Links & Resources

Larry Potterfield from Midway USA does an excellent job about building the basic AR lower build here.  He includes the process plus the tools necessary.

Our best lower build includes:

• CMC lower parts kit (no trigger)
• CMC single-stage flat-faced trigger (91503 is our customer favorite)
• Ergo large grip
• ACE Skeleton Stock
• Shop-made delrin spacer for the buffer tube.  This is 3/4" to 7/8" OD and cut to a little less than 1 7/8".  Washers can be added to fine tune.  We offer these.
• Sprinco Green buffer spring (we keep these in stock)
• VLTOR buffer - weight tuned to rifle (we keep these in stock)

The buffer weight depends on the cartridge, load, suppression, etc.  You can't go wrong having a few buffer weights in your range box so you can tune the rifle at the range.

You will see many of our photos that feature this lower build configuration.

With these builds, you have a lower that you will love and will last a long, long time.

A well-made AR rifle is more than accurate enough for our hunting purposes.  Almost all barrel companies have a 1 MOA guarantee.  We are not competitive or professional shooters.  All the builds we produce are capable of that degree of accuracy and usually better.  we test from sandbags at 100 yards typically with thermal scopes during the day.  We won't accept more than 1 MOA.  On good days we frequently have .50 or better MOA.  We shoot 3-shot groups and do not excuse any "flyers" that are not called out or explained.

So, yes, the AR is a highly competent hunting tool.

For our Eastern Coyote, deer depredation, and pig hunting out to 300 yards it is more than adequate.  An occasional shot out to 400 yards is usually achievable in the AR15 platform.  Certainly expert riflemen can achieve consistency there and beyond.  However, keep in mind that our target area for a coyote is ideally about a 4" diameter; plus we want the terminal effectiveness of the projectile to put it down.   As a point of reference, a 50 grain Nosler BT in a 5.56 NATO cartridge fired from a 24" barrel will only have about 2,000 FPS of velocity and 450 foot pounds of energy at 400 yards.  So, yes you may hit the target, but will likely not achieve the results you desire.

It is is not possible for us to answer the question "What is the best caliber?"  There is not enough details, too may variables, and inadequate terminology.

There are four questions to answer first:

1. What do you want to hit?
2. At what distance?
3. What do you want to happen to it when it is hit?
4. Do you hand load? (notice I don't like the word "reload"  - it so demeaning!)

 The answers to these questions narrow down the potential cartridges (notice, not the word "caliber").   There is a tremendous amount of flexibility; but note that any variance from the situation of those four questions begins to become a compromise.  But we do consider potential ancillary uses and variances from the ideal situation.   Then, we look at the potential velocities and projectiles available for those cartridges.

There is likely no better expert on the terminal ballistics and killing of game than Nathan Foster in New Zealand.  See his Terminal Ballistics website here.  We have read ALL of his publications multiple times.  They guide us in these decisions.  We can consult with you to narrow these choices down, or you can garner the expertise of Nathan from his website and books.

Primarily we stick to the AR15 platform, but also build many 22 Creedmoor and 6MM Creedmoor on the AR10 platform.  Weight is a consideration and we attempt to keep the weight  to a minimum.

We have a special program for you to do your complete AR build in our shop.  We oversee and assist you in every step to insure that you understand exactly every part and why the selection matters.  You purchase all parts from us at retail and there is a $599 fee.  This includes testing and tuning at the range as well as sighting in any optics.  This also includes any follow up tuning for that rifle.  Once we have the parts on hand, we figure about a half a day with you for the entire process.

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