I know I don’t usually share much back story for my articles. Mostly because no one wants to hear the struggles of an aspiring writer; however, this time is different. In a time of pandemic and panic, guns, ammo, and gun parts are hard to come by. Everyone is currently in the market, and manufacturers can’t keep up. I held off writing this story until I had the money saved up for parts. I planned to order my parts then write about what I chose and why. After that, I would write a review of how everything came together. I was initially quoted an 8 to 12-week time frame on half my parts, so my plan was solid in my mind. However, a pleasant surprise happened. Within a week and a half, I had everything on my doorstep. I was able even to score a case of ammo a couple of weeks later. Now the gun is built, but due to a busy personal life and hunting season, I haven’t had the opportunity to shoot it. I still have an article planned to follow this one up, reviewing how the rifle shoots. I have a feeling it will be a fun article to write. With that being said, let’s discuss my latest build and what went into it.
Anyone in the AR world knows building your rifle is the ultimate in fun and personal expression. Whether it’s a simple black rifle or a colorful cerakoted one-of-a-kind competition rifle, you will enjoy it. The planning stages can be difficult with all the options out there. You have to weigh your options based on quality, price, and availability. Right now, demand is at an all-time high, and availability is key. Patience is a big part of that, as you may be waiting on back-ordered parts. If you are willing and able, the parts will come back into stock, and you’ll have your heart’s desire. (In my case, a little luck had all the parts quickly.)
The Parts – Upper
For the upper, I needed a new barrel, first and foremost. The barrel is the most important and, for this build, the hardest to find. I didn’t have the money to convert my lower to an SBR, and I didn’t have a pistol lower. This leaves me with a choice of 16″ or longer in barrel length. Because I’m using it with a suppressor, I will also need a pistol length gas port location on the barrel. A 16″ .300 Blackout barrel with a pistol length gas system is a tall order. Most run that caliber with a 10.5″ barrel or shorter on an SBR or Pistol lower. This made my choices limited. I had the choices narrowed down to Rainier Arms Match .300BLK Barrel or Ballistic Advantage 16″ .300 Blackout. They are both from quality companies and have their advantages. I’ve known the guys at Rainier Arms for years now and have never known them to take shortcuts. When the time came, their barrel wasn’t in stock, so I went another way. I still want to try one of their barrels someday but was surprised by the speed I got the other parts.
When it came time to order, neither of these barrels were in stock, and I decided I would wait a bit. I was supposed to be waiting on other parts, so this made sense at the time. I decided the same day everything else came in to look on Brownells again and happen to find a Wilson Combat Recon 16″ Match barrel for $249. This was the price range I was looking for, and the barrel had great reviews. Plus, I’ve always been impressed with the Wilson Combat products I’ve had the privilege to shoot over the years and decided it was a sign. It took about four days to get my barrel in, and I was very impressed.
Next, I needed a good optic to mount onto the rifle. The previous optic was repurposed on the 9mm. Because this is a hunting gun, a quality scope is on the list. I hunt in the hardwoods of North Carolina and don’t take shots longer than 100 yards normally. I don’t need high power, but since most shots are taken in the fading light of sunrise or sunset, clarity and good light transmission is a must. I looked for something like a 1-4×32 or close to it with quality glass for low light transmission. My job happened to have a big clearance event, and I got a smoking deal on a Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7×33 with the duplex reticle. For the type of shooting I do and the distance I will shoot with this rifle, this is a perfect piece of glass. I won’t mention how much I paid, but I will say it was 50% off the clearance price, so I wasn’t going to pass it up. I also found a good deal from Midway for the Mark AR scope mount by Leupold and decided the Leupold glass needed a Leupold mount.
The Parts – Lower
For the lower, I was starting from scratch. I had a BAD ambi-selector that I picked up years ago while working in the AR manufacturing world. Then I got the LPK, which I used for my basic needs (roll pins, springs, etc.). I want to upgrade the trigger. That’s a major part of the rifle, and I wanted it to be good. I also needed a good stock and extension tube kit. I like to upgrade the grips on my lowers, but that isn’t a necessity for the immediate function.
Unlike most shooters, I prefer a single-stage trigger with a pull in the neighborhood of 3 to 4 pounds. To me, it’s that right mesh of light enough to be precise but heavy enough to dissuade an accidental trigger pull. The two I was looking at were the SSP Single Stage Precision and the Super Dynamic 3 Gun Trigger SD3G. Both come with a 3.5 lb break and an ultra-short reset. The 3-gun trigger is described as a ball bearing rolling on a piece of glass smooth. No take-up or grit is felt, and the reset is right there as you release. To me, this was the way to go.
I ended up ordering the 3-gun trigger from Rainier Arms and got it in a week. As far as price goes, both run about $240, which falls within my budget. My initial impression was that the description didn’t do it justice. It’s more like a ball bearing on a piece of glass with some high-quality lube to help. This is hands down the nicest trigger I own. When I opened the package, it had a warning about accidentally bump firing the trigger. I thought, at 3.5 lbs, how can this be. Once I put the upper on the lower, I figured it out. When they say the reset is right there, they mean right there. I have a feeling that with some trigger time on this gun, I’ll be able to do my best Miculek impression. If it does end up being an issue, they send the trigger with a 4.5 lbs spring to alleviate the issue. I can’t wait to try it.
Conclusion
I believe that this build is going to end up being a range favorite. An awesome trigger and barrel paired with parts that I believe will be a perfect mix of accuracy and capabilities. With subsonic ammo and the suppressor, I think it will also be a very quiet and soft shooting .30 Cal rifle my daughter will enjoy shooting. With the right ammo, it should also be a formidable deer and coyote slayer.
I am aware that all builds won’t happen in a week. There is going to be a lot of waiting. It’s just the market right now. However, for a dream to come to fruition, you must be patient. Some things I was fortunate enough to get immediately. Some things I had to wait a little longer on. Some things I missed out on because I didn’t have the funds at that time. For example, I ended up with a barrel I wasn’t even considering because I didn’t have the money when Rainier had theirs in stock.
I’ve heard a lot of complaints recently about stores and manufacturers not having anything in stock. While I empathize with the complaint, I also know the other side of that argument. The stores are getting products in, and the manufacturers are producing their wares. The issue is everyone wants things right now. An example in my store is ammo. We get 10,000 rounds or more in on each truck, but people wait outside the store for 3 hours before we open to come in and make their purchases. It just doesn’t last that long. The same is for parts and guns. They are being made at peak capacity, but everyone is buying. The stuff doesn’t last long enough. I got a quote of a 2 to 3-month wait on some parts and have another email notification that I’m currently waiting on. I hate waiting for anything. Once I get a project started, I like to see it done, but that doesn’t always work out immediately. I have to be patient. I just waited five months for a suppressor. I think I can wait for a few more for parts.
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