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3/12/2005 1:55:53 PM EDT
My quest for a 9mm AR started back on 12/31/04 after thinking about doing if for a year. My oddesey began with this thread:

9mm AR or HK-94 (16" bbl MP-5)?  

After selling my HK-94, I started ordering parts and finding folks to do the labor for me and today, the postman dropped off a large box containing this:



Here are the parts for anyone interested:
- RRA 11.5 upper w/perm. attached 5.5 CAR flash hider
- Daniel Defense 7.0 FF RAS
- Ameetec 9mm marked lower
- Colt magblock
- Colt 32 rnd mags
- RRA LPK
- Tango Down VFG
- KAC Rail Panels (ladder panel on top)
- Magpul M-93A stock
- Magpul MIAD grip
- Aimpoint M-2 w/ARD
- ARMS #22M68 mount
- LMT BUIS

ADCO installed the RAS and M60 Joe did the rest which was:
- chopping the 16" bbl down to 11.5"
- permanently attached the FH
- installed the stock
- installed the LPK
- ramped the bolt and reparkerized it
- installed the mag block and attached it with a screw (see pic below)


I will be getting it to the range next weekend to sight in the Aimpoint.

I like to thank Eric and Steve at ADCO, Richard at Magpul, Bryan Pritchard and M60 Joe for all their help with the parts and labor.

And thanks to all the fellow members who helped me make my decision,
3/12/2005 2:45:42 PM EDT
[#1]
very nice!  i think i am going to have to borrow the idea of hidding the securing screw where your's is.
3/12/2005 2:52:14 PM EDT
[#2]
that looks like the gun Schumer, Fineswine, Brady, et al should have used as the poster child  pre 9/13/04 on why they thought the  AWB should have been renewed
3/12/2005 3:03:59 PM EDT
[#3]
Looks good Matt!  I'm considering cutting down my barrel and doing the 5.5" FH thing too.
3/12/2005 3:06:07 PM EDT
[#4]
SWEET!
3/12/2005 4:27:01 PM EDT
[#5]
Matt,
Nice job, it looks great.

Steve
3/12/2005 4:42:38 PM EDT
[#6]
Final Matt. looks good my man. Went out today with some friends and we had some fun. Now go blast off some roundsssssssss.
3/12/2005 6:10:03 PM EDT
[#7]

Quoted:
very nice!  i think i am going to have to borrow the idea of hidding the securing screw where your's is.

Just in case I wasn't clear, the mag block screw was done by M60 Joe. It's his idea and he did the work. I prefer this to having it pinned because it will be easier to remove the block for installation.
3/12/2005 6:11:25 PM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:
Looks good Matt!  I'm considering cutting down my barrel and doing the 5.5" FH thing too.

I've always wanted an AR with a 5.5" FH but I never really wanted a 5.56mm with that short a bbl. The 9mm was the perfect opportunity to do it.
3/12/2005 6:18:23 PM EDT
[#9]
And thanks for all the kind words. In the end, it ended up costing almost as much as the HK-94 I sold to get it. But it was worth every penny.
3/12/2005 9:17:12 PM EDT
[#10]
nice, very nice...................
3/13/2005 2:42:18 AM EDT
[#11]
cool looking build
3/13/2005 3:26:37 AM EDT
[#12]
Nice Job Matt!!!..waiting for the range report!
3/13/2005 8:06:25 AM EDT
[#13]
boner
3/13/2005 8:52:06 AM EDT
[#14]

Quoted:
Nice Job Matt!!!..waiting for the range report!

Thank you. I should have one next weekend.
3/13/2005 4:31:35 PM EDT
[#15]
e-mail sent
3/13/2005 5:52:04 PM EDT
[#16]
That's a sharp looking 9mm, and the mag block screw location is great!Happy shooting!
3/14/2005 9:10:49 AM EDT
[#17]
Matt,

You forgot to add the Magpul trigger guard to your list.  Inbound mail for some questions.

Booker
3/14/2005 9:13:57 AM EDT
[#18]


Thanks for your business, Matt.
3/14/2005 9:42:07 AM EDT
[#19]
Matt,
Very slick!  How does that 5.5 due for 9mm flash supresson?  Also, why the LMT A2 style BUIS for the 9mm vs say the LaRue non elevation adjustable?
3/14/2005 9:55:02 AM EDT
[#20]
Nice looking rifle.  I guess I don't really understand the point of having a short barrel with a 5" FS.

3/14/2005 11:41:18 AM EDT
[#21]

Quoted:
Matt,

You forgot to add the Magpul trigger guard to your list.  Inbound mail for some questions.

Booker

To me, it's part of the grip, or more specifically the front strap, so I don't think of it as an extra part.
3/14/2005 11:44:45 AM EDT
[#22]

Quoted:
Matt,
Very slick!  How does that 5.5 due for 9mm flash supresson?  Also, why the LMT A2 style BUIS for the 9mm vs say the LaRue non elevation adjustable?

Regarding the flash hider's effectiveness, I won't know till I shoot it after dark (not likely any time soon) or at least on the indoor range (much more likely).

Regarding the LMT, I know it's overkill but I don't mind having a bit of redundancy between my ARs. I may yet switch over to a Larue BUIS.
3/14/2005 11:47:29 AM EDT
[#23]

Quoted:
Nice looking rifle.  I guess I don't really understand the point of having a short barrel with a 5" FS.


I can't have an SBR in Illinois. I've always wanted that style of flash hider on an AR for the XM177 type of look and for a 5.56 AR, I wouldn't want to chop the bbl that short. All I shoot is 55gr so I want at least a 16" bbl. With a 9mm, a 11.5" bbl isn't loosing that much velocity at all not that it matters with a 9mm mind. Basically, for me, there is almost no downside to the 11.5"/5.5" with the 9mm.
3/15/2005 7:17:32 AM EDT
[#24]
Fricken AWESOME!!

The FH works BTW, there is little or no flash on my upper with the same config.
3/15/2005 7:32:36 AM EDT
[#25]

Quoted:
Fricken AWESOME!!

The FH works BTW, there is little or no flash on my upper with the same config.

Thank you and that's good to know.

I figured that since the FH should hide at least some of the flash with 5.56mm mil-spec ammo, it should have no problem hiding most of if not all of the flash with commerical grade 9mm (Winchester 115gr Value Pack) ammo. Regardless, I'm very happy to hear that it will do the job well.

On a different note, it's very cool to be able to pick up a 9mm rifle that feels almost exactly the same as my 5.56mm ARs and functions exactly the same as my 16" bbl AR. I can already see the benefits of going this route over the HK-94.
3/15/2005 7:37:31 AM EDT
[#26]
Matt_B very nice 9mm.  You did good.  

Waiting for that range report.    

Colt_SBR  
3/15/2005 9:05:15 AM EDT
[#27]

Quoted:
Matt_B very nice 9mm.  You did good.  

Waiting for that range report.    

Colt_SBR  

Thank you for the compliment. I'll be breaking it in this Sunday.
3/15/2005 2:21:54 PM EDT
[#28]
What was the total out of pocket expense on your weapon project?
3/15/2005 2:38:20 PM EDT
[#29]

Quoted:
What was the total out of pocket expense on your weapon project?

Heh, you're lucky I'm anal rententive and really keep track of that kind of stuff.

COST____PART
==========================
$378____RRA Upper
$250____DD 7.0 FF RAS
$ 62____Tango Down VFG
$110____Ameetec Stripped 9mm Lower
$ 55____RRA LPK
$120____LMT Rear Sight
$ 24____9mm Buffer
$ 10____Buffer Spring
$ 20____PRI Big Latch - Military
$ 12____5.5" CAR FH
$150____Colt Mag Block
$225____Magpul Stock
$ 65____Magpul MIAD Grip
$665____Colt 32 rnd Mags
$400____Aimpoint M2
$130____ARMS #22M68 w/EXT
==========================
$2,676____PARTS TOTAL

COST___LABOR
==========================
$ 84____Ramp and Repark Bolt
$ 57____Screw in Mag Block
$ 74____Cut bbl Perm Install FH
$ 10____Install stock
$ 10____Install LPK
$ 50____Install DD RAS
$ 32____Test Fire
$ 18____Return Shipping (from M60 Joe)
==========================
$335____LABOR TOTAL

$3,011___GRAND TOTAL

I had bought some of the items before I decided to do this (the Aimpoint and Magpul MIAD grip) so I just gave them a new home.

Also, I sold my HK-94 and all 29 mags which netted me around $3850. That made financing the whole thing painless.
3/16/2005 4:37:07 AM EDT
[#30]

Quoted:

Quoted:
What was the total out of pocket expense on your weapon project?

Heh, you're lucky I'm anal rententive and really keep track of that kind of stuff.

COST____PART
==========================
$378____RRA Upper
$250____DD 7.0 FF RAS
$ 62____Tango Down VFG
$110____Ameetec Stripped 9mm Lower
$ 55____RRA LPK
$120____LMT Rear Sight
$ 24____9mm Buffer
$ 10____Buffer Spring
$ 20____PRI Big Latch - Military
$ 12____5.5" CAR FH
$150____Colt Mag Block
$225____Magpul Stock
$ 65____Magpul MIAD Grip
$665____Colt 32 rnd Mags
$400____Aimpoint M2
$130____ARMS #22M68 w/EXT
==========================
$2,676____PARTS TOTAL

COST___LABOR
==========================
$ 84____Ramp and Repark Bolt
$ 57____Screw in Mag Block
$ 74____Cut bbl Perm Install FH
$ 10____Install stock
$ 10____Install LPK
$ 50____Install DD RAS
$ 32____Test Fire
$ 18____Return Shipping (from M60 Joe)
==========================
$335____LABOR TOTAL

$3,011___GRAND TOTAL

I had bought some of the items before I decided to do this (the Aimpoint and Magpul MIAD grip) so I just gave them a new home.

Also, I sold my HK-94 and all 29 mags which netted me around $3850. That made financing the whole thing painless.





Geez!  Im glad I DONT  keep track of my spending.  Sometimes your just better off NOT knowing......
3/16/2005 4:47:13 AM EDT
[#31]

Quoted:
Geez!  Im glad I DONT  keep track of my spending.  Sometimes your just better off NOT knowing......

I've kept track of how much all of my ARs cost and my 9mm only cost about $100 more than the 5.56s. I also felt I had to make a list because I had a lot of part to keep track of and I wasn't doing the assembly myself. I wanted to make sure the person who did the final assembly (M60 Joe) had everything he needed when he received all the parts. Even then, I didn't order a buffer spring.
3/16/2005 4:57:57 AM EDT
[#32]
Thats understandable.  Ive never had anybody else build my guns though.  So for me, its slowly collect parts and throw them in the pile untill it looks like you got enough.  (I always end up with a few "extra" parts.)
3/17/2005 10:13:10 PM EDT
[#33]
MATT_B,

That rifle looks might y fine... even if it is a Colt style 9mm

I am a firm believer in the shorter 11.5"  barrel on the 9mm upper.  It's a PISTOL/SMG round, it wasn't designed for 16" rifle/carbine length barrels. You are pretty much reaching max velocity at 11.5-ish, IF there is a gain after 11.5" (i doubt there is.. more like a slowing effect) it wouldn't be worth the extra weight of the full barrel. That 5.5 FS does work awesome at hiding the flash of the 9mm round.  The extra expense and hassle for a SBR isn't worth it to a  lot of people... so this config is a great alternative.... IMO.


~D~

SNS



PS> VLTOR stock has gotta go  
3/18/2005 4:15:17 AM EDT
[#34]

Quoted:
MATT_B,

That rifle looks might y fine... even if it is a Colt style 9mm

I am a firm believer in the shorter 11.5"  barrel on the 9mm upper.  It's a PISTOL/SMG round, it wasn't designed for 16" rifle/carbine length barrels. You are pretty much reaching max velocity at 11.5-ish, IF there is a gain after 11.5" (i doubt there is.. more like a slowing effect) it wouldn't be worth the extra weight of the full barrel. That 5.5 FS does work awesome at hiding the flash of the 9mm round.  The extra expense and hassle for a SBR isn't worth it to a  lot of people... so this config is a great alternative.... IMO.


~D~

SNS

PS> VLTOR stock has gotta go  

Why thank you D. That means a lot coming from you. My decision to go with the chopped bbl was made when I read a post you made regarding 9mm AR bbl length. While a 16" bbl won't slow the round down (I've seen the chrony results) I agree that the velocity gain or loss between a 11.5" and 16" is neglible. Plus, I always wanted to have an AR with that XM177 kind of look.

Regarding the "getting rid of the Vltor stock", that's actually a Magpul M-93A on there and I put those on any and all long arms I can, even my shotgun.
3/19/2005 2:26:33 PM EDT
[#35]
ooppss... my bad... it looked like a VLTOR at a quick glance.  Magpul works.... keep it

~D~

SNS
3/20/2005 2:52:14 PM EDT
[#36]
Awesome AR9mm

I got a 9MM build in process, just waiting to get the mag block from RRA and I'm ready to go.

SBR paperwork has been sent and now awaiting the long approval time

Here's mine...not a very good pic but you get the idea.



Once it's all done I do a photo shoot.

[email protected]
www.mooneysfirearms.com

Tom

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