COBrien

This 80% lower is a small-frame. But I've got my eye on a .308 (DPMS pattern) lower for my next one. I ended up getting the Easy Jig 2 from 80% Arms, along with their tool kit and the "stabilizer plates" for drilling the selector, trigger pin, and hammer pin holes. I like the fact that the Easy Jig 2 will work for small frame and large frame (DPMS pattern) lowers, and I didn't want to have to buy another $150(ish) jig when I wanted to "step up".

I'm curious how this rifle will shoot. Your setup is very similar to one I've got slowly coming together in my parts drawer (looking at a Criterion/ADM hybrid contour 16" rifle gas, rather than the nitrided SS you're running). I'm mainly wondering whether or not an adjustable gas block (I, too, have an SLR Sentry 7 waiting for a rifle) will be necessary on a 16" rifle gas setup. My 5.56 "true dissipator" (16" rifle gas) rifle is under-gassed, but I'd imagine a .308 would be a different animal altogether.

Most appreciated, brother, but I can’t let you do that! You laid out your hard-earned cash for them! I’ll move this conversation over to PM so I’m not cluttering up your thread...

The "guy I know" is actually me. I don't really have anything to trade. I mean, I've got lots of parts and whatnot, but the majority of those are my "one of these days I'll build a..." parts. Same as this furniture kit will be. I'd need a rifle-length handguard, which I'll source elsewhere, but I'm picturing a clone of my 5.56 Dissipator, but in .308... One of these days...

Is that a mid-gas rifle? I might know a guy who'd like to buy the OEM green furniture set from you...

My apologies, in advance, for a long post... Shortly after I completed my wife's patrol rifle, my in-laws came down and stayed with us for a week or so. After handling her new rifle, my father-in-law started asking questions about the process of building an AR-15. Things like, "How much would a similar rifle cost to build?" "Where does one find stripped receivers?" "How much time does it take to put everything together?" Then, the evening before they left to return to Colorado, "What do you know about 80% receivers?" A week or so after they left, my wife and I were discussing Christmas gift options for various family members. I remembered the conversations her dad and I had had while they were here, and decided then to build him a rifle. Now, it would have been easy to buy a stripped receiver and assemble it, then give him the completed rifle in a box. But, for various reasons, I think he'd enjoy building it together just as much (if not more than) having the rifle. So, I decided we'll try our hands at an 80% receiver. He'll do the machining, and I'll provide assistance with the remainder of the build process. This rifle will be extremely similar to my wife's patrol rifle. He seemed to like that rifle much more than any other AR we have in our safe, and certainly better than his S&W Sport. My intention is to use this thread as a depository for pics, etc. of this build. So far, here's the highlights of my parts list: 1. Cerro forged receivers, lower 80% (will be blasted and Cerakoted Graphite Black); 2. Luth-AR upper, lower, and receiver extension parts kits; 3. Faxon 16" Gunner barrel, 5.56 chamber, mid-gas; 4. Troy SOCC Battlerail, rifle length; 5. MagPul SL-K buttstock, MOE grip, MOE polymer trigger guard, MBUS, B.A.D. lever, and Enhanced Mag Release (he likes MagPul, gadgets, and doo-dads...); 6. LaRue MBT; and 7. ToolCraft phosphate BCG w/ C158 bolt. With the exception of the MBT -- which will be ordered later this month -- I've got everything needed to make this a rifle. Parts-only cost is a hair over $800. My Excel spreadsheet (I know, I'm a nerd...) shows this rifle should tip the scales at 5.86 lbs. without sights, 6.02 lbs. with sights. For comparison, my wife's rifle cost me right at $1,200, because (1) I was in a hurry, and (2) I used all Fulton Armory small parts (same parts, higher price, as far as I can tell...). With a Criterion Hybrid barrel and MFT Minimalist stock, my spreadsheet showed her rifle should weigh 6.45 lbs. It came out to exactly 6.25 lbs.

Been waiting for this since I realized what it would take to get front slide serrations and black Cerakote on the 19X I bought for my wife. Just texted my pusher now. I want to be first in line!

So... Uh... Here's that link, @sketch https://palmettostatearmory.com/magpul-gen-2-mbus-front-rear-back-up-sight-set.html

I'd love to do lots of things to this Durango. But, for now, it's the wife's daily, and also the family wagon. Plus it's still got another 75k of factory powertrain warranty. Just doing pedestrian stuff to it now -- WeatherTech floor liners, side window deflectors, replacing chrome badging with black, things like that. I may have her talked into a mid-muffler delete, though... Now, when the time comes to trade my 2013 JK Unlimited, I may buy the wife something new and take over the Durango. Then the fun will begin.

To bring this thread full-circle... I've decided to have a local 'smith apply Cerakote to the receivers. As it turns out, the local anodizing shop farms out their blasting to another local place. I tried calling the blasting shop several times over the last 6 weeks, and have always gotten a "this number is disconnected" message. That doesn't sit well with me. Local 'smith will blast, coat, cure, etc. all at his shop. $100, comparable to what I was going to end up spending for blasting and anodizing.

My thought with silver solder was that I could do it myself. Solder paste, heat paste, and a torch...

Just got an e-mail from PSA -- they're selling MagPul MBUS sets (standard, black) for $49.99 + shipping. Enter code MBUSSET at checkout. Picked up a set for the father-in-law's Christmas rifle project. $58.49 to my door.

Both, probably. Our dealership had 3. CarMax showed about a dozen w/in 500 miles, and several other local dealers had 1 here and there. My wife used to work at a local (small-ish) auto auction, and told me that rent-a-car places usually offload their cars after 4-6 months and less than 30k miles. After 30k, the value of "this year's" car drops substantially.

I'll stick to my 345, since I paid a shade more than half that $72k.

"a source within the building observed a computer with 'not good' images on it, the warrant states." Wow. That's all it takes these days?

Funny story, I just ran the build sheet on this one. It was originally ordered by Budget Rent-A-Car. Leased by them for 5 months, then turned over to auction. The dealer we bought it from had 2 more identically equipped, same color, similar mileage. CarMax shows 8-10 identical ones, similar mileage, exact same price, nationwide.

My wife’s parents offered to buy her 2009 Charger from us, at a price we couldn’t pass up. So she needed something new(er). She wanted a Toyota Highlander. Until she drove a new Chevy Traverse. Which she loved. To round things out, I suggested she try a Dodge Durango. She did, and was so-so about it. Until she saw this: So now it's in our driveway. 2018 (used) R/T AWD, 26k miles. Nicest damned Dodge I've ever driven.

For $160 each, I was hoping they were good. Just haven't ever heard from anyone who's built on one. Biggest PITA is going to be sending a brand new Colt barrel off to Retro Arms Works to have it cut down to 15". Next biggest PITA will be silver soldering an A1 FH in place. I'd like to be able to remove the FH in the future, if needed, and silver solder seems to be the least difficult way to accomplish that.

I very much enjoy seeing these retro builds. Got me inspired to build a 605 clone on NoDak receivers...

A "security issue" about which no one can speak... Local sheriff says, "There was a Blackhawk helicopter, a bunch of people around antennas and work crews on towers but nobody would tell us anything.” https://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/local/2018/09/07/sunspot-observatory-south-cloudcroft-closed-due-security-issue/1227788002/

Understood, I was unaware of the complications on the manufacturer's end.

Any chance of an 80% .308?

Diggin’ it!

I got that same e-mail. Looks very interesting...

Barrel so long and scope so fat you can't get the whole rifle in one pic...