So after completing my first middy length AR (see below), I am in the process of doing research and putting together a 20" precision/hunting/varmint tac driver. I am still working on my 300 black build, but that is further down the road.


So far here's what I'm thinking:

Spikes Tactical Lower:


BCM 20" upper with MI 15" rail


Fortis Hammer charging handle:


Rainier Arms NiB BCG:


BAD stainless ambi safety:


Fortis Rapid Engagement muzzle brake:


Ergo Tactical grip:


MFT battlelink stock with cheek riser:




Leupold VX-2 3-9x33mm Ultralight Rifle Scope
ALG ACT trigger with JP 3.5 lbs. springs

Total cost will be right around $1,800 including everything.

I will keep you guys posted with pics along the way!

One piece of advice regarding the NiBx bolt carrier group, just the bolt benefits from the NiBx coating. I have a Fail Zero semi-auto BCG. The carrier, just as a regular carrier, really doesn't get that fouled and remains easy to clean. The big difference is in a NiBx bolt. That sucker is 100X easier to clean than a standard bolt.

If you wanted to save a few bucks just get a NiBx bolt and drop it into a standard bolt carrier.

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-John

BTW congrats on the rapid progression of your black rifle disease. It seems like only yesterday, I was reading your first post regarding an M&P 15T(?). Now you're building a dedicated long range rifle and intend to build a 300 AAC BLK upper.

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-John

Thanks JP....it really is a disease! But like I tell my wife, I don't smoke, drink or gamble. If I played golf, new clubs run $1500 plus green fees are $50 a pop if I played every week. Shooting is a hobby, and something that my friends and I enjoy. Once you get over the initial start up costs i.e. buying new weapons, it really isn't that bad.

Tell your wife that you're only in the early stages. Tell her to only start worrying if you get one of these:



Start saving your once fired brass cases for when you decide to start loading your own.

The next stage after AR-15 disease ... you bought a factory one, then you build one, then you build one chambered in something other than 5.56 NATO... you'll get bored and end up buying one of these:



^ I'm very, very close to entering terminal Modern Sporting Rifle disease.

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-John

So true....my buddy reloads all my .223 brass for his 300 ammo, and If I go to the range and don't save my brass he gets angry....!

Reloading is about the only way to get ahold of .300BLK ammo for plinking nowadays. Nice looking build you have there. Where you thinking of getting your Spike's lower at?

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15T,15-22,5946 & some not S&W

Local Coast Guard exchange has one saved for me $300 out the door fully built (which is same as on line pricing, but I don't have to pay tax, shipping, or FFL fees). Just going to swap out stock, pistol grip and trigger. Going to build up lower first, then slap on the 20 inch BCM......should be a pretty accurate rifle

The exchange in Portsmouth? I didn't know they sold firearms.

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15T,15-22,5946 & some not S&W

Not in Portsmouth.....Chesapeake off Greenbrier

I was just over there, off of Eden Way. So, anyways. The BAD levers are really good. I have a set on my 15-22. The Spikes Tactical lower I have is of pretty good quality. The roll pin hole on the bolt catch was a bit tight. I had to open it up just a tad. And as far as the .300BLK goes, good luck with it. Factory ammo around here is either pricey or not available.

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15T,15-22,5946 & some not S&W

Just got Spikes lower in....

Looks pretty good. You still going with the BCM upper?

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15T,15-22,5946 & some not S&W

Hopefully if I can find the one I want......DPMS makes a good full size as well, and so does PSA but they are always out of stock.

Just a few things to think about. As reference I built a Colt ar 15 back years ago. I don't remember all the name brand stuff I put in it but one thing I do remember: bull barrel custom reamed and chambers for 223 improved. You can form your own brass just by shooting factory rounds in it. Gives an increase of 2-300 fps and some added accuracy to go along. All the parts upper and lowers will work with no modification since all your are doing is changing shoulder angle and moving the shoulder a little forward. #X9 scope is not enough for long range prarie dog shooting. I started there with the rifle I built and it outshot the scope. Went to a 4X12 , same result. I would up with a 6X25, all Leuplod, and was going to go higher, but a friend decided he just had to have it. Ditch the forward handle for a good stout bipod, or minimum good set of shooting sticks. Shooting P dogs off hand will not be fun if you don't like to miss. Average P dog range is between 2-300 yards for those that have not been previously shot at. The shy ones begin at 400 yds on out to 6-800 yds. A p dog is a mighty small target even at 200. Trigger needs to be lighter than 3.5 lbs if you can manage it. Serious p dog hunters run bolt guns down to 3-4 ounces as a regular thing. I am not an expert in black guns or p dog hunting, but have burned considerable powder in the last 40 years of competition and p dog hunting.

Ron, I doubt he is planning to use this for prairie dogs... 300 blackout is for much larger game, and for shooting with a suppressor. Think .30 caliber power out of a 5.56 size package.

Thanks for the input, but 3.5 lbs. trigger pull with the ALG ACT/JP springs will serve me well, as I am already running the same set up in my mid length AR. This rifle will not specifically be for P dogs, but coyotes, pigs, and 200+ yards range sessions. This is not a 300 AAC build (mentioned that in OP), but more than likely a .223 Wylde precision build, which I like because of the overall accuracy and the fact that it is a happy medium between .223 and 5.56!

Trying to get on board with the Spikes lower, since they are semi-local, though it would be nice to support local co. - but man they seem to have a bad rap across most of the AR enthusiast forums. Let us know what you think of the lower...

My bad... saw 300 black in the first post and it just stuck there...

Most of what I have seen for review on Spikes products are very good. I build a mid length and am happy with it. Any specific gripes about them?

In a similar situation a friend of mine told his wife, "Honey, it's cheaper than a Porsche and less complicated than a redhead."

Her reaction? "We'll, since you put it that way, go ahead."

I agree with Desert Five-0... A lot of guys complain about the roll mark, but other than that, no issues.

fit and finish looks great on the Spikes lower....you are aware their lowers are built by Aero? There are only a handful of companies making lowers for other companies. I have actually only heard good things about spikes.....

There are a handful of forges that forge the lower, but final quality is determined by who does the finishing machinery. I had read that LAR provides the forged lowers for both Spikes and CMMG. I had a CMMG lower that was out of spec and wouldn't let mags drop freely. There was a line inside the magwell, where the metal wasn't machined properly. This was due to machinery that was out of spec at CMMG, and did not reflect on the quality of LAR's forging.

The only issue I have had with my Spikes lower has been a tighter mag well. Some of my p-mag's release just fine, but others drag a bit. I don't have any problems with any of the mags in my 15T.

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15T,15-22,5946 & some not S&W

going to be a busy weekend.....

That one is coming along pretty darn sweet. I'm liking that trigger guard lots......As for the .300 BLK. Please tell me u are building it in SBR and plan on suppressing it. I've been seeing a bunch of the standard 16" builds lately. But i wish more people would build them the way they were intended to be used. .300 BLK from a 9" is just a nasty little round.

Heres my lower from my custom build a few years back.

Absolutely yes on the Blackout build....couldn't agree more about too many people going mid length. I love that you get the same ballistics as 7.62 x 39 out of the AR-15 platform with only a barrel change. Everything else in your stock AR-15 can stay the same, and the caliber is designed to be shot both supersonic and subsonic without screwing around with the gas system.

The build looks good so far. I thought you were going to use a B.A.D selector?

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15T,15-22,5946 & some not S&W

Decided to wait....need to order my 20" upper. BAD lever is one of those luxury items that I can live without. Rather save up for BCG, Scope etc.

Swapped out my Spikes lower with my 15T upper to make sure it was running.....not one issue! Put about 100 rounds of Wolf Gold 55 grainers through.


The outer circle was my flyer, the inner circle was the group after I got my EOTech dialed in. Not great, but I will take it nonetheless using ****** ammo.

Realized I never responded here... I have no experience with them, but since they are close, I though it would be cool to support a local builder. (Daniel Defense is also close as well ). Just seems like most comments on Spikes seems to refer not so much about their products (which do garner good reviews) but more about their "state of mind" I guess - more of a mall ninja type company with their recent offerings, as well as some issue with the owners/staff and customer support issues. Could all be bunk - as I said I have no direct experience. Just seems to be the impression I get across the various AR/MR forums in general.

They have been known to make a few products that are more for a look than real purpose... but it sells. Some guys like the look of a suppressor but don't like the cost of the stamp.

Understandable. I don't see much purpose in their 37mn flare/"grenade" launcher. All I can attest to is the products I have used which dose not include all that mall ninja ****.

Mall ninja aside...the only thing I'm running that is Spikes is the lower and buffer spring/tube. The fit and finish is flawless and mated up to my M&P 15T perfectly.

I guess I can't judge, I do have one of their fake cans on my 15-22 lol...




Great, thanks for the info - I genuinely wanted information on these - like I mentioned since they are just down the road (well, about an hour) I like supporting local business, etc.

We must all have that can on our 15-22. -=)

300 AAC is a whole new step to my severe MSRD (Modern Sporting Rifle Disorder)...Jpes helped me sort out a hydraulic buffer question in my first AR a few yrs back when i got an MP15T in 5.56...became an epic thread with guys shipping the AR-Restor by Enidine around and testing it in their real-life practical applications...since then, i have gotten more and more ill, submitting tax stamps for suppressors and SBRs on my 300 AACs...just finished my first "ground-up" AR pistol build while waiting on tax stamp...what began as a "hobby rifle" with my S&W now includes another Smith, an AAC MPW 9" SBR in 300 Blackout, a custom AR-10 built from combining SW upper to Wilson lower, and my most recent toy shown here, which got a bit over budget...lol

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part-time ninja...

Killer Pistol build! Trying to go the QCBR MK18 route seems like more trouble than it is worth....would be great to own one though!