AR-15 Head space ????

[Phil]

So,

The boy wants an AR.......

I`m looking into getting a upper / lower set and putting it together ourselves as a project.

If I buy a chambered barrel ( .223 Wylde ) how do I know that it is head spaced correctly to a bolt that I haven`t purchased yet?????

Also, if we go the Wylde chamber route, what are the best dies to use???

Thanks,

Phil.

 

[MGYSGT]

You should go the wylde camber unless the rifle will be used very specifically. As far as bolt headspace is concerned, I have bought several BCG's and have only checked them with a go/no go gauge. Places like Joebobs and Palmetto State Armory sell thousands of them and I'll bet most don't even get checked prior to use. As far as dies go. A regular full length set from RCBS or Redding will do just fine. If you find a small base die is needed, then get a body type to fill in. Just trim to length, seat to magazine length and be happy.

 

[EWaugh]

I suggest buying the bolt first then send to your gunsmith so he can cut the chamber. Some barrel mfg (Krieger) will ask for the bolt and will ensure the barrel is properly headspaced.

 

[JFM33]

It has been my experience that most Ar barrels with the barrel extension installed are within mil spec. You could confirm the with the bolt and barrel in hand and go and no go gauges .There is a window of .010 for headspace and most will fall between that.
The wylde chamber has more to do with a shorter throat than 5.56 and longer than 223.It allows me to shoot 75grn Hornady at mag length and just be jumping around .010 to the lands. Which I like.
Most regular 223 dies work just fine it your seating depth that is different.
You can order a bolt and matched barrel if you go that route.
Hope that helps
John

 

[Fast14riot]

Go for the wylde chamber, it will allow you to shoot 5.56 Mil ammo as well as .223 commercial ammo, if he wants to. If you will be loading the same lot of brass for multiple uppers, I recommend a small base die, but if just the one you should be fine with standard dies. Shoulder bump is usually closer to .003" for AR, and crimping is a "some do, some don't" argument. I don't, for any of my 3 ar calibers.

Headspace is normally just fine, if you get a barrel and bolt which are on opposite ends of the tolerances, swapping bolts can fix it. But, I have seen very, very few ever get an out of tolerance combination with parts from normal vendors. I even have a PTAC bcg in my .20P and it headspaced nicely.

Have you and the boy figured out what configuration you want this AR to be? I've built uppers from the "lead hose" beater/pinker for shooting cheap steel case ammo and not caring if the barrel wears out, to varmint uppers, to mid range target uppers, service rifle uppers, hunter style, carbines, etc. There are some little tricks that can help keep things running smoothly and/or accurate from the start.

If going with wylde chamber I recommend 1:8 twist, it will allow you to shoot pretty much any weight bullet you can load to magazine length.

-Alexander

 

[Phil]

Thanks for all the help guy`s.....

We are thinking about a Mega upper / lower and a Wilson barrel, 8 twist Wylde chamber.

This will primarily be shooting the 55 Vmax and splodin vermin, but with the 8 twist you never know......


Are the Wilson barrels decent???

Phil.

 

[Fast14riot]

Yep, good barrels. I have one on my service rifle that shoots better groups than I can. What length, profile and gas system length are you thinking of getting?

-Alexander

 

[JFM33]

I will second that Wilson makes a great Ar barrel,I have a 16" ,1/8 twist bull barrel it has been reliable and super accurate.Your son will be grinning.
Good luck
John

 

[mac86951]

So,

The boy wants an AR.......

I`m looking into getting a upper / lower set and putting it together ourselves as a project.

If I buy a chambered barrel ( .223 Wylde ) how do I know that it is head spaced correctly to a bolt that I haven`t purchased yet?????

Also, if we go the Wylde chamber route, what are the best dies to use???

Thanks,

Phil.

Buy barrel and bolt together; or buy bolt ahead, strip it and send it to manf. Of barrel. Only way to be 100% sure is to get go-nogo gauges and check it yourself.

Good thing about ARs; one bolt is headspaced to barrel extension; you're good to go. All other details are for function only.

Excellent barrels, excellent choices so far. 1:8 is good for all and beyond mag length. I grabbed a bulk buy of Hornady 55gr for plinking. You should be able to find some too.

-Mac

 

[Phil]

Yep, good barrels. I have one on my service rifle that shoots better groups than I can. What length, profile and gas system length are you thinking of getting?

-Alexander

24" .936" it will sit in a Dog Gone Good shooting bag.....

 

[mac86951]

24" .936" it will sit in a Dog Gone Good shooting bag.....

Egw bag riders... just saying, shy reinvent the wheel...

 

[Fast14riot]

24" .936" it will sit in a Dog Gone Good shooting bag.....

Nice choice. My prone match gun has a NM profile heavy bull barrel (1.050, .936, .920), 24" with .936 gas block. I really like the Syrac GenII clamp on adjustable gas block. I also use a 15" hand guard that covers the gas block so I can put my bag or bipod out further. Bag riders are a great way to go as well.

-Alexander

 

[Phil]

Good to know about the gas block, that was something else that will be necessary ( for me at least ) i know that i want to get an adjustable block.....