a good quality bolt action and an AR-10 style rifle for larger caliber guns. As of right now I am 95% sure that I will skip the .308 and go straight to 6.5 Creed. I would consider other options but for now that cartridge is popular enough that brass is everywhere so I won't be out there with a 'one off' cartridge gun. And that round will do anything I have the range for.
....
In your minds what are the pros and cons of a bolt gun vs a gas gun and why do you think that way? Some have said that gas AR10 platforms can be very picky and have more issues than a standard AR15 but I have no experience with a large frame AR.
....
On the above said build(s) I don't say 'money is no object' but I am going to buy nice things regardless of the direction I go even if it takes me a lot longer to build it up. I am inclined to go gas gun first merely because of the political environment. I could buy the reciever set and mags and whether I build it now or a year from now it's ok.
...
Thrown into the mix here is I am definitely interested in building a 6mm ARC upper and pair it with a lower I already have built up (At least for now). That however is kind of low hanging fruit except for a minimum of a $2000 optic. The hold up for me there is the marketplace on parts and components. Paying and waiting six months for a barrel and not being able to buy brass or a BCG and just an overall shortage in the market of everything is making me hold off a bit. If it were not for insane market times (and a lack of brass etc) I would have already gotten on that bandwagon.
I will probably buy a matching upper reciever and a hand guard for that as it's almost a done deal in my head. I am debating whether or not to go ahead and buy the stuff for an AR10 at the same time.
If I do it there will probably be one big order from CMT:
Slick Side Upper (UPUR3) and a matching hand guard. (This will eventually be built out to the 6 ARC)
A matching upper and lower AR10 set and a matching hand guard. (This will be built up to a 6.5 CM)
Just that order alone will set me back about $1200 bucks but I could probably swing it over the next few weeks or month if I decide to make this my final decision.
I will have to wait on the barrels, optics, and other parts. If however I decide to go straight up with the 6ARC and put off the larger caliber build (for now) I could have the 6ARC ready to go (probably including the mags) and have some money left over (however not including the optic). If I forego the larger frame gas gun in favor of a bolt gun I am pretty sure nobody in Congress is going after those anytime soon so I could hold off a lot longer if needed. Just wondering what the superiority is for bolt over gas to make that decision.
-
27 December 2020, 17:31 #2LEO / MIL
- Join Date
- Jul 2013
- Posts
- 845
- Downloads
- 0
- Uploads
- 0
There’s give and take for everything......no free lunch. You probably should define what your mission is or what role this platform is filling.
-
27 December 2020, 18:10 #3
It's going to all be primarily for target shooting at long ranges as I barely ever hunt anymore.
The lower that I am planning using for the 6ARC hardly ever gets used now. If I can get a upper in 6 ARC (with the right optic) that to me seems like a perfect match for the type and style of how it's already set up. Having a regular size AR capable of going to 1300 or more yards just sounds freaking awesome.
Both rifles would probably have the same type of use with one in a bigger caliber.
Naturally both of them are their own animal as far as capability goes. The bigger one with a lot more horsepower.
Truth be told I could probably build a good 6ARC and be set for a while. My longest range always available is 1400 yards and the ARC is capable of getting right in there.
Really I don't want safe queen rifles. I want stuff that I will shoot.
I'm still thinking that I want a bigger bore rifle. I don't have any big plans for competition or anything. I just want something fun and with extra boogey to it. When I can get longer ranges available I would like to shoot for a mile or more.
On a side note if we ever do go to total society breakdown I think it would be nice to have options.
-
28 December 2020, 09:59 #4Senior Member
- Join Date
- May 2013
- Posts
- 820
- Downloads
- 0
- Uploads
- 0
for what it is worth...ammo at my legs was completely sold out... except for like 100 boxes of 6 arc.
-
28 December 2020, 12:55 #5
In my hands, "at long ranges", a bolt gun provides me an accuracy edge.
When Prairie Dogging, I have a Remington 40XB-KS with a heavy 27.5" stainless barreled .243. Factory target that came with it was .375 (three shots at the factory). Handloads equaled that in five shot groups.
I have not been able to produce that with a gas gun. Having said all that, I say again ... "in my hands". YMMV
I also have a Remington .223 Varmint Bolt Rifle that consistently shoots around a half inch.
I have taken prairie dogs at a laser measured 710 yards with the .243. They are about the size of a one liter coke bottle.
I like my gas guns, and would not give them up. I love my bolt guns.
The nice thing about bolt rifles ... you don't have to build them (unless you want to). Factory options abound for extremely accurate bolt rifles. Mount a nice optic, break in the barrel, and you are done.NRA Benefactor Member
NRA Certified Instructor
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on."
John Wayne - "The Shootist"
-
8 January 2021, 10:09 #6
I think I have made a decision but considering everything is OOS I can't pull the trigger yet (unintentional pun) on anything.
A couple of questions though, pretty simple stuff (if not a stupid question). Are trigger packs like the ones from CMC interchangeable between small and large frame rifles? What about safety selectors or other small parts?
I know pretty much nothing else will be interchangeable but those two categories of things I don't know.
-
8 January 2021, 12:01 #7
I put a "drop in" trigger pack in my Ascend Armory 308 build. Holes line up correctly, and functions perfectly. Safety/selector was also compatible, although I did use an Ascend Armory version. I believe (please correct me if wrong) that an AR15 LPK would be acceptable in a 308 style lower, pins/springs/ etc.
NRA Benefactor Member
NRA Certified Instructor
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on."
John Wayne - "The Shootist"
-
9 January 2021, 03:15 #8
So what are you building?
All parts from ar15’s work For ar10’s except the takedown pins, bolt catch and mag release..
-
11 January 2021, 14:37 #9
I managed to buy a stripped upper and a matching handguard from CMT. Everything was OOS but they emailed me back saying they had some in stock. I will build that out to a 6ARC. Now I need a bolt, a barrel, and a gas block.
I had actually decided to bite the bullet and purchase a 308 set as well to put aside until later but they are OOS until spring. Hopefully the crazies get stopped from going nuts on firearms before then.
--
Regarding mags I need to do some homework. Numerous people say they can use smaller capacity pmags just fine but I don't know if that's true or not. I will have to do some research before I start stockpiling. The regular 20 round pmag is the perfect size because this will be shot from a bipod most if not all of the time.
--
I am still not 100% sure if I don't want to go bolt gun for the bigger calibers. I don't know. But I will still probably buy a 308 set just because I can.
In the mean time I am going to have to fork out some bucks for an optic eventually. That's the part that will hurt the most.