We sent a few lucky Magpul folks to Big Texas Ordnance (BTO) in Conroe, Texas, to learn the ins and outs of building an exceptional AR15 with industry legend and expert, Jim Hodge.

As the founder and owner of Hodge Defense Systems, Jim knows the deep science behind what makes an AR perform at its peak for the long term – as well as how to customize the AR platform to fit individual needs. With all his builds, he focuses on what he calls the “uniqueness in material solutions” that drive the quality, features, and functioning of every part of a proper AR build. In Episode One, we hunkered down with Jim at BTO while he explained some of the technical and material considerations behind the build process – starting with the AR-15 upper.