New to AR's

[john law]

Hello, I am new to the AR world. I have read some on them and even fired a few here and there. I am going to have one built and I want something not exactly on the market. I am looking at Bushmaster's Dissipator upper assembly. I think I will like the way it looks, yes I require asthetic value, with a longer (5.5") flash suppressor.

Also I am looking at changing out some of the "stock" components. I want an aftermarket type trigger, preferably single stage, a larger mag release, and an oversize selector lever. What might be some decent choices on the trigger, and are there any things that I want to avoid? Lastly I want to change out my standard A2 sights for a Tritium set, and have a 4x20 (cheapy?) scope in a cradle mount for the carry handle.

I forgot to mention that the thought of a titanium firing pin interests me. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I have already purchased my lower, a DPMS, it is what my dealer had in stock.

[RavenWarrior]

If you are going to build an AR15 Bushmaster parts are a great choice. I dont care much for the dissapator upper my self but have friends that do. As far as the titanium firing pin I think your money would be better spent on other parts. I have never seen a standard firing pin fail. Why not look at a flat top? you can always add a carring handle to it. A flat top puts the scope or red dot sight closer to the barrel making it more accuate and if you like the scope higher up from the weapon you can always use taller scope mounts. I have a Bushmaster mock M4A1 (flat top) with a Knight's Armory rail systen on the handguard. With the rail system you can add or remove things like a forward pistol grip and a surefire flash light for close range comgat or as a home defence weapon. Also a fed dot type scope is great for CQB. I have a Trijicon Reflex sight that does not require batteries. I have a flip up rear sight incase the scope or red dot sight fails.

[john law]

Well as far as a collimator type sight or any accessories that go on a rail, I am leary of anything battery operated on my weapon. I may come to rely too heavily on them, my own laziness, and have them fail on me, I tend to forget to turn the electronics I have off, just when I need them. As far as a flat top? I just don't like the way they look, personally. Even with a carrying handle attachment it just does not look right to me. I like the thought of a cradle mount scope that allows me to use my iron, albeit tritium enhanced if I have my way, sights. The scope itself is just more of an afterthought. The titanium firing pin idea just seemed interesting. I think the ads say decreased lock time, etc., but I just like titanium in general. The trigger that I have been looking at is Chip McCormac (possible spelling error on my part) I think.

P.S. Thanks for the reply and thoughts, and I appreciate your pictures that you took of your rifle. I just reread your response and saw that your trijicon sight does not require batteries, I will take a look into this.

[Epinephrine]

Chip McCormick Super Match trigger Groups (http://www.chipmccormickcorp.com/merchant2/merchant.mv) are the BEST on the market. Availible in flat and curved, single or two stage, and require no more skill than to be able to knock out your trigger pins to drop this pre-assembled group in. I want one one of these days!

A little FYI, titanium firing pins do nothing but lighten your wallet. They arnt any safer or provide an noticable lock time for anything other than the most tuned match guns. Save your money and buy your other goodies.

[john law]

Thanks for the reply Epinepherine, I was beginning to watch for tumble weeds over on this part of the forums. I don't care about the lock time thing, it's just what the ad says. I just like titanium in general, and I like to buy things that use it. That is a personal quirk of mine. I decided against building, or even slapping together an AR until I leran a little more about them and have owned one for a little while. I will be purchasing a DPMS carbine on Wednesday if all goes well. I will be upgrading to the parts that I want, like the Tango Down Battlegrip and the tritium night sights. If the trigger group is that easy to install, that is all right by me. It will probably be the fourth or fifth thing I do. Wolff extra power springs are high on my list, as I have seen what they can do firsthand on the pistol I carry everyday.

I think that I will use the second generation Mag-Pul followers on my mags when I find them to be available. I may go ahead and order the first generation stuff now though. I am looking to make my rifle glove friendly by installing oversize components like the oversize selector and bolt stop that I see in Sportsman's Guide, the enhanced trigger guard that Dillon's Blue Press sells, and maybe a teardrop style forward bolt assist. I am looking at oversize latches and the one from Badger Ordnance appeals to me. I can not find an oversize mag release anywhere that I have looked, I would swear that I had seen them awhile back, but I could be wrong.

The other things that I want to do are install a Black Jack buffer (already ordered) and a Panther (I think) 5C2 muzzle device.