Ho ho ho, Santa came early (AR15 upgrades)

[Corey]

Stopped off at Rainier Arms on the way home Friday from work and picked up three of these in black.
Magpul 30 Round PMag - Windowed

I got two of the non windowed ones last week, I thought I might try these too.

The guy who rang me up noticed my FJ out front and we got to talking for a bit, and he said he had drove one at Cruise Moab in Utah.

He had an older Toyota truck out front, and is a member over on NW Toys, a local Toyota forum.

He asked me if I knew a moderator at YotaTech named Chris that went by the membername Tofer (friend of his), and I told him yes and that I was the admin there.
Small world.

I forgot to pick up one item I have been wanting for awhile when I stopped by the other day to get the new Pmags with the windows in them.
This is a speed loader.
Butler Creek LULA Speed Loader for AR15 / M16

No more having to push in the ammo against the spring and tear up your fingers, my fingertips are already split from the cold weather, happens everytime this year with it and working out in the rain at work.

This thing is so cool, just drop in the ammo one at a time and push the lever one way, drop in another bullet, and push the lever back again the other way.
You can load a magazine very quickly this way.

I got to talking to the guy about optics again, and I am kind of limited with the carry handle on my rifle.
He said just replace the upper, and I would have a nice flat surface with a rail built in, then I can mount any optic I want without having it stick up way high on top of the carry handle.

I did not know it was as simple as that, and next time I go there I will be getting it done.
You lose the rear sight though, so I will be getting a Magpul flip up sight that will mount right behind whatever optic I go with in the future.
Remove the optic, and you can then flip up the rear sight.
It will work with the stock front sight, so no need to remove it as this time.

I am not sure if this is the same upper he showed me, they have many on their site, and I did not write down the name of the one he showed me.
They vary in price quite a bit.

Rainier Arms Forged A4 Upper Assembly - GEN2

Also there are many rear sites they offer too that will fit the new upper with the rail built onto it, this is just the one he showed to me yesterday.

Magpul MBUS - Rear

After I get a new upper installed, it will open up to me many choices for an optic.
One I looked at was a 4x Acog which I liked.

PS, found a video (there are more) of how that speed loader works.
Guy is using it on a Magpul Pmag.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8wiJ0JYlU4"]YouTube - LULA Magazine Loader works with PMags[/ame]

 

[Strizzo]

like that speedloader, i saw one in use at the range a while back but didn't realize that it also unloads as well as loads mags.

i looked at that magpul mbus sight at a gun show and didn't like the feel. it felt kinda flimsy and cheap to me. i ended up getting a regular A2 style detachable rear sight that mimicks the A2 detachable carry handle. its really sturdy and has windage and elevation adjustment.

Here's mine just after i put it together:

http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/files/402/rifle assembled.JPG

 

[Corey]

Yes, the speed loader is pretty cool, it will stay in my rifle bag.

Nice rifle you have there too.

Thanks for the info on the mbus, I may also look and see what the store has there.

 

[LACamper]

The gas buster handle is expensive. Its really meant for silenced guns though. Go poke around on www.silencertalk.com and you'll find a poor man's alternative. IIRC they fill the groove at the back of a standard charging handle with silicone.
I've never had an issue w/ mine (and I'm not running a silencer) so I've never tried...

I asked about the glasses a few pairs ago. They said most lenses now are polycarbonate and are fairly impact resistant. Side shields are available if you're worried about it...

 

[Metcalf]

Swapping the upper isn't super hard but takes a few tools. I assemble mine on the bed of a knee mill. This lets me keep the forearm rail in perfect alignment with the receiver rail while I torque the barrel nut.

You should wait on the rear MBUS, gen 2 should be out soon

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Very nice set up!

Just some FYI (didn't see it posted yet)

If your reciever is marked "5.56" or "5.56/.223" you can shoot either round in it.

If it's only stamped ".223", you do not want to shoot 5.56 ammo.

I'm looking at getting a collapsible stock for my XM15 'Varminter'. While mainly a 'bench gun' (it has the 26" barrel) the adjustable stock is nice in the winter, when wearing bulkier jackets.:coffeedrink:

 

[Corey]

The gas buster handle is expensive. Its really meant for silenced guns though. Go poke around on www.silencertalk.com and you'll find a poor man's alternative. IIRC they fill the groove at the back of a standard charging handle with silicone.
I've never had an issue w/ mine (and I'm not running a silencer) so I've never tried...

I asked about the glasses a few pairs ago. They said most lenses now are polycarbonate and are fairly impact resistant. Side shields are available if you're worried about it...

Thanks, just need to find some glasses that are comfortable that will fit over mine that give me some side coverage too.

Swapping the upper isn't super hard but takes a few tools. I assemble mine on the bed of a knee mill. This lets me keep the forearm rail in perfect alignment with the receiver rail while I torque the barrel nut.

You should wait on the rear MBUS, gen 2 should be out soon

Thanks for the info on the gen 2, I will ask about that there.

Very nice set up!

Just some FYI (didn't see it posted yet)

If your reciever is marked "5.56" or "5.56/.223" you can shoot either round in it.

If it's only stamped ".223", you do not want to shoot 5.56 ammo.

I'm looking at getting a collapsible stock for my XM15 'Varminter'. While mainly a 'bench gun' (it has the 26" barrel) the adjustable stock is nice in the winter, when wearing bulkier jackets.:coffeedrink:

Thanks, pretty excited getting this built up.
It states NATO on the barrel and also on the mag well it states 5.56/.223

 

[LACamper]

Actually, I want one of the resin/plastic lowers. I'm trying to get the weight of my AR down.
I have a Clark carbon fiber FF tube and a pencil barrel. The lower w/ the collapsible stock is pretty heavy.
A Phantom flash hider and a ergo hand grip are also on the wish list.

As far as slings go I usually stop at the nearest Ace hardware and pick up some webbing and fastex buckles. Works fine.
If you're not getting better groups and more control using a sling then you're not using it right.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaRCFpH27-w"]YouTube - Improving your shooting #7. Using a leather rifle sling.[/ame]

I don't use leather (too much work and I don't shoot competition), but I do put some tension on the sling looped around my elbow.

 

[Corey]

Huge variety out there with slings.

I will have updated pics tomorrow morning around noon or so my time.
The shop is closing down today for a party, so I will not be able to pick it up today.

 

[thebrassnuckles]

Very nice set up!

Just some FYI (didn't see it posted yet)

If your reciever is marked "5.56" or "5.56/.223" you can shoot either round in it.

If it's only stamped ".223", you do not want to shoot 5.56 ammo.

I'm looking at getting a collapsible stock for my XM15 'Varminter'. While mainly a 'bench gun' (it has the 26" barrel) the adjustable stock is nice in the winter, when wearing bulkier jackets.:coffeedrink:

the place you want to look is on the barrel. the reciever can be marked as anything... I have 2 lowers marked "multi"

one has my 450 bushmaster upper oi it and the other my 5.56 LaRue Steath upper.

you can put any caliber upper you want on any lower you wat. the roll mark on the barrel is where you should check to see what chamber is cut into the barrel.

if I put a 556 cartridge into my 450 the whole cartridge falls out the end of the barrel :smileeek:

 

[thebrassnuckles]

Actually, I want one of the resin/plastic lowers. I'm trying to get the weight of my AR down.
I have a Clark carbon fiber FF tube and a pencil barrel. The lower w/ the collapsible stock is pretty heavy.
A Phantom flash hider and a ergo hand grip are also on the wish list.

As far as slings go I usually stop at the nearest Ace hardware and pick up some webbing and fastex buckles. Works fine.
If you're not getting better groups and more control using a sling then you're not using it right.

YouTube - Improving your shooting #7. Using a leather rifle sling.

I don't use leather (too much work and I don't shoot competition), but I do put some tension on the sling looped around my elbow.

if your sling is attached to the sling loop on your barrel it will affect your point of impact. I didnt watch the video, but the best place to put a sling is on the free floated handguard. it allows the barrel to follow through each shot with its own unique whip, which will repeat itself everytime. if you are putting tension on the sling loop, your pull on the sling will inhibit the barrel whip each shot, and if you dont put the exact tension in the exact same spot in the exact same direction each time, it will change POI. maybe not that much at close ranges, but out further it will definitely have an adverse affect.

 

[Corey]

Part IV (part V coming early next year = optic)

Santa said more upgrades, and just in time for Christmas.
All these upgrades have not cost me a thing, it has come via the company bonus, I love this time of year.
I dropped the rifle off Wednesday, and picked it up today when they opened.

To mount a good optic later with magnification I did not like the carry handle, as that would make one sit to high, and as mentioned earlier, the store advised me I could go with a new upper.
The Colts are not a dark black like some ARs out there, it is more grayish, so this matches the new quad rail I got a few weeks back better than it does the rest of the rifle, but it still looks very nice.

Rainier Arms Forged A4 Upper Assembly - GEN1

Since I lost the rear sight as that is part of the carry handle, I went with the a polymer Magpul one.
They are coming out early next year some time with a gen two of this model, but I needed one now, so I went with the gen one model.
Depending on if the gen two is that much better, I may swap this one out for the other.
Most of my shooting though for target practice is going to be through an magnification optic, so this gen one model may be good enough.

Magpul MBUS - Rear Gen One

Since the gun needed to be torn down (gunsmithing charges apply) I asked about triggers, and I really liked one that felt much better than the stock one.

Mega Tactical Trigger

I had already paid for it, but I got a call from the shop letting me know if would not fit my Colt after it was torn down.
I had looked at a few other triggers there too that were a two stage one.
You could pull it back a short ways, until it stopped, then pull it all the way to fire.
Since this is all new to me I am not sure what is the best to use mainly for plinking/target practice.

So the plan was to take a look at either sticking with the stock trigger for now, or try another option which would be a two stage one.
I ended up staying with the stock trigger for now, but they let me try out one of the ARs on the wall (remember, this shop has ARs all over the wall, very cool) that had one of these two stage Timney triggers on it.

Timney Single Stage Match Trigger

The ones they have in stock use the small pins, so they would have to custom order one with the bigger Colt type of pins for me.
Also I dig the looks of the skeletonized triggers more, and that tacks on quite a bit more $$$.
The trigger will come later, my next mod is going to be an optic.

I looked at a few.
IOR Valdada 1.1-4X26 CRT Illuminated Tactical Scope
Very nice, but takes up a lot of room.
It is adjustable from 1.1x to 4x.

ACOG TA31DOC
This one was cool, it has a separate "red dot" type option on top, but overkill for me since I have the laser up front.

ACOG TA31H-G
This is the one I am going to get, and the price will be less too.
This one has a green horseshoe shape instead of the chevron like some of the other have, I like it better.
I also like the green better than the red..
He showed me when I was looking through it how it gets much brighter when he shined a flashlight near the top to simulate a bright day, the green horseshoe inside got very bright, making it easier to see.
This is a 4x optic, which they said would be fine if I am standing/sitting in one spot and aiming out at targets at different yardages.

The very first optic above in this post being adjustable would be better if I was moving all around, but since most of my shooting will be targets and plinking the 4x is a good choice.

I really liked the look of it on top of the new upper too.
I will pick this up early in 2011, and that will leave me with just adding a new trigger at a later date too.

The new Magpul foldable rear sight is very nice too, I like it.

I am very pleased at how this is all coming along, and here are some pictures from today.

View showing the new upper with built in rail and the Magpul site in the down position.

View with the sight up.

Top view showing how the rail hand guard blends in with the new upper.

Side view of the new upper branded with their name on it.

Side view of the whole rifle as it sits now with all of the new mods.

 

[Strizzo]

rifle is looking really good now! for triggers, i really like the 2-stage that came in my RRA lower. i tried it and one with the standard trigger out when i was shopping, and the difference was very noticeable. also not too heavy of a pull and very smooth movement. the stock trigger i could feel the trigger creep a few mils before dropping.

 

[Peck]

Carry some black electrical tape when going to the range with that ACOG. Just cover up as much, or as little, of the tritium as needed. I say this because on a bright day, the bright reticule can really fatigue your eyes fast. Covering up the tritium will reduce the brightness.

ACOGs are nice, but they sure are spendy! I love my EOTech XPS2-0 with Primary Arms 3x magnifier. It's good to about 300yds which is about all my eyes and skill will let me right now. Plus I love shooting with both eyes open and the really fast target acquisition. Soon as I can get my stick up, I'm on target. My next build will have a magnified optic though, but it'll probably be a .308.

I also suggest getting a free float railed hand guard. Some people will argue if they actually make a difference in accuracy or not, but after spending so much coin on the stick as is -- why not? Daniel Defense makes a drop in rail that requires no disassembley of your gun. The Daniel Defense Omega 7.0 will fit your carbine nicely. I run the 9.0 on my mid-length and have nothing bad to say about it. Real solid.

BTW, I want you to know you are on really slippery slope, but it appears you're already bitten by the bug. It's all down hill from here! Have fun and put plenty rounds down range.

 

[Corey]

rifle is looking really good now! for triggers, i really like the 2-stage that came in my RRA lower. i tried it and one with the standard trigger out when i was shopping, and the difference was very noticeable. also not too heavy of a pull and very smooth movement. the stock trigger i could feel the trigger creep a few mils before dropping.

Thanks, I will try out a few before deciding what to go with after I get the optics taken care of.

Carry some black electrical tape when going to the range with that ACOG. Just cover up as much, or as little, of the tritium as needed.

ACOGs are nice, but they sure are spendy!

I also suggest getting a free float railed hand guard.

BTW, I want you to know you are on really slippery slope, but it appears you're already bitten by the bug. It's all down hill from here! Have fun and put plenty rounds down range.

Good idea on the tape.
Yes, that Acog is a lot of $$$.
I asked my oldest son a year or so back what they liked over in Iraq.
He did three tours there, and he said they liked the Acogs very much.

I just went with the new quad handrail a few weeks back, I gotta break it in first before deciding if it is worth dropping it or not in favor of a free floater.

Slippery slope indeed, I have as much now into mods as I paid for the rifle, and I still have that optic to get.