My First AR!

[Darkbob]

For Christmas this year I received my first AR... well actually it was a Spikes Tactical zombie themed stripped lower and a Lower Build Kit from Palmetto State Armory, with an upper in .458 Socom on order from RRA (due to arrive sometime in Feb). I've never owned an AR, let alone built one, but I was excited to try.

Long story short, just about everything went together pretty easily using some internet instructions. Before I started, I decided to add some color fill to the lower as well. I think it turned out really well.



The one issue I have is that the pivot pin is so tight fitting in the lower, I pretty much have to drive it out with a punch!

The take-down pin fits properly and I am familiar with how they are supposed to work from my time in the Army, so I know that it's too tight. How can I get it to fit better? My thought is to take it out and, using my fingers, wrap some fine grit sandpaper around it and try to take a little off of it. What do you guys think?

 

[Robert]

The one issue I have is that the pivot pin is so tight fitting in the lower, I pretty much have to drive it out with a punch!

That is normal. When I got my AR they were just like that. As I have worked the pins for a year now they are a bit easier to get out. Don't "need" a punch now, but it helps. Just needs to be worked a few thousand time over many years...

supposed to work from my time in the Army

I would venture a guess that the ones on the military rifles have been pushed in and out a great number of times, unless the rifle is brand new. I know what you mean though, they just pop right out.

Congrats on the auto loading 45-70. 458 Socom looks cool, but then I am a big bore junkie.

 

[snakeman]

Hmm I would just leave the pin alone. After a few cleanings it should loosen up a bit. If that doesn't work try you're wife or girlfriends nail file. The polishing parts of it work great for stuff like that. BTW congrats on the new toy! It should be a blast!...sorry, bad joke.

 

[Bobson]

Looks great

I'm curious about the safety. The LIVE setting is Safe; the DEAD setting is Fire; what's the UNDEAD setting? On a military model, that'd be Burst. Is it just a second mode of normal Fire on your AR, just for fun?

Seems like a neat idea. I'm not really into the zombie thing, but I like that a lot. I hope it serves you very well.

 

[Darkbob]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll try to refrain from any sanding for a while until I give it a chance to break-in.

Bobson, since my lower is not an NFA-type item, the Undead setting is just for looks. It's a safety, not a selector lever.

The zombie theme is probably the biggest reason I received this AR from my wife. She's a big fan of zombie movies and we love the tv show The Walking Dead, and after watching one of the episodes I showed her the stripped lower. She loved it! So now I have an AR in the collection! Well, part of an AR until the upper gets here.

 

[Bobson]

Bobson, since my lower is not an NFA-type item, the Undead setting is just for looks. It's a safety, not a selector lever.

Aww

It would be pretty sweet if both DEAD and UNDEAD were basic semi/auto fire lol. Still neat though

 

[tyeo098]

Neat lower!

 

[Bobson]

I don't want to steal your thread, but out of curiosity, where do you buy your .458 SOCOM ammo? Or do you load/reload your own?

 

[Darkbob]

So far I have one box of Corbon 405 gr SP cartridges for it. I do intend to reload for it though, since the cartridges are so expensive. I already reload my .45 ACP, but I need dies and the necessary gear for necked cartridges.

I purchased the ammo from Midwayusa, but you can also get it from sbrammunition.com.

 

[Darkbob]

The Upper Has Arrived!!

Woo!! Today I went down to the UPS shop and picked up a package containing my new RRA upper in .458 SOCOM!!! When I ordered it, before Christmas, I was told that I'd have to wait 8-12 weeks! I received it in exactly 4! I'm so geeked!!

The upper is a Rock River Arms Midlength A4 16" free floating barrel in .458 SOCOM. Right now there are no optics on it. I'll probably put my Nikon Prostaff 2x7 for the initial range time, although I will be purchasing some type of BUIS also.

Everything fits nicely together. Even the front pivot pin (see posts above) has finally come around!

My first thoughts are that it feels pretty front heavy. I assume a magazine full of 405 gr soft point cartridges will change the center of gravity a bit though.

I'll start new thread for a range report when weather gets nice enough to take her out. Enough chatter for now, time for a couple of pics.

 

[MenaceMan47]

My new RRA upper I am currently SBR'ing (sent in the Form1 4 weeks ago) had sticky pins when I first got it. I exercised the pins for about 20 minute and they loosened up just fine.

 

[TurtlePhish]

Dear god, those are hefty cartridges.

 

[Fred_G]

Nice looking AR there! Congrats! I have a RIA 6.8 upper, nice, no problems with it. Just out of curiosity, how much do those .458 rounds weigh, bullet brass and all?

 

[Welding Rod]

I have a RRA SOCOM too. It is really fun to shoot. BTW I don't think the cartridges will work in that Magpul mag. I use a HK 30 rounder with a blue single load follower from Bushmaster, like they use in their 450 BM. It isn't necessary though.

BTW, before shooting more that a round or two stop and check your brass. I found that my brass was hitting the end of the dust cover door spring wire which was very sharp. It was cutting a pretty deep groove lengthwise in my expensive brass as it was ejected. Easy to fix with a little sandpaper but I had already gashed up a box or two of brass before I noticed.

 

[K-Rod]

The way it was explained to me was the only "Tool" needed to field strip an AR was a .223/5.56 cartridge. If the pins were a little tight, a little bump with the bullet was all it required. Even the pins in the bolt carrier group can be removed by prying with a cartridge.

This is how the Guy at my LGS explained it to me when I bought my first AR. Ex Marine or something

 

[Darkbob]

@ Welding Rod: Thanks for the tip on the dust cover ejection issue, I'll keep an eye on it.

@Freg_G: I'm not sure, when I get home from work tonight I'll weigh one and post.

I can't hardly wait to get to the range with it. IF only SW Michigan weather would quit messing around and get some dry days!

 

[Darkbob]

Well, my little powder scale couldn't weigh one of the cartridges, they were too heavy. So I ended up using a kitchen scale. It is one of the cheap spring type scales that measures in ounces up to 4 lbs. To verify the weight of one, I also put all 20 into the basket and then divided by 20. The measurements were close enough that I believe them. The weight of a single cartridge is approximately 1.4 ounces, which ends up being about 611 grains.

That estimate is probably only accurate to +/- 30 grains though.

 

[repmurcs]

My RRA 458 has been on order for 2 weeks this friday -- I think I'm more excited about it than I was my 1st born. What are you gonna use for a scope on that Zombi-nator ??

As far as ammunition - with all the current recognition this beast is getting -- don't be surprised if some of your local larger gun shops has it. Tends to be a couple bucks more - but no wait and ya get to do window shopping

 

[Fred_G]

Well, my little powder scale couldn't weigh one of the cartridges, they were too heavy. So I ended up using a kitchen scale. It is one of the cheap spring type scales that measures in ounces up to 4 lbs. To verify the weight of one, I also put all 20 into the basket and then divided by 20. The measurements were close enough that I believe them. The weight of a single cartridge is approximately 1.4 ounces, which ends up being about 611 grains.

That estimate is probably only accurate to +/- 30 grains though.

LOL, that would be a fun round to shoot. Some of my 6.8 ammo is 110 grain bullets. I don't have a scale, but what, bullet plus brass, 200 grain?