NF1E

Time to lighten up Francis. Guys are trying to help but you are making it difficult with your defensive attitude. Maybe time to junk this recoil heavy project and start again at the beginning using some of the wonderful advice you have received. I once fed a dog that bit me and had to bury him later. Attitude is everything.

Just enjoy using the universals when the hand is in a functioning mode. I do 3-5K of .308 plus other calibers annually, so I have the procedure down pretty well.

My right hand is temporarily out of service due to some tendon repairs. Should be good to go in another month.

No doubt. Very easy to determine when it's time to junk brass with expanded primer pockets. Whatta Hobby!

Batch of 200 primed and ready for loading. Had to prime using my left " weak" hand. Right is still in recovery after surgery. Didn't realize how much weaker my left was. Real chore using the hand primer. Whatta Hobby!

Very interesting. I do a little re-loading myself. Been practicing for over 60 years. I learn something new every day. Whatta Hobby!

Finishing up final prep on a few thousand once fired MEN berdan .308 cases this morning. Cases have been de-primed, wet tumbled with ss pins, run through the case dryer, sized, tumbled again and run through the case dryer one more time. Trimming to 2.00 with the Giraud is the final stage before priming and loading in my shop. Just love having a nice stash of ready to load cases on the shelf. Keeps me out of trouble. Whatta Hobby!

Well done.

The sun has given way to overcast and a stiff breeze. Still the M5 in .308 needs some exercise. She appears to like the same ammo as my M14s. 136 gn fb over 45 gn of 4064. 1o rnds at 100 yds. Now that Varget is back I need to load some of that for more precision. Whatta Hobby!

Is that you Tim or just someone using your handle?

There are flats on the top, sides and bottom with the 4 sets of ports spaced equally between them. Works like a champ for me. I use them open most of the time and occasionally screw on the suppressor.

It is an illusion for sure. That is an OSS suppressor QD adapter brake and ports in 4 equal directions.

I thought, from M14 experience, that my new Aero M5 20" build was short stroking too. Listening to shooterrex and the advice on this forum, simply closing my AGB half way solved my imagined problems and she runs like a top with all ammos. Thanks guys, you are the best. Lower rifle in the first photo is the M5. Whatta Hobby!

Finally, I think I have my optic configurations for these ARs down to what I like. Top rifle is a RR .223 with a 20" barrel and a Timney 10oz trigger. Bottom is an Aero Precison .308 build with a 20" barrel and an ELF 3# trigger. Night Force scopes are top the BEAST 5-25 and lower ATACR 5-25. I may move the top scope few inches forward eventually, but I love the scope. Whatta Hobby!

Thanks to your help kind Sir. You made it a 2 minute procedure where I could have been fumbling in the darkness for hours and still not even thought of too much.

That was it, over gassed. Closed the AGV 7 clicks and it runs like a champ. Ran 100 rnds of all sorts of different ammo without a hickup. " That was easy". Now I just need to remember to open the valve just 8 clicks from closed after cleaning.

I will try that today. Yes, wet as a drowned rat. This is why I am visiting this forum. Thanks.

Did exactly that today. Was ejecting fine but would not pick up the next rnd. Adjustable gas block is wide open so I may need to use a lighter buffer. Plenty of parts to work with until she fires on all cylinders. Was using MEN surplus ammo. I may try my handloads tomorrow and see if I have better luck.

Finally, last parts arrived and have been installed. M5 is now ready for the range. Whatta Hobby!

SLR adjustable gas block showed up today. Aero Precision Nickel Boron BCG and extended charging handle are expected by Saturday. Getting a little excited. Whatta Hobby!

Just perfect where it is mounted. I have QR rings on that scope so it can easily be moved fore and aft on the rail or to other firearms with ease. I have a pile of those offset mounts that came with a bunch of Leupold VX-R Patrol scopes that I use on M14s some years ago.

Picked up an Aero complete lower from LGS. Changed out buffer tube to rifle length buffer with spring and Aero rifle buffer and added the butt I am used to on other ARs. Added ELF trigger set at #3. Added an Aero M5 upper with 20" barrel. Waiting for BCG, extended charging handle and adjustable gas block. For those that need to know, the gas port is .093 and the tube extends to the center of the cutout. Learning day by day with the M5. Added a MK 4 16x fixed. Was going to use on of my Night Force ATACRs but the bell is just to big on this handguard without raising rings so I ordered a different 15" Mlock handguard from Aero, less costly than NF rings, that does not have the rail full length. That should do the trick. Whatta Hobby!

Now that I have learned what gas tube protrusion is , I can measure it. Never really cared for these things in the past but willing to learn. If any of you have M14 question, feel free to ask, that is my forte. Old photo but that some of my M14 type rifles. Whatta Hobby!

Bought a complete Aero lower from a LGS and what I thought was going to be complete upper from Aero. Then this M14 guy realized a complete upper in today's lingo is not complete but minus the BCG and charging handle which I am waiting on now. Not being an AR guy, I am here to learn what I can. Been messing with all sorts of USGI rifles for 60 years and was issued M1s and M14s during my service in the Marine Corps. Was issued one M16 in 1967 which didn't work out and was taken back to the junk yard, I think. Thank you all in advance for your patience.

Thanks. I have owned Armalite in the past and am currently putting an M5 together using Aero parts. Having more fun than a 74 year old dinosaur should. Will be setting one of my NF ATACRs on her. Whatta Hobby!