Attention machinists and tinkers: Help me with a custom project.

[El Rojo]

THE FINAL RESULTS (Post 1)

OK! Here are the results. Not the greatest job in the world, but I am pleased with it. As soon as I get my commando upper, I think I will be very pleased with it.

Ok, first. I received a plastic 30 round Orlite magazine that had a broken feed lip. I cut that right along its little ridge. I wish I could have done a little better job at that as it isn't a completely flat and level cut. It will do though. Then I cut up a piece of two by four I had lying about. I did an initial piece and I liked its fit, but for some reason I didn't realize how short the piece was, I wanted it to go up in the magazine further. So I made a new one. It turned out pretty good so I went ahead and siliconed it inside the magazine and let it sit overnight and until I got home from work.

Next I had to drill the holes. The holes weren't perfectly centered and in line like I wanted, but really it doesn't matter too much because the next mag I make will have to tailor to this orginial one. No big deal. I did that and then checked the fit of my 1.5" #8 stainless steel metal screws.

The next step was to take my perfectly fine lower receiver and drill two holes into it!

I went ahead and drilled the holes. Starting out with a really small bit to get started, checking the screw, finding it too small, then drilling again. Eventually I worked my way up to a 9/64" bit and that was the trick for my #8 screw. I went ahead and screwed the magazine to the receiver and it was a very secure snug fit.

So what does the final product look like? I am rather pleased!

The old FAB-10.

 

[El Rojo]

THE FINAL RESULTS (Post 2)

THE NEW FAB-10!!!

There is a little bit of a gap between the mag and the lower due to my uneven cut. I could probably fix that if I ever get a hold of a belt sander or go over to my neighbor's shop. Otherwise it is a good secure attachment and I think it looks good. I am really going to get excited when I get my commando upper in the next day or two and stick it on there. I will most certainly post some pictures of that setup.

I wanna thank all of you for your help. Most importantly there were two THR members who sent me some mag parts free of charge! I think that is an important testament to the caliber of individuals we have here on THR. Thank you very much.

These last two pictures are just my fun pictures. I uploaded the one so that way if and when I take the pictures above off my server, we will have at least one good picture of the final project.

 

[Sydwaiz]

Only in California... Fake tits and fake clips! LOL! (yeah ,yeah I know. save the mag/clip lecture.)

Looks good bro. You done well. Don't let Di or Barb see it though!

 

[wasrjoe]

How many babies has it killed since you attached that thing to it?

 

[Elarski]

That came out lookin' cool! Looks like the perfect time to break out the camo paint!

 

[artherd]

El Rojo- very nice, now it dosen't look neutered anymore!

As a PRK native, I can relate.

 

[Freedomv]

Looks very good! So how many times are you going to have to explain this menacing WMD out at the range, not being politicaly correct and all.
Vern

 

[El Rojo]

So how many times are you going to have to explain this menacing WMD out at the range, not being politicaly correct and all.

As many times as possible!

 

[DMK]

Hey, that looks pretty cool!

Can you still take the bottom plate off easily. That looks like a great place to store a cleaning kit or a few spare clips.

 

[stv]

Nice job!


I'm considering the FAB-10 route myself, since I can always reuse the uppers on an actual AR project if the ban ever gets lifted (fat chance) or I move to a free country.

 

[El Rojo]

The cosmetic mag isn't really for anything but show. I actually want to create a cosmetic 20 roundmag, because it will not effect the rifle when I use the bipod. Really the bipod takes care of everything.

Now, later today when I get home from school and have time, I will show you the true reason for this project. I can't wait!!!

 

[natedog]

Hey, are the reloads particuarly slow/difficult with the FAB-10? How does it compare to a box magazine?

 

[El Rojo]

El Rojo's CAB-10

I know you are all wondering why I bothered to screw a fake 30 rounder on the bottom of my FAB-10. Well you are about to see why. I bought a Bushmaster 11.5/5.5" A2 upper for a good price on AR15.com. Here is how rediculous it looks as is.

But as you have all seen, I now have a fake 30 rounder to stick on the bottom of the receiver. Behold how pretty she is now!

Man this is a good looking rifle. I am very pleased I only paid $325 shipped for that upper complete with bolt/bolt carrier/charging handle. I highly recommend the AR15.com Equipment Exchange to those of you who aren't familiar with it. eBay can never get that close of a deal.

Here I am looking all tactical clearning out my garage using the wrong utility belt (anyone know what kind of mag pouches those are?) and in sandles.

And another picture of a happy CAB-10 owner.

Thanks again to those THR members who stepped up and helped me out with this project. I am truley a happy camper.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

couple suggestions.


1. use machine screws backed up by nuts or drill and tap the lower. wood screws on aluminum make baby jesus cry.

2. budget bolt sells screws and nuts of every size and description.

 

[Gewehr98]

You're not done yet, Red!

You need to JB-Weld on a fake magazine release button. The fence is there on that lower, but no button...

 

[El Rojo]

I used stainless steel metal screws. I don't think there is enough metal there to thread it very well. And I don't have a riviter so I don't want to take the magazine out to be able to get some nuts on the ends of those screws.

Thanks for the tip Gewehr98. I think I will be able to live with that lack of detail!

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

did you drill all the way through the lower?

if so, you can use the female portion of some chicago screws and some long machine screws to screw everything together, or just some normal nuts.

 

[El Rojo]

I talked to the FAB-10 people. I guess if you alter your lower at all, you void your DOJ letter that comes with it. So now because I have two screw holes in the bottom of my gun, the letter is no longer good. I am not worried about that. It is still a 10 round fixed magazine firearm. I don't need that fancy letter to tell me that. However, be aware of this if you plan on altering your lower. I remember someone saying that it was easy to remove the fixed mag for cleaning and the just rivet it back on there. Doing that will technically void your letter. Just be aware of these things.

The FAB-10 people are not too excited about having to get another letter approved. I think it would add a lot to the project to make the guns with a way to attach a fake magazine to the lower. You don't even have to call it a magazine, just make it a "storage attachment". The owner said one of his children has just died in an accident so he wasn't too thrilled to be talking to me at the time. I might try back in a month or two.

I still am working on my 20 round mag model of my "storage device". When I finish that I will keep you posted.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

 

[cvela]

Whatever happened to the 20rnd mag project? I am really interested now!

 

[El Rojo]

It fell through for lack of time. I am back at the high school so maybe I will take the mag out of my back seat and see if I can stencil it and have them cut it for me. Thanks for reminding me.

Here is a picture of me with a good conservative friend who had never gone shooting before! He enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

[cvela]

Ok! Well I tagged the message and hope you can get back to it sometime. I too am so dissapointed at the sad FAB10 I have. youve given me some hope! haha thanks again!

 

[cvela]

Im starting my own project now, but am not sure about using wood to mount the screws. Have you come up with a new and improved way? Im not sure about wood holding up thats all.

 

[El Rojo]

Someone else suggested using a thick portion of cheap plastic cutting board. That would be a lot easier to fuse to the existing Orlite mag plastic. For now the wood seems to work. I did notice the silicon did not hold it that well so I had to put a small screw into the back of the mag to make it a little better hold.

Someday when I get the time I will find the resources to work on the steel 20 rounder. It isn't a high priority right now.

 

[cvela]

I ended up going for the wood block too, but I used a polymer glue that I had from the home center to hold the block inside the mag. I ran 2 #8 2" screws (that I dremeled a bit off the top to get about 1.75" or so). Then after fine tuning it for over a week, I ended up putting the polymer glue (dries clear) where the reciever and mag meet in between to get a solid bond and fill a bit of a gap I could not tweak out. anyway I can take pictures and upload them tomorrow.

I used an old non-functional steel 30rnd mag body for mine. again thanks for the idea!