COBrien

The original top wasn’t secured, just sitting in place. Since I have the material, I’m thinking laminating the two pieces of 3/4” ply together, drilling holes in the metal, and running deck screws up from underneath is going to be the simplest way to get this done. No sense in complicating things...

I’m committed to making this one do for now — but I’ll be building something better once we get to our “forever home” and I have an actual shop... Attached pics are what I have under the workbench top. Don’t mind what’s in the drawers — I had to clear the top before I could remove it... I have about 3/4” on the perimeter to bolt to, and about 5/8” in the center rib on each side. Also, my idea of having a nice, continuous sheet of plywood underneath to sandwich everything together is shot. I’m open to suggestions (that don’t include “scrap it,” “sell it,” “build from scratch,” etc., because that’s just not in the cards right now).

Gotcha. Biggest problem is that this frame is light-ish gauge steel, and the lip the work surface sits on is approx. 1/4" all the way around -- not much material to drill & bolt through. That's why I was thinking of sandwiching the frame between the fiberboard and plywood all the way around.

3/4” maple ply on top, glued & screwed to the 5/8” particle board, with 3/4” maple ply underneath to sandwich the metal frame. Plywood installed from underneath fastened to top (again, 3/4” on top of 5/8”) with numerous HD deck screws. Screws long enough to reach at least halfway through top 3/4” plywood panel. How’s that sounding?

Just to be clear, I wasn’t planning on using wood screws (or even lag bolts) to hold the vise to the work surface. Once I get the vise in hand, I’ll find the largest diameter bolts that will fit through the holes in its base, and had planned on large fender washers underneath, along with nuts and Loctite. The wood screws would only be used for keeping the work surface attached to the metal frame of the bench, with fender washers (I was picturing 2-3 on each end, 4 on the front, and 4 on the rear). Thinking about it now, though, I could probably find some steel strap and do the same thing, but run it continuously around the perimeter underneath. I do see what you’re saying about sandwiching the frame with another piece of 3/4” ply underneath. And now I’m sitting here wondering if putting one piece of the 3/4” that I already have on top, and the other underneath (making my “sandwich” with just 2 pieces, rather than adding a third), would be a better option than what I’d originally planned. OR — I could utilize the 5/8” particle board top I already have, that’s already cut to size.

I'm honestly just hoping this will hold up to 80 ft-lbs. I don't see why it shouldn't, but looking at a lot of other guys' benches, (2"x4" "butcher block" tops...) has me (probably unnecessarily) leery.

Okay, I've finally decided to bite the bullet and set up my garage workbench in a way that's more suitable to building rifles. I've had one of these for awhile now. Well, it's that setup, but it's got a 5/8" particle board work surface (actually 22ish" x 45ish"). IMO, not suitable for any sort of vise work. I also have had a Cracker Jack 4" bench vise for, well, most of my life. But I haven't mounted it to this workbench because, well, particle board. So... Today, on my way back from a hearing in OKC, I swung by a Lowe's. And picked up a couple of 3/4" maple plywood panels, 2'x4'. Will be cutting those down, gluing and screwing them together (to give me ~1-1/2" of thickness), then securing them to the workbench. I'm thinking 1-1/4" deck screws around the edge, with fender washers to hold them to the metal lip inside the bench frame. Next up will be a Wilton 4" light duty vise. It's probably not all that much better than what I have, but it's American made and appears to be sturdy. That will be mounted with nuts, bolts, and the biggest damned fender washers I can find. The vise and a pair of magnetic nylon jaw covers should get here Saturday.

Just ordered up a Criterion 16" mid-gas Wylde barrel and SLR nitride gas tube for the wife's rifle. Because black = tactical, right? Lol!

MFT Minimalist Stock for the wife. And an A*B Arms butt pad. Because I'm not paying shipping on a part that should have been included in the first place.

Fortunately, here in OK we only have to worry about snow and ice maybe 3-4 days a year. The only gripe I've heard so far about the newest Chargers is that the rear bumpers don't like to stay where FCA put them. More than 5 miles or so at 120+ mph and the bumper will launch itself from the rear of the car...

My ideal build is one that is slowly coming together in my parts drawer... Fulton Titan lower; LaRue MBT; Armalite receiver extension kit; AB Arms USS; Hogue grip Fulton Titan upper (DPMS Low); Criterion/ADM 16" Rifle Gas HBAR; SLR ION UltraLite 13.5" MLok; Fulton NiB BCG; BRT Covert Comp; SLR Sentry 7 GB (only after broken in, of course... "Don't complicate shite with complicated shite"); MagPul MLok AFG Glass? Whatever I decide I'd like to run, in a QD mount of some sort.

Not just a Vic, a Vic with a JetStream light bar? Man... I've got to say, I'm impressed with the wife's newest "work car" -- a 2016 Charger Pursuit. That car will poop and git. Unlike the Vic she used to have, where the skinny pedal was just a volume knob. Mash it to the floor, and it didn't actually go any faster -- it just got louder.

Superior Rifle Systems is now offering built-to-spec barrels, starting at $299. I believe they're built from McGowen blanks. You spec barrel extension, caliber, length, material, twist (all 5R), profile (choose between 3), GB OD, gas length, muzzle thread, finish and fluting. I can't remember off the top of my head if they have 3/4-24, but I'm sure if you contact Cain Luna at SRS, he can figure something out for you.

My understanding is a rifle equipped with a SlideFire or other bump-fire stock would have to be registered. Similar to SBRs, if you want to think about it that way. A 10.5" barrel isn't registered, but an upper with a short barrel cannot be fitted to a lower that is not registered. In other words, if you have a bump-fire stock setup, you damn well better start calling BATFE about how to do a Form 1 on one lower for each stock you own. Otherwise you'll be destroying your bump-fire stock(s). Wait... No civilian can legally own a machinegun that was produced after 1986. Bump-fire stocks were not manufactured until well after that. So, realistically, you couldn't Form 1 it. You can't "manufacture" a machinegun for civilian possession.

When I ordered 4 of them last year (Easter sale), I did so within 15 minutes of getting the e-mail. I had a box of triggers about 7-10 days later, IIRC. I ordered one the end of February this year (continuation of some sale -- lasted a helluva lot longer than I expected...), and it came some 3-4 weeks later. I agree with 98; I think it's a "first in, first out" situation.

Mech Armor. They even have a 308AR.com special price of $60, though with the recent hack attack on their website, I'm not sure how to get to that particular order page. Check out the Mech Armor sub-forum here -- there should be a link posted somewhere.

Ass poop? Meh. It's the mouth poop that pisses me right off. OP: Don't go, I'm interested. I'll take all of it, and I'll include an additional $500 for your troubles. I just have to send you a cashier's check for $5,000. You deposit in your account, withdraw the extra $3,100, and send it back to me in the form of a money order. Or I can pay you in iTunes or Amazon gift cards.

I know exactly what you mean. Had a 1988 Bronco for awhile. Still remember arguing with the guys at VatoZone about wheel bearings. "Choose the late-year bearings. It doesn't have top-hat hubs. Trust me, choose the late-year bearings. Yes, that's why it's asking -- it's about the hubs. Dammit, give me the computer!" Wait, I thought we were talking about a DPMS...

Have you already gotten a shipping notification from LaRue? The last MBT I ordered didn't ship for 2-3 weeks.

...guess that means I should buy a 700 SPS Tac AAC-SD soon...

Just for clarification (mostly for anyone reading this thread later), yes, the MBT is a 2-stage. I love it just as it comes out of the can -- with the 3.5#(ish) pull. It also comes with a 4.5#(ish) spring, which I have installed in my wife's patrol rifle. Still a clean, crisp break, just a bit more weight, suitable for a duty rifle. You're welcome. The guys around here talked me into an MBT last year, so I feel the need to perpetuate the cycle. Lol!

It's not a "budget" trigger, but the LaRue MBT can regularly be found on sale for $99. I just purchased my fifth MBT, and have given a couple to friends. Even a buddy who is a Geissele freak says he'd put it up against most of Geissele's line any day of the week.

Yep. I coat the inside of the upper with Mobil 1 15W-50, soak my BCG in a bowl of 15W-50, sling off some excess, and slide 'er in. So many problems can be solved with more lubrication.

http://www.primaryarms.com/aero-precision-m5-gen-ii-308-stripped-lower-receiver-dpms-cut-apar308003?trk_msg=5BLN6JJ2GRRKJFIONEKRG8KE4S&trk_contact=A03D19ON14AE32KTOT7DRJKC44&trk_sid=L4ET9033FS0IVRM3J19D0OF0K0&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=BANNER_1&utm_campaign=18_03_Ad_25_BOGO $185 for a matching set of stripped receivers. A great deal -- I'd jump on it, but, well, Mafunzalo.

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2018/03/maryland-school-shooter-shot-dead-by-hero-armed-school-officer-2-students-injured/?utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=alt&utm_source=dvf https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/20/us/great-mills-high-school-shooting/index.html