Black Rifles...

[huntershooter]

Now I'm first to admit that when it comes to firearms- I'm a wood and steel guy.

That said, I have come to appreciate the AR platform for it's ease of assembly/maintenance, potential "battlefield" accuracy and availability of parts; nearly everyone produces parts.
Assembling a rifle/carbine from stripped receivers is extremely easy, with minimal tools and "gunsmithing ability" required to produce an accurate, reliable weapon.

I've "built" (assembled) a number of AR's, but had never put together a pinned/welded upper until recently. I was intimidated at the prospect of drilling and welding a barrel- in fear of screwing something up.
Additionally, I'm NOT a welder which seemed an insurmountable obstacle.
I had wanted a 14.5" barreled, non NFA SBR carbine, to try out as a CQB type weapon. The shorter overall length and slightly lighter gun had an attraction.
I envisioned a carbine that would be a close range speed demon, with the ability to make precise shots to 300 yds.

I live in a town where the aircraft industry used to be big; home of Cessna, Beechcraft, Lear and Boeing- there are still a number of "job shops" catering to the aircraft industry.
I located a welding shop that specializes in TIG, approached them with the idea of welding a muzzle device on a barrel, to which they replied; "sure, we can do that". The plus was they were 3 blocks from my office/shop.
(Being in the midwest, gun ownership is still, not yet vilified by the general public- although a segment of the population is trying.) 

I purchased parts, "measured twice/cut once" and proceeded.

Here's the end result.
The gun has met my expectations to date; it IS fast- target to target, head shots (IPSC target) at 200 yds and A/C hits-COM at 300 are easily do-able.
The Low Power Variable Steiner (1-4 power), with illuminated dot and ranging reticle make this system work.

What do have in the way of an AR? And in advance; Happy Memorial Day- and THANK YOU for your service, to whom it applies!









Here's a 200 yd. target with three different types of ammo- PMC and IMI m193 as well as Speer "Gold Dot" 55 gr.

[CXM]

I tend to more like the wood and steel rifles too, though I have to admit some of the 'black' rifles do work... my favorites being my SIG in 7.62x39 and a Rock River AR in 9x19mm.

What I have always wanted but could never make happen was/is a German StGw 44...

FWIW

Chuck

[sistema1927]

I have had a Bushmaster Dissipator since before the 94 "ban", and have assembled others over the years. Thinking that last November's election was going to be a horror show I built three last year: A 16" patrol carbine in 5.56, an 8.5" 5.56 pistol, and an 8.5" 300 AAC pistol.

All of them shoot better than I do.

[Poohgyrr]

Sometimes I laugh at myself; I bought a Bushy for work, but prefer an 870 for home or a reliable accurate Garand for social rifle needs.

The AR platform is lightweight and found all over - even in infringed locations.

[huntershooter]

May 28, 2017 13:10:32 GMT -5 Poohgyrr said:

Sometimes I laugh at myself; I bought a Bushy for work, but prefer an 870 for home or a reliable accurate Garand for social rifle needs.

The AR platform is lightweight and found all over - even in infringed locations.

Yep.

I shudder at the thought of having to fire an AR in my house. The bit of hearing I have left would be gone.
Murphy's law dictates that; "in the event of a home invasion or intruder, there will be NO TIME to don hearing protection". I am a fan of an old school, 18" barreled 870 Police 12 ga. at home.
The ranch is a different matter. The AR would fit the bill nicely in any imagined scenario out in the middle of nowhere.

[jaypee]

I agree that the shotgun is the cat's meow for home defense, but a bout with Graves Disease left me with a really bad sensitivity to recoil of that level, so I adopted the AR for home defense as a matter of necessity, especially in these days of home invasions by several badguys at once. These are recreational rifles that would easily double for home defense if I needed them to. They're my own concoction that has turned out to be my favorite AR configuration - a mid-length carbine upper hooked up to a rifle lower. These are some of the sweetest handling, softest shooting AR's I've ever had - the mid-length upper and long rifle length buffer assembly makes sure of that. Being trained as light weapons infantry I tend to keep my rifles dirt simple, so these are pretty well devoid of any more equipment than absolutely necessary.

This one is a Spike's partial build with a government contour barrel. I use Geissele SSA triggers and MagPul furniture for the most part. The scope is a Leupold 1 x 4 variable built for the AR and easily hits one foot square steel plate dingers at 255 yards. 




This photo is the same rifle without the scope. I use RRA and LMT stand alone rear sights where no optics are involved.



Here's how it shoots off the bench at 100 yards with iron sights and some Privi target ammo - I think 69 grain. I beleve this is about a 1.75" group. (Yeah I know, I missed the quarter!  ) It shot several groups of 1.5" down to 1.25" with other ammo, but this is the only photo I have on hand.



This one is built mostly of Palmetto State Armory components and features an ultralight barrel. It's not a pencil barrel however. The pencil barrel has a small diameter from flash hider to receiver. This one is called a "stepped down" barrel - it's diameter from receiver to gas block is 0.750", and is stepped down to 0.625" from gas block to flash hider. You won't find a nicer handling and swinging AR than this one.  




Happy Evil Black Rifling to All,

JayPee

[huntershooter]

Really nice collection of "sticks" JayPee.

You are correct in the rifle length buffer assembly being the cats meow for smoothing out recoil.
I also favor a mid-length upper for it's portability and speed in handling.

[forester]

Great rifles everyone! Didn't own a centerfire semi rifle until two or three years ago. Since then I've been busy building and buying several AR's. They are addicting.

Here is a stock 20" Windham Government Model I bought and unfortunately sold to finance another build.



Another Windham. My first AR. A 16"SRC with Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x.



My HD mock Dissipator PSA upper with Anderson Lower. Topped with a Bushnell TRS-25 red dot.



And an 18" budget Target build with a Ballistic Advantage barrel and upper and a Spikes lower. This baby shoots very well with the Vortex Diamondback HP 3-12x.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jaypee]

Hey Forester, that's a very, very nice bunch of EBR's you got there. JayPee

[huntershooter]

Nice Forester.

The BA barrels are quite good.
I like that if ordered with gas block they come with Roll pin and set screws. Makes alignment a snap.

Here's a 100 yd. target with their 16" "Hanson" profile (lightweight) Nitride barrel and 64 gr. Speer Gold Dot;

[smith10]

Really good group with that rifle and GD ammo there sir.

[Jäger]

Well, after about 30 years of carrying variants, having failed to feel the love for anything that smells of M4, I went with what Colt is selling around the world to the Saudis, the Dutch, etc in the military rifle variety:



Had it for a few years, but only just started load testing with a few range sessions last week.  Put about 200 rounds of M855 junk through the barrel to hopefully deal with anything left from the chroming process to line the barrel.

Threw an old Leupold 6.5 x 20 on top to minimize sighting error, and got a 10 shot group of just over 2" at 200 yards with Wally Hart's .223 accuracy test load: Sierra 52-gr. or 53-gr. benchrest bullet and 22 grs. of H4198 or IMR4198.  I used IMR and Federal brass...  Not too shabby, and shows promise.

Not the lightest, nor the best in precision - you aren't going to get that with non-floating handguards, chromed barrel, etc.  But if the military versions of this particular rifle are tough enough to survive lots of airborne jumps, rattling and banging around in an APC overseas, etc... I like that, it's comforting.  Might not be FN FAL tough, but tough enough.

But roughly MOA accuracy at 200 yards is similar to the High Power - better than necessary fighting accuracy teamed up with durability and reliability.  In the future, as time allows, I'll be trying flavours of 63, 68, 75, and 77 gr. OTM match bullets from Hornady and Sierra.  They're sitting on the bench now.  I'm reasonably confident one of those will match the MOA or slightly better mark, at least out to 600 yards or so.

I'm more drawn to classic Sako, Husqvarna, etc hunting rifles and I used to see M16/AR15 rifles as just a tool.  But once you have the latitude to play with them versus being issued one, they tend to grow on you.  Shooting National Match/Service Rifle is always a challenge.  Colt's integrated upper receivers show a lot of promise as far as accuracy.  Then there's the uppers chambered in various .20 caliber flavours with floating handguards, set up for long range accuracy for gophers and other variants of sod poodle.

They really are modular.

[huntershooter]

I've been playing with a .300 Blackout.

It's an interesting concept.
The military was looking for a replacement for the HK MP5 subgun.
The requirement was a simple barrel change to the M4 platform, utilizing same bolt/magazines.
The cartridge is a slightly shortened, 5.56 case necked up to .308. 
Following JD Jones .300 Whisper it can shoot heavy (up to 220 gr.) subsonic loads for use with suppressor, or "Supers"; lightweight 30's of 110 to 120+ at velocities to 2400 FPS.
In the Super configuration I run a 110 Barnes 110 grain, poly tipped X bullet, which is long for weight due to solid copper construction.
Using H110 I'm running 2380 FPS with this load.
With a 50/200 yard zero I am no more than 3" above/below line of sight to 230 yards.
This will be my deer gun this year.




100 yd. target:

[craig]

If I come into some money, , I will buy one of these IZMASH TIGERS, which is the commercial version of the Russian military Dragunov SVD.  Thought you other "steel & wood fans" might enjoy seeing this. I have only seen pictures - so far.

[craig]

Dec 21, 2017 10:22:49 GMT -5 craig said:

Since I will probably never afford one of the TIGR SVDs, or enjoy the recoil, I am putting together a FEG SA 2000M AK with similar characteristics (baby Dragunov). It is still at my friendly local smiths having the correct scope mounting base plate riveted to the receiver. It should be one of the more accurate AKs, as it is very well made. - I'll post pix when it's all together.

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