Help me solidify my future AR build?
So, I've been (unsuccessfully) saving up for a WASR-10 for a while now, and finally decided to put it on the backburner and get an AR instead. I already planned on doing that, but I wanted to grab one after the WASR, as it was the bigger upfront cost and needed the most budgeting, after which most other things I wanted would be easier to get. As I said, though, I'm putting a pin in that to get a practical AR setup going and I have a pretty solid idea, but wanted feedback on some things to see what you all think and would suggest.
Before we begin, this isn't going to be the single most min-maxed pragmatic build ever. I'm knowingly picking some parts just because I like them, but I do genuinely want to make the rest of it as good as it can be without breaking the bank.
Anyway, my plan, so far, is to start with, essentially, this guy's build as a base:
https://youtu.be/HQO3tThYQCo?si=ZTEQb5GLXrS0Tq\_A
He did struggle with the quality of his upper, so I want to avoid that and I'm willing to shell out more money to fix that, but don't know what to go with.
I do want to keep the A2 stock, and while that optic is fine for me to start out I do have my eye on a 3x ACOG, but that will have to be budgeted for down the line.
I also thought I'd add the Cloud Defensive Rein 3 as the light.
For the handguard, I want to go with an A1 style triangular model.
I intend, currently, to go with a 20", 1:7 twist heavy barrel, and, at some point, to get it free-floated.
I have heard about heavy buffer tube options, but I'm not enough of an AR guy to know what the options are and what the benefits are.
Finally, I want a good flash hider, but I don't know anything about the kind that ARs use.
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to consult you all before I pulled the proverbial trigger on anything and committed money to it. Thank you all in advance.