Alright folks, here are the photos. Let me know if there's anything else in particular you'd like to see. I found out I can only upload 4. The more detailed ones aren't here now.
Does the stock have the CD logo on it?
Do you know how to take the bolt out of the carrier to check it for markings? Pop those handguards off and look at the inside of them as far as single, double, or no heat shields. Also, some manufacturers mark the bbl toward the middle. See if there are any marks there and grab a pic if you can, or at least tell us what you find.
12 Pump, getting the bolt out the carrier is all. Usually HPT / MPI bolts are marked MP or MPI. That's not a huge deal. Now that you have it field stripped you can clean and lube it.
On the handguards the Delta ring slips over a little flange holding them on at the rear. Just use something to hold the delta ring down, and pop the handguards off one half at a time. In the video he's just using the screwdriver to help separate the two halves. That's it.
I see. So it turns out I could have gotten a brand new Smith & Wesson for $90 less with a warranty and original and superior parts after all. Nice to know.
Oh, and when I bought it, the dealer pointed out that it has been fired very little, as evidenced by the lack of scratching a wear on the bolt. He said that it probably isn't even broken in, so it might have a few hiccups when I take it out to shoot. Translation: Expect it to jam. ...
BTW, I'd like to point out that I really appreciate the support here. It's been kind of demoralizing to first hear how great the AR is, then do months of asking and researching, then finally putting out the money for the most expensive gun I've ever bought, then finding out I even MAY have gotten something slapped together with cheap parts and may not even be safe to shoot (why else did the previous owner want to get rid of it after shooting it so little, and now the dealer couldn't even sell it and wanted it gone so bad as to lower the price for me--first from $800 to $770 to $750?). If this is the case, then the ideas of having it as a "Post-Collapse America" gun OR investment gun would both be done.
No offense, but if you got taken, (a question I'll leave to those who know more about the ins and outs of the AR platform than I,) you at least partly did it to yourself. You went to one dealer, about whom you ought to have had at least some questions, and were too impatient to follow through on the advice you'd been given, and the plan you'd formed. Right, and right now, are seldom the same thing.Great! This is just what I was trying so hard to avoid. I've been doing months of research and asking questions trying to find out what I should buy as a first AR, and I end up getting screwed over by a dealer.
I think I'll be sticking with shotguns after this.
I'll post some pictures as soon as I get home later today....
Well, it has a proper F height front sight base. The M4 feed ramps are properly cut and were finished after the cut. The carrier key is also very well staked. Those are all good signs. That looks like a mid length gas system upper as well. This may not be as bad as you thought ...
I got the top part of the handguard off only. What a pain in the you-know-what that was! Whoever designed this thing deserves a kick in the butte. I also need to get the bottom off too in order to remove the bottom rail because it hurts my hand. Here's a pic of the inside. As expected, no markings on the barrel.
EDIT: Finally got the bottom half off. Still no markings anywhere on the barrel. What should I conclude about this?
No offense, but if you got taken, (a question I'll leave to those who know more about the ins and outs of the AR platform than I,) you at least partly did it to yourself. You went to one dealer, about whom you ought to have had at least some questions, and were too impatient to follow through on the advice you'd been given, and the plan you'd formed. Right, and right now, are seldom the same thing.
Found the auction. It has to be a fake. Please notice the front triangle handguard retainer on the carbine.
So, non spec barrel, Tapco stock, cheapo carry handle and triangle handguard retainer.
Its most assuredly a parts rifle.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...=368089362#PIC
It means go buy a lottery ticket. CMMG is the manufacturer. MP is Magnetic Particle, and C is Chrome - as in hard chrome lined. They've now switched to Cold Hammer Forged bbls, but you still got a very good upper.But I noticed that if I shine the light at a steep angle to the barrel, there is very fine writing. It says: CMMG MPC 5.56 NATO 1/7. What do the first 2 sets of letters mean. I know what the rest means.
It means go buy a lottery ticket. CMMG is the manufacturer. MP is Magnetic Particle, and C is Chrome - as in hard chrome lined. They've now switched to Cold Hammer Forged bbls, but you still got a very good upper.
ETA: Here's the factory link - http://www.cmmginc.com/product_p/55bd382.htm - that upper sells at online vendors for $700+ new when they're in stock.
Based on the carrier key staking and the matching of the M4 feed ramps between the bbl extension & the receiver itself I'm pretty confident that's a CMMG factory complete upper that was put onto the lower. Based on the Samco grip and Tapco stock on a CDD lower that half is obviously a mixed parts assembly as others have already noted.
12Pump, you didn't get the deal of the century, but you didn't get hurt bad (if it all) either.
Well, the dealer also represented the rifle as a factory CDD rifle. The easy way is to call CMMG and ask them based on the markings on your bbl. As far as I know CMMG has never offered a 1:7 twist bbl that wasn't chrome lined though.BTW, the dealer specifically told me that this barrel is NOT chrome lined. It is easy to know one way or the other?
Exactly.The upper in the link you showed me sure looks like what I have. It shows a price of $829.95. You said $700. Is that due to the difference between MSRP and dealer price?
That's hard to gauge. CMMG did switch to cold hammer forging for manufacturing their chrome lined bbls, so people are going to desire the new CHF bbls more. So, it's a conventionally rifled bbl, but it's still 1:7 twist (and almost certainly hard chrome lined). I'd keep that upper.Hey, what do you think my upper is worth right now by itself (assuming I wanted to start swapping parts and becoming a "builder").
Well, the dealer also represented the rifle as a factory CDD rifle. The easy way is to call CMMG and ask them based on the markings on your bbl. As far as I know CMMG has never offered a 1:7 twist bbl that wasn't chrome lined though.
...
@Quentin: I took another look at the barrel, using a bright light. Looking straight-on with a bright light, I see nothing. But I noticed that if I shine the light at a steep angle to the barrel, there is very fine writing. It says: CMMG MPC 5.56 NATO 1/7. What do the first 2 sets of letters mean? I know what the rest means.
Also Quentin: I took another picture for you of the barrel with both handguard pieces off so you can see the entire barrel. Also, I forgot to mention that the handguards have silver metal inserts inside of them. See pic in post #36. Are those heat shields?
That really makes me wonder about something. If this gun was sold to the dealer as "used" as the dealer told me, then wouldn't the original owner have known that it has a new, and probably more expensive upper on it, since that owner would have had to put it on there himself, and would have certainly wanted to mention that fact to the dealer when trading it in? If I were someone who took a Charles Daley rifle and then swapped the upper for something much better, then barely used it and decided to trade it in, I definately would be sure to mention this to the dealer. Obviously, he didn't. Otherwise, the dealer would have been sure to point out in the auction ad or to me that the upper is much better than the original. He even specifically told me that the bore was not chrome lined. Being a CMMG, it probably is. So he obviously didn't know it was a CMMG.
I mean, if you bought a DPMS rifle and then swapped the upper for a Colt upper, then fired only a few shots and then traded it in, wouldn't you mention the upgrade to the dealer so you'd get a fair price for what you have, and what you put into it?
@ugaarguy (and everyone else): Thank you for all your help (and patience)! I'm going to sleep easier tonight!