The budget (mostly historical, pre-Covid):

Barrel $75 (Aero 24" fluted bull, 6.5 Creedmoor)

Upper $125 (Aero M5E1 Enhanced blem?)

Forward assist $8

Dust cover $12 (Strike)

Handguard $125 (Aero M5E1 Enhanced blem?)

Gas block $90 (Superlative Arms adjustable)

Gas tube ~$10

Muzzle brake $50 (eBay single port, self timing)

BCG $155 (Aero NiB coated)

Charging handle $47.50 (Breek Warhammer)

Mlok Arca rail $13

Complete upper $710.50

Lower receiver $85 (Aero M5E1 blem)

Partial LPK $30 (Aero)

Trigger ~$80 (LaRue MBT2)

Buffer tube ~$26

Buffer system $45 (Armaspec SMB)

Stock $46.50 (Magpul DT-PR)

Grip $20 (Tango Down Battlegrip)

Complete lower $332.50

Complete gun $1,045.00

Scope mount $75 (PRI Gator Grip 1")

Scope $266 (SFWA Ultralight 2.5-10x32)

Optics total $341

As you see it $1,386.00

My gun hobby started with building FALs because they were the closest thing I could get to a modern battle rifle in California at the time.

Once "off list" lowers became a thing I started building ARs but they were more expensive than FALs. AK builds were a possibility and cheaper but not as nice as a FAL.

When 2010-11 came around everyone was worried about Obama banning everything so people started buying everything on their wish list to get it before the ban. I call it Obama-mania, a lot of things were out of stock everywhere and when you could find what you wanted, the retailers were price gouging.

I went in to that wanting a JP LRP-07 but I was hoping I could afford a fairly standard LR308 clone made with mostly DPMS parts. Oddly, the price gouging didn't effect the fancy parts as much as the cheap DPMS stuff so I could get JP parts for only a little more. The thing that pushed me over the edge to a long range dedicated build was a Criterion 24" bull barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor with a plain muzzle on sale for $250 when a parkerized DPMS 7.62 barrel was $200+ if you could find one.

The JP is a target rifle and it uses the standard AR accuracy tricks: a good barrel, a free float tube handguard and a good trigger. Then they also threw in an adjustable gas block for tuning and their silent captured spring recoil buffer setup.

They also used an aluminum heat sink on an unusual barrel profile to reduce heat build up in a longer string of fire. Mine doesn't have the heat sink but the bull barrel is more thermal mass and I wasn't too concerned about weight.

Back to the build, I bought a JP BCG and a JP SCS to mimic most of the JP operating system, a different brand adjustable gas block because JP didn't make one the same size as my gas block journal, a DPMS free float tube handguard and an SR Gold trigger. A DPMS partial LPK, a set of oversized takedown pins, an ACE ultralight entry stock with a 1" butt pad and a weird "featureless" grip completed the build.

It didn't fall together like a good AR15 build but after some filing and pin hole reaming it was done but the combination of tight pin holes and a JP SCS makes it feel solid and sound almost silent when you shake it. The only thing that makes noise is the bolt because it can rattle a bit in the upper.

I'm going to call my original a success because I have used it mostly for 1,000 yard shooting with pretty good results including a couple 6" groups, all shot with Hornady A-Max and ELD Match box ammo.

Fast forward to about a year ago, Aero was having a $75 barrel promotion: spend $100 and add on a barrel for $75. I was thinking about a fluted stainless 18" .223 Wylde but when I saw their 24" fluted bull 6.5 Creedmoor in stainless I couldn't get the 5.56 so I bought 4 Duramags to spend the $100 and got my 24" fluted bull.

I thought I had parts to assemble a spare upper so I bought my Superlative Arms adjustable gas block to go with it, my eBay self timing muzzle brake and my PRI Gator Grip QD mount to put the rest together except for a charging handle.

After a move I found an M5 lower ready to build in my parts stash so I decided a spare rifle was cooler than a spare upper so I have been buying the remaining parts over the last few months: an Armaspec SMB guide rod style buffer system (basically a JP SCS copy) and a DT-PR stock to finish the lower and a Breek Warhammer ambi charging handle to finish the upper and complete the rifle.

I was looking at an A5/AR10 carbine length buffer tube and a standard AR15 carbine buffer but looking at the combo it was close enough to my original that I decided to go with a guide rod style recoil buffer setup and I think I actually saved money because the standard AR15 carbine buffer tube was on hand.

I haven't shot it yet but it's less than half the budget of my original, it feel damn near as solid, with ergonomics that aren't screwed up because I'm not complying with California law (I don't live there any more). I hope the barrel shoots like my Criterion. They are both button rifled stainless but Aero/Ballistic Advantage does not have the reputation of Criterion. If it does well I will probably swap out the MBT2 trigger for a TriggerTech Diamond that I got on sale from Brownells a few years back. I will probably swap out the scope and mount for something more appropriate fairly soon.

This might be my last Aero build. I already have plenty and my parts pile has almost no Aero left in it. Depending on how their new ownership runs things I may not be able to afford new builds or I might not like the offerings. The fact is my gun collection is pretty much complete except for a few wish list guns I can't justify spending the money on. I'm mostly going to complete the unfinished projects I have started, FRT several guns that need it, turn a few pistols in to SBRs, turn a few shotguns in to SBS and buy a few cans over the next few years. After that I'll just need some rope for my load out room.

Any way, that's what smart shopping and patience can do. A lot of people got really screwed by price gouging during Obama-mania and Covid panic buying, then there were people like me who used Obama-mania to justify a pretty extensive upgrade on a "dream gun" and sat out the Covid panic buying because I was already near done with my collection wish list.

I think "LRP-07 at home" is good enough for me. If I only collected top tier premium guns I would not be near completing my wish list and I don't regret not buying Knights, JP, HK, LMT, etc.

Me and homie were supposed to take this pic last year. Found out also that my upper (toob) was a unit purchased NSW upper. So that’s cool.

That's why I understand they're one of the few companies trying to do more experimental chamberings , I'm mostly worried about quality for price and compatibility with AR10 accessories

I can't seem to find anyone who's done it yet.

I'm putting another lefty together. Looks like Stag is out of stock on handguards. What else works? 16" pencil barrel, so I'd like 12-13" and lightweight. What fits?

I was looking at the MI Combat Rail, but their CS said "no" and wouldn't tell me why.​

Can someone please help me decide on which one to build? I’m stuck between these three!

Recently bought un fired from an angry x wife, 1500$

Initially used a Steiner t5xi lvpo and Accu Tac bidpod but longest range around is 200 yards so switched it up

Huxwrx 762 flow ti

Geiselle SSA E trigger

Picking up my first receiver set this weekend to start my AR10 build, it is an Aero set I am buying off someone and I have an idea on where to start but could use some advise on the lower parts kit, BCG and buffer systems that are working for people. Going with a 20 inch Wilson combat barrel and will not be running suppressed since I am in CA. Any advice is helpful, thanks!

Decided to ditch the dot and magnifier for a vudu 3-9x so now I can take it out a little further. Got a good deal on tacswap.

My kak adj gb split down the middle a couple months ago so I ended up with a SLR jet gb. The issue with that is there's only two options, 50 and 80 percent gas reduction jets. While more robust there's no fine tuning. I got a rca adjustable gas key and after 5 mins of tuning the gun runs great with much reduced recoil.

Build list -

SLR B30 receiver set (handguard and upper have a hole and there's a dowel pin so no timing)

KAK 12.5 barrel

Lantac enhanced bcg

Holosun LS321

Vudu 3-9x w/ EFLX

YHM resonator R2

Fenix wml

Has anyone replaced the firing pin in a PSA saber 10 with something other than a PSA firing pin? My saber 10 is great and shoots great but it has been puncturing primers from time to time. I also noticed on a round I chambered then removed that there was a slight indentation on the primer from the firing pin. I am thinking the firing pin is too long or has some other sort of deformity that needs remedied before it gets worse and I would rather use a higher quality firing pin than just get another PSA firing pin.

So Ive built out my lower (Aero m5). My issue is trying to find a high profile upper for it. Aero uppers are almost non existent and the few I do find wont ship to Mass even though I can legallypurchase them. Anyone have some recommendations for a complete upper that will work with my lower? Many uppers I find don't specify if its a high profile or not and some pics can he deceiving. Preferably between $600-1000. I wont be shooting past 200 yards so I don't need anything crazy. Looking for 18 or 20". Thanks in advance.

Currently running an EXPS3 and 5X magnifier on my MARS-H and have since decided to obtain a legitimate scope the rifle. I'm stuck between three models, the Vudu 4-12, Vudu 1-10, or the Trijicon Credo 1-10.

Looking to fill a DMR role with the rifle.

Which scope do you think is best?

Probably the final iteration of this build. Its a blast to shoot.

So, been hyperfocusing on keeping my build light almost everywhere besides the barrel, so the ROAM magnesium receivers have been the frontrunners for when they come back in stock, but I haven't really checked if anybody has had any issues with them that I've missed.

Any durability or design concerns that would push me away from ROAM? I would grab a set of SLR B30s as the alternate option, but I'd definitely prefer to cut that roughly 10 ounce weight difference out if I can.