BigBlue wrote:

I ordered a 16" Daniel Defense M4 contour barrel with feed ramps and chrome lining.

Chrome lining makes a big difference. I slacked off and hadn't cleaned my gun in 500+ founds. I had a carbine match coming on the weekend so thought I better get it cleaned. I couldn't believe how clean the patch came out and only a hint of copper fouling. A long time AR guy told me that was the benefit of the chrome lining. He said I probably could go 2500 rounds without cleaning but recommended lubing more often.

I had been weighing the pros and cons of a chrome lined barrel. As you say the chrome lining is supposed to keep the bore from fouling and being harder it should even extend the barrel's life, but I had also read that they may not be as accurate as an unlined barrel. There might be greater variations in the bore size of a lined barrel. Supposedly the barrels are cut with a slightly larger bore to accommodate the chroming which can vary more. I figured if I was building a varmint or target upper with a longer barrel and accuracy as it's main concern, then I would steer clear of a chrome lining.
I also wanted to use a 5.56x45 chamber to enable me to use military ammo and avoid any pressure spikes I could get using that ammo in a .223 chamber. Again if I were looking to build a varmint or target upper I would have had it chambered in .223 and used strictly handloads.
BTW, I think I'm going to like that Vltor BCM Gunfighter charging handle.
Don

I'm getting very good accuracy from my chrome-lined barrel, 0.5 MOA groups with Fiochi 69gr SMK. I just have luckily gotten one of the better ones.

If accuracy for a varmit gun is the strategy, then a .223 chamber with a non-chrome line barrel would be the way to go. Do you buy that much military 5.56 ammo to make it worth getting a 5.56 chamber. At our local .223-only match, the bolt guns dominate. I think the .223 chamber is part of the reason.

BigBlue wrote:

BTW, I think I'm going to like that Vltor BCM Gunfighter charging handle.

Nice charge handle!

www.calssportingarmory...ighter.htm

slimjim wrote:

Do you buy that much military 5.56 ammo to make it worth getting a 5.56 chamber.

I already have at least 1500 rounds of 5.56 mil-surp ammo with most of it on stripper clips. I have two rifles in .223 for which I use mostly handloaded 69gr. bullets over Varget. Lately for groundhogs and such I have been using a H+R .22 mag. The thing is a real tack driver using 50gr. Federal Game-Shok JHP ammo.

You may already be infected with the disease for which no cure has been found. You build one then another then look for variations to justify another. Eventually you want one in pistol format

SyberShooter wrote:

You may already be infected with the disease for which no cure has been found.

You are soooo right! I'm already looking at a longer heavy barrel version in .223. I also have it mind to build a 1911 .45 from the frame on up.
Don

I started working on the Bravo Machine Co. upper. The Daniel Defense 1:7" 16" M4 barrel came this past week and it looks great. I also got a DPMS forward assist, barrel nut, delta pack and a really cool Molon Labe engraved ejection port door from Spikes Tactical. www.spikestactical.com...cts_id=434 I couldn't resist that one bit of bling. Anyway I installed the ejection door and forward assist. Ran into a problem with the delta pack. I didn't have a pair of snap ring pliers, but I was able to get it together anyway. I had also bought a barrel wrench from PRI that is built like a brick ahhh....outhouse? www.pri-mounts.com/mm5...Code=TOOLS One problem with that is that it won't fit into the delta ring to engage the barrel nut. I'll have to work that one out yet. I have a single rail gas block from Yankee Hill Machine on it's way. yankeehillmachine.com/...ct178.html I hope to put some flip up sights on it at some point. I also ordered a Magpul handguard, a DPMS A2 flashider and a Falcon Ind. ergo pistol grip. Little by little it's starting to come together.
Don

The PRI barrel wrench worked great, once I put the delta pack together the way it was meant to be. DUH!! Live and learn.
Don

BB, you've been bit bad! May you need to take a pill and chill. Enjoy shooting the first one for a while. Thanks for the links. Looking forward to the pictures when its complete.

I believe I just ordered the last part that I need to complete this build. I stress need because I know there will be a few parts that I'll add or change over time. This may be the last piece, but it is still is pretty important. www.bravocompanyusa.co...o%20mp.htm
Don

BigBlue, I keep reading that making sure your bolt key screws are staked good so that the bolt key doesn't come loose. Some manufactures do a minimal job. Mine from S&W weren't staked this much but at least you know to check it every so often it they are like the pictures in the link.

www.ar15armory.com/for...19144.html

Thanks for the link. It's nice to know what the staked bolt key screws are supposed to look like. I had just signed onto that forum this past week, but hadn't seen those photos. Hopefully the BCM bolt carrier will be as good as advertised. So far Bravo Company has been great, both in the speed of their delivery and in the quality of their parts.
Don

Been working on this one for a while now and it's ready to try at the range. I still have to save up for some quality optics and add some iron sights. It's my first complete build, I had put together a kit before. The lower is all DPMS parts as is the A2 flashider and forward assist, M4 upper w/feed ramps is from Bravo, barrel is Daniel Defense 1-7" chrome lined w/feed ramps, BCM bolt carrier assembly and Gunfighter charging handle, single rail gas block is from Yankee Hill Machine, Ergo pistol grip and the forend is from Magpul. It's wearing a Simmons 2-7x32 Prohunter in Burris Extreme Tactical rings until I get better optics for it. Hopefully an Aimpoint red dot.
Don