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Are you building an AR?

23K views 369 replies 15 participants last post by  rawright54 
#1 ·
While howlnmad and I were discussing AR parts and builds over in the "what have you bought" thread, I had an idea to start a thread about AR builds. This could be a place to talk about your build, post pictures of what you have, talk about the best (cheapest) place to buy parts, or just talk about AR whatever!! I know there are other members who are in various stages of a build.

Last month I built an AR and I am now in the middle of building another one. The one I built last month was a retro style with the old triangle hand guards, but I couldn't find a A1 or A2 upper that I could afford so I used a flattop and a removable carry handle to get the "look". The one I am working on now is going to have a 20 inch barrel with quad rail with free floating barrel. All I like to be finished with the upper is the gas tube and the flash hider. I have not touched the lower yet. I will put up a picture or two on the upper a little later.
 
#279 ·
I have some (about a dozen) of the kind that are supposed to fit around each raised area on the rail and are round once installed Each one is about 2 inches long and all of these are black except for two which are Tan. Each one of them are a two pieces that slip together and lock into place over the rail. The ones I have will not lock together on the quad rail that I have. I am pretty sure that the rail is probably a tiny bit too thick or wide.
 
#283 ·
In .223 they are. I'm on the third reloading of the 20 that I set back for this test, so far none needed any trimming until this third time, and minimal at that, primer pockets are tight as they were on the first, which I don't see them going south at all given I'm loading them right at 3000FPS. I've talked with others who reload them and they have cases that have been reloaded ten times, I think that I would pitch them at ten personally. Thinking on that, if you have 1000 rounds then you're good for 10k at ten times per. I've seen some say that they couldn't get good neck tension when they tried it, so far so good on these, but it's one of the things I'm watching closely.
 
#284 ·
Thanks, I did not know they were boxers!! Good to know they are holding up well, too. I just ordered 500 rounds of Tulammo .223 a couple of days ago. Are you dry tumbling them of do you use the wet SS pins? I use the wet tumbling, so that makes me wonder if they will rust!?!?!?
 
#285 ·
No, I dry tumble, but I'll say that since I started using the IMR 8208XBR, it just burns so clean that there really isn't a need to tumble at all. I just wipe them down before lubing for sizing, then I do wash them in a bit of Simple Green to get the lanolin off, blow dry with compressed air then toss in the oven for a bit at 180 to make sure they're completely dry before loading. I tumble in corncob with a capful of Nushine after loading through, figure if the stuff will protect your car finish for a year it'll do the same for steel case ammo.

Anyways, hijack over with, almost turned into the reloading forum!

I managed to get the gas block off my "problem child" and while there is a small amount of carbon on the tube where it comes out of the block, I don't think it's enough to be the source of the problem. No leak between the block and the barrel itself, gas port isn't plugged, but I did notice that the rill pin for the tube wasn't through far enough to catch the far side of the block. Also, when I put it back on, the block wanted to be rotated a tiny bit to the left in order for the tube to slide freely through the nut for the free-float handguard. The handguard itself is square to the rail on the flat-top, but I suspect that the hole for the tube might just be a smidgen off where it should be, it's a cheapy full-float handguard off ebay, I may have to take it off and enlarge that one hole just a tad for clearance. Going to check and see how the gas tube hits as far as centering on the BCG, if it's off kilter that may be contributing to the short-stroking. Hate it when there's not an obvious fault to be found...
 
#287 ·
George,
I finally got it. It was delivered to my daughters in NC. Haven't got the rifle finished but I did look down the barrel and it does look like it needs a good cleaning. I was curious why they were take offs too. It'll be awhile before this one gets done for me to find out. I was checking their sight the other day and they had new, in the white barrels for $99. I'll have to take a closer look for any burs or such. Thanks for the heads up.
 
#292 ·
Have any of you guys bought a barrel off ebay? There are several in the $100 - $200 range that look good in pictures, but I'm not sure of the quality. There seems to be a lot of AR parts on ebay for cheaper prices than the major dealers and I'm wondering if they are worth buying.
 
#293 ·
I don't Know about the quality of the eBay barrels. The last one I built (in June) was built entirely from eBay except the barrel and receiver. I don't see why they would not be any difference in them, though. If sold by a "reputable" dealer, you should be able to return it if a problem arises.
 
#294 ·
I came across this blurb on the White Oak web site:

" Our modified gas system delays the unlocking of the bolt. This reduces the stress on your brass, aids in longer case life, and also helps ensure proper functioning with heavier bullets and slow burning powders."

Any idea how they do this and is it really an improvement or just marketing hype?
 
#297 ·
I believe that the 10 and 12 inch barrels would have to be either a SBR or pistol. A 14 1/2 inch barrel requirrs the flash hider to be pinned and non removable. 16" is minimum barrel length.
 
#298 ·
SCORE!! I did my weekly stop at my lgs today. Last week when I stopped in I got to chatting with one of the regulars about ARs. Told him I am building an old school with triangular hand gaurds and he said he thought he had a set and would look for them. I walk in today and there he sits with a set of hand gaurds and a buttstock. He says that the stock doesn't need the adapter so I'm assuming it's an A1 stock. I asked how much and he says nothing, just wanted to get them gone. People are awesome sometimes.
 
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#304 ·
Yes there are. I offered to pay him but he wouldn't take my money. I'm d own to the receiver extension, buffer spring/buffer, charging handle, BCG, charging handle, barrel nut and delta pack.
 
#307 ·
I already said something to the wife to the effect that I have one slot still empty in my "gun fridge" in the basement, however I'd find it difficult to explain how I plan to fit THREE into that one slot. And six AR's? I barely find time to shoot the three that I have along with the pistols, SKS, bp rifle and an occasional .22.
 
#305 ·
#308 ·
Any one here ever replace a pinned on gas block with one with set screws and if so did the cuts in the barrel interfere with the screws? I'm looking to replace the A2 front sight with a railed gas block.
 
#312 ·
howln, I found three of them instead of two. Here is a picture of all three, what we have are:
1. Left one is a low profile with one top rail, not set screws but the two screws "clamshell" them together.
2. Middle one is a rail height with two rails (top and bottom) with two set screws on the bottom
3. Right one is a low profile quad, rails all four sides with two set screws on the bottom.

I do not have the roll pin and they all tighten with a regular old allen wrench.

Which one you want?

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