I've been planning on updating my old recce type upper since I didn't care for the front heavy government profile barrel.  I wanted something that was better balanced, with a center of gravity moved back towards my strong hand, so I started my update project there - the heart of the rifle, the bolt and barrel.  The Prime Sports panda hooked me up with a 14.5" Ballistic Advantage Hanson profile performance series barrel and bolt set: https://ballisticadvantage.com/ar15-barrels/556-nato/performance-series

I originally had a Noveske NSR keymod 15" handguard, but with everyone going MLOK, wanted to update that as well.  I went with the Geissele SMR Mk8 - I had thought about the URGI but didn't need another upper or barrel at a $1200 price point.  The Mk8 allows more than enough mounting points than I could ever use at the same time, so I was more than happy with it.  It wasn't available locally so I picked it up on sale during Black Friday: https://geissele.com/super-modular-rail-mk8-m-lok.html

I was never totally happy with the Gen 1 Magpul MBUS sights - I felt they were too wide and obscured too much sight picture, so when I had the opportunity I updated them to the adjustable MBUS Pro sights.  The sights are solid and all the adjustments are firm and tactile - there's a detent in the front sight so it will stay folded and won't accidentally flip up during harsh handling or recoil.

As a matter of full disclosure I wasn't paid by any of these companies, I used my own money for all of this, so I consider myself as objective as possible.    If you "get" this then, you get it.   

This was going to be a close-in type build so I knew right away I was going with an Eotech and magnifier combo.  I settled on the 518 since it uses commonly available AA batteries.  The CR123 is just as easy to find nowdays, but I liked the asthetic of the older Eotech models over the new XPS ones.  Yes the 518 takes up more rail space, but I'm not running uber spec op night vision or thermal so it's more than adequate for day or night work.

The last part I updated was the stock - I took off my old Magpul CTR and replaced it with the BCM Gunfigther stock.  The BCM filled a nice middle ground between the CTR and my other favorite stock the B5 Sopmod.  It offers me a good compromise between slim design and adequate cheek weld to make precision type shots, this one of the few things I thought was lacking in the CTR.  I always found it hard to get a nice consistent cheek weld on the CTR for precise shots.  https://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCMGUNFIGHTER-Stock-Assembly-Mod-0-SOPMOD-FDE-p/bcm-gfs-mod0-spmd-fde.htm

Once all my parts came in I took them over to Wayne at Pacific Custom Rifles to have them assembled which he was able to do in roughly a week.  I haven't had time since I've been really busy with work until today to get it zeroed, and I can say I'm pleased with the results.  The first pic is the completed project.  The second pic is the best 10 shot group I had today with Black Hills 77 grain at 100 yards.  I am convinced the barrel can shoot way better than my MkI eyeball and magnified Eotech.  I'm sure those of you out there could easily get better results with dedicated magnified optics and hand loads.  For shooting support I had a Caldwell front bag rest and that was it.  I'm still waiting on a few more small things to arrive, but this was the bulk of my update.