Author Topic: My new AR-15! (Read 7905 times)

Todd_ID · « **on:** February 13, 2011, 09:18:44 AM »

After a couple of weeks of collecting parts from all over I finally have it all together! The upper and lower are from Bravo Company and appear to be of excellent quality. They have an excellent reputation online, and it appears to be well deserved. The grips, sights and forearm are all Magpul MOE. Stock is standard M4 from Bravo Company with a little Krylon Camo spray paint (same paint with bipod and scope mounts). The bipod is from Cheaper Than Dirt 9-13". Scope is Bushnell 4-12 x 40. Red dot sight is a Tru-Glo 1x. Scope mounts/rails are from CTD and are their .83" model that gets the iron sights to be in the lower 1/3 of the red dot scope and invisible in the 4-12 scope.

I got out and shot 200 rounds getting used to it and sighting in the red dot and iron sights. I had several magazine feeding problems toward the end as it started getting dirty. I had the cheap 30 rd GI mags with green followers from Bravo Company shooting the cheapest ammo from Cabela's (Herter's steel .223 55 grain FMJ), so I wasn't expecting to do much better than I did. I bought one Magpul P-Mag and never had a problem with it, so I'll stick with them from now on. I was shooting about 3" groups at 50 yards with the iron sights and was able to shoot inside a 1" square every shot with the red dot at 50, so I was very happy with that. I haven't shot with the scope on it yet, so true accuracy tests are not in, but it looks promising. I put a bunch of holes in a couple different steel targets that were 12x12 1/8" plate, and that was just flat out fun!

Blacklab · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2011, 09:27:40 AM »

Lookin good

.

400out · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2011, 09:32:00 AM »

Very nice Todd I like it! we will have to get together up in them there hills and chase some dogs

Wea300mag · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2011, 09:43:14 AM »

Great looking set-up Todd, very cool.

Wenatcheejay · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2011, 10:29:10 AM »

Pretty EBR

Todd_ID · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2011, 06:04:17 PM »

Quote from: 400out on February 13, 2011, 09:32:00 AM

Very nice Todd I like it! we will have to get together up in them there hills and chase some dogs

I'm thinking the very same thing! With any luck I'll be able to thump one at 250 or 4 of them at 50!

mr.ktm95 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2011, 06:46:54 PM »

Thats awesome

PacificNWhunter · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2011, 06:59:47 PM »

Sweet set up.

Heredoggydoggy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2011, 07:27:40 PM »

Very nice! Hate to be a wet blanket, but a tip that might save you some grief: DON'T SHOOT STEEL CASE AMMO!

Scott · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2011, 07:39:19 PM »

Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on February 13, 2011, 07:27:40 PM

Very nice! Hate to be a wet blanket, but a tip that might save you some grief: DON'T SHOOT STEEL CASE AMMO!

Todd_ID · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2011, 09:01:39 PM »

Quote from: Scott on February 13, 2011, 07:39:19 PM

Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on February 13, 2011, 07:27:40 PM
Very nice! Hate to be a wet blanket, but a tip that might save you some grief: DON'T SHOOT STEEL CASE AMMO!

All I can find about steel case ammo is that it might score the chamber. If that's the only problem, then I'll accept it. I plan to try and shoot out the barrel if I can, but I don't think it'll happen, even with cheap ammo. I will buy a 24" stainless bull barrel in the next couple of months to put on it for pure accuracy. Pretty please tell why steel ammo is no good! I want to feed this thing what it needs!

FC · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2011, 09:28:06 PM »

Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on February 13, 2011, 07:27:40 PM

Very nice! Hate to be a wet blanket, but a tip that might save you some grief: DON'T SHOOT STEEL CASE AMMO!

I guess my guns will be doomed someday then

and I've only fired thousands of rounds of steel cased ammo through most of my guns

Steel cased ammo doesn't hurt your gun, if you have a malfunction when using it there is something wrong with your firearm.

Check a steel case against a brass one to see which one deforms easier, it will be the steel case.

Heredoggydoggy · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2011, 10:05:21 PM »

The steel case isn't the problem--it's the coating that keeps the case from rusting. As the chamber heats up, the coating sticks to the surfaces of the chamber and builds up. Eventually you get a case stuck in the chamber, or prevents a round from chambering. Guns like Russian AK's, and the H&Ks with fluted chambers are made to work with steel cased ammo. Guns with smooth chambers are not. One of the local gun shops has a Glock that blew up in its owner's hand because of steel case ammo. The slide is locked so hard that efforts to open it with a hammer failed. The shooter wasn't injured, but an expensive gun was destroyed because the owner was too cheap to buy good ammo. Also several rifles have been taken in to the gun shop with steel cases stuck in the chambers. Shoot steel cased ammo at your own risk. The only gun I own that I'll shoot steel case ammo in is my HK-94, that has a fluted chamber, and even then I only shot 1 box of the stuff because it was given to me to get rid of.

hoyt2002 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2011, 10:17:53 PM »

very nice AR todd

FC · « **Reply #14 on:** February 13, 2011, 10:58:03 PM »

Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on February 13, 2011, 10:05:21 PM

The steel case isn't the problem--it's the coating that keeps the case from rusting. As the chamber heats up, the coating sticks to the surfaces of the chamber and builds up. Eventually you get a case stuck in the chamber, or prevents a round from chambering.

I've heard this same old story many times, if you look around you will find a few tests people have done to try and make their rifle fail in this manner and they were unable to do so. I've tried it in mine and was unable to get it to do this and I've never discovered anything other than carbon in any of the guns that I fire steel cased ammo through.

It's carbon that hangs cases in chambers, clean your gun properly and it won't be a problem. Buy a chamber brush and use it after every outing with an AR.

A Glock blew up due to steel case stuff huh? I guess that's good enough proof for me that an XD(m) is a better gun

I've fired thousands of steel cased rounds through it although never more than 300-400 in any given day I don't think.

400out · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2011, 12:25:14 PM »

Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on February 13, 2011, 10:05:21 PM

The steel case isn't the problem--it's the coating that keeps the case from rusting. As the chamber heats up, the coating sticks to the surfaces of the chamber and builds up. Eventually you get a case stuck in the chamber, or prevents a round from chambering. Guns like Russian AK's, and the H&Ks with fluted chambers are made to work with steel cased ammo. Guns with smooth chambers are not. One of the local gun shops has a Glock that blew up in its owner's hand because of steel case ammo. The slide is locked so hard that efforts to open it with a hammer failed. The shooter wasn't injured, but an expensive gun was destroyed because the owner was too cheap to buy good ammo. Also several rifles have been taken in to the gun shop with steel cases stuck in the chambers. Shoot steel cased ammo at your own risk. The only gun I own that I'll shoot steel case ammo in is my HK-94, that has a fluted chamber, and even then I only shot 1 box of the stuff because it was given to me to get rid of.

BINGO we have a winner

Heredoggydoggy · « **Reply #16 on:** February 14, 2011, 12:40:23 PM »

Quote from: FC on February 13, 2011, 10:58:03 PM

Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on February 13, 2011, 10:05:21 PM
The steel case isn't the problem--it's the coating that keeps the case from rusting. As the chamber heats up, the coating sticks to the surfaces of the chamber and builds up. Eventually you get a case stuck in the chamber, or prevents a round from chambering.

I've heard this same old story many times, if you look around you will find a few tests people have done to try and make their rifle fail in this manner and they were unable to do so. I've tried it in mine and was unable to get it to do this and I've never discovered anything other than carbon in any of the guns that I fire steel cased ammo through.

It's carbon that hangs cases in chambers, clean your gun properly and it won't be a problem. Buy a chamber brush and use it after every outing with an AR.

A Glock blew up due to steel case stuff huh? I guess that's good enough proof for me that an XD(m) is a better gun I've fired thousands of steel cased rounds through it although never more than 300-400 in any given day I don't think.

Okey Dokey--if you're happy shooting steel cased ammo, go to it! Me, I think too much of my guns to shoot that crap in them.

BlackRidge · « **Reply #17 on:** February 14, 2011, 01:03:26 PM »

Nice setup!! BRD is spreading!!!

2 questions:

1) Do you notice and side-side play with the Magpul MOE handguard?

2) Do you think the Sims Deresonator is making a difference for you? Just curious, been eyeing it and you're the first person I've seen who's actually using one

Whenever I throw my Magpul MOE handguard/foregrip on, the play becomes very noticeable, almost sloppy

Regarding steel cased ammo, not recommended at all, though its always nice to have a tin of the comm-block stuff stashed away for the Red Dawn/SHTF scenario's...

It will function and probably won't cause any catastrophic damage to the gun itself, so long as you clean it religiously after each outting.

For peace of mind and less of a need for cleaning, I lean towards bulk quantities of Lake City and or handloads

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 14, 2011, 01:39:48 PM »

Congrats! It will make you a nice gun.

FC · « **Reply #19 on:** February 14, 2011, 01:58:42 PM »

LOL...You guys are silly. Keep drinking the steel-cases are evil kool-aid, it will keep the price down for the rest of us that shoot it a lot.

Todd, enjoy your rifle! Magpul mags are definitely the best, I wouldn't buy anything else if using full size magazines ,smaller capacity makes the rifle easier to shoot from a rest, get yourself a chamber brush straight away if you haven't already and use it after every outing. AR's are very easy to maintain but you do need to do it routinely after use or they will get carbon coking that can not only be a pain to clean out but it will cause malfunctions.

Add carb cleaner to your arsenal of cleaning supplies if you haven't already and don't be afraid to use good old soap and hot water in the sink! Hot soapy water is the BEST when it comes to flushing out your receiver halves, I use a nylon bristle brush for scrubbing with a bit of dish soap and the rifle comes out looking like new. Just be sure to use straight hot water to rinse so it will dry quickly. Once you get used to cleaning your rifle in the sink you will start eyeballing your pistols too! Mine all look like new, inside and out, not to mention that I can scrub out a handgun in about 1-2 minutes.

millertime89 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 14, 2011, 02:27:29 PM »

That's a coyote smoker if i've ever seen one

Like what you did with the mods. It looks like it will be a fun gun to have in your arsenal

Todd_ID · « **Reply #21 on:** February 14, 2011, 07:55:34 PM »

Quote from: BlackRidge on February 14, 2011, 01:03:26 PM

2 questions:

1) Do you notice and side-side play with the Magpul MOE handguard?

2) Do you think the Sims Deresonator is making a difference for you? Just curious, been eyeing it and you're the first person I've seen who's actually using one

In answer to your questions...... 1) Magpul grip. I have seen what you are talking about on my gun. When I first install the two halves each time it does seem to wobble around a bit (maybe 1/64" of play). After I move it around for a while with that rattle/play you're talking about it tightens up and goes away. I think it's the Delta Ring settling in tighter and tighter on the grips until there is no play left. That's only my take on it, but mine doesn't wobble after monkeying with it for a few seconds.

2) Sims Deresonator. Yeah, it helps a bunch.... but only to the extent that somebody noticed it. Beyond that I haven't tested it but am certainly planning on it. I haven't shot with the 4-12 scope yet, so I really don't have any data for you. I plan to shoot a few groups with it off, with it in front, with it near the sight, and with it in the middle to see which groups I like the best.

Todd_ID · « **Reply #22 on:** February 14, 2011, 07:58:31 PM »

I just bought 2000 rounds of brass 5.56 ammo for $400 from a friend of a friend that doesn't need it anymore. It's top shelf Winchester first run ammo in 55 grain PSP that should last a very long time at my current rate of shooting. Now I can save the steel stuff for the zombies! Let's hope that it groups well!!!!!!

machine · « **Reply #23 on:** February 14, 2011, 08:05:53 PM »

Nothing wrong with steel cased ammo other than being dirty.Nice AR and great deal on the 2000 rounds.

CAMPMEAT · « **Reply #24 on:** February 14, 2011, 08:42:21 PM »

Steel cased ammo expands and doesn't contract. Steel swells up in the barrel and gets stuck. Brass expands and contracts so it will eject.

huntlakewood · « **Reply #25 on:** February 14, 2011, 08:50:41 PM »

nice I would like to owen one. I bet it is fun to shoot. I am a hater

CAMPMEAT · « **Reply #26 on:** February 14, 2011, 09:03:57 PM »

A note: you can't compare steel cased pistol ammo with an AR. Apples and oranges.

GreyWolf · « **Reply #27 on:** February 14, 2011, 09:41:55 PM »

Congratulations! That's a good looking varmint rifle! It's good to see people are not scared to turn their EBRs into ECRs

Once you shoot with your scope, if you are not getting a tight grouping, before you upgrade to more expensive ammo, try sending your trigger out to Bill Springfield & have him turn it into a 3 or 4lbs work of art! Best $50 upgrade I have made to any of my AR's hands down!

FC · « **Reply #28 on:** February 14, 2011, 10:02:31 PM »

Quote from: CAMPMEAT on February 14, 2011, 08:42:21 PM

Steel cased ammo expands and doesn't contract. Steel swells up in the barrel and gets stuck. Brass expands and contracts so it will eject.

False. I have shot thousands of rounds worth of rifle and pistol steel case ammo with no failures of any kind. Steel expands and contracts as it heats and cools just like brass.

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