The week of July 4th, 2026, I decided to build an AR rifle to commemorate the anniversary of our great nation. I mentioned that, like many of you, this was not my first build and I had the typical tote full of pieces and parts, accumulated over the years.
I suppose that gave me the itch as I went through my totes and discovered more rifle parts that were begging to become part of another build project. However, unlike the previously discussed “Madison” rifle with lots of modern features, for this project I decided to go back to my roots. Back to basics.
Back to Basics Gun Build
For this undertaking, I wouldn’t have to install a barrel, a gas tube, etc. I had a fully assembled Sabre Defense Industries (now defunct) upper receiver with an A2-style carrying handle, a 16-inch barrel and mid-length direct gas impingement operating system.
The bolt carrier group is standard AR, as is the charging handle. The rear sight on the carrying handle is an A2 design with an “8/3” setting, not the M4-style with “6/3.”
Like most old school uppers, there’s a forward assist, brass deflector and hinged dust cover. An A2 front sight housing with bayonet lug is there and, as this is a mid-length gas system, a bayonet will indeed fit on the 16-inch barrel properly should I choose to go that route.
For the lower receiver, I had purchased a Noreen Firearms billet stripped lower a couple of years ago for a good price and had yet to build it out. The lower is made of 6061-T6 billet aluminum and has an enlarged built-in trigger guard. Noreen used a type III hard anodized finish. As you would expect, the lower is milspec to be compatible with all standard AR style parts and components.
In my tote filled with parts are ziplock bags with lower receiver components; bolt catches, pivot and takedown pins, magazine catches, detent pins and springs, etc. Also, I had a milspec AR trigger with the corresponding pins. Assembling the stripped lower was simple enough with all of the dedicated tools from Brownells.
As I mentioned, I wanted to go back to my roots for this project, so I decided to install the A2 fixed stock that I had removed from a rifle years ago and held onto. Just in case.
For those who have never done it, installing a fixed milspec stock on an AR is even simpler than an M4 retractable version. There’s no backplate and no castle nut to tighten, only a large flathead screw right above the cleaning kit storage area. Way before the millenials were filling their buttstocks with Skittles, we actually kept our M-16 cleaning gear in that compartment.
For the pistol grip, I had just received a new version from XTech Tactical. This part is called the ATG – Adjustable Tactical Grip for AR-15. The grip mounts and adjusts, with the included bolt and hex key, to three different angles 17º, 25º, & 33º. I decided to mount it at the 17º position and see how I liked it.
The forearm/forend is the standard two-piece polymer version in mid-length with aluminum heat-shields clipped in. Despite what your Drill Sergeant might have told you, there is never a good reason to pop out the heat-shields for cleaning. Neither the aluminum nor the plastic is going to rust. I have witnessed obsessive compulsive persons who popped out the heat-shields only to break one or more of the locking tabs that hold them in place.
An old school, black nylon AR sling finished the ensemble nicely. Now, I was ready to hit the range to BZO my rifle.
Range Time
As any good troop would, prior to departing for the range, I disassembled the bolt carrier group and made sure that it was starting out clean and well-lubricated. Like most self-loading arms, ARs bolts like to be wet.
To feed the beast, I went to the storage shelf and pulled out three brand new Brownells aluminum milspec AR magazines with anti-tilt followers. These were picked up during a previous sale and stored for just such an occasion. Many folks might not know it, but Brownells was supporting the war effort during GWoT by producing millions of milspec 30 round M4 magazines for the War Department.
The barrel on the upper is rollstamped “1:9 5.56 NATO”. Therefore, the loads I would run through the gun would vary from 50 to 62 grain weight. The Black Hills Ammunition 5.56mm 62 grain Dual Performance seemed to be a perfect fit for the rifle and I used that load to BZO the iron sights at 25 meters.
My final group to verify the zero measured 0.65 inches, so I figured I was good to get up off of the bench and move around.
In addition to the 62 grain Black Hills load, I used their 50 grain TSX load, also in 5.56mm and a bunch of 55 grain FMJ in .223 Remington. The aluminum GI mags from Brownells performed without issue, as was expected.
When it comes to sixteen inch rifle barrels, the mid-length gas system is truly the Goldilocks set up, at least for me. When it comes to the non-NFA minimum length of sixteen inches for a rifle, not an “AR pistol”, a short (carbine) gas system offers a sharper recoil impulse, higher cyclic rate and more pressure. None of those are required to make the gun function “better.”
Truthfully, words can’t really express well enough the feeling or the difference in the feel between a mid-length and short AR gas system. It’s just something you need to get out and test for yourself. Another difference in this build from a “carbine” was the use of a rifle-length stock which allows for a rifle-length buffer and buffer spring.
Shooting this back-to-basics AR was quite a pleasant experience. I didn’t feel hampered by a lack of aftermarket add-ons or accessories. I even remembered how to use iron sights.
It was good to get back to my roots and apply the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship and gun handling.
Paul G. Markel is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran. He is also the founder of Student of the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades.