AR Build

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:56 pm

Alright...Figured I'd start this thread to chronicle the buildup of a new AR for those that are interested (Diggity). Kind of a long-term thing. I now have incurable black rifle fever. The first one I built ended up with a 24" barrel and weighs 13lbs. Accuracy is now about 1/4 MOA on a very good day. That's 4-5 bullet holes overlapping each other @ 100 yards.

Start:

Nearly current state:

I think I have around $1100 in it including glass. Initial cost was about $700.

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:24 pm

For my next rifle I want something compact and easy to cary. Goal for weight is <6lbs. Barrel length will probably be 10.5", dictating registration as a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR). OAL should be about 16" less than my bench AR. I figured that going from a completely clean slate would be the best way to go, so everything will be stripped to its most basic form, then I'll assemble with parts of my choosing.

To start off, I went with a Tactical Innovations 7075 billet lower. Most lowers are finish-machined forgings and I wanted something a little above and beyond, that would also look good. It's got a couple neat features like the integral trigger guard, and some reinforcement in key areas, but otherwise it's eye candy.

Got a Larue Stealth billet 7075 upper to go along with it:

Fit is very tight.

Blue Shift · Post by **Blue Shift** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:31 pm

Yet another reason I wish I didn't live in teh Peoples Republik of Kalifornia...

DiggityBiggity · Post by **DiggityBiggity** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 3:53 am

Did I post a picture of my rifle on here?

Very nice AR.. that's my next rifle purchase after I pick up a sweet little Smith and Wesson revolver :thumbleft:

The Dark Side of Will · Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:57 am

Indy wrote:To start off, I went with a Tactical Innovations 7075 billet lower.

Got a Larue Stealth billet 7075 upper to go along with it:

Fit is very tight.

From different MFG's? That's an impressive degree of standardization for aftermarket equipment.

What's wrong with a machined forging? Nobody fully machines them as though they were connecting rods?

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 1:27 pm

The Dark Side of Will wrote:
Indy wrote:To start off, I went with a Tactical Innovations 7075 billet lower.

Got a Larue Stealth billet 7075 upper to go along with it:

Fit is very tight.
From different MFG's? That's an impressive degree of standardization for aftermarket equipment.

What's wrong with a machined forging? Nobody fully machines them as though they were connecting rods?

Yeah different MFG...Currently it's looking like:
Tactical Innovations lower
Larue upper
G&R Lower parts kit (probably 4-5 different MFG's right there)
JP Rifles bolt Carrier
Noveske barrel/bolt/flash hider
LMT reciever extension tube
Magpul stock (good shit, love 'em)
Daniel Defense rail system

So yeah...Dimension critical parts from about 7 different manufacturers, without breaking a sweat. And THAT'S why I chose the AR platform.

Nothing wrong with the forging, just not finish machined quite as pretty as I would like, and I've seen some alignment tolerances nearly out of spec from the big four makers. Most surfaces just have the flash line cleaned up a little. I was looking for something straight looking I guess. Don't start the billet vs forged debate over on AR15.com ....They'll crucify those who want it to look good instead of only function properly. I think both the upper and the lower were made on the "tight" side of the tolerance envelope, which is what I wanted. I was worried that the pin boss on the upper (hole opposite the threaded end) wasn't going to fit into the slot in the lower. There's a nylon set screw to keep the upper right on the lower, but it will definitly not be needed. I measured with a mic, if the rear pin boss on the upper was another .0005" thicker it simply wouldn't have fit without some TLC with a file. The first time I put the two together it scraped off some of the anodizing, but it didn't even get down to bare metal, hehe.

The forged uppers and lowers are pretty much a guaranteed fit every time, unless you get something that should have been rejected coming through the line anyway.

Diggity, more pics of the M1? I LOVE those weapons, but couldn't justify the larger upfront costs vs spreading it out more by buying components. Oh, and I would have NO idea how to put one together.

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 1:29 pm

DiggityBiggity wrote: Very nice AR.. that's my next rifle purchase after I pick up a sweet little Smith and Wesson revolver :thumbleft:

This last saturday I spent some quality time with a friends .38 Special and .44 Mag S&W big frame revolvers. Not sure which models...Fun shooting though, love the .44 Magnum :afrocool:

DiggityBiggity · Post by **DiggityBiggity** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:18 pm

Indy wrote: Not sure which models...Fun shooting though, love the .44 Magnum :afrocool:

If it was a large frame I haven't fired those models. I really like the SMALL 442, which fires .38

It's "too small" for me, but conceal ability is key!!

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:53 pm

Lower parts (trigger, mag catch, etc) are on the way. This will be my first time assembling the lower half, I've heard it's pretty easy. With any luck I can test fire on my old upper this weekend. For now I'll have to use some left-over stock and grip parts from my other gun.

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:50 am

cool deal man - I also had a little "black gun fever" and bought an AK clone and started stocking up on ammo.

got a new thumbhole stock, foregrip, and red-dot scope for my shotgun and a new grip for my handgun

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:59 pm

Kohburn wrote:cool deal man - I also had a little "black gun fever" and bought an AK clone and started stocking up on ammo.

got a new thumbhole stock, foregrip, and red-dot scope for my shotgun and a new grip for my handgun

I would LOVE to have an AK...Would be a good gun to have in case of total anarchy and madness.

I got the LPK! The lower is almost entirely assembled. There's one hole that has some abrasive powder or something in it, that I couldn't get out when I was thoroughly cleaning the rest of the receiver before assembly. I'll have to clean it out before I can get the stock on (collapsible M4 I had lying around), but everything else seems okay. It took me about 1hr of reading, and about 15 minutes of actual work. It turned out being MUCH easier than I thought. Pics tomorrow.

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:56 pm

Here's the lower with a standard USGI grip, M4 stock, and a PMAG stuck in it.

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:12 pm

Pics of the other AR I'm building. :afrocool:

p8ntman442 · Post by **p8ntman442** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:20 pm

EBSB52 · Post by **EBSB52** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 8:08 pm

Indy wrote:Alright...Figured I'd start this thread to chronicle the buildup of a new AR for those that are interested (Diggity). Kind of a long-term thing. I now have incurable black rifle fever. The first one I built ended up with a 24" barrel and weighs 13lbs. Accuracy is now about 1/4 MOA on a very good day. That's 4-5 bullet holes overlapping each other @ 100 yards.

Start:

Nearly current state:

I think I have around $1100 in it including glass. Initial cost was about $700.

Sweet, I have a 762x39 Sporter I traded back in 94 for an UZI. An Uzi is cool by name, but a MAC 11 does the same thing and is more compact. That AR kicks ass.

crzyone · Post by **crzyone** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:27 am

I've shot my father in-laws AR plenty of times, I love those guns. We can get them in Canada amazingly but I'm not much of a gun collector. My wife is American so whenever we go visit we load up a bunch of bullets and go out shooting.

We were shooting the caps off of coke bottles at over 150 yards, good times.

Not sure what they are called but he has a site on it that doesn't maginify much but had a nice little red dot when you look through the site. Makes for wicked fast point and shoot. He also has a scope for it but I prefer the red light sight.

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:43 pm

crzyone wrote:I've shot my father in-laws AR plenty of times, I love those guns. We can get them in Canada amazingly but I'm not much of a gun collector. My wife is American so whenever we go visit we load up a bunch of bullets and go out shooting.

We were shooting the caps off of coke bottles at over 150 yards, good times.

Not sure what they are called but he has a site on it that doesn't maginify much but had a nice little red dot when you look through the site. Makes for wicked fast point and shoot. He also has a scope for it but I prefer the red light sight.

Was probably an Aimpoint, Trijicon ACOG, or equivalent. Those Trijicon's are sex but go for like $800 at minimum. Most of the Aimpoints are cheaper, but still $$$.

Any guesses?

crzyone · Post by **crzyone** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:06 pm

Flash supressor or muzzle brake?

p8ntman442 · Post by **p8ntman442** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:59 pm

leight weight front grip!

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:30 pm

Filling out a Form 1, and making my own sound suppressor :afrocool:

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