I've always been told here about how how John Thomas does great work. John completed my barrel this week and I'm very impressed! John received my barrel, finished working on my barrel and shipped back my barrel... In ONE day! His prices are very reasonable and he did a very nice job. I wanted to show off some photos for the guys looking to get similar work done in the future.

Here's the work I had done to my J&T Distributing 16" Lightweight Barrel (AR550):
-Cut / thread barrel
-Pin / tig weld muzzle device
-Remove bayonet lug, smooth front and rear or sight base and reparkerize
-Replace straight pins with taper pins (these barrels have straight pins FYI)
-Strip and reparkerize handguard cap (the HG cap that came with the barrel was dark black)

The fake moderator is made by Brick.

I have not shot this barrel yet, but I'm looking forward to shooting soon!








I couldn't help myself. I borrowed my 604 lower for the camera. Depending on how it shoots, I think this is going to be my new favorite







Most of the parts I gathered show use. Therefore I'm going for the used look and I won't be afraid to scratch it at the range. I'm only a NDS-16A1 lower and BCG away from completion (hopefully I can trade some of my retro parts for those). I love the looks of the partial fence lower on it but the incorrectness would probably bother me! I believe the correct upper receiver would not have forge codes but that won't bother me.

looks good

Looks great! The barrel looks spot on, too.

Looks great just as she is!
A moderated carbine is a blatant missing link in my little collection.  I really need to build one of those!

Very Nice!

My fave is the XM177E2. Nothing like it.

Remove the forge codes and make you a field expedient sling.

How long is that moderator? 4.5"? What length did he cut the barrel to? I am working on the same project, have the 4.5" moderator but need a grenade ring.

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Hopefully Brick doesnt care if I post this.

One full day turnaround? John must be busy - normally work goes out on the same afternoon...

Looks great Defender92! I can't wait until www.retroarmsworks.com does there magic for me. Tomorrow I ship out to John my XM177E2 disassembled upper for final assembly. My chosen lower will be a NDS XM16E1 partial fence as on the XM177E1. And I won't loose any sleep over this. I'm positive there were many early transitional E2's with partial fence lowers left over from previous E1 program. Observe the pictures here on ar15.com The New Real Deal AR-15/M-16 retro picture threads. Plus you'll see XM177E1's with M16A1 lowers too. You use what you have and move forward.  Pictures to come on my newest build. Again, your build looks super!!

Looks good, congrats!

Looking good!

I've always wanted to try a moderator that is like 5-1/4" and see if the extra 3/4" make it seem a little more realistic.

I talked to John about doing one up a little longer than "normal". (Talked but never sent money!)

But the IS some top quality work right there!

Beautiful rifle!

Nice job looks good Now what's next? you can't just have one it will get lonely

Hey it's your money and story build them the way you want them

Here is mine XM177 on a 1975 colt SP1 upper and lower.

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u92/redfiredog8/XM177/2sp1s-1_zpspif9awhp.jpg

Here you go reddog" />

Thank you for all the compliments on the build!




Good points. I really do like the looks of the partial fence lower... I think it's the most unique of all retro lowers. The more I think about it the more I'm considering using a partial fence lower.




Don't tempt me! I've been saying this is the last one!

Really nice XM. They are super handy, and just ooze retro coolness.

My barrel and FSB are at Adco right now for the exact same treatment.   Will post it up after I get it back together.   Mine isn't going to be quite as authentic as yours, I only had a Tony's repro moderator(and a E2 style setup), but I'm going to shoot the shit outta this thing so not a really big deal.  Yours looks great, I'm going with either a NoDak full fence A1 lower or a reprofiled A2.  I hope to use it at Cola Warrior this year to represent the Retro heads!

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Here's my upper before completion while back. It uses the brick barrel length and moderator size.

Who did the barrel work?

Defender92,  Really nice looking upper you have there,  And with it on the NDS Partial Fence Lower, it looks Great, just like it been there for a long time.

Now you need to go out and shoot that thing, and give us a Range Report (with pic's).

Thank you! The more I think about it the more I'm considering stealing the lower from my 604. Then get the 604 a new lower down the road.

I'm gearing up for the range as we speak.

By far my favorite AR in the closet.  

Sweet looking guns guys.   My first AR I built back in 87' was a XM177E2 copy.  Wish I still had it.  Used it to train my boys when they were 3 yos with it with the M261 conversion kit.


CD

If it makes you feel any better, the original manuals for the XM177E2 show it with a partial fence lower. You could say that you built an early model.

I think you sold me... partial fence it is


Also, I fired about 40 rounds yesterday and it performed very well! I'm very happy with John's work and the barrel J&T sold me. I just need to get its own lower and BCG before it's complete.

How much did the barrel cut/thread/weld and taper pin conversion cost?

Are Brick comps available to purchase again?  Or did you buy it a while ago?

I bought the moderator from Brick via Gunbroker June 2014. I just now got around to getting a barrel and the work done.

Alex_F,

If you're looking for a XM177 style moderator, I can help you out.  Here's a link with a pic:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_123/666025_Good_news____XM177_moderator_reproduction.html

John Thomas