Thank you, gun dog, for starting this thread.

And thank you, hobbes56/MonkeyBomb/Ishikawa, for all of the great information.

I see much more overtime in my future.

I have some ideas now, but of course nothing is set in stone. I do have a better idea of where to start and which direction to go. Thanks again.

You don't have to go all out with your first one. You can always build a basic version and then either modify from there or build a second one. You are allowed to have more than one. Let me warn you though - it can be as addictive as Busse-kin.

i am looking into if i want to build or buy a complete lower. i am going to buy a sixteen or eighteen inch barrel with the gas block and tube installed. i am going with either a magpul orlmt sopmod stock. i am looking into building or buyimg a upper. but i do ike the build option. the d i get a chromed bolt and carrier or stainless. jp enterprises has some interestimg options. for parts. my goal is a sub moa carbine with a quality triger. a floating handguard folding buis and a sixteen or eighteen inch floating barrel with a one in eight twist. take a good look at the RECCE rifle concept to get aidea of what i want. a fixed stock twenty inch barrel spr is not it. i want a great varmet rifle that is easy to carry ubber reliable and zombie ready.

Saw a couple of pictures. Very cool. Any thoughts on color?

This is my walking varmiter. Armalite lower, CMMG upper (fits perfect) 18" JP ultralight match barrel in .223 Wylde, and finned aluminum heat sink, Carbon fiber free float tube.Young Manufacturing N.M. bolt and carrier,two stage match trigger,YHM BUIS,Magpull and Burris 1-4x24 Fullfield tac 30.
Not exactly mil-spec. but shoots great!

i really like the jp barrel how does she group. also is the heat sink affective. i want to finish my rifle in a federal dark earth color. that color of brown or tan blends in year around in ohio. i am wondering if the jp low mass bolt and recoil buffer are relaible enough for a zombie rifle. sounds like it would be great for lonrange critters. i am thinking that i might like the stainless bolt carrier. it seem that people online have had the chrome come off the carrier . i am trying to figure out what lower i want to use. the hand guard must free gloat but i am tryimg to decide if i want a railed tube or a smooth one you can put rails on. that is a nice set up man.

Looks great. Could you tell me the brand for the float tube?

What brand us the OD green finish?

Doubt any. It's likely a second hand finish, ie: gunkote, cerakote, etc.

A couple more thoughts based on your comments GD...

I am familiar with RECCE configurations. What is confusing, is the idea of mixing a varmint rifle with a zombie ready carbine. I suppose a RECCE is as close as you can get. However, if I was varmint hunting, I would want a higher power scope and probably an 18" barrel...just for a bit more velocity. Not that RECCE can't do it, it's just disadvantaged slightly. Same goes for Zombies. For CQB / HD / SHTF...I want an 11-12" barrel rifle with a RDO on it, and BUIS as desired.

I wouldn't worry about a slick BCG (chrome, NiB, etc). Phosphate works fine.

SPR's are 18", not 20. Recce are 16".

Is there a reason you want 1/8" twist? Why not 1/7"? Just curious.

Collapsible stocks...I really like the LMT SOPMOD. Also, for slightly less weight...the Magpul CTR has done well for me.

I am a fan of KAC MICRO BUIS. They are phenomenal.

In case you haven't been there yet...here are more ideas for your upper: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-16-Recce-Upper-Groups-Mid-Length-s/132.htm

I would buy the complete lower (sans the stock...get what you want for that). Then throw a Gieselle in it, and you'll learn quite a bit right there about the internals. Keep the stock trigger as spare parts. The lower is rather simple...couple of detents, springs, pins.

I would buy a complete upper also, but that's just me. The market has become so commodotized that there is just not really much gain in DIY...other than the obvious "know how". If that's your game, then you shouldn't really be asking this question to begin with.

1-7 was made for 69 to 75 grain 5.56. 1-8 is better for a wider range of bullets. JP enterprises now only offer 1-8 that I have seen. Even the military is starting to use 1-8 in their dmr-spr set ups.