AR9 Build

[GunnyUSMC]

I've beed having fun building ARs and decided to build one in 9mm. PSA had a sale last week on a complet upper for $320 so, I ordered one.
This is what I got.

PSA 16" Carbine 9mm 1/10 Melonite Freedom Upper with Ramped BCG and CH.

Lets just say I was not happy. Oh, there was nothing wrong with the upper, it looked great. What I didn't like is it came with a slick side upper. I didn't take a good look at the pics when I ordered the upper and didn't realize that upper was a slick side. So you can say that I was more unhappy with myself.
I called PSA and asked if there was anything different about the 9mm uppers and was told that barrel would work on any mil-spect upper. That made me happy because I had a new upper in my parts box.
I went into my shop and in a few mins I was happy with the new upper.



There is nothing wrong with a slick side upper, but I need to have a dust cover. ARs just look funny without one.



The AR9 is a blow back and doesn't need a gas tube so PSA used a screw to hold the front handguard ring in place.



The bolt is pretty solid.







I was going to order one of the PSA lowers with the 9mm insert but read that most of the problems with that type of setup is the magazines. Some brands are not so good and they can cost a bit.
So I looked into the lowers that use the Glock magazines and found that JoBob Outfitters had Bilit lower for $150 with free shipping. It showed up today.
Here are a few more pics.













Now for the rest of the build. I have all the parts to finish the build, I just need to deside on the stocks.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Looks nice. I've got plans for a 9mm build eventually.

What are your plans for that slick side upper?

 

[fallout mike]

I'm planning to build one in the next month or so. USAF, I've got a extra slick side upper that I'm putting your barrel on. That build is looking very cost friendly so far.

 

[Walkalong]

Very interesting lower.

 

[horsemen61]

Cool idea

 

[eldon519]

Do you have to mill the bolt to work with the narrower single-feed mags? I know some you do.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Everything went together great. I put standard M4 Furnitur on for now.
I have MOE sets in OD Green, black, FDE, and brown camo. I also have set of the Slim in OD green, just don't know which one I want to use.
The only thing I need now is a heavy buffer.
As soon as it stops raining I will take some pics.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The rain stopped.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Rather than a set screw in the front sight post

I like to use a bobbed, nearly full length gas tube as it still runs through the barrel nut... just in case.

Now, I'm sure that no one has ever, in the history of the platform had a barrel nut come loose but I do it jsut the same.

Todd.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Looks nice, Gunny. I'm looking for a 9mm bolt/ lower combo that uses Uzi mags.

 

[eldon519]

I've actually thought about drilling my upper just so I could put a gas tube in as I did have it come loose once.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I took it to the range fot a test run. I put 75 rounds through it and I have to say, I love this little carbine. I ran 115gr and 124gr FMJ and it shot great. I even ran some Speer Gold dot +P JHP in it and it didn't miss a lick.
I'm still going to pick up a heavy buffer and see how it works with it.

 

[pdsmith505]

I see you have a bolt catch installed... does it actually work with this receiver?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The bolt catch does work manually.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I stopped in at Aklys Defense today while at lunch and picked up a Spike Tactcal T3 Heavy Buffer at a great price.
Back at work I had some trouble. I put the heavy buffer in and fired one round, that's where the trouble started. The buffer was stuck in the buffer tube for some reason and would not come out.
When I got home I removed the buffer tube and had a feeling that it was where the trouble was coming from. I had to slam the end of the buffer tube on a piece of wood to get the buffer and spring out. I then shined a light into the buffer tube and it looked like a 3 year old with a hand drill had cut the inside of the tube.
The milspec buffer worked in the tube but the Spick buffer was just a bit wider and was getting stuck on the ruffley cut walls.
I got out a new buffer tube and both buffers fit great. I then installed the new buffer tube and everything was good again.
My son Isaac helped me dress up the carbine with a FDE stock set.
I'll take it to work tomorrow amd see how it shoots with the heavy buffer.

 

[Dr.Rob]

That is a really good looking purpose built lower.

 

[unlimited4x4]

Where did you get the bolt from? I'm in the reading/planning stage of doing a 9mm and 45 acp build. Its my understanding that the bolt has to be modified to work with glock mags. Did you purchase one already modified or did you send it to someone like Wolf to modify it?

 

[horsemen61]

Awesome build now I'm going to do one just like that

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The bolt is a Ramped Bolt from PSA. It came with the upper. Nothing needed to be done to the bolt to work with Glock mags.
While at Aklys Defense yester day I looked at their new AR9 lower. It's a dedicated 9mm lower that takes the Colt Mags and has a bolt hold open latch on it. It is also cut for a full auto sear. It would just need the holes drilled

 

[horsemen61]

Does yours hold open on the last shot ????

 

[Just Us]

Nice build. That is a really nice lower!

I wish it was available for Colt mags, I feel like I got to have lrbho functionality.

I didn't see that lower on Aklys website, would I just need to call? Do you happen to know what the price is on it?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

horsemen61
Mine does not hold open on the last shot.

Just Us
They just started building them and they pulled out a new stripped lower to show me. The lowers may be a little on the high end their cost is not far below $200.
Give them a call and say that Lee said to call.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I ordered a Schuster Forward Assist Plug for the AR-15 at Midway. They are made of Delrin and weight almost nothing.
It came in today and had the roll pin with it. Only took a min. or two to install it.


I also got a charging handel with the extended latch.


Here it is all finished along with four 33 round mags.