Warg
05-18-12, 20:19
I’ve posted several custom builds in this sub-forum where most are primarily configured for hunting and some range work/plinking. This, however, is one of my “bread and butter” HD builds. It is/was one of my first still ARs and is still a work in progress. It evolved about four years ago from a basic 16” Rock River rifle with iron sights- unstaked endplate, commercial diameter RE and all. I purchased this firearm prior to joining M4C and before I knew anything about quality ARs. After spending an appreciable amount of time reading the stickies here and heeding advice from the SMEs, the evolution began.
The first order of business was the RRA upper. It functioned okay most of the time, but early on I did get a few FTEs using quality ammo that I attributed to a weak extractor spring. Once replaced, I no longer experienced any extraction problems, but I no longer had faith that this would continue to be the case. The upper was replaced about three years ago with a 14.5” unit from BCM and I had Adco pin a Votex on the muzzle. I installed a MOE HG, Aimpoint H1 and ran this basic configuration for two years. Again, based on advice given here, I decided to keep the setup simple run it this way for some time.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/BCMuipper.jpg
At about the same time, I attended to the lower. I purchased all of the tools I needed to disassemble and reassemble these parts and quickly got to work. The lower was stripped of the RRA parts, including the commercial diameter RE and was replaced with components from BCM and G&R (LPK). The RRA stock was replaced with a mil-spec diameter CTR. About two years ago, I moved the RRA lower to another firearm and used a DD lower, again with BCM and G&R components, for this platform.
A basic weapon light was added using a slightly modified MI FSB mount with a VLTOR G2 mount and G2L equipped with a Z59 tail cap.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/IMG_2063_sm.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/IMG_2071_sm.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/IMG_2074_sm.jpg
I fabricated a sling mount for the MOE (this was prior to the plethora of MOE sling mount options now available) and ran this with a VCAS sling for a couple of years.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/IMG_2140_sm.jpg
Last year, I moved the DD lower to a DD upper for another HD build. I replaced the lower with a Mega forged piece, again using G&R LPK, and ditched the CTR for an IMOD as I found I preferred the cheek weld of the latter.
Fast forward to a month ago: After practicing lots of transition drills and getting tired of having the light mounted on the FSB I decided to rethink the HG and light setup. Since the Vortex was pinned and I was using the standard FSP, that left few options short of replacing the barrel which I didn’t want to do. I swapped the MOE and G2 setup for a Centurion C4 FSP and Surefire X300 at 12 o’clock.
Further, since this rifle serves a HD role, I’ve decided to make a slight compromise on the grip so my wife can comfortably operate it. I had been using a MOE and later a MAID with large backstrap. My wife found the grip too large, naturally, so now “we” are using the BCM Mod 1 grip. It’s a bit too small for me, but I can make it work and it’s perfect for my wife.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/DSCN2208_sm.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/DSCN2215_sm.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/DSCN2228_sm.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/DSCN2220_sm.jpg
After four years of evolution, this is the current setup. The basic concept of this rifle still exists, but not a single original part remains on this platform. It works well for me and my significant other and I expect it will continue to evolve, albeit gradually.
The first order of business was the RRA upper. It functioned okay most of the time, but early on I did get a few FTEs using quality ammo that I attributed to a weak extractor spring. Once replaced, I no longer experienced any extraction problems, but I no longer had faith that this would continue to be the case. The upper was replaced about three years ago with a 14.5” unit from BCM and I had Adco pin a Votex on the muzzle. I installed a MOE HG, Aimpoint H1 and ran this basic configuration for two years. Again, based on advice given here, I decided to keep the setup simple run it this way for some time.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/BCMuipper.jpg
At about the same time, I attended to the lower. I purchased all of the tools I needed to disassemble and reassemble these parts and quickly got to work. The lower was stripped of the RRA parts, including the commercial diameter RE and was replaced with components from BCM and G&R (LPK). The RRA stock was replaced with a mil-spec diameter CTR. About two years ago, I moved the RRA lower to another firearm and used a DD lower, again with BCM and G&R components, for this platform.
A basic weapon light was added using a slightly modified MI FSB mount with a VLTOR G2 mount and G2L equipped with a Z59 tail cap.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/IMG_2063_sm.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/IMG_2071_sm.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/IMG_2074_sm.jpg
I fabricated a sling mount for the MOE (this was prior to the plethora of MOE sling mount options now available) and ran this with a VCAS sling for a couple of years.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/IMG_2140_sm.jpg
Last year, I moved the DD lower to a DD upper for another HD build. I replaced the lower with a Mega forged piece, again using G&R LPK, and ditched the CTR for an IMOD as I found I preferred the cheek weld of the latter.
Fast forward to a month ago: After practicing lots of transition drills and getting tired of having the light mounted on the FSB I decided to rethink the HG and light setup. Since the Vortex was pinned and I was using the standard FSP, that left few options short of replacing the barrel which I didn’t want to do. I swapped the MOE and G2 setup for a Centurion C4 FSP and Surefire X300 at 12 o’clock.
Further, since this rifle serves a HD role, I’ve decided to make a slight compromise on the grip so my wife can comfortably operate it. I had been using a MOE and later a MAID with large backstrap. My wife found the grip too large, naturally, so now “we” are using the BCM Mod 1 grip. It’s a bit too small for me, but I can make it work and it’s perfect for my wife.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/DSCN2208_sm.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/DSCN2215_sm.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/DSCN2228_sm.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn176/Dr_Wolfenstein/ARs/DSCN2220_sm.jpg
After four years of evolution, this is the current setup. The basic concept of this rifle still exists, but not a single original part remains on this platform. It works well for me and my significant other and I expect it will continue to evolve, albeit gradually.