To AR or not AR...

[Thearmededucator]

I would suggest getting a rifle length platform first. You can use a full size rifle very effectively in close quarters, but you can never get that velocity back for longer range

[leroy]

2 hours ago, TNPhil said:

.... The next thing to begin researching and discussing would be rifle vs pistol for my primary build. Looking forward to this adventure in the AR platform while bellowing my 2a right along the way  

I've built several ARs, and I like the carbine length guns with light barrels and mid length gas systems best.  I like the Faxon Firearms barrels with the integral brake in a lightweight barrel profile best.  They are exactly 16 inches.  They are a bit pricy, but they are excellent barrels. 

That said, ya can spend less money n get the same thing if ya use any good quality barrel.  Shop around n read the info from the various makers.  Faxon, Wilson, and many others.  Google em and take a look.  My AR weighs right at 6 lb.  That's why I like the light barrels. 

Don't get sidetracked with the small MOA thing if your gun is for self defense.  My AR has a red dot on it that makes hitting pie plates at 50 yards child's play.  A pie plate is 8 inch diameter. 

Take a look at the center of your chest or your head and think about that.  I value the light weight guns because of the easy handling.

If ya want ta build a pistol; I would recommend a 10.5 inch barrel 300 BO and a braced lower ya like.   The 300BO wuz developed as a short barrel round, and the 10.5 feels good in hand.  Again, Faxon is a good place ta look for barrels.

There are two places not to skimp on if ya want a great shooting rifle.  The barrel and the trigger.  Ya can find an excellent barrel in the $250 to $ 275 range; and, if ya watch close, ya can buy an excellent trigger in the $100 to 125 range on sale. 

Here's hopin this helps a bit and ya get started on building the rifle like ya like it.

leroy....

PS... " Approved Vendors "... I like Wing Tactical for lotsa stuff, AERO for uppers, Primary Arms for most everything, Including the best optics ya can buy for the money, I'ma thinkin, and I always look at Joe Bob outfitters, n a small bunch over in N C whose name escapes my old, wore out brain right now. I FOUND EM!!! AR Discounts...! https://link.ar15discounts.com/q/qDKEhyiBcBf9N1NLLuaoBs5y3ZzEZ6MXKPbaqcI4F_pt29dPQ5obrJ7HT9

Lowers, I buy from my buddies at the gun store ya frequent... Pick the one ya like.

Edited yesterday at 01:33 AM by leroy

[deerslayer]

13 hours ago, TNPhil said:

next thing to begin researching and discussing would be rifle vs pistol for my primary build. 

Pay close attention to OAL rules for pistols if you go that route.  Also, you will lose significant velocity with a short barrel, even with 300 BLK.  This starts to matter a lot if you intend to kill deer out past 100 yards or so.  

[rodteague]

On 5/30/2025 at 6:35 PM, TNPhil said:

After all of this great feedback and more research, I believe I have decided to build an AR-15 that fits my specs and modifications. This would assist with options for hunting as well as home defense. 300 BLK would be my primary build, and I will be looking for deals on other caliber uppers in the future. The next thing to begin researching and discussing would be rifle vs pistol for my primary build. Looking forward to this adventure in the AR platform while bellowing my 2a right along the way  

FWIW, if you choose a rifle length barrel, be sure the gas system is “pistol” length. Some of the 300 Blackout  AR-15 rifles sold, utilize a carbine length gas system. This is just fine if all you intend to do is shoot supersonic ammo. However, the carbine gas system tends not to play nice with suppressed subsonic. The 300BO was designed for suppressed AR platform pistols. The longer rifle length barrel with the pistol gas system will give more velocity with SuperSonics and the added bonus of being able to digest suppressed subsonics without any hiccups. The rifle will be far more versatile. The short barreled pistol will be fine as well, but will not have quite the lethal range as a 16” barrel.

best regards

Rod 

Edited 10 hours ago by rodteague

[rodteague]

11 hours ago, deerslayer said:

Pay close attention to OAL rules for pistols if you go that route.  Also, you will lose significant velocity with a short barrel, even with 300 BLK.  This starts to matter a lot if you intend to kill deer out past 100 yards or so.  

This is on point