The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Tactical Rifle & Carbine => Topic started by: Bidah on November 28, 2008, 09:06:59 AM
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We have had some discussion here (thanks Erik) about what to do with the lower that I had gotten earlier this year. Well I finally did get all the parts and get the build done, but ended up in a totally different direction. Of course, with a barrel change I can always change my mind later...
The magazines in the pictures are empty, and the rifle is not loaded. Illustration purposes only!!!
(http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/d06cf7aa21.jpg) (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)
(http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/3d4590f638.jpg) (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)
Now for the specs.. The upper is a Colt Contract A1 with a teardrop assist. The barrel is a FN contract 1/12 twist barrel that was originally 20" in length. I h ad it cut to 16" and then threaded. The flash hider is the A1 birdcage (will change later). The reason for this is I wanted a carbine, but I also wanted the longer sight radius. I also wanted a rifle length gas system. Yes, I know that I am limited to 55gr bullets, but that is ok with me as that is mostly what I (and my wife) shoot except for my match rifle. The darned thing is light, and very handy. I know it is a little retro, being with A1 sights, no fancy rails or other gadgets. Just plain. It does shoot pretty good, so far. I have run some 200 rounds of dirty nasty Wolf through it, and then some good ammo for a function test, and not a single hiccup. I will keep and eye on it just to make sure that the gas port is open enough. That was a concern as to the port size as there is not as much dwell time after the port due to the decreased length of the barrel. It is a fun project, even if it is not exotic as I had planned. It IS different though.
-Bidah
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Put some shorter carbine length grips on that thing
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Beauty is in the eye of the holder...Hope I'm able to afford one myself.
Richard
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Put some shorter carbine length grips on that thing
Well I can't, well not unless I go with a free float, and then it would be funny, honestly. The gas system is rifle length (as opposed to carbine or pistol length), so that front sight is not there for show, it is actually the gas block.
-Bidah
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I like it. Long sight length is nice.
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I was surprised to see a good old A1 upper. I like it. A2 rear sights aren't regulated for the ballistics of a 16" barrel anyway. It might look even better with a fixed stock. The great thing about ARs is you can build a Franken-rifle any way you want it. Mine are unique too. I need to get a camera so I post pics. My 16" has an A1/A2 transition upper that Colt only made for a few years. It's like an A2 with with built-in brass deflector but an A1 sight.
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I like it! :o
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I did put it on a lower that I have with a full length A2 stock. While it looks ok, it is a bit longer than I want. I have thought about getting an A1 stock, which is an inch or so shorter.
-Bidah
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I think the A1 stock is only around 5/8" shorter. I could take the the spacer out of my A2 and measure it but I know it's not a huge difference. IMO it would have been better if they slapped an extended butt plate on the A1 instead of switching to the A2. That would allow people to use one stock at either length by switching butt plates. The A2 is too long for a lot of people if they wear a thick coat or body armor.
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I think the A1 stock is only around 5/8" shorter. I could take the the spacer out of my A2 and measure it but I know it's not a huge difference. IMO it would have been better if they slapped an extended butt plate on the A1 instead of switching to the A2. That would allow people to use one stock at either length by switching butt plates. The A2 is too long for a lot of people if they wear a thick coat or body armor.
And that is how the collapsible stock has come to rule the world.
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And that is how the collapsible stock has come to rule the world.
I thought it was because in the mid-1960s the army wanted a submachinegun sized weapon in an assault rifle caliber that was easy to handle getting in and out of vehicles, and now everyone thinks they look cool. 8) If collapsible stocks were "ruling the world" they would be on all service rifles and target rifles, instead of only being used on short carbines. The collapible stock is too short for average sized adults and teens when it's fully collapsed. A fixed stock of the correct length lends itself to better accuracy due to no moving parts making it more stable and it's being more comfortable. Just my $.02 worth.
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I thought it was because in the mid-1960s the army wanted a submachinegun sized weapon in an assault rifle caliber that was easy to handle getting in and out of vehicles, and now everyone thinks they look cool. 8) If collapsible stocks were "ruling the world" they would be on all service rifles and target rifles, instead of only being used on short carbines. The collapible stock is too short for average sized adults and teens when it's fully collapsed. A fixed stock of the correct length lends itself to better accuracy due to no moving parts making it more stable and it's being more comfortable. Just my $.02 worth.
That would be a jumbofranken AR.
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One of mine is jumbofranken-AR, aka Sweet 16, and the other one is son of jumbofranken-AR, aka My Little Friend. Each one is a real mish-mash of parts. Lots of fun building stuff like that. I just can't bring myself to create a bride of jumbofranken-AR. You know, like a pink one.
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I've always respected the AR's abilitity to take different set-ups and still run 100%.
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Bidah,
Very nice setup. It will serve you well and it will never run out of batteries!
I think an A1 stock would be perfect. In case you didn't know, the A1 stock is the same length as the newer collapsable stocks (when fully extended.) I use a very similar setup for my HD rifle. I'll have to get some pics of it. If you can find one, look for an A1 stock with the trapdoor compartment. It's a nice way to carry some spare parts or a small bottle of oil and a bore snack wrapped in a rag.
Nice job.
USSA-1
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Thanks everybody. Ok, especially Erik.. :) I will see if I can track down an A1 stock and see how that does. I would like to find a used one, and I have seen them before. It will be painted, so I don't care how rough the stock looks. Someday I might track down a 1/7 barrel and have that cut and ready to replace this one. This barrel is so tight I am not sure it was ever installed on a rifle, but just some leftover parts with the old twist.
Oh, I can always just build another upper, once the prices come down a bit from the frenzy. I still want one that is a caliber above. I will have to track down another Colt A1 or maybe one of the Canadian DK ones. Oh, the addiction continues...
-Bidah
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Bidah,
Very nice setup. It will serve you well and it will never run out of batteries!
I think an A1 stock would be perfect. In case you didn't know, the A1 stock is the same length as the newer collapsable stocks (when fully extended.) I use a very similar setup for my HD rifle. I'll have to get some pics of it. If you can find one, look for an A1 stock with the trapdoor compartment. It's a nice way to carry some spare parts or a small bottle of oil and a bore snack wrapped in a rag.
Nice job.
USSA-1
Fully extended the LOP on my six-position M4 stock is actually longer than an A1 stock or an A2. I have to put it one click in to make it equal to the length of my A2. Collapsing it in two clicks would make it about equal to the A1 stock. If you add a butt pad you can only extend the stock halfway out to equal the A1 length. The collapsible stock is over an inch longer than the A1. Your stocks must be different from mine. BTW all A1 stocks have trapdoors in them. That's what makes them A1s.