If your going to want to swap you'll need two uppers. There no quick switching bbls like in the movies. Get a 16" and you will see that you have no need for an 18". The amount of added accuracy and velocity that 2" will add is negligible to all but an expert shooter. Carbine courses are going to be full of guys using 14.5s. Your not going to see anybody with an 18" bbl in those courses.
Fn-Fal, Mauser 8mm, and a daiwu AR. Look into them. My FN is a great all around rifle, not to mention it's as sexy as it gets. edit That Doublestar 3gun is a sexy beast! re-edit, The Doublestar
All the serious 3-gun shooters are running 18s or 20s. Longer barrel with a rifle length gas system, surefire brake and a forward grip mounted all the way forward. Don't stand next to those guys. The brake will feel like a fucking grenade going off. Will you see those guys at a carbine class, when they technically are using a rifle? Possibly. Really depends on who's class your taking. Any of the Magpul classes (with Costa) will have guys with REALLY short weapons, and guys running rifles.
So I decided to go the build route. Here's what I'm looking at so far. Upper BCM 16" mid length upper assembly -not sure exactly which one yet, but I want it flat top BCM Gunfighter Charging handle Magpul MOE midlength handguard Magpul BAD lever(had to steal that one from yellowv) Magpul MBUS rear sight Lower Spikes Tactical or Aero stripped Lower Daniel Defense Lower Parts Kit Magpul MOE Stock(black) Spike's mil spec buffer tube kit. How does this look so far?
sounds like a good start to a good build,good job... now texshred777 go hang out at arfcom and get BRD.
It'll shoot. Save a few pennies and get the cheapest stripped lower you can find. That's what I'm probably going to end up doing. BCM/LaRue/Noveske upper, cheapo stripped lower, good parts kit. EDIT: Stay away from arfcom. Instead read up on m4carbine.net and ar15.com.
Oh, I HAVE been reading up on ar15.com and m4carbine.net. Those are the first places I saw the assembled BCM upper/build a lower recommendation.
arfcom is just a nickname for ar.15.com. Like Chickenhawk said look for the cheapest stripped lower you can find. They all do the same thing. There are deals to be had right now. The other day one place had a lower for $79.
Yeah, the Aero stripped lower I saw was $79. They get good enough reviews as well. Ok, so this is the upper assembly I'm looking at right now. http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-BFH-16-Mid-Length-Upper-Receiver-Light-Weight-p/bcm-urg-mid-16lw%20bfh%20vtrx11.htm Things have changed, and my $1000 budget..well, it's a little higher now.
Although I'm also kicking around just going with this one and the Magpul handguard. BCM BFH 16" Mid Length Upper Receiver Group
I can't afford a SCAR. Well, I'm not going to spend the cash for one anyway.. So other than Aimpoint, Eotech, or Trijicon what are good brands to check out for optics?
Aimpoint T-1 Micro. 2 MOA. There really isn't any other optic. Maybe an Aimpoint PRO, or an Eotech 512. Nah...T-1 Micro. Expensive, but worth every penny. I'm not a fan of stuff I can't rely on, so I have no comment on anything of lesser quality. No offense, just what I'm in the market for, and what I have experience with. MAAAYYYYBBBEEE a Burris Fastfire II, or Leupold Delta Point. But they are all a bit pricey, and for not much more money you can get a MUCH better optic (T-1). What kind of price range you looking at for an optic?