If you’ve been following along with this project you know that this was an update of the shop’s test mule AR15. The update was to be accomplished by utilizing shop pulls and material left over from other projects. A background project, it was accomplished when a there was opportunity. We were pretty much wrapped on Part 4, but I rushed, used an incorrect size roll pin starter punch and a kludgy fixture and bent the last ejector roll pin in the shop. Bad, Joe… bad.
There was an upside to the event. While digging around for a replacement roll pin, I ran across my ejector removal tool… and the right size roll pin starter punch, so it took but a few minutes to finish the rifle’s assembly when the pin arrived. The tool is Brownells# 080-792-002WB $20.99. Is it necessary? Not at all. Is it convenient? Heck yes.
The bolt was assembled to the carrier, the firing was reinstalled and pinned and the upper receiver was completed. After a mechanical check out, the rifle was walked out to the snow covered range and test fired where it fired as anticipated…. but short stroked. The gas block was adjusted and everything fell into place. The difference between unsuppressed and suppressed was approximately half a rotation on gas block adjustment.
The DPMS sights were moved over from the original upper as they were well suited to the new configuration. The front sight was installed ramp side forward as the flat milled face provides a clear, sharp silhouette against a target and it puts the attaching hardware on the right side, the same side as the rear. The stock is a good fit and I do change the locked positions dependant upon shooting position. Two pounds were dropped compared to the original configuration and the balance is greatly improved and the Ruger brake cuts down on muzzle jump and directs report away from the shooter and firing line.
For now, the rifle will be put up until the next AR project or 300 Blackout reloading projects requires its presence. The project, if not quick, was enjoyable and we used up a good number of idle parts. I don’t care for the gas block. Access for adjustment is not good and incremental gas flow adjustment is a bit vague. So that is an issue to revisit, I suspect early in the new year.
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