It BEGINS!!!!.....again....another Ar-15 build

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Thank God I don't tie flies. One of the guys worked with did, he'd take the damn things to the bathroom with him. Nothing like having to check the floor and seat for a lost hook before sitting down.
It's not the hooks for me, it's the little fluffballs that end up everywhere...everywhere. Sometimes I wonder how they made the voyage to the places I find them.
 
It's not the hooks for me, it's the little fluffballs that end up everywhere...everywhere. Sometimes I wonder how they made the voyage to the places I find them.

Lol, we used to tease him about his little "Poof's" and tiny dancer skirts.....we also stole his flies every time he put his case down.

Those things worked AWSOME!
 
It's not the hooks for me, it's the little fluffballs that end up everywhere...everywhere. Sometimes I wonder how they made the voyage to the places I find them.
Some questions are better left unasked....."how'd that fluff ball wind up in the popcorn?" "How'd these ar parts wind up in the carburetor bin?" "Do you REALLY need another rifle/shotgun/pistol/powder throw/lb of powderx?"
 
Lol, we used to tease him about his little "Poof's" and tiny dancer skirts.....we also stole his flies every time he put his case down.

Those things worked AWSOME!
I have had that happen, whole cases of flies at a time representing hundreds of hours of work. Now my good flies stay in the gun safe, and a bait box of junk lays on the tying table. As simple as it is, a piece of junky old yarn cemented to a hook makes a pretty fair worm, as has been reported by multiple friends aka thieves.
 
You guys keep talking about tying flies and the next thing you know I'll be hooked (no pun intended) on that too.. The last thing I need is another hobby..... but I have though about it before and I do fly fish....

it's the little fluffballs that end up everywhere...everywhere. Sometimes I wonder how they made the voyage to the places I find them.

could it be...???. I think that cat has a guilty look on his face....
 
You guys keep talking about tying flies and the next thing you know I'll be hooked (no pun intended) on that too.. The last thing I need is another hobby..... but I have though about it before and I do fly fish....



could it be...???. I think that cat has a guilty look on his face....
How about mounting a fly reel on the handguard . you could go fishing and shooting at the same time.:)
 
So the rest of the parts showed up today.

I was so excited to put the thing together i forgot to take pictures of most of it.
I did get the handguard and barrel nut as these were a little unusual, id never seen this type of mounting before, and honestly im not positive i ever took it out of the package when i originally got it.
the screws pull to tapered nuts into the barrel nut to lock it in place, actually seems to take less force to hold it properly than a clamp on hand guard, which i thought this was.

Complete rifle, with its sightmark optic, which has gotten the crap beat out of it over the last 5 years and STILL refuses to die weights in a 5lbs 11oz, which while not featherlight, is lighter than any AR ive built to date. I could probably get down around 5lbs by taking off the flash hider (another goody from Gunny), which is too bad ass to take of, and modifying or using other parts like a lighter stock. As is tho it balances well and is plenty light enough.
I also just realized that i dont have anymore AR mags, so ill have to stop and buy a couple on my way to function test this tomorrow or when ever its not pouring.
The only issue i had with the final assembly was that since the upper is plastic with aluminum inserts, they want you to use a Reaction rod, or something similar. My local store actually has one, but at 100 bucks for a tool i may only use once i passed.
What I ended up doing was notching a 1/2" 3/8th drive socket to match the lugs in the barrel extension. The socket is cheap chinese steel, so is still fairly soft. With the torque required to secure the barrel, since i didnt need to time anything, i was comfortable that even with a slight misalignment of notches i wouldnt damage the barrel extension.
Seemed to work properly, torqued to 50, then released, then re-torqued to 40.

Pictures of everything will be up in a bit, i have to resize all of them.
 
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Looks like a really nice lightweight carbine. Should be a ton of fun to shoot. I’m glad you like the flash hider.
I have three lightweight builds and enjoy shooting them.
That reaction rod is one useful tool if you work on AR’s. I got mine on sale a while back for $70 and it has been money well spent.
 
Looks like a really nice lightweight carbine. Should be a ton of fun to shoot. I’m glad you like the flash hider.
I have three lightweight builds and enjoy shooting them.
That reaction rod is one useful tool if you work on AR’s. I got mine on sale a while back for $70 and it has been money well spent.
Thanks, and thanks again for all the parts...that trigger group you sent is way smoother than any of the "mil specs" I've worked with. Didn't notice how clean it was till I was playing with the gun today.
This is the lightest variant I've built so far, and I like it, hopefully it shoots nicely, if so it will probably go to the range pretty regularly. It will also be a nice goat hunting set up.

I lf I do anymore builds or do much more tinkering, I may buy a reaction rod. They do look like a better set up than using blocks like I normally do, not that I've ever had a problem with using blocks. The socket was an expediant short term solution.
 
Thanks, and thanks again for all the parts...that trigger group you sent is way smoother than any of the "mil specs" I've worked with. Didn't notice how clean it was till I was playing with the gun today.
This is the lightest variant I've built so far, and I like it, hopefully it shoots nicely, if so it will probably go to the range pretty regularly. It will also be a nice goat hunting set up.

I lf I do anymore builds or do much more tinkering, I may buy a reaction rod. They do look like a better set up than using blocks like I normally do, not that I've ever had a problem with using blocks. The socket was an expediant short term solution.
Oh! :) Did I forget get to tell you that I cleaned up that fire control group a little? I thought you would like it.:thumbup:
 
LoonWulf you’re awful.
You do realize this thread frustrates some of us, as it makes us want to start another build?

Unfortunately I can’t right now due to work and not having time to break in my last build!

As for Gunny, don’t tell him but I’d vote for him as one of the nicest people anyone could ever come across.
 
LoonWulf you’re awful.
You do realize this thread frustrates some of us, as it makes us want to start another build?

Unfortunately I can’t right now due to work and not having time to break in my last build!

HAH! If it makes you feel any better I've only had time to put 40rnds thru it to adjust the gas block(I'll have to do it again in a few hundred I'm sure). I bought it a little utg bugbuster, which is a decent little scope for the cost, still need to sight that.....maybe after I get this stupid car running again I'll have time to play with my new toys.


As for Gunny, don’t tell him but I’d vote for him as one of the nicest people anyone could ever come across.

Gunny certainly gets my vote as well!
 
So did I......
And for me I definitely have more fun planning out, shopping for, and building them.
Alot of the time the idea of the rifle changes, or evolves as I find parts I want to try. Like the light weight bolt carrier.
Otherwise this build would have been about 100 bucks cheaper.

Same for me. I have three cardboard boxes of parts. Each one is for a separate build and, being a cheapskate, er frugal, I am constantly watching for sales and Daily Deal emails for parts so some of my parts buying is being driven by what is the best deal for what I will (eventually) need. So I have two complete AR's and three builds in various phases. Living on a somewhat tight budget is making these projects a lot slower than I want them to be. :(

I made a major decision for me last week to turn one of the boxes of parts in a completed AR. It is lighter weight than a standard M4 carbine. Mainly looking to reduce it from being muzzle heavy by using a pencil profile barrel and smaller flashhider along with shaving a little weight with smooth side upper receiver and Mission First Tactical buttstock. Hopefully the ladies will enjoy shooting it. :)

Now I need to resupply the parts in cardboard box for build #4. I want to get it done before Christmas so I can play Gun Santa Claus. :cool:

Oh I revisited AR #1 and am going to change the flashhider. :uhoh:

And I want to put a different rear sight on AR #2. o_O

So the journey continues. :D
 
blank operated fly launcher! for long range fly fishing:D
I’m thinking something along the lines of the grappling hook rig which was intended to be fired from a grenade launcher. Surely we can figure this out, even if you pack it into a mud ball and let the mud dissolve once it hits the water. Presentation be damned, tactical fly rod for the win.
 
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