Great post. I'll be moving forward with this bit by bit. I have a CavAid lower and will start looking for mags now for the project. My biggest obstacle (other then cash) is living in the PR of NJ and having a 15 round limit. I could buy larger capacity parts and then assemble and modify them to only hold 15's or if some has premade 15 rounders that would save me a lot of time.

Originally Posted By Wojo: Great post. I'll be moving forward with this bit by bit. I have a CavAid lower and will start looking for mags now for the project. My biggest obstacle (other then cash) is living in the PR of NJ and having a 15 round limit. I could buy larger capacity parts and then assemble and modify them to only hold 15's or if some has premade 15 rounders that would save me a lot of time.

There is a member here who sold some shortened GG mags through the EE last september. His user name is 762-4-U. I bought one and it looks good. I don't know if he is still making them or not but it might be worth a try.

Joe

TANGOCHASER was at one time working on a replacement floorplate for the grease gun mags, so you could cut one down to whatever size you need. IIRC, the new floorplate would attach with two screws. TC?

Originally Posted By MMcfpd: TANGOCHASER was at one time working on a replacement floorplate for the grease gun mags, so you could cut one down to whatever size you need. IIRC, the new floorplate would attach with two screws. TC?

If TC doesn't have any of the base plates, there was a guy on the CNC Gunsmithing Forum that was selling them back in the spring. It might be worth tracking him down if you want to go that route. You will have to register there to view the forums.

Joe

Originally Posted By TN-MadDog: Originally Posted By Wojo: Great post. I'll be moving forward with this bit by bit. I have a CavAid lower and will start looking for mags now for the project. My biggest obstacle (other then cash) is living in the PR of NJ and having a 15 round limit. I could buy larger capacity parts and then assemble and modify them to only hold 15's or if some has premade 15 rounders that would save me a lot of time. There is a member here who sold some shortened GG mags through the EE last september. His user name is 762-4-U. I bought one and it looks good. I don't know if he is still making them or not but it might be worth a try. Joe

Glad to see you like the mag TN,I will have some mags in the fall. I have just been busy with life. keep an eye out
H

Look for "goober" on cucguns.com. He made some very high quality GG mag base plates from my early versions. Allows you to make any capacity short mag you want.

went back to the full length HG....  

tangochaser.... i have an sbr that is 5.56... but i have the ciener .22 conversion that works well in it.. and would really like a .45 cal set up for it...   can the oly upper set up work on a dpms lower without modification? or is there better options with using my lower?

steve.

tangochaser.... i have an sbr that is 5.56... but i have the ciener .22 conversion that works well in it.. and would really like a .45 cal set up for it... can the oly upper set up work on a dpms lower without modification? or is there better options with using my lower? steve.

Yes it will work on a DPMS lower but mags will be hard to find. Oly ran out of the 10rd Uzi mags they were using. The 10rd and the 16rd Uzi mags can be found but the going price lately has been around $65-$150.

You can use Sten mags with the feed lips opened up but you can only use HPs. FMJ are too long to fit. Just get a Sten magwell filler block and a hand full of cheap Sten mags. Cut 5-7 coils from the mag spring and open the feed lips so the rounds sit higher.

Thus far the only "malfunction" I've had was due to a cartridge with no primer.


Here's one stage of a carbine match I used it in. It was only the 3rd time I'd shot it. The gun did a whole lot better than I did.

what's the verdict on +p in our oly uppers?

Finally go to the range and ran my .45 upper that TC built for me while I was overseas last year.


Its freaking awesome.  I have to get dies for the 45 now becasue I ate through a ton of ammo.7-50 meters. It was super accurate, fast and fun.  Having the ability to feed it straight GG mags is awesome.  Its definately a oddball at my range.  

Wow cant wait to get out again tomorrow.

Erik

ETA
my65span, just saw your note above.  I will IM you as soon as my PM box gets fixed. I am not sure what is up with that.

Posted by chapperjoe; what's the verdict on +p in our oly uppers?

Good to go. And yes, that is my fat retired ass in the the video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUY_8TjV4uE

those 45 supers put out a good report there, huh?

The difference is even more obvious while shooting.

Originally Posted By TANGOCHASER: The difference is even more obvious while shooting.

Speaking of +p and Super loads,  I need to start collecting stuff to load the ammo for the comparison test we talked about a couple of months ago.  

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=15&t=386674

David

I'll be back in the US late January, early February, and will be able to do some testing. I moved way outside town and have the land do some shooting. I'll drop a line when I get exact dates I'll be home. I have to go to Arkansas and see Justin about some AR45 issues first.

where do i get a sten magwell filler block for .45?  that with an oly .45 upper... and cheap sten mags is all I need?

Originally Posted By evil166666: where do i get a sten magwell filler block for .45?  that with an oly .45 upper... and cheap sten mags is all I need?

I just received my Oly upper today. 3 weeks from order to door. Richard at Thompson Machine shipped my lower today.


Now if I can get to the range this weekend.

Posted by evil166666; where do i get a sten magwell filler block for .45? that with an oly .45 upper... and cheap sten mags is all I need?

Kurts Kustom Firearms for the magwell block. Sten mags from Cheaper Than Dirt, Galati, etc.

www.kurtskustomfirearms.citymax.com/albums/album_image/42611/110065.htm

I have read a couple of accounts here now of about ~200 rounds with the Cav Arms lower w/Hahn block/GG mags and Oly .45 upper before failures.  Cleaning made it work again.  Is this typical?

Originally Posted By engineer2001: I have read a couple of accounts here now of about ~200 rounds with the Cav Arms lower w/Hahn block/GG mags and Oly .45 upper before failures.  Cleaning made it work again.  Is this typical?

I've had no such experiences with two 45 builds.

Originally Posted By engineer2001: I have read a couple of accounts here now of about ~200 rounds with the Cav Arms lower w/Hahn block/GG mags and Oly .45 upper before failures.  Cleaning made it work again.  Is this typical?

Holy Smokes!!! I'd better go clean my gun right now!


I'm pretty sure I've got over 200 rds thru it and haven't cleaned it. It still works fine.

Run it wet, an occasional spritz with BreakFree works wonders, maybe some grease on the receiver wall above the ejection port. Mine stops ejecting in about the 4th mag (90-120rd).

Look back a few pages; Tangochaser recommended either dry lube with Remington Dry Lube or"dripping wet with BreakFree".

The heavy buffer helps keep soot out of the action, soot's a sore slower of your whoresson pistol caliber bolt.

Hey TangoChaser, I'm sure you know the LaFrance M16K (I've seen it in an earlier post from you).  I've got one of the new AR45 lowers ordered from Justin coming out of the next batch.  I've been trying to come up with a way to recreate the M16K in a semi-auto SBR, this was my original inspiration for looking at the AR45, though mine won't be an exact replica.  I've been looking all over for a handguard (freefloat and round, solid type) that's made of steel not aluminum, so as to be able to weld an "A" frame front sight to it (properly modified of course).  ANY ideas??

Posted by slickside35; Hey TangoChaser, I'm sure you know the LaFrance M16K (I've seen it in an earlier post from you). I've got one of the new AR45 lowers ordered from Justin coming out of the next batch. I've been trying to come up with a way to recreate the M16K in a semi-auto SBR, this was my original inspiration for looking at the AR45, though mine won't be an exact replica. I've been looking all over for a handguard (freefloat and round, solid type) that's made of steel not aluminum, so as to be able to weld an "A" frame front sight to it (properly modified of course). ANY ideas??

The LaFrance used Thompson mags not grease gun mags. Are you planning on making an AR45 that uses Thompson mags? I have one prototype AR45 lower that uses Thompson mags and GG mags. I haven't finished the mag catch for the Thompson mags yet.

If you use Thompson mags you also have to modify the bolt carrier and the upper receiver to clear the mag feed lips. If you are wanting to make a visual replica of the LaFrance, ignore everything I just said.

I've been looking for a steel free float tube for some time. Seems everyone went to aluminum. Olympic Arms makes a decent free float aluminum hand guard and you can always have an aluminum "A" frame front sight TIG welded to the tube.

Thanks for replying Tango!  Yeah, I'm just looking to mzke a visual replica, I've got a stash of GG mags already. When I first started looking at building this AR45, I had an M16K SBR clone in mind, but now the SBR M16K upper will coexist with a suppressed upper a'la the one Justin made. I had the thought of welding an A frame, but who makes an aluminum one?

Originally Posted By MMcfpd: The Uzi mag option would seem to be the easiest route to pursue, as it requires only a standard lower, but it's not.  Besides being limited to 16 rounds (if your thumbs are up to the loading), Uzi mags are just plain hard to come by and rather pricey. It took about two months of haunting Gunbroker to scare up six 16 round Uzi mags earlier this year and during that time I saw them go for up to $305(!). Then I sent a batch off to Oly in May to be modified (another $35/ea.) and got them back last week (October).

.45 Uzi mags for sale

Posted by slickside35: Thanks for replying Tango! Yeah, I'm just looking to mzke a visual replica, I've got a stash of GG mags already. When I first started looking at building this AR45, I had an M16K SBR clone in mind, but now the SBR M16K upper will coexist with a suppressed upper a'la the one Justin made. I had the thought of welding an A frame, but who makes an aluminum one?

I saw an aluminum front sight designed to mount to a round FF HG on gunbroker under AR15 stuff for $35. It was a one-piece aluminum band with a front sight tower machined into it. Pretty cool, I just don't have a need for one right now.

height=8

Originally Posted By TANGOCHASER: height=8 Posted by evil166666; where do i get a sten magwell filler block for .45? that with an oly .45 upper... and cheap sten mags is all I need? Kurts Kustom Firearms for the magwell block. Sten mags from Cheaper Than Dirt, Galati, etc. www.kurtskustomfirearms.citymax.com/albums/album_image/42611/110065.htm

Will this block work with CavArms polymer lowers?

This looks similar to the Hahn /Sten 9MM block, which does not work in a Cav15 lower. It adapts the Sten to a standard milspec lower.

I wonder which full size block ( like for the Colt system ) will adapt CAV15s for Sten/Oly 9MM.

I'm running the CAV/Oly with the Hahn .45 block and GG mags, but would like a 9MM also.

Frog is correct. Kurts adapter is for a regular AR lower. You need the Hahn CAV ARMS specific adapter and use grease gun mags.

Thanks, guys!  I found the adapter and buffer on the HP site.  Anybody know how the heavy Spike's buffer compares to the HP buffer?

Would the GG mags also work with 10mm if the feed lips are narrowed?  Will 10mm cartridges fit?  Perhaps if go back over to the 10mm gas thread I might see if this has already been done there.

Originally Posted By 1dc: Thanks, guys!  I found the adapter and buffer on the HP site.  Anybody know how the heavy Spike's buffer compares to the HP buffer? Would the GG mags also work with 10mm if the feed lips are narrowed?  Will 10mm cartridges fit?  Perhaps if go back over to the 10mm gas thread I might see if this has already been done there.

yes, more than a couple 10mm "ar45s" around w/ gg mags

I might be missing something, but I just want to clarify...

the 10% AR45 lowers, are they still milled out of billet aluminum? I know the website says you guys are trying to get a forging version ready to go. I would really like to have a milled billet version.

Originally Posted By Runs-N-Guns_66: I might be missing something, but I just want to clarify... the 10% AR45 lowers, are they still milled out of billet aluminum? I know the website says you guys are trying to get a forging version ready to go. I would really like to have a milled billet version.

from all the reading i have done here and on the cncguns site, they are still billet as getting forgings made is an extremely expensive endeavor explained by tangochaser.

Yes they are still 100% billet alum.

Billet for now and the near future. We are looking at getting forgings done but they are expensive and I have 3, count'em 3, teenagers, a seven yo, 2 dogs and a cranky wife  to feed.

I wanted to report on my recent purchse from Bruce Sumner.  I picked up one of his AR-45s a few months ago and have about 500 rounds through it...basically it is a great weapon.  I was very surprised at it's accuracy.  It was pretty tight when I first got it, but it has loosened up very well.  I took it to a friends club in cincy and we benched it to get a good zero after the first couple hundred rounds.  I was putting rounds in the x at 100yrds with iron sights.  The bullet flight was visible through the sighting scope which was also very entertaining.  No malfunctions at all even though the deflector and the extractor beat the crap out of the casing.  I've only used Remington 230gr up to this point.  I would highly recommend this carbine if you are looking for a reliable and accurate carbine.  I picked this over a Thompson since I didn't want to get a SBR.  

Dealing with Bruce was also a pleasure.  He always returned calls and asked for my input on how the weapon went together.  I ran into him at Knob creek and he made himself available to everyone with questions.  Get in line now to get one of these.  Magaines are plentiful and pretty reasonable.  

height=8

Originally Posted By dougohio2008: Get in line now to get one of these.  Magaines are plentiful and pretty reasonable.

Can somebody IM or email with sources on good and inexpensive GG mags?  I'm not finding them reasonable at all.  At least not some of the prices I've seen posted . . .

Posted by 1dc: Can somebody IM or email with sources on good and inexpensive GG mags? I'm not finding them reasonable at all. At least not some of the prices I've seen posted . . .

Buy these in bulk and save money.

www.keepshooting.com/firearmaccessories/magazines/usgim3mag.htm

Originally Posted By TANGOCHASER: Posted by 1dc: Can somebody IM or email with sources on good and inexpensive GG mags? I'm not finding them reasonable at all. At least not some of the prices I've seen posted . . . Buy these in bulk and save money. www.keepshooting.com/firearmaccessories/magazines/usgim3mag.htm

+1 on the keep shooting mags.  They are great.

Originally Posted By 1dc: Originally Posted By dougohio2008: Get in line now to get one of these.  Magaines are plentiful and pretty reasonable.   Can somebody IM or email with sources on good and inexpensive GG mags?  I'm not finding them reasonable at all.  At least not some of the prices I've seen posted . . .

Keep track of the for sale forums on Uzitalk.  I've seen some good deals there, but they don't last long.

Grease gun mags at Uzitalk

I bought these:

Thanks for the GG mag leads!

Buffer info moved here from the 45 AR pic thread:

Originally Posted By my65pan: Originally Posted By mentalstampede: Originally Posted By my65pan: I have a heavy buffer on order but I suspect I'll need a stiffer buffer spring also. Who offers a stiffer spring? Wolff.  What type of heavy buffer are you going with? I ordered a heavy buffer from RRA. Will this do the job OK, or would something else be better? It'll be a week or two before I can shoot it.

The 9mm RRA buffer weighs about the same as a standard rifle buffer, 5.5oz, but is the length of a carbine buffer.  Same weight and size as an H3 buffer.
The Hahn buffer, originally specced for the Cav Arms 45 conversion, weighs around 8.5 oz and is longer than a carbine buffer.  
The extra length shortens the recoil stroke of the bolt so it doesn't have as much distance to gather up momentum on it's return trip into battery.  So it doesn't slam as hard into the chamber.  
It also compresses the recoil spring less, which results in lower force imparted by the spring.
That can reduce reliability by taking energy away from the feed portion of the cycle if the tolerances in the gun are too tight or it is very dirty.
Slowing the bolt's forward trip is extremely important in a 9mm gun with bolt hold open to limit the force impacting the bolt catch.  Not as important in an AR45 without bolt hold open.

Since it is a blowback gun, I use both the Wolff spring and Hahn buffer to absorb as much of the recoil energy as possible and hold the bolt closed a bit longer.

Originally Posted By my65pan: Thanks for the explanation, it all makes more sense to me now. I ordered a (Buffer assembly, CAR heavy) part #AR0107AH from RRA, from the description I was under the impression it was heavier than a regular carbine buffer. I also have a stiffer Wolff spring on the way.

From the RRA website
AR0107AH  107 - Buffer assembly, CAR heavy  $23.00          
9MM0107  9mm Buffer  $25.00

Looks to me you ordered the standard CAR heavy buffer, also known as an H1.  
That has one tungsten weight and 2 steel weights inside, total weight around 3.8oz
That's about 0.8 oz heavier than a standard CAR buffer.

The RRA 9mm buffer is all steel, it weighs ~5.6oz.

According to Justin & Tangochaser, they designed the AR45 to run off a standard (~3oz) CAR buffer.  
So the H1 shouldn't be a problem.  If any thing you'll have more positive ejection due to higher bolt recoil velocity.
Since the CNC is an aluminum receiver it doesn't necessarily have the same cracking probability that the Cav Arms lowers do.  Nothing against Cav Arms.  Cav Arms specified a heavier buffer in there's for use with 45 ACP blowback uppers to prevent receiver abuse, that is what the Hahn pistol buffer was originally designed for.  
Slash on this board also makes nice buffers, for 45, 9mm and others which are heavier and longer than a CAR buffer.  I have one of his 9oz Q buffers in my 9mm.

Since I have quite a bit of money tied up in this lower I wanted to over protect it and went with the heavy buffer and stiff spring.

If you look on the CNC forum there are people running all combinations of buffers and springs with the AR45 receivers.  Just like with a 5.56 gun, some people prefer the heavier buffers.

ETA:
FYI
The one I use is the Hahn 45ACP Pistol Buffer at Brownells.  The specs are 3-11⁄16" long 8oz, lead and steel.


ETA:  After thinking about this thread as a pic therad I moved this stuff to the 45 Conversion Thread
Here's a buffer table Slash put together showing the various buffers and their weights



Here's a pic of disassembled buffers and their internals from Randall at AR15Barrels

Thanks, I really appreciate all of the info. I'll try it with the H1 buffer and the Wolff spring I have on order and go from there.

Originally Posted By Desert_AIP: Here's a pic of disassembled buffers and their internals from Randall at AR15Barrels ar15barrels.com/tech/buffer-construction.jpg

Given that the RRA 9mm buffer (the black one) is empty except for three rubber doohickies, does that mean I could add more weight to it by putting lead shot or something inside?  I could make a cheap, really heavy buffer that way, right?

Originally Posted By engineer2001: Originally Posted By Desert_AIP: Here's a pic of disassembled buffers and their internals from Randall at AR15Barrels ar15barrels.com/tech/buffer-construction.jpg Given that the RRA 9mm buffer (the black one) is empty except for three rubber doohickies, does that mean I could add more weight to it by putting lead shot or something inside?  I could make a cheap, really heavy buffer that way, right?

No it's solid steel.

You can go fairly heavy with a CAR Buffer by putting all tungsten weights in there.  
H3 = 5.6oz - the same as a full length rifle buffer.

Now I guess you could put a bunch of tungsten weights in a rifle buffer and really bump up the weight.  
That aluminum spacer is the length of 2, so you could get 7 in there.  
At +0.8oz over steel each plus the 2 for the aluminum spacer, it would be on the order of 13oz!

Hey TC, contact me by e-mail at [email protected], I have a thousand questions to ask you about the modifications to the upper and lower halves using Thompson Mags.  Also regarding the mods to the bolt, etc.



Bobby McKellar

JRM Tactical Gunsmithing, Inc.

Ashdown, AR 71822

slickside35 - email sent.