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A quick overview of a Draco-C
4/9/2011 11:51:42 AM
As if I don't have enough projects going on, I decided to pick up a Draco pistol. My intention is/was to check it over, test fire it, then put it back to SBR it later on. I ordered one from Classic Arms, here are my observations::
Draco-C CAI model HG2159-N
Date on tag says 2/22/11
I measure the barrel length at 11 5/8"
Muzzle thread protector spot welded on
Sight/gas block appears straight
Front trunnion appears straight
Rear trunnion is underfolder version, appears straight
Steel mags fit with some slop, very much acceptable
Also tried a Tapco mag, fits easily but with virtually no slop
Mag release works smoothly
Gas piston has no slop whatsoever (not good)
Due to alignment of everything and lack of gas piston slop, it rubs noticeably on gas tube and gas block
BCG had to be pried out of receiver initially due to incomplete machining, correctable with dremel
Front trunnion marked 1994 (I was expecting 1968 as that's what a lot of buyers have been reporting)
Numbers matching on front trunnion, bolt, bolt carrier
Non-matching numbers on top cover, recoil spring retainer
Top cover fit is pretty bad (very tight and canted, probably not hard to correct)
Trigger pin and hammer pin holes out of alignment with X's formed in receiver (holes off center of X)
Looks like Romanian fire control group
Crappy looking laminated handguards
Romanian bakelite grip (seems crooked, I don't think it's the receiver)
Lower handguard retainer was an overly tight fit (very hard to move it)
Overall gun was pretty gunky and gritty (needs a good cleaning)
It's obvious this thing will need breaking in to run smoothly (or some proactive work on the action)
Included cleaning rod fits, but threaded portion has been cut off
Two steel 30 rd mags look good, I expect them to function ok
Not sure yet if I'm going to keep it. It's going to need some tinkering to get it right.
Draco-C CAI model HG2159-N
Date on tag says 2/22/11
I measure the barrel length at 11 5/8"
Muzzle thread protector spot welded on
Sight/gas block appears straight
Front trunnion appears straight
Rear trunnion is underfolder version, appears straight
Steel mags fit with some slop, very much acceptable
Also tried a Tapco mag, fits easily but with virtually no slop
Mag release works smoothly
Gas piston has no slop whatsoever (not good)
Due to alignment of everything and lack of gas piston slop, it rubs noticeably on gas tube and gas block
BCG had to be pried out of receiver initially due to incomplete machining, correctable with dremel
Front trunnion marked 1994 (I was expecting 1968 as that's what a lot of buyers have been reporting)
Numbers matching on front trunnion, bolt, bolt carrier
Non-matching numbers on top cover, recoil spring retainer
Top cover fit is pretty bad (very tight and canted, probably not hard to correct)
Trigger pin and hammer pin holes out of alignment with X's formed in receiver (holes off center of X)
Looks like Romanian fire control group
Crappy looking laminated handguards
Romanian bakelite grip (seems crooked, I don't think it's the receiver)
Lower handguard retainer was an overly tight fit (very hard to move it)
Overall gun was pretty gunky and gritty (needs a good cleaning)
It's obvious this thing will need breaking in to run smoothly (or some proactive work on the action)
Included cleaning rod fits, but threaded portion has been cut off
Two steel 30 rd mags look good, I expect them to function ok
Not sure yet if I'm going to keep it. It's going to need some tinkering to get it right.
4/9/2011 4:37:48 PM
Where did you get it?
4/9/2011 6:46:06 PM
Originally Posted By nchapa:
Where did you get it?
Where did you get it?
Classic Arms
4/9/2011 11:54:12 PM
I bet it will run better than you think. Give it a deep cleaning and a range report.
4/10/2011 2:20:59 AM
Originally Posted By krichbaum:
Gas piston has no slop whatsoever (not good)
Gas piston has no slop whatsoever (not good)
This is an easy fix, my draco-c was the same way . Run a file lightly over the end of the bolt carrier about 1/4" back from the piston at the 3 o'clock . You will start to see a vague circle outline appear. Center punch and spot drill with a wide angle bit macthing the size of the circle (around 5/32" I think). Then drive out the pin with a punch and unscrew piston. Clean up threads and reinsall and repin , peen ends and file smooth. Sound complicated but I did it in about 15 minutes, and now have the slight wobble I need to prevent rubbing.
4/10/2011 2:21:40 AM
Originally Posted By Dferg10:
I bet it will run better than you think. Give it a deep cleaning and a range report.
I bet it will run better than you think. Give it a deep cleaning and a range report.
X2
4/10/2011 9:45:26 AM
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
4/10/2011 11:26:06 AM
Both of my gas pistons were not loose. After about 200rnds, they both loosed right up. YMMV
4/10/2011 12:04:11 PM
Originally Posted By krichbaum:
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
I just looked at my "C". Both the X & Y have the holes going right through the center. GARY N4KVE
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
4/10/2011 3:40:24 PM
Originally Posted By krichbaum:
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
Got a pic ?
4/10/2011 7:40:18 PM
Originally Posted By kyron4:
Got a pic ?
Originally Posted By krichbaum:
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
Got a pic ?
See below...
I'm sure this seems like a dumb thing to worry about. I think the X and Y dimples are one of the details on these that's really cool. In the end, it won't ever affect the function though.
4/10/2011 8:43:09 PM
Originally Posted By krichbaum:
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
I am not so sure the X and Y are reinforcements... aren't they just markers for where the pins go. The platform allows for plenty of play.
4/10/2011 9:39:30 PM
Originally Posted By Dferg10:
I am not so sure the X and Y are reinforcements... aren't they just markers for where the pins go. The platform allows for plenty of play.
Originally Posted By krichbaum:
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
I agree, it may run fine as is. If I do keep it I'll redo the gas piston though.
My main complaint is how the formed 'X' and 'Y' reinforcements are way off center from the hammer and trigger pin holes. I can fix most other issues, but not this. Granted, it's only cosmetic but if I'm going to SBR one of these I'd hate to have something like that nagging. Is that a common thing on these?
I am not so sure the X and Y are reinforcements... aren't they just markers for where the pins go. The platform allows for plenty of play.
From what I understand they are intended to reinforce the receiver. The formed dimples make the receiver more rigid in the area of the hammer and trigger pins, but I'm not sure that is really needed or if there's some other reason for them. If you look at the description of Arsenal rifles that have these dimples, they describe them as "X and Y shaped reinforcement stampings".
5/14/2011 8:56:36 PM
The "Y" is the marker stamp where the Full Auto pin would be located.
5/15/2011 1:06:42 PM
Originally Posted By Ekalb2000:
Both of my gas pistons were not loose. After about 200rnds, they both loosed right up. YMMV
Both of my gas pistons were not loose. After about 200rnds, they both loosed right up. YMMV
Mine was also tight. After 100 rds, the piston is starting to loosen up. GARY N4KVE
