flyingfinn

I ordered a Burris MTAC 1-4X24 with CQ reticle. The NcStar I had is ok for the price I paid; free. But the eye relief was lacking. Severely. I read a bunch online and came to the conclusion that a Burris MTAC will suit my intended purposes for its price point. I opted for the "kit" that included the Fastfire III. Not that I intend on entering a 3 gun competition anytime soon. But for the value I couldn't resist the temptation, as I have other AR's that only have flip-up sights. The FF will probably end up on my wife's AR.

I'm thinking maybe a Burris MTAC. Unsure of "size", still researching....

A DPMS LR-308 is now added to my armory. I had a spare scope/mount that I installed. It is just a 2.5X30 NCStar. It'll have to do 'til I can get something else. Or if it works I'll use it for a bit. The gun looks barely used.

Excellent food for thought! Thanks. As was recommended by a friend and here as I assembled my build I went with a LaRue trigger. That is likely the only thing that would change. Unless the factory trigger was acceptable.

Finn Minnesota Special sounds interesting. Details please.... May all be for naught as we are under stay at home orders (except for our jobs). We discussed the logistics/timing of a meeting during a mutual supply run to either hardware store/grocery store to fill gaps in our preps. If the community infected numbers continue to climb and follow exponential growth (I suspect they will) and lock down orders are extended or expanded we're not going anywhere. At this time the math problem is not about money. Just looking for a low stress distraction this week within my chosen hobby (newtome-gunitis syndrome). Sounds a bit selfish now that I think about it, but I married well...she likes guns too.

If it shoots fine and ejects brass fine, probably nothing. At least that is what my limited experience on this platform is leading me to think.

"like new in the box" Had a decent phone conversation with the owner. Bought it from a friend who maybe shot 1 magazine through it. His asking price is $825. Which going off of memory of the ads on GB in late Feb. early Mar. it is a little high. I put several ads from GB on my watch list and I still get email updates from the ones I saw back then that haven't sold at the 750 level. But my memory can be a bit fuzzy. Also I don't recall any on GB that were LNIB of that vintage. I tossed a partial trade idea and we agreed to revisit later in the next day or so. It's not a gotta have it. I'd probably be better off picking up more ammo. Almost hoping someone else snags it before I do. Almost.

My state is on stay at home orders. My job is considered "essential services", I am fortunate to have a job. So no range time. I could pass the time doing yard work. But it is raining a bit off and on. To pass the time today on my day off I perused the local gun classifieds. Don't "need" another gun. But... I came across a new in the box older Sportical LR-308. It has the hi rise or target upper (appears to be in pics). I am considering it. I like the idea of a St.Cloud built DPMS. No real rationalization. Maybe because of the "remlin" thing, even though I own one (1895SBL) and have zero issues. I just finished a Aero Precision M5 build and now can't shoot, so I'm bored. I have a cheap optic I could mount. I like the idea of an adjustable gas block so I installed one on my build. Don't know if I would modify this one. I would just like to add another 308 (I still have room in the safe). Any pros/cons? Would like to hear from others experiences. My apologies for my rambling.

Just an update; My state is under stay at home orders. I am fortunate to have an "essential services" type job. I did not make it to the range before the order. I may play around with some reloading to pass the time. Or buy/build another.............

Great idea Bill! I'll have to break out my rangefinder and check the distance to my neighbors backboard. From a bedroom window at my house, my guess is 75 yards.

Yessir! I still need to bore sight the scope. I have had good success with one of those laser cartridges. I just tack a target to a tree in the yard at 25 yards and use a folding table. Gets it close enough to start out at the range. I need to buy one as I don't have one in 308. It'll give me the opportunity to see how bad the run on "stuff" was this past weekend at the local sporting goods store. I am waiting on a bottle of Rocksett I ordered. I installed the brake without it, because I was impatient and wanted to see my project complete. No big deal to unscrew the brake and apply the Rocksett, then reinstall.

Fixed. Looks normal now.😄

Just joined a private gun club (public ones are gettin' crowded here). Membership card came in the mail today! So I'm lookin' forward to taking the new gun out there. Doing the barrel break in procedure will be easier without the crowd and dealing with "the range is hot, it is clear to cross the yellow line". Which was just fine by me five years ago, as I could somewhat not have to worry so much about idiots and it wasn't crowded. But now the public range is always so crowded, that a barrel break in procedure would take all day.

Oops!! No wonder why it looked so f-ing weird. (in Red Foremans voice); Dumbass!!

Not sure about the bipod. Used one that I had, it and the scope were the only two things I didn't buy for the build.

I ended up going with the Accu Washer setup for the muzzle brake. Works great! Gas tube ended up in the right spot (thanks for the info on this forum). Pretty smooth build. I hope I'm not the only one that had a barrel nut wrench slip off the nut while torque-ing.:) Polished the dings to my satisfaction. The barrel nut/gas tube alignment was kind of annoying. MIne isn't perfectly lined up. But it clears. Tons of great info on this site. Great folks to offer help. I can't seem to take a "good" pic of guns. So I'll post a couple of marginal ones. Now to find time for the range and get that barrel broke in.

I may still go the accu washer route as suggested. It seems to be a preferred method vs crush washer. At least as far I have read in researching the topic.

I emailed VG6 inquiring about installation procedure for their brake. Unknown to me they are part of Aero Precision. Their reply was most excellent. Concise and to the point for someone who has never performed the task of installing a muzzle brake. Hello, Thanks for contacting us. There is not a true torque value for our muzzle devices however the muzzle device will need to be timed correctly and seat firmly against the crush washer. Here is our installation instructions: The proper method to install our VG6 muzzle devices is: 1. Clean and remove all debris from the barrel threads and muzzle device threads. 2. Slide the included crush washer onto the barrel with the crush washer’s conical tip touching the shoulder of the barrel. 3. Apply anti-seize to barrel threads. 4. Slowly, by hand, thread the muzzle device onto the barrel (making sure not to cross the threads). 5. Stop once the muzzle device bottoms out on the crush washer. 6. Secure your barrel in a nonmarring vice and make sure that your barrel does not move and that your barrel index pin will not be put under pressure. 7. Using an armorer’s wrench time the muzzle device (in a tightening clockwise manner) to have the VG6 logo at the 6 O’clock position (logo facing down). Best Regards, Davin O Support team, VG6 Precision

Thanks jtallen83!

Just to clarify on the muzzle brake install. I'm not a qualified gunsmith. I believe I have it figured out, but not to the point I'm confident to perform the procedure. I am still researching.

While I'm waiting for the torque extension tool from Brownells I thought I would look into installing the muzzle brake. I opened the package for the VG6 Gamma 762 I bought and looked at the product card expecting an installation procedure to be listed. Nope. Only a statement that it is to be installed by a qualified gunsmith. I am sure they know that most of their customer base is DIY. So it must be a product liability issue. I also checked their website for instructions. Nope. So, off to youtube and internet search. Couldn't find an installation procedure here while using the search function. It's been a long time since I've worked with crush washers. But I believe I've got the process figured out. The only thing I question is whether or not to use a thread locker of some sort. It seems Rocksett is popular. But if I were to purchase a suppressor in the future a thread locker compound could make life difficult.

I did finish the lower assy. yesterday evening. I couldn't resist mocking up the upper with the lower. I wanted to check fitment of the upper anyway, so I temp installed the barrel, handguard and muzzle brake. I am impressed with the machining and fit. I am not a gunsmith or a well experienced tinkerer of firearms. I only have my career in aviation to compare how things are built. Aero Precision makes an excellent product. I would certify their stuff to fly at 40000 feet.

Here is a pic of the improv. For the rear takedown pin detent spring I skipped the set screw (for now). I figured the grip is already the retainer for the safety detent spring. I did a search earlier and discovered as you pointed out years ago it was the builders that started tapping and installing a "keeper" before the manufacturers of lowers did it.

The go/no-go gauges worked just fine. All is well. Putting the ejector back in the bolt was fun without a 3rd hand. I improvised with a cutoff case, some wood blocks and bench vise. The rear takedown pin detent spring is NOT fun. Trying to get that tiny set screw to stay on the allen wrench while compressing the spring without launching the spring is difficult. I used a pin with a hole a bit bigger than the set screw as a guide. I could not get the set screw threads to start before I slipped off the spring. Several times. I even launched the spring into outerspace once. Of course I found it on the floor not far from the workbench. I have spare springs, so of course I found it. I lost the set screw (no spares). While searching for it I did find a detent pin that I launched during a previous lower assembly! Hopefully the local hardware store has some 4-40-1/8 setscrews in stock. Any tips to install that pesky booger of a spring/setscrew?

Oops! My Brownells order showed up sans barrel extension torque tool. Instead I got the go/no-go gauges AND a field gauge instead of the torque tool. Apparently I did not "review" my order well enough during checkout. My fault. I blame it on tooooo many items in my wishlist, along with a fevered happy clicking to get this project assembled. Oh well. I'll get the barrel/bolt checked with the gauges and probably the lower assembled on my long weekend.