Originally Posted By: Buster HindendGuys I'll be the first to admit, I'm as lost as a ball in tall weeds when it comes to accurate AR's. I come from a bolt action background and have limited experience in shooting AR's at distances farther than 100 yards. I have 5-6 AR but most of my shots have been at distances less than 100 yards. Mostly with buddies doing mag dumps and shooting the crap out of stuff.
I regularly shoot bolt rifles longer distances and know what to expect and know what I like in a bolt action rifle. Kinda lost count, but I have 17 or so full custom bolt rifles. Talking full on custom actions, barrels, stocks etc. So I know what I like in a bolt and what has worked for me and what hasn't.
To be honest, if this local club wasn't hosting these matches I wouldn't be building this AR. I"m learning a lot already. From my own personal experience, I know I like single point cut rifle barrels better than button barrels. Not gonna say button barrels cannot be accurate, they can be as I"ve had some, but its my money and I get to pick what I want to buy.
Having said that, I'm surprised no one has mentioned a cut rifle barrel. I had a couple on my radar and no one mentioned them. It's either no one has tried them or they aren't at the to of the heap in AR barrels.
Cost is not a consideration in this equation. I simply want an accurate barrel. As Tim N eluded to, I want a really consistently accurate barrel. I've seen some so called "good" groups during my research and if that were one of my bolt rifle groups, I'd spin that barrel off and make a tomato stick out of it.
To me 600 yards is not long range. So I want to be able to make pin point shots. I know the positions are gonna be unorthodox so I want all the accuracy I can muster from a barrel
I really appreciate all of the input and I will research the most popular responses. I am grateful for those of you that have taken the time to reply..
Thanks
Most folks doing at builds are buying a "pre-fit" barrel, contoured, port drilled, extension installed. Would I be correct in assuming you would be more inclined to getting a blank and sending to a smith to be finished?
If so, I'd say pick you barrel manufacturer of choice and send it off to your smith. As with a bolt action, you can have the are receiver face trued. After that, pick a free float tube and spend some money on a good trigger. Buttstock is pure preference. Maybe a magpul prs or luth ar stock would suite your needs. I like rock river a2 or magpul Moe a2. Simple and they have a good cheek weld for me.