My "beater" truck gun build turned not so beater.

[Jwknutson17]

So my goal was a to build a beater truck gun that is reliable and I could trust if ever needed when on the road. Well stop there are remove beater moving forward. Plans changed. I began this journey after having one of my 11.5 Kights CQB SBR with an Aimpoint M4s in my truck for a few years and becoming paranoid it would go missing one day.. I wouldn't want to leave it when parking my vehicle anywhere. I don't leave my truck outside overnight and the only extended non attended times are in covered parking at the airport. So I bought a truck vault to securely store my rifle and gear in my SUV and went on my hunt for the remaining parts search for the build. So right out of the gate. Throw the beater word right out of the window. I ended up just building another quality rifle and pretty much went away from what I was going to do from the start. Go figure. Most of these parts I had already laying around so I didn't really have much expense in my truck gun build. I knew I needed something else reliable that I could trust my life on. My original plans to build a beater had me rethinking... Most likely if I was in a situation to use a rifle, it very well could be when I'm not inside my house. So I wanted to use all quality parts, and parts I would trust. And that turned into a higher quality build instead of a beater. I also have interstate travel forms filled out for almost 20 states so being an SBR I'm not worried about state travel. So it goes as follows:

Lower:

BCM SBR'd Lower
Vltor A5
Geissele SD-C
Magpul SL-S
Bad ambi selector

Upper:

Vltor mur1a
Centurion CMR 9.5
DD 10.3 Barrel
Centurion C4 BCG
KAC micro 2-6 rear
DD fixed front
KAC CH
AAC Brake
AAC M42000
Surefire M300c w/SR05
KAC offset scout mount
Norah hand stop
Aimpoint T1 w/ADM QD mount

I zero all my rifles at 50 with Mk262's and this thing shot half inch groups at 50 with a 4moa dot. So plenty accurate for what I would do with it.

Like it or hate it, I'm all ears. Enjoy.

[Aaron_B]

Very nice setup. I have been using the original 9.5 CMR since it came out and really like it. How are you liking the truck vault?

[wigbones]

Awesome rifle. I have a lower sitting at home right now with the identical setup as yours, except for a Larue grip on mine. That's certainly not your average beater.

[Jwknutson17]

Awesome rifle. I have a lower sitting at home right now with the identical setup as yours, except for a Larue grip on mine. That's certainly not your average beater.

Thanks. Yea I went into it thinking I'm going to build a beater truck gun and ended up with a quality build. My "truck" rifle mentality has always been put a beat up parts gun in there. But coming down to it, I don't really trust anything that's not quality. Guess that is subjective anyway.

[Jwknutson17]

Very nice setup. I have been using the original 9.5 CMR since it came out and really like it. How are you liking the truck vault?

Thanks. I appreciate it. The truck vault is just awesome. I did get it second hand from a private security guy. He only had it for a year and switched vehicles so he had no use. The push button entry with key override is awesome. I would hate to try to get into it quick and then realize my keys were still in the ignition or whatnot. . They are very solid and I have much more piece of mind leaving a suppressed SBR in my truck now.

[RobertTheTexan]

This AR is to beater guns as Ermenegildo Zegna dress shirts are to George dress shirts from Walmart. 🤣.
Nonetheless a fine looking rifle my friend. Well done and honestly I wouldn't expect anything less than.



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[Jwknutson17]

This AR is to beater guns as Ermenegildo Zegna dress shirts are to George dress shirts from Walmart. ��.
Nonetheless a fine looking rifle my friend. Well done and honestly I wouldn't expect anything less than.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Robert. I know. I know. I just don't have it in me to build a true beater. Therapy as you say is needed. Thanks for the compliment.

[vandal5]

Looks pretty good... ya know, for a "beater" lol

Is there anything different that you would have done had you sourced new parts and built it from scratch? Guessing the best option would have been a second Knights CQB but short of that is there anything this one doesn't do or have that you would have liked?

Was going to ask your thoughts about the M42k compared to other 5.56 cans out today but you kind of answered that above.

[gaijin]

Great build!

I've grown pretty attached to my SUV's security box as well.
I'm able to keep a LOT of my usual range gear/defense weapons/ammo/etc with relative peace of mind.

[Jwknutson17]

Looks pretty good... ya know, for a "beater" lol

Is there anything different that you would have done had you sourced new parts and built it from scratch? Guessing the best option would have been a second Knights CQB but short of that is there anything this one doesn't do or have that you would have liked?

Was going to ask your thoughts about the M42k compared to other 5.56 cans out today but you kind of answered that above.

I probably would have just gone with an Aero stripped upper and most likely a cheaper (cost) barrel for a truck gun. I actually bought a Colt 11.5 but decided not to use it on this build because of the Larger gas port then the DD with longer dwell time. And because I was using this M42k specifically I just continued on with the DD 10.3. I would also just get an Aimpoint pro instead of the T1. But when I only have 365 bucks into the T1 with mount, it's hard to not use it. This is my first CMR rail, but not by any means first Cenurion rail. I have to say, this rail was meant for this 10.3 setup. Just awesome. I was going to use a RIS2 but that would have meant buying another MD or using the 11.5 barrel to clear the M42k with the brake. If using the blackout or breakout 2.0 you would clear the rail on the Ris. So in actuality I kinda built this gun around the suppressor.

The M42k is a much better can then most give it credit for. Sure the mounting system isn't the best... but how many of those folks hold the latch down when spinning the can on?? My first M42k I would spin the thing on and off all the time, and sure enough it went back for a latch. This one, no issues because I know better. Aside from weight, it is a really great can for short SBRs. Little more blowback the the RC and not my favorite attachment meathod. But it works and still works well. I still recommend it to this day.

I also had to mill off the Mlok tabs on the scout mount and the handstop. Using new screws also to thread direct into the rail. I wrap my index finger around the hand stop and thumb is on top of the rail. I usually run KAC micro irons on the front, but this DD gave me a little extra thumb space on the rail for my thumb.

I would have also gone with a SR06 switch so I could put it just a touch further back on the rail.