longer 1" bull barrel uppers but the 14.6" fluted barrel DSA (300$ sans bolt carrier for this mid length upper)is my favorite to take anywhere: it is compact light and handy and very reliable.

--
Of the Troops & For the Troops

I have a 20" Coyote upper I got last year. Put it on an A2 Bushy lower. Its my coyote rifle and is extremely accurate.

a decent supply of magazines, ammo and components if you want to reload.

Also cultivating good friends at the local Reserve or National Guard armory doesn't hurt either!

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=268.

The NM A4 with the flattop receiver -- going bit upscale, over the recommends. Not set in stone, but my AR-nephew says it's worth extra money to a picky detail fiend like me. He's building the lower, and will have it FFL'd to me.

OPTICS -- Red dots -- not a big fan. Raised on peeps/blades and cross-hairs. Don't have the hang of red-dottery. So, a rugged 1X4 scope or so, mebbe with a MINIMAL range scale seems most likely right now. Looked at around 200.00- 300.00 stuff. Not going to the ends of the Earth in a Climate Change Epic - I hope -- so recommendations 'suitable for civilian use' are OK.

Any other recommends for sighting equipment welcome. Nephew is picking good flip-up irons. Also, will be making a buy on magazines. RobL mentioned some sturdy middle priced ones, and mebbe ten to start?

A thousand rounds of reloadable bulk ammo is about 300.00; any better buys out there? For one-time cheap, GI, Chi-com disposable: 150 for a thou?

This is all new territory to me, so it's pretty much uphill fun. Hope I'm not bogging the board with this topic, and I do appreciate the expertise present and accounted for.

Thank you.

My M-4-gery.

Bushmaster upper and lower with Daniel Defense 16" barrel and rail. Aimpoint on top.

Looks like this is firming up: oughta be one nice piece of armament.

From my nephew:

So I'm going to start ordering the components for the rifle. This is the list

1. RRA coyote rifle upper http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=387 delivery time is 2-3 months we might get it faster if we're lucky

2. stripped lower receiver http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/firearms/receivers/psa-ar15-lower.html or something similar if I can find someone that stocks them locally.

3. Lower parts kit http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/lower-parts/moe-lower-build-kit.html in foliage green as you mentioned.

3. back up folding sights http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/sights-optics/magpul.html

4.Leatherwood 1-4x24 CMR Tactical 30mm Rifle Scope $317.95

Magazine suggestions?