My new AR Assembly

[steven58]

Hi All,

Just put the finishing touch on my new mid-length AR assembly (the Aimpoint T-1 just dropped of by the BBT)

Bravo Company: mid length upper, bolt carrier group and receiver extension kit with H buffer:
Essential Arms: lower receiver
Daniel Defense: lower parts kit, rear sight and optic mount
Magpul: MOE stock and grip
Cavalry Arms: mid length handguards
Blue Force Gear: VCAS Sling and universal wire loop front sling attachment
Noveske: QD endplate and swivel.

I was hesitant at first about using a battery operated sight. However, after researching Aimpoint sights I was convinced enough to give it a try.

It helps that the Magpul MOE grip takes the MIAD core designed to hold 2 AA batteries in a hermetically sealed container. As you can see in the picture, by interesting coincidence, it also holds 4 2023 batteries in their sealed wrappers. At approximately 5 years per battery that gives me about 25 years worth of back up. I'll just rotate through these to keep them under the 10 year shelf life!
So far, I have only put 300 rounds through it with the iron sights. It runs great no jams, no problems. It locks back on wolf 75 gr. .223 and shoots great with centurion 55 gr. 5.56. Even my "test" magazine (an old beat up, dented national guard reject picked out of the armory trash in 1988) didn't jam it.

I can't wait to get it to the range with the T1!

 

[Walkalong]

Very nice. How does she shoot?

 

[shotgunjoel]

Nice build. I'd personally use a bigger Aimpoint like an ML2 or 3. Looks good.

 

[ny32182]

Nice rifle. I finished a BCM middy build myself recently.

Through 233 rounds, it has run 100%, but is the only AR I've ever owned that ejects forward.

My Aimpoint, I just leave on (different rifle). If the battery ever runs out I'll just get another one. I've got a BUIS on there anyway; that is what it is there for.

 

[highorder]

I have the same C6 handguard. It does a great job keeping things cool.

What is the barrel profile under there? HB? govt?

 

[ny32182]

Govt.

 

[steven58]

Walkalong,

So far I have only shot it with the irons. I have some Wolf 75 grain steel case that I use just for testing because it is such a weak round. In some of my friends' ARs it will frequently cause short stroking or a failure to lock back on an empty magazine. So, the first thing I like to do with a new AR is load 2 rounds of Ruskiecaca into my crappy test magazine and see if it will feed and if I get a lock back on last round. This AR passed those tests.

as far as accuracy, with irons I'm getting 2-3" 10 shot groups at 100 yds with either XM-193 or Centurion 55gr. loosepack. The Centurion is more accurate, the 193 is hotter.

Compared to my friend's rifle, an exact clone of this one in every respect except it is an M-4 upper, this seems to shoot smoother and with slightly less muzzle rise and perceived recoil. However, his has the Magpul handguards. I can't wait till they make em in mid-length!


Shotgunjoel,
I tried the COMPM4S and the T1 side by side. for me the T1 won out due to it's size and weight. To me it was a choice between: the M4 takes AA batteries and is slightly more forgiving when firing from extreme positions.
The T1 is half the size and weight, just as tough and has less sight around the lens. That is even more of an issue for me as I'm left handed, so all the stuff hanging off the right side of an RDS is right in line of my non dominant eye. YMMV...

 

[kamagong]

That's a quality build. Good going.

 

[steven58]

ny32152,

The reason I configured this rifle to store 4 spare batteries in the grip has nothing to do with Murphy's law, being prepared, prudence, my belt + suspenders + elastic waistband mentality or SHTF scenarios.

I just do it to increase the cool factor of the rifle. I mean, come on, just being able to combine MOE grip, MIAD core, 2023 battery, AND get to use the word "Hermetically" in the same sentence? Dude

 

[steven58]

Thanks Kamagong.

That's my biggest problem, I love doing quality builds and these things are damn addictive!

I keep getting the urge to put together the "best AR in X category". and there are sooo many categories of AR!

I get my "fix" by proselytizing the cult of the AR to all my friends, letting them try mine and convincing them they need one too. I show them how inexpensively they can build one buying the parts on line. "Oooo, loook, Spikes tactical has lower on sale for $ 89.99"! Then I offer to assemble it with them, even lend them my spanner for the castle nut. I get to have all of the fun of shopping, assembly, and accessorizing without spending any money

This is my second AR. My other one is a POF 16" piston upper on an LMT lower. Sights are YHM folders under a Trijicon TA33R8. That one has about 3K of a variety of ammo through it. 1K of wolf / Brown Bear mix, the rest various brass cased loads. reliable and accurate to the point of being almost boring...Almost

Anyway, here is a picture of my 10 year old daughter shooting it with a rimfire converter

 

[MrCleanOK]

Very nice build. It's so refreshing to see a nicely built AR that doesn't have a railed handguard.

 

[steven58]

Thanks MrCleanOK, I tried to keep this as "KISS" as possible. The only exception was putting an optic on it. Going battery powered was a big leap of faith for me!

 

[shotgunjoel]

The T1 is half the size and weight

hey, you get points for that. I totally get your point.

Very nice build. It's so refreshing to see a nicely built AR that doesn't have a railed handguard.

I very much agree.

 

[steven58]

The size of the Aimpoint Micro series is truly amazing!

The M3 weighs 7.8 oz. without a mount. Mounts run about 2.5 oz....

A T1 weighs 3 oz. without a mount. The DD mount is 1.7 oz = 4.7 oz. total!

Originally I had expected to be more comfortable with a larger optic and was prejudiced in favor of an M4 or even the M3 due to a larger field of view. However, when I look through the Micro it seems that the only thing in my line of sight is a red dot. It's so "clean" on the outside that the sight itself just seems to disappear.

Also, the balance of the rifle is virtually unaffected by such light weight.

Turn it on, leave it on and remember to change the battery every leap year

 

[ny32182]

I only have an M3 and would like a chance to look at a micro.

The M4 just seems unneccessarily large and heavy to me, and as far as I can tell, you are "only" gaining 3 years of battery life (8 vs. 5?). I think I can just change the battery every 5 years instead and save the weight.

I put a scope on my middy, but I would be interested in handling a T1 and seeing how it would work on my next compact SBR. Having less "tube" in the line of sight sounds appealing, and is my only real gripe about the M3.

 

[steven58]

ny32182,

Nice Stick!
Is that an LMT lower or did you just use their SOPMOD stock?
Also, Which ACOG is that?

 

[ny32182]

Thanks. I had bought the upper originally for an LMT lower, but before firing a shot, I saw that BCM had finally released their lowers (real nice unit by the way... everything is "correct", just like the LMT, and the color match is better), so I ordered one of those, just to have an "all BCM build". Yes, the stock is an LMT SOPMOD. The scope is a TA11F.

I am planning to use the other LMT lower for an "all LMT" NFA M4 clone.

 

[kamagong]

You'll never regret spending money on quality parts. I went with LMT and BCM for my lower and upper. I could've saved money by getting something cheaper and almost as good, but I like to buy the best I can afford. And it doesn't really make sense to me to nickle and dime yourself on parts when you'll eventually spend more on ammo than you do the rifle. The gun is the cheapest part of firearms ownership, ammo costs much more, that is if you actually shoot.

 

[steven58]

You are so right Kamagong!

ny32182,
I went with the TA33R8. The economy version of the TA11F. I was very impressed with the ranging/BDC capability. Occasionally, I have access to a 600 m range. I had a friend set full size picture of perp targets at random distances out to 600 m while I looked away. I am at best a mediocre shot but was able to connect on the first shot about 98% of the time all the way out to 600. Groups at that distance were at best "minute of bad guy" but still in the torso.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Nice rig and very well thought out. I've got a Larue LT-724 offset mount inbound so I can run both the TA11 and a T-1 at the same time - although in terms of weight and capability, I would probably go with the TA33 if I did not already have the TA11.

 

[steven58]

For me, the TA33 was the best intersection of price, performance and size. The only change I made was to put it in a LaRue QD mount.

FYI, I was able to sell the factory mount on gunbroker for around $50! Everyone told me listing it would be a waste of time but it sold on the first listing. I started at $25 and it just went up. It was nice to have an offset on the LaRue

 

[BushyGuy]

Nice AR15, but what are you gonna call the rifle with so many names? guess MOD AR15

 

[steven58]

I believe they are lovingly referred to as "frankenrifles" as they are made from an amalgam of parts.

However, unlike the monster of lore (no brain from "Abby somebody"), these can be made from the best of everything, and at a significant cost savings over purchasing a completer rifle.

Plus you get to yell "GIVE MY RIFLE LIFE!" as you touch off the first round...

 

[taliv]

Nice rig and very well thought out.

+1 good choice

 

[steven58]

Thanks Taliv,

The only thing I want to change is replace the hand guards with Magpul MOE when they make them in midlength, some day...

I tried them on an M4 upper and really like how they fit, feel and look.