kdcgrohl
07-19-13, 11:14
After a couple years with my 6.8 SPC carbine, I finally acknowledged that it was too heavy. I tried to justify for a long time because I liked the build and all the parts used, but this rifle was just a pig.
Here is the original configuration:
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/firearms/IMG_20110115_132927.jpg
Original specs:
Upper is a VLTØR VIS 3AK (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/VLTOR-VIS-RIFLE-Length-p/vltor%20vis%20-%203ak%20rifle%20length.htm), rifle length.
Barrel is White Oak Armament 16" 6.8 SPC (http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=545) 1:11 twist SPC-II with mid-length gas and a VLTØR Low profile set screw gas block (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/VLTOR-Low-Profile-Gas-Block-p/vltor%20gas%20block%20gb-2s.htm). I used this jig (http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=1089) to dimple the barrel and this jig (http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=1398) to drill for the taper pin install. Barrel was dimpled & kgguncoated by Marvin Pitts.
Muzzle device is a Smith Enterprises Vortex 6.8 (http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=433)
Bolt is I.T.S. Super bolt from AR Performance (http://www.ar15performance.com/inc/sdetail/338) using a BCM carrier (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Bolt-Carrier-Auto-M16-p/bcm%20carrier%20with%20gas%20key.htm). (Extra Bolt from W.O.A., cam pin, firing pin and fprp in the grip). Both bolts use BCM extractor spring upgrades. (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Extractor-Spring-Uprade-Kit-p/bcm%20extractor%20spring%20upgrade.htm)
BCM Mod4 Gunfighter charging handle. (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-GUNFIGHTER-Charging-Handle-GFH-Mod-4-p/bcm%20gfh%20mod%204%20556.htm)
Also using a KAC handstop & KAC railpanels I stippled myself. A few pieces of Magpul ladder on there too.
Gear Sector 3045 Sling socket (http://www.gearsector.com/view/product/170/) & 3120 Scout mount (http://www.gearsector.com/view/product/217/) slightly modified to clear the front sight using a Surefire M600C Scout. (http://www.surefire.com/Scout-Lightsupsup)
Optics:
BUIS are Knight's Armament Micro front and 200-600 Micro rear.
Main optic is a Trijicon ACOG TA31H-68 (http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=715&back_row=4&categoryID=3) in a Larue Tactical (http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/StoreFront.bok) right side lever mount. (I forgot the #)EDIT: LT622-SDO
CQB optic is an Aimpoint T-1 Micro (http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=11830) in a Larue Tactical (http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/StoreFront.bok) LT-724 offset mount. T-1 battery cap was replaced with a KAC cap with extra battery storage.
I swapped the muzzle device to an AAC 51T flash hider some time back for suppressor use. A few months ago I decided it needed to start loosing weight. I pulled all the unnecessary ladder covers off, and went down to 3 of the KAC stippled panels. I also ditched the secondary optic. Honestly, I liked it but just didn't feel it was necessary. After pulling the parts, the upper with bcg weighed in at 6lb 7.9100oz.
After all that, I still wasn't pleased. There was just no way around the heft of the VIS upper. Also, over my time with this rifle I've come to realize I don't need a 12" of rail, 11" is the best length for my physical build & arm length.
New upper is a Colt M4 upper from Specialized Armament (http://www.specializedarmament.com/). These were in stock during the great panic, for the same money people were getting for anything on the EE.
Rail is an 11" Noveske NSR (http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bin/imcart/display.cgi?item_id=nsr-11&cat=183&page=1&search=&since=&status=&title=).
The BCG, barrel, gas block, muzzle device & CH were all reused, as were the Scout light, sights and ACOG.
That just left me in need of a sling mount, hand stop, rail covers(the NSR is too thin without them, it also heats up pretty quickly) and light mount. I contacted Earl @ Impact Weapon Components to see if they had anything in the works for the KeyMod system and he sent me some pre-production pieces to eval. As of this writing, they are all available.
Sling mount (http://www.impactweaponscomponents.com/product/keymod-qd-rl-sling-mount/). My only contention is that the mount places my sling further forward than I normally like. I think this is probably more of a NSR complaint than an IWC complaint. The only remedy would be to cantilever a QD cup backward from the rearmost key slot, and I'm guessing that wouldn't be as strong as having the QD centered between two key slots.
Hand Stop (http://www.impactweaponscomponents.com/product/weapon-control-mount-n-slot-keymod-hand-stop/). Although a bit more narrow that I normally care for, I'm assuming it's to match the rail profile. I trimmed the locks out of a Noveske (http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bin/imcart/display.cgi?item_id=nsr-bp&cat=165&page=1&search=&since=&status=&title=) single locking cover, and with some file work it fits nicely in front of the hand stop. The hand stop locks the panels in place. I needed parts from two rail cover sets.
Thorntail keymod offset mount (http://www.impactweaponscomponents.com/product/thorntail-keymod-m3m61913-offset-adaptive-light-mount/). I'm most impressed with the adaptability of this piece. Use a pistol light, mini or standard scout, or with a ring, an .830, 1.000 or 1.030 hand held light. I also tried out the Noveske scout mount, and while very nice, the IWC puts the Scout tail cap in a better position for me.
After the rebuild, I have lost no functionality, and only 1" of unused rail. Overall, I'm extremely pleased with the outcome. The upper with BCG now weighs 5lb 9.4548oz.
Mandatory crappy cell pics:
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/firearms/IMG_20130526_130329_415_zps790f7c0e.jpg
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/firearms/IMG_20130526_112628_082_zps52e9397d.jpg
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/firearms/IMG_20130526_130240_737_zpsc15611f2.jpg
Here is the original configuration:
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/firearms/IMG_20110115_132927.jpg
Original specs:
Upper is a VLTØR VIS 3AK (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/VLTOR-VIS-RIFLE-Length-p/vltor%20vis%20-%203ak%20rifle%20length.htm), rifle length.
Barrel is White Oak Armament 16" 6.8 SPC (http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=545) 1:11 twist SPC-II with mid-length gas and a VLTØR Low profile set screw gas block (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/VLTOR-Low-Profile-Gas-Block-p/vltor%20gas%20block%20gb-2s.htm). I used this jig (http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=1089) to dimple the barrel and this jig (http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=1398) to drill for the taper pin install. Barrel was dimpled & kgguncoated by Marvin Pitts.
Muzzle device is a Smith Enterprises Vortex 6.8 (http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=433)
Bolt is I.T.S. Super bolt from AR Performance (http://www.ar15performance.com/inc/sdetail/338) using a BCM carrier (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Bolt-Carrier-Auto-M16-p/bcm%20carrier%20with%20gas%20key.htm). (Extra Bolt from W.O.A., cam pin, firing pin and fprp in the grip). Both bolts use BCM extractor spring upgrades. (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Extractor-Spring-Uprade-Kit-p/bcm%20extractor%20spring%20upgrade.htm)
BCM Mod4 Gunfighter charging handle. (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-GUNFIGHTER-Charging-Handle-GFH-Mod-4-p/bcm%20gfh%20mod%204%20556.htm)
Also using a KAC handstop & KAC railpanels I stippled myself. A few pieces of Magpul ladder on there too.
Gear Sector 3045 Sling socket (http://www.gearsector.com/view/product/170/) & 3120 Scout mount (http://www.gearsector.com/view/product/217/) slightly modified to clear the front sight using a Surefire M600C Scout. (http://www.surefire.com/Scout-Lightsupsup)
Optics:
BUIS are Knight's Armament Micro front and 200-600 Micro rear.
Main optic is a Trijicon ACOG TA31H-68 (http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=715&back_row=4&categoryID=3) in a Larue Tactical (http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/StoreFront.bok) right side lever mount. (I forgot the #)EDIT: LT622-SDO
CQB optic is an Aimpoint T-1 Micro (http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=11830) in a Larue Tactical (http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/StoreFront.bok) LT-724 offset mount. T-1 battery cap was replaced with a KAC cap with extra battery storage.
I swapped the muzzle device to an AAC 51T flash hider some time back for suppressor use. A few months ago I decided it needed to start loosing weight. I pulled all the unnecessary ladder covers off, and went down to 3 of the KAC stippled panels. I also ditched the secondary optic. Honestly, I liked it but just didn't feel it was necessary. After pulling the parts, the upper with bcg weighed in at 6lb 7.9100oz.
After all that, I still wasn't pleased. There was just no way around the heft of the VIS upper. Also, over my time with this rifle I've come to realize I don't need a 12" of rail, 11" is the best length for my physical build & arm length.
New upper is a Colt M4 upper from Specialized Armament (http://www.specializedarmament.com/). These were in stock during the great panic, for the same money people were getting for anything on the EE.
Rail is an 11" Noveske NSR (http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bin/imcart/display.cgi?item_id=nsr-11&cat=183&page=1&search=&since=&status=&title=).
The BCG, barrel, gas block, muzzle device & CH were all reused, as were the Scout light, sights and ACOG.
That just left me in need of a sling mount, hand stop, rail covers(the NSR is too thin without them, it also heats up pretty quickly) and light mount. I contacted Earl @ Impact Weapon Components to see if they had anything in the works for the KeyMod system and he sent me some pre-production pieces to eval. As of this writing, they are all available.
Sling mount (http://www.impactweaponscomponents.com/product/keymod-qd-rl-sling-mount/). My only contention is that the mount places my sling further forward than I normally like. I think this is probably more of a NSR complaint than an IWC complaint. The only remedy would be to cantilever a QD cup backward from the rearmost key slot, and I'm guessing that wouldn't be as strong as having the QD centered between two key slots.
Hand Stop (http://www.impactweaponscomponents.com/product/weapon-control-mount-n-slot-keymod-hand-stop/). Although a bit more narrow that I normally care for, I'm assuming it's to match the rail profile. I trimmed the locks out of a Noveske (http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bin/imcart/display.cgi?item_id=nsr-bp&cat=165&page=1&search=&since=&status=&title=) single locking cover, and with some file work it fits nicely in front of the hand stop. The hand stop locks the panels in place. I needed parts from two rail cover sets.
Thorntail keymod offset mount (http://www.impactweaponscomponents.com/product/thorntail-keymod-m3m61913-offset-adaptive-light-mount/). I'm most impressed with the adaptability of this piece. Use a pistol light, mini or standard scout, or with a ring, an .830, 1.000 or 1.030 hand held light. I also tried out the Noveske scout mount, and while very nice, the IWC puts the Scout tail cap in a better position for me.
After the rebuild, I have lost no functionality, and only 1" of unused rail. Overall, I'm extremely pleased with the outcome. The upper with BCG now weighs 5lb 9.4548oz.
Mandatory crappy cell pics:
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/firearms/IMG_20130526_130329_415_zps790f7c0e.jpg
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/firearms/IMG_20130526_112628_082_zps52e9397d.jpg
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/firearms/IMG_20130526_130240_737_zpsc15611f2.jpg