The Next Build

[alfsauve]

'm a fairly handy guy.   The USAF trusted me to disassemble and reassemble weapons systems,
sometimes without the manual even.   So how hard can it be to put together an AR upper from parts.

First you have to assemble the right parts and tools.

IMPORTANT TIP:  Buy the Barrel First.

So much hinges around the barrel.  Size of gas block, length of gas tube, size of compensator or flash hider, and more importantly the length of the fore end.   No I didn't, in case you're wondering.  And both my fore end and gas tube are too short.  Actually, the gas tube IS too short, but the fore end works fine, I'd just prefer it be longer.

Tools are important as well.   I got the barrel and fore end nut and my handy torque wrench out and said, "Huh?   How am I going to hold the upper receiver while I apply 35ft-lbs to the barrel nut?  Answer:  MORE TOOLS.  Fortunately, a Wheeler upper vise mount isn't but about $24. 

Now I have everything I can finally tighten the barrel onto the receiver.   Clamp the gas block in place and
finally mount the fore end.  Ready to go except for the flash hider and sights. You'd think for something with so few parts this would have gone quicker.

Here's the parts:  (Sorry, I cheated just a little and bought the upper with dust cover and FA.)



Assembled:



Compared to the 12"  Bug Out Pistol





Still looking for the ideal "pistol" sights and muzzle device.   At least the ideal ones without breaking the bank. Most CQB sights are rifle sights designed for close up targets.   I want pistol sights.  This is a pistol after all. As far as comps, Brownells has a really short one, but the blast goes to the side.  If it were cheaper I'd get the LaVang comp.  Pushes all the gas out forward, towards the target.

[Big Frank]

I found a couple other linear comps but the cheapest one was 10 bucks more than the LeVang. Another one was listed in Euros. I believe it was something like $140 but I'm having trouble finding a price again. Maybe the $35 LeVang looks better now Alf?

[alfsauve]

Maybe the $35 LeVang looks better now Alf?

Yeah, JF, that's actually not a bad price compared to the $100+ price for some of the others.   If I could only find it locally.   Miss Kitty says we're a little stretched credit-wise right now, but I have a few $ cash hidden away.     May be April at the rate I'm going. 

[les snyder]

if you want to add something like a BoMar/post front... think about having both on the same monoblock sight rail, and then attach the rail to the upper and forearm.... it will save you a lot of headaches... BTDT

[alfsauve]

Found what I want on my AR Pistol-Pistol.

http://deadringerhunting.com/product/snake-eyes/

The lexan version.   Nice big rear ring.    Now to figure how to take one of these models and mount them on a picatinny rail.

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

Ok...if I understand the write up.

In day or low light you have the 3 dots (tritium) plus the rear ring glow continuously using ambient light.

In "no light" you have the 3 tritium dots.

No batteries, no electronics...no backup needed...


I take it lexan is one of the model options?

Ahh..I see.  no tritium for the lexan model.    I've wondered if there was a situation where there was enough ambient light to identify your target but not light up ambient light sights.

[tombogan03884]

Same idea as a ghost ring sight.
The eye automatically tries to center  the front sight in a circle .

[alfsauve]

It's a just big ghost ring sight for pistols.   That's all.  The Lexan version is ~$80.

I don't know where Les got the rail he pictured.   I see a similar model at MUSA and Brownells, but it doesn't have a dove tail for the front sight.   There's got to some way (cheap and off the shelf) to adapt a dovetail to a picatinny rail.    I can always take some cheap scope mounts to a machinist and have him cut them down and mill a dovetail.

[PegLeg45]

It's a just big ghost ring sight for pistols.   That's all.  The Lexan version is ~$80.

I don't know where Les got the rail he pictured.   I see a similar model at MUSA and Brownells, but it doesn't have a dove tail for the front sight.   There's got to some way (cheap and off the shelf) to adapt a dovetail to a picatinny rail.    I can always take some cheap scope mounts to a machinist and have him cut them down and mill a dovetail.

Probably the route I'd go if I didn't have the equipment to do it myself.

I'd order an aluminum riser from somewhere like Amazon and see if a machinist could cut one of the pic slots into a dovetail.

If'n I had a mill, I'd do it for you.

Heck, being aluminum, if the dovetail is a 60 degree cut, you could do it with a three-sided file.

[alfsauve]

Some parts showed up this weekend.    Well, I went to the large Atlanta gun show and this is what a came away with, along with 8 pounds of TiteGroup for <$28/lb!



Nothing exciting, but I got fair prices.  $50 for the Anderson lower, $40 for the buffer tube assembly and $99 for the BCG.    I don't have enough spare parts to put it together but I should have that fixed next week.

The muzzle brake is just a run of the mill A-2 ($10) until my LeVang Comps arrive.  I ordered two, one for this pistol and one for my 10/22 (maybe I'll also try it on my 22/45)

Slowly but surely.   Later this spring when I have more money, I may go to a 7.5 barrel to make this even shorter and handier.