GRA

This really sucks. I'm sorry to hear the bad news but from FedEx this is NOT IN THE LEAST SURPRISING. I avoid having anything to do with this worthless and incompetent LIBERAL ASSED company if I can ever help it. :cookoo: I say this, to stress that I despise these people to the extent that I have backed out of buying something I really needed that was also on sale somewhere and purchased the same thing for upwards of $20.00 or more in regular cost simply because the company that had the item on sale was using FedEx exclusively. I dodge FedEx like a germophobe dodges a leper colony. If I was you I would call FedEx immediately and ask for a supervisor and when you actually have a supervisor then explain the matter to him/her. It might help to go to FedEx and speak with someone face-to-face. Ask them if you are the person that should file the claim or the merchant. Also contact the merchant and give them the name of the supervisor and whatever it was the supervisor told you and follow instructions as to who should file the claim and by all means keep copies of everything. It seems there is a definite trend of FedEx shipping going bad once it reaches Hutchins, TX. Once it leave Hutchins and comes my direction it only gets worse. I'm sure it is not much better from Hutchins to El Paso. Unfortunately I can offer you no decent explanation for this but I can tell you I know all too well how this feels as it has happened to me before. Extremely frustrating and disappointing. I would like to point out to whoever may also be reading this, that beginning in about 2012 up until as recent as this past Friday, I have been epxeriencing some strange and mysterious happenings with packages being shipped to me via the USPS and sometimes UPS that originated from know firearms parts suppliers, etc., The most recent was Friday when I received a package of spare pins and springs from MidwayUSA. This was shipped in a small light gray plastic package, of which appeared to have been taken from a roll of bulk packaging material and sealed-to-size on both ends once it was stuffed by Midway. Interestingly was that one small area of the outer layer of gray plastic was peeled back so somebody could see thru the inner clear layer of plastic and discover what was in the package. This was shipped via the USPS, who incidentally likes to use "discretion" every now and then by holding delivery on something until I sign for it or come to the post office to pick it up. Needles to say, EVERY one of the packages they've done this with appears to have been opened. I Last week also I received an order from JSE Surplus. I had this shipped via the USPS. IT was delivered without any problems. The week before that I had received an A2 carry handle I ordered from BCM. This was delivered via UPS and the followed instructions and delivered the package by leaving it behind my front storm door and without signature. These companies hire folks that do eventually learn how to seal a package; be it a box, envelope, or whatever so I know the initial sealing is good. Somebody along the way, for whatever reason, just has to see what I'm ordering. I could go on and on about my horror stories with FedEx but it won't make you feel any better. I will say that over here in our area they are totally incompetent, lazy, dishonest, arrogant and outright some of the most pathetically miserable people I've ever seen in anybody's workforce. I hope you get it straightened out. Please keep us advised of the developments. Let me know what the overall condition of your barrel is and how the workmanship appears. I had my eye on the 20" barrel and was going to move on it soon. My advice; if those threads are damaged I'd send it back and ask for another one. Good luck !!!

I spoke with a tech on the phone yesterday about just such a barrel. I was told they were informed that some of these barrels were done in this manner (without the hand guard end cap) on purpose as they expected the top post portion to be cut off so the remaining portion could be left intact and used as a low-profile gas block for a quadrail setup that still afforded the use of a bayonet mount. I've seen an article once in a magazine about doing this but I've never seen it. Who knows ... it may work. Personally I prefer the A2 front sight gas block as it was originally intended. I'd send the barrel back if this was indeed what I wanted.

Indeed ... thank you for pointing out other options.

What weight did you get; the 5.5 oz. or the 6.5 oz. ? Did you buy Slash's buffer tube also?

Forgot about the photos ... (my apologies). I've ordered some more parts today but I'm still a ways behind. I guess I need to get to Slash's website and see how bad I need to take the plunge there. I think I may have a spare mil-spec AR15 tube hiding around here somewhere. Please let me know how your barrel turns out.

16" barrel, gas tube, LR308 upper assembly vice bock, hand guard end cap, LR308 barrel nut, .308 cleaning pieces, extended A2 front sight post and wrench, DPMS LR30-8 barrel nut wrench.

EngrBob ... have you purchased any buffer parts yet? I have the impression the buffer tube is optional as to commercial or mil-spec diameter however the actual buffer and spring are different from an AR15. Have you gone in to this part of the build yet?

I noticed the PSA prices. Seems that's about the lowest on their website too. I'm sure some places are selling ArmaLites cheaper though. You are right however that I may have missed a lot. I was only referring to the link on WikiArms. Never seen that site before. Probably could do without reading the whole thread.

At least is consolidates vendors in one place so you can compare.

Great post. Thanks !!! <thumbsup>

It is indeed fascinating that you spent so much time on this, yet to no avail. <laughs> <lmao> <laughs> <lmao> I still won't use the rails and prefer the plastic hand guards. Glad you're impressed with my posts on here. By all means ... continue reading and enjoy. <thumbsup>

Using a generic AR15 buffer in mine. It works fine as it is.

What's up with that range out at Starry? I get e-mail from them about their competitions but I've never been there.

OOOPS ... double post here (got to learn to keep my glasses on)

Welcome from Texas :))

Anyone ever try to sort through Gunbot.net for prices?

Sounds typical of some of us. I haven't reloaded since I was in the Boy Scouts working on my rifle and shotgun merit badge ... LOL Needless to say that has been a LONG TIME AGO and I don't remember much about the equipment that was used. We only did shotgun shells anyways. I also have Amazon prime. Please advise on what you purchase and what you think of it once you've used it a bit and I'll do some research. I know I don't need a production reloader but I do need to be able to load several calibers and really don't know where to start. I do know that from what I see others say about reloading is they seem to enjoy it a lot these days.

<laughs> <lmao> <laughs>

I've been looking at reloads lately. What type / model of reloader do you have?

I think you might want to read all that again. You're not even close.

That's OK. I'll stick with my hand guards.

Folks ... just received in e-mail; Free Shipping $150+ SHIPFREE15 Expires: May 23, 2015

It's not a poverty issue ... LOL ... I simply don't like the concept of mounting the whole tool box to the front of a weapon. I don't need a light below, a laser on this side and a Garmin on the other side with numerous optic goodies on top. I prefer to design and build something that fits my personal ergonomics, can carry/wear with less fatigue, and allows me to be the most accurate as possible. One optic on top and maybe a hand piece on the bottom and that is it. I'm from the days of using the M16A1 basic sight picture and it's sling to steady the weapon. If I need a bipod the old metal spring-loaded folding piece that clamps to the barrel inside the A2 sight post bottom gap is just fine. I'm still comfortable with all that and I even use the sling with my longrifles when deer hunting. The new trends are fine if that is what a shooter prefers to outfit themselves but I really don't need all that to get a good shot off. I've never been one to keep up with the models on the magazine covers. I find something that works and I stick with it.

FWIW ... here's a response I just got back from Faxon regarding their barrels; Glenn- Yes, our barrels are standard lengths for common hand guards (carbine, mid, rifle). Yes, any .308 barrel can safely fire 7.62 NATO. .308 is rated for higher pressures than 7.62. Have a great weekend! Nathan" CustomerService@faxonfirearms.com NOTE: Moderators if this would serve everybody better by being in another thread please move. I'm still new here and don't know yet what threads are available. Thanks !!!

I don't particularly like or want rails and I'm not going to build with them. I personally prefer the hand guards and that is what I am going to build with. I can care less about the pro(s) and con(s) arguments. When you spend the amount of money we have to spend these days for these firearms what really matters the most is that YOU get exactly what you want.