Nice build. I've got a 20" custom, and a 18" 'cheap' black rifle in the safe. The 20" started life as a complete rifle from Bushmaster that I bought years ago. Had them build me one with a 20" fluted barrel. My friends out at Brimstone Gunsmithing worked the trigger group over for me and it's fantastically crisp. Not light like the full drop in replacement triggers, but it doesn't have any creep and I can work with that. May go to a Wilson TTU for that one at some point. The 'cheap' build started out as an Olympic Arms complete uppoer I picked up at the gun show for a great price. Scored some lowers from 2Vets Arms some time back (my kid in the USMC knows them) so I put a Palmetto State lower kit together with one, and voila, a "cheap" black rifle.
Kudos on the Rainier Arms barrel. I'm counting my pennies for a Rainier built 14.5" upper assembly to go with a lower I've already got. The 20" has an ACOG TA-01 on it, and is a lot of fun to shoot with my SpecWar556 can on the front.
Both my rifles run fantastically, 100% reliable, and they print well off the bench if I do my job. Maybe the forward assist works, maybe it doesn't, because I've never touched either of them. Ray, I 'get it' that there are folks that don't like the AR platform, but there is no disputing the fact that it's been improved so much over the years since it's introduction, that it's really become the platform of choice for lots of applications. I happen to know one Marine quite well that consistently makes the 9" plate ring at 500 yards with an issue M4.. The M1A1 is a great platform but it will cost you about $1200 to get in the door, and more like $2000 to get the one you want. I don't believe the AR platform would be nearly as popular as they are today, throughout the world, in many applications if they were truly a 'faulty design'. I completely understand that you have to have faith in the platform, and if it isn't there, of course there are choices. I can say this; [SIZE=14.4444446563721px]I'm very happy with my AR's for their intended use, and if the SHTF my 20" AR and my Glock G21 would be the first two firearms I'd grab. [/SIZE]
LikeAPuma, I took my nearly 30 year old Ruger 10-22 and gave it a bit of a 'tune up' about a year ago. I'm really happy with how it turned out:
- Hogue "Overmolded" stock
- Tactical Solutions 'X-Ring" 0.920" barrel
- Tactical Solutions V-Block upgrade
- Stage 2 trigger work by Brimstone Gunsmithing
- Rimfire Specialties recoil buffer, charging handle / guide rod, trigger, and magazine release.
- Bolt blueprinting and engine turning by Que
- Nikon Rimfire BDC scope
- Tally "Rail-less" scope rings.
....with a can on the front of the barrel (yes, it's threaded) it's as quiet as can be and really fun to tear up targets and tin cans with. I had a lot of fun picking the parts and putting it together, it's a great project and easy to recommend.
Cheers, guys - B.B.S.