Recent content by DirtyBrad

Thanks, Hedgemeister, that's good info to have. Certainly sounds like a real issue.

Waiting to pick up a generation 4 G17 I bought last week. I'd read about it before deciding on it over the generation 3, but have recently seen some stuff about the recoil spring being too stiff for lighter power 9mm loads causing FTFs. This makes logical sense to me, but I haven't seen...

Very cool. How much room for significant improvement is there? Can you train your reaction time up higher or is it pretty much set?

I appreciate the advice, but I'm just looking to see if anyone has seen something like this before or has some idea what might be going on. I actually just corrected the original post. I was mistaken about the chrome-lining. The transition I was looking for was right at the shoulder between...

Got a 16" middy barrel in the mail today that I bought on-line. Guy told me it was an unmarked, chromed Armalite in the white, with no markings. It doesn't have any caliber, twist, or manufacturer marks, but it has what looks to be a serial number. What's weird is that that number is stamped...

I hear you. Probably the smart move is to at least start at 16". I can always cut it down later if I feel the need. I do like the looks of the 14.5" more, but I'm not building this one to be pretty. I swear.

I'm almost swayed by the 16". It's what I have on the way. It's in the white, so I'm sending it out to ADCO for parking and pinning of the gas block anyway. My plan was to have it cut down, but I'm wavering now. I can't see messing with the FH, but I might for the barrel nut or whatever if I...

Brian, yours is a 14.5"? I'll definitely try the PMags out when I get a chance. Right now, I've got a stack of C-Products stainless.

I can still sway my muzzle device just fine with it permanently attached.

Pinned and welded. Good point about the weight. I've got an FA BCG. I'll start with the standard buffer.

Zak, I hear you. I probably should have added to my original topic that I'd like to be doing this myself. I do enjoy working on things and find it the best way to really learn. Rifle class is still several months off. I'll be putting plenty of rounds through this before then. Hopefully...

Zak, thank you for the response. I'm generally mechanically inclined. Former bike mechanic, work on my cars, hobby metal working, that kind of thing. I've built a few uppers now, but I'm no kind of expert. I'm curious, what types of upper failures do you see from home builders...

Thanks for the responses. As far as 1:7 goes, all things being equal, I'd prefer it. Currently, I can either go with 1:7 Colt carbine gas system or 1:9 Armalite mid-length. I realize the differences in either set-up are very small, but I'm currently picking the middy over the 1:7.

I've been messing around with a new upper for my AR. My goal is a short, but non-NFA, barrel and maximum reliability. This will be my go-to gun and one I'll be taking to classes, so what I care most about is that it runs all the time. I'll be putting an optic on this eventually, but I'm...

Did someone say pie in the sky idealist? This is the same general public that voted for Bush a second time, is fine banning assault weapons without even a vague ability to define them, and who, every single day, simply cannot pull all the way into the left turn lane on my way home. I thank...