mineralman55

I'm thinking of finishing off the lower with an adjustable buttstock. I've avoided them up until now because so many of them are loose. Are there good ones now that don't shake, rattle and roll? If so, what buffer and spring would you finish it off with? I'd like to avoid the cost of a tungsten, or other high priced, buffer and still maintain reliability.

Unfortunately, we still can't get a 308AR's weight down that low yet. Need to find a commercial deposit of unobtainium.

Just ordered their nitrided BCG for 10% off. Should arrive next week.

Got the lower mostly assembled last night. Shakey start. The bolt catch release is a roll pin style, but the DPMS LPK comes with an allen bolt. TNArms mailed me on. Got started, and immediately dropped the plunger on the garage floor. Try finding a small black part amongst stuff in a poorly lit garage at night. Anyway, found it, started the roll pin, drove it in too far, had to find a way to back it out (damn near impossible). Got it mostly done. It's looking good and lightweight.

Yep. A bit obtuse, but GTG. Thanks.

How do I delete specific message in my inbox? What am I missing, I can't quite figure this one out.

Mr. Eugene Stoner knew what he was doing, so I've stayed with his design concept. Time has proven him right. Probably nothing wrong with the piston, but I don't see the need for it.

If you really want a Garand (and who wouldn't?), go through the CMP. Go to their website, follow the directions on what makes you elegible. You have to be a member of an affiliated club (there are lots of them), show proof of either sanctioned competition or training in the last year or two, get fingerprinted and pass the background test. Ordering an M1 from them is luck of the draw. Some of them are jewels, some are diamonds in the rough. All will be good to go. CMP no longer allows you to choose which of the four manufacturers you'd like (SA, IHC, HRA, WIN), you just get what they send. You can also ask for a genuine GI stock, but you'll get whatever they send. Go for it.

BTW Fish On, very nice build on a real budget! I'm not familiar with Anderson barrels. Got a link for them? I assume you machine the 80%. Who's? Come with aluminum or plastic fixtures? Do it on a mill or a drill press? Enquiring minds want to know.

Got out to the range this morning. The planets must have aligned, because everything went just about perfect. Started out with some Federal 168 BTHP GMM. Perfect function, no FTF or FTE. I had the gas block just right from the start Cycled the first round and locked back. So I turned it in one click (1/4 turn) and no cycle. Backed it out one click and away we went. After 10 of the FGGM, I switched to some 168 BTHP reloads and I put about 40 rounds downrange, mostly just for function/break in and adjusting the KAC iron sights. Settled on one more click out as the reloads needed it. Had to cut the session short as the Triad device came loose and I didn't have a wrench. I think this is going to be a real shooter once it breaks in. Can't say enough good about the Mega equipment. BTW, I was a little worried about the final position of the Syrac gas block on the barrel, so I took everything apart last night when I cleaned the barrel (thank you Washguy, the barrel needed it.) Measurements of the block showed the front limit of the rather large gas port to be exactly 0.300" from the back of the block. The front of the barrel gas port is exactly 0.300 inches from the barrel shoulder. Someone did their homework! All I had to worry about was the cylindrical alignment during the install.

More pics

Okay, I finally got moving. I've accumulated a bunch of parts over the last two years and decided to get my MATEN build started. One evening I assembled the lower, the next day I assembled the upper. Pretty easy overall. The "fun-est" part was installing the barrel. I bought the Plastixrevolution No-MAR upper blocks but didn't have a vise big enough to hold it. Instead, I bolted some angle plates onto my mill table, squeezed them together with some bar clamps and "bam", it worked beautifully. Whatever works, right? Parts: Mega MKM matched upper/lower (the machining on these is incredible); DPMS lpk; Mega 18" barrel; Hardened Arms BCG headspaced by Rainier; Syrac Gen2 gas block; PWD Triad muzzle device; Magpul fixed buttstock; Ergo grip; KAC iron sights. Hopefully I'll get to the range this weekend. When you guys say "break it in wet", do you literally dunk the BCG in oil or ATF, or put a lot of motor oil on it prior to shooting?

How often do you AR15 shooters need to change out the gas rings? I've had to change mine out twice now, each time after probably 1000-1500 rounds. I shoot 77 and 69 grainers, and I don't load hot. Clean and lube the rifle after each session so it's not neglect. Is this normal?

I ordered the Tennessee Arms 308AR polymer lower back in June. They offered it as a pre-sale at a great price, and it included a free engraving on the receiver side. It arrived last week. I like what I see. It's well made, no seams or excess flashing, and weighs in at 6.7 ounces. This may be just what I needed to un-ass myself from my comfy chair and get moving. I'm looking forward to this and other things I have in the mill.

I threw up on this one. How can you do this to me so early in the morning?

Fine. I'll be the curmudgeon here. I thought the game sucked... incredibly sloppy on both sides. Too many stupid penalties, and turnovers. Manning sucked, Newton sucked even more. I would have preferred both of them get knocked out of the game and Ostweiler come in to rescue the day. That would have been a happy ending! Even the commercials sucked. What a waste.

Doing some work for the shop making some widgets. I wrote the program, the instructor tweaked it a bit. These are 3/8-16 threads. You'll notice a hint of part deflection half way through. After making these, I made a smaller widget with 10-32 threads. That's a challenge, as the speeds and feeds had to be moderated quite a bit, but it worked well. I tried to film that one but my phone ran out of space :-(. These Haas machines are a blast. med_widget.3gp

For the dems and the gun control crowd that makes it okay. Doesn't fit the template. Move along, nothing to see here.

Just out of curiosity, does the suspect round drop into a 5.56/.223 case gauge? I spot check everything I shoot into a case gauge, even commercial rounds.

Geez, guy. If the LSU folks ever identify you, you won't be able to live in LA any longer.

So would I !!!

National Fanny Act?

Haven't see their interviews, but looking to get the book today. Pox? No. Long, slow agonizing death, yes.

Caught this movie Friday night. What a powerful, intense movie! Even if 1/10th of it is true (and I'm sure more than 1/10th is true) then a lot of people high-up in the government are guilty of murder for denying support to our people under fire. These "contractors" were studs! Yes, there is a "disclaimer" at the very end of the credits saying "some" of the actions were dramatized for the film, but I would guess nothing substantial was "dramatized". Go see it. Great movie.

Smug look wiped. Priceless. Heck of a 1st half by the Panthers. Heck of a 2nd half by the Hawks.