My first AR build (budget)

[Glockster35]

I started off with a Bushmaster pre-assembled lower receiver. I added an A2 stock I had laying around. Then I purchased a CMT flat top upper receiver (from Bravo Company), and combined that with a Colt M4 contoured barrel I had laying around. I bought a cheap add-on rail from Brownells, and am using it to hold my Knights forward pistol grip. I added the newly released AK Concepts Dave Neth Competition Compensator (http://akconcepts.com/default.asp?page_id=174&parent_id=44) to it, and am hoping I like it.

I also have a complete A2 upper for it, with a seperate bolt carrier group.

I placed my Trijicon Reflex 2 sight on for hte time being (this will be replaced soon enough).

I am using a Eagle Industries TAS-1 sling, until I find something I like better.

Here are a few pictures

http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/218228/Firearms/M4-2.JPG

http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/218228/Firearms/M4 pic.JPG

http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/218228/Firearms/AR15A2.JPG

My plans for the future include the following items (in no particular order):
1. Aimpoint Comp ML3 with LaRue mount
2. Daniel Defense Lite Rail 7.0
3. Daniel Defense offset flashlight mount
4. Pentagon Light MS2 Xenon light
5. Add MagPul MIAD pistol grip
6. Add Tango Down vertical forgrip
7. Add Tango Down rail grips
8. Add a BUIS system, with front and rear flip down sights
9. Add some sort of high speed collapsible stock
10. Send it off for a one off Cerakote digital coating

If there is anything you think I have missed, please post and let me know!

[VA_Dinger]

I like it.

Very impressive first build.

[Glockster35]

Thanks,

I will be starting to buy stuff again once X-mas is over.

I just really need to decide on a BUIS for hte rear...so many choices!

In the mean time, I will be shooting the A2 barrel!

[Hotolds442]

Looks good Bro, but why use the A2, when the Trij is ready to roll?

[M4arc]

That's a great budget build! Good job :)

[Glockster35]

I still have to use the A2 upper, until I can get around to getting the 14.5 pinned and welded.

I have two compensators I need to test to see which is more to my liking.

Thanks though, it doesn't compare to yours!

I did receive my Fake Aimpoint, and need to sight it in once I get my MaTech.

[Hotolds442]

I forgot about the pinning/welding.

My RRA upper should be here Tuesday/Wednesday, and the 16" barrel should be here about the same time.

I'll put a Leupold on that one.

Then it's going to be time to get another lower...........


I have a disease, it's called BRD, and there is no cure...........

[Glockster35]

I found a place in Raleigh that will pin and weld for me for about $40, so I anticipate doign it soon.

I think a new lower is in my future too. Probably once I return from Over There!

[DBLTAP!556]

Good job! enjoy!

DT!

[Glockster35]

Ok, I am now finished with this rifle. I have added the following items and will post pics on my next day off!

I added:
MaTech (http://www.ar15.com/lite/topic.html?b=7&f=23&t=394691) rear BUIS flip sight
1337 Tactical (http://stores.ebay.ca/1337Tactical)Aimpoint clone sight with Cantilever mount
KAC RAS 4 (http://www.knightarmco.com/96179.pdf)rail and covers

Only thing I have left to do is to:
#1 Test fire it
#2 Pin and weld the compensator
#3 Replace the A2 stock with a collapsible stock

Not necessarily in that order!

[Glockster35]

Here's the Updates I promised.

I still have more plans, but they will have to wait until later. I still need to test fire this!

The entire rifle
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/218228/Firearms/M4-3.JPG

The Knights Armament RAS 4
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/218228/Firearms/RAS4.JPG

The Fake Aimpoint
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/218228/Firearms/ClonePoint.JPG

The MaTech Rear Flip Sight (BUIS)
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/218228/Firearms/MaTech.JPG

As I said before, I do have plans for this rifle, but they will have to wait until I finish my next tour in the sandbox. This rifle has taken me close to 6 years to build, from the time I bought my first piece to present. I have been piecing the actual build together for the last few months as parts arrived.

BTW, the compensator is an evaluation piece I received from Todd @ AKConcepts (http://akconcepts.com/default.asp?page_id=174&parent_id=44). It is their Dave Neth Tactical/Competition Compensator (DNTC).

http://akconcepts.com/UserFiles/Image/DNTC.jpg

None of this build would have been possible without the assistance from my brother, HotOlds442! He traded necessary parts with me, and pushed me to finish it.

He has a nice rifle project in the works too!
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/218228/Firearms/Dansrifle.JPG

[Hotolds442]

I do like the looks of that Compensator! I hope it works out for you, if it does, I'll probably have to get one for my 16" build.

I got the chance to shoot mine over the holidays, and it didn't go as well as planned. I took just over 300 rounds with me on a snowy trip to the local hills, and only got to shoot 13 rounds. When I screwed the buffer tube in, I thought I had it in far enough to hold the buffer retainer in place, but it ended up being one turn too loose, so eventually the buffer retainer popped out and jammed the hammer. It got nicked up just enough that it wouldn't go back in the hole, and the spring was trashed. I was lucky enough to have spares.........at home. So I shot half a box through the .45 and then headed home.
I've got it all ready to go again, so if we don't get too much more snow at elevation I'll try again this weekend. My RRA upper is here, but the 16" barrel is still in Texas waiting for the guy to figure out how to remove it from his upper with no vise and no receiver blocks. He's already destroyed the FSB, so I imagine the barrel won't pass my inspection and I'll have to ship it back to him.

[Glockster35]

Glad no one got hurt!

Maybe the guy in Texas should spend the money to get the necessary tools, or ship it off for someone else to do it. At this point I would be leary of the deal...cause if he can butcher the FSB, what has he already done to the barrel.

[Hotolds442]

I am QUITE leary about making the trade. I will have the barrel gauged for straightness, and any exterior marks will result in the barrel being sent back to him. I'm just not into the old "another man's junk" theory. Here's the thread that caught my eye, before I put two and two together, hope it doesn't violate any board rules by posting to another site....

http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=304561

I want to redo all of the mags I've got with PermaSlik, and then change the followers. Then all that's left is to get a full-floater for the front end.

[Glockster35]

I read the post, at this point, I would save your shipping money and tell him the deal is off. If he has ruined the A Frame already, there is no doubt in my mind he probably has done worse to the barrel in it's lifetime.

Not to mention that someone as backwoods as that would probably not care for the barrel much to begin with. Few things are worse than buying an AR barrel that has been shot to shit and has never been cleaned.

I might even post over there to piss someone off!

[Glockster35]

Finished for now. All I have yet to do is take it out and shoot the snot out of it some more. I want to wring all the problems out of it to ensure reliability.

http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/218228/Firearms/AR MagPul1.JPG

http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/218228/Firearms/AR MapPul3.JPG

I couldn't have got this far without the help of several different people. The buttstock was a gift to me from a very nice guy (DA_Bunny at AR15.com), the Shims are from our very own GotM4, I purchased a H2 buffer, bolt reliability package and CS buffer spring from G4IGrant. The Buttpad and Rail Protectors are from MagPul and lastly I got the Strike Plate from TheMalabarFront (http://themalabarfront.com).

[Robb Jensen]

Looks good dude!

[Glockster35]

Yeah, I will do more with it after my next deployment.

For now, I am done with it. It's time to shoot and play!