Grownup Legos

[Scott@Rockstomper]

That was almost too easy... Bushmaster stripped lower + RRA kit + ~2 hours during/between phone calls = AR15.

Almost disappointed in how easy; the upper came completely assembled, so all there was to do, is put the lower together (RRA NM trigger comes preassembled too--all there is to it is two parts + two springs) and put the upper on.

Now I kinda want to take it apart (farther than it was when I got it) and see what all is in there. No appropriate wrench to do so, though, so that'll have to wait (not that I have the time to spend on it today anyway).

[dmeis]

Does the finish match? My BM upper had a reddish tint and didn't match the lower. I refinished everything with MolyResin so it's OD green and SOCOM black now... :flipoff2: That would give you a chance to tear yours apart.

When are you going to start reloading for it?

[Scott@Rockstomper]

No, the finish doesn't match. Upper to lower doesn't match, neither matches any of my magazines, lower to grip doesn't match (got an Ergo grip), but none of them are off by enough to make me really stress--they're all appropriately evil shades of black. :)

[dmeis]

I grew tired of it I guess... I did this a few years ago. You don't see too many like it. I have a matching 1911 too except for cocobolo grips.

[sweater]

they're all appropriately evil shades of black. :)

Please post reaction of roommate as it becomes available.

:D

- mike

[Scott@Rockstomper]

Will do. Still waiting on a carry handle/rear sight as I didn't realize early-on that flattop upper without optics = no rear sight (doh!) so accuracy might be a little lacking as yet.

Incidentally, I noticed something that I thought was odd, but sorta makes sense at the same time. You can only engage the safety with the hammer cocked. Since there's no double-action available (like on a pistol) it kinda makes sense that there's no need otherwise, just seemed strange to me at first.

[Yota]

This inspires me. How much $ are you into this project for so far (including carry handle and rear sight)?

[Scott@Rockstomper]

What I got, and the best prices I've found on it:
Carry handle isn't here yet, but it supposedly includes the rear sight. $40 + indeterminate shipping from http://www.centerfiresystems.com
RRA kit, includes chrome-lined barrel, NM trigger, one 30rd magazine, etc., $639 shipped from http://www.ar15sales.com (actually dropshipped from RRA)
Ergo grip, multitool-wrench thing (shorted me the wrench, but they're taking care of it) ~$60 shipped from http://www.del-ton.com
Bushmaster stripped lower, ~$165 + tax from http://www.jensenarms.com (website for reference, this was a face-to-face purchase in Loveland)
Big box of .223 Wolf (yeah, I know, I know, it's cheapie plinking ammo, and I'm not expecting any impressive accuracy out of it) from http://www.sportsmansguide.com (can't remember the price offhand)
30rd magazines, new, http://www.jensenarms.com for as many as you want for $15-20 each, or used for $10-15 each off of http://www.ar15.com in the equipment exchange--as much as you want to spend. I actually got a handful of good used ones for $8 each, shipped, off AR15.com, but there's a good reason that deal was over in a day or two, and the guy had something like a hundred magazines to start with. ;)

You can beat those prices with a DelTon kit, and you can get a DPMS lower from Jensen for about $108--potentially, you could probably save a hundred bucks or so relative to what I listed, and still have a brand-new complete rifle. If you piecemeal less-big-name stuff together, you can save a bit more; I figured (hoped), staying with big-names, the resale value, should I decide to sell it, will be better than a Heinz-57 rifle might.

[sweater]

What I got, and the best prices I've found on it:
Carry handle isn't here yet, but it supposedly includes the rear sight. $40 + indeterminate shipping from http://www.centerfiresystems.com

Excellent list of sources for parts - I'd like to see the quality of that handle since I've seen those go for $100+ at gun shows...

- mike

[Scott@Rockstomper]

Kinda why I bought it, actually... I figure, worst-case, it's such utter crap that I throw it away, and I learned a $40ish lesson, and I'll buy a lightly used RRA one for $80-100.

If it's anything above that level of crap, it's good enough for the level of shooter I am now, and when I get better, if I so desire, I'll get better equipment, and it can become a sell-used-for-cheap to some college kid wanting to build his first. :)

[Yota]

A $100 carry handle?

I mean that's what makes the AR-15 look like an M-16, I admit. But why $100? Is it for the sights more than the handle?

[sweater]

A $100 carry handle?

I mean that's what makes the AR-15 look like an M-16, I admit. But why $100? Is it for the sights more than the handle?

I've seen rear A2 sights with play in them. Like where the front of the sight assembly doesn't sit as flush with the rest of the carry handle - and due to the sight being in tension on a spring, the rear sight is slightly canted counter-clockwise.

Shouldn't affect casual accuracy, but still a little more out of tolerance than the rest of the gun seems to be.

- mike

[bcw1284]

test a small amount of wolf and check your barrel, chamber, bolt carrier, and gas tube for gooey residue before you shoot the whole box. The new laquer coating on the wolf ammo is supposed to solve the problems, but there is still some green-coated stuff out in the market.

FYI- the problem is the coating melting when the hot gas vents back over the spent casing, and effectivley gluing itself in the chamber.

I've been to jensens store, they are mostly ex-cops and such, very knowledgeable about their products. $225 for a fully loaded RRA lower last time I was there (couple months ago). This is the route i'll go when I build another AR. I miss the one I used to have, it was fun to plink with.

did you get steel mags or plastic? FYI, some plastic mags fit the bushmaster lower, some do not. If you have a dremel, you can make them all fit (grind off a rib cast in the one type of mag). I personally prefer the plastic mags... they dont have that classic feel or look, but they work better and are FAR more durable, at least in my experience. The Isralei surplus ones are some of the best plastic mags out there.

[Scott@Rockstomper]

All the mags I've got are aluminum--no steel or plastic. A few different brands, but everything seems to fit the BM lower no problem.

[Scott@Rockstomper]

Update:

The cheapie carry handle is on indeterminate backorder.

I picked up a technically used Bushmaster carry handle (guy said he took it off a new rifle in favor of a scope, never actually used it, but it wasn't technically new either) that sure looks new other than not being in a hang-tag-baggie or the like.

Del-Ton shipped me the wrench I was shorted, as promised; based on when it got here, they shipped it right away. Good on them fixing it right away.

And I've already started getting the "tactical clothing" catalogs. :laughing:

Since I didn't even get one carry handle until this morning, I still don't know if this thing actually works--didn't really want to go find out, with no rear sight. :(

[Scott@Rockstomper]

Cheapie carry handle showed up today. Made in China (not all that surprising, but :( nonetheless).
Elevation knob is marked 0-5-10-15-20, as opposed to the Bushmaster that is marked Z-4-5-6/3.
Sight block on the back actually seems to be a better fit to the carry handle than the Bushmaster.
The knobs on the cheapie for fixing it to the Picatinny rail, have stops to prevent them from being removed; the Bushmaster's knobs, will free-spin all the way off. This is both good and bad--the cheapie's knobs don't come far enough out to make it easy to just slap on; installing it takes two hands, pulling the little jaw out in order to get it over the rail. The Bushmaster is easier to install/remove as you can back the knobs off farther.

[Yota]

What's your overall opinion? Or are you reserving final judgement until after your range test?

[dmeis]

Hey Scott, my boss is just as easygoing as yours. Pick a day during the week and I'll take you out to my range to break it in...

[Scott@Rockstomper]

What's your overall opinion? Or are you reserving final judgement until after your range test?

Of the AR, or the carry handle?

Of just the carry handle, I can't see any reason that the $40 one won't be good enough for my purposes, or most civilian purposes, for that matter.

IMHO, iron sights are iron sights; if they stay put once you adjust them, which both flavors appear to do, they're doing their job.

Of the AR in general, I should reserve judgement till after a bit of range time, but it seems like a nicely built, well fitting, not excessively-encumbered-by-crap, rifle.

And my wife is cool with it too (interesting, considering that as yet, she's never even seen it). :)

Hey Scott, my boss is just as easygoing as yours. Pick a day during the week and I'll take you out to my range to break it in...

Thanks! I'll take ya up on that, but at this point, comp season is on top of me again--first one is this weekend. Now that I've procrastinated on actually getting to the range, my next good opportunity (other than ditching work, which isn't looking good this week) is on the CCW-class range day in a couple weeks. :(

Think it might give the wrong impression if I show up for CCW-class range time with an AR? :evil: (probably stick around after and make a longish afternoon out of it)