Re-worked BRN-10... Guatemalan style - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Re-worked BRN-10... Guatemalan style

Posted: 8/31/2021 5:44:34 PM EDT

Last July, Brownells was blowing out their BRN10 parts really cheap. I bought the stuff to build one of the rifles, but I wanted something more authentic, so the work began. Messing around on weekends, and as time allowed, I was able to finish it up after a little over a year. So, this is what the BRN10 can be with quite a bit of work:

Lower receiver:
- Filled non-essential markings
- Electro-etched logo & text
- Added material to rear tang above pistol grip
- Added fake detent spring “tube” on right side/rear
- Drilled hole for buffer tube retaining pin
- Refinished

Upper receiver:
- Smoothed machine marks
- Converted barrel nut to accommodate 1-piece handguard
- Reprofiled carry handle for more original look
- Scalloped rear face of carry handle for more original look
- Added “night sight” dot to rear sight
- Modified port door pad for a more original look
- Refinished

Small parts:
- Dimpled pins
- Added correct style “no nub” type mag catch
- Parkerized

Barrel assy:
- Reprofiled and parkerized barrel
- Made and added Guatemalan style heat shield/bayonet lug
- Added “night sight” dot to rear face of front sight base
- Removed machine marks from sight base, gave it a cast look, reparkerized
- Added correct style sling swivel
- Modified flash hider for Guatemalan look (threaded end and drilled holes)

Stock set:
- Reproduction AR10-style grip provided by forum member, fitted that to work on the BRN10 lower
- Converted rear sling swivel for more accurate look
- Modified handguard to a 1-piece style
- Drilled/filled vent holes in handguard for a more original look
- Refinished handguard and stock in woven fiberglass look under worn paint (paint color matched from an original Sudanese stock)

Bolt group:
- Angled the three exhaust ports for more correct look

Attached File

Attached File
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Posted: 8/31/2021 5:46:41 PM EDT

[#1]

Attached File

Posted: 8/31/2021 5:48:22 PM EDT

[#2]

a lot of fine work and a really great looking rifle!!

Posted: 8/31/2021 5:49:26 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Last July, Brownells was blowing out their BRN10 parts really cheap. I bought the stuff to build one of the rifles, but I wanted something more authentic, so the work began. Messing around on weekends, and as time allowed, I was able to finish it up after a little over a year. So, this is what it can be with quite a bit of work:

Lower receiver:
- Filled non-essential markings
- Electro-etched logo & text
- Added material to rear tang above pistol grip
- Added fake detent spring “tube” on right side/rear
- Drilled hole for buffer tube retaining pin
- Added “tube” under buffer tube on left side
- Refinished

Upper receiver:
- Smoothed machine marks
- Converted barrel nut to accommodate 1-piece handguard
- Reprofiled carry handle for more original look
- Scalloped rear face of carry handle for more original look
- Added “night sight” dot to rear sight
- Modified port door pad for a more original look
- Refinished

Small lower parts:
- Dimpled pins
- Added correct style “no nub” type mag catch
- Parkerized

Barrel assy:
- Reprofiled and parkerized barrel
- Made and added Guatemalan style heat shield/bayonet lug
- Added “night sight” dot to rear face of front sight base
- Removed machine marks from sight base, gave it a cast look, reparkerized
- Added correct style sling swivel
- Modified flash hider for Guatemalan look (threaded end and drilled holes)

Stock set:
- Reproduction AR10-style grip provided by forum member, fitted that to work on the BRN10 lower
- Converted rear sling swivel for more accurate look
- Modified handguard to a 1-piece style
- Drilled/filled vent holes in handguard for a more original look
- Refinished handguard and stock in woven fiberglass look under worn paint (paint color matched from an original Sudanese stock)

Bolt group:
- Angled the three exhaust ports for more correct look

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111652/Screenshot_2021-08-31_4_40_19_PM_png-2073483.JPG

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111652/Screenshot_2021-08-31_4_39_56_PM_png-2073485.JPG

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111652/Screenshot_2021-08-31_4_38_20_PM_png-2073486.JPG

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111652/Screenshot_2021-08-31_4_39_08_PM_png-2073487.JPG

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111652/Screenshot_2021-08-31_4_38_42_PM_png-2073488.JPG

View Quote

Truely outstanding work John, it's absolutely gorgeous....

Posted: 8/31/2021 5:50:58 PM EDT

[#4]

duplicate due to fat fingers ;)

Posted: 8/31/2021 5:51:56 PM EDT

[#5]

Wow Wee! Another excellent build John, well done!!

How did you refinish the BCG?

Posted: 8/31/2021 6:12:22 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:

...How did you refinish the BCG?

View Quote

The carrier is already chromed from Brownells. I just gave it a light bead blast.

JT

Posted: 8/31/2021 7:16:07 PM EDT

[#7]

Very nice.

I hope Brownells notices these customized BRN-10's. Maybe the second time will be a charm.

Posted: 8/31/2021 7:37:03 PM EDT

[#8]

Wish I could at least have someone re profile top of my carrier handle on mine for me! ?? Awesome work!

Posted: 8/31/2021 8:48:49 PM EDT

[#9]

Beautiful

Posted: 8/31/2021 9:06:38 PM EDT

[#10]

Very nice!!

(Needs a type 1 stock)

Posted: 8/31/2021 9:25:06 PM EDT

[#11]

Beautiful! Good job!

Posted: 8/31/2021 11:54:01 PM EDT

[#12]

Wow, I don't have the words. All the guys here have already said it for me. You're one hellava craftsman.

Posted: 8/31/2021 11:54:12 PM EDT

[#13]

I wish I had your skill set!

Posted: 9/1/2021 12:26:36 AM EDT

[#14]

Great looking rifle!

Posted: 9/1/2021 4:26:49 AM EDT

[#15]

Nice job, John!

Posted: 9/1/2021 9:34:54 AM EDT

[#16]

Attached File

Posted: 9/1/2021 9:49:00 AM EDT

[#17]

that looks wonderful

when brownells came out with the retro AR10 i knew someone would customize it to look more authentic

this one exceeds what i imagined

excellent

Posted: 9/1/2021 9:55:47 AM EDT

[#18]

That looks absolutely fantastic JT. Great work. Truly a masterpiece by the master.

Posted: 9/1/2021 3:34:05 PM EDT

[#19]

Absolutely outstanding.

I really wish Brownells would do a Portuguese clone, but I won't hold my breath.

Posted: 9/1/2021 8:19:08 PM EDT

[#20]

Beautiful work.
Curious, you can remove the original markings due to having an 07?

Posted: 9/1/2021 10:25:32 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Beautiful work.
Curious, you can remove the original markings due to having an 07?

View Quote

By the federal law, you cannot alter the identifying markings on NFA firearms (machine guns, SBRs, etc).

The federal law for non-NFA guns is different, though. For non-NFA guns, you cannot alter the serial number. Nothing else is mentioned. Different state laws vary.

Excerpt below, from here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2010-title27-vol3/pdf/CFR-2010-title27-vol3-chapII.pdf

Attached File

Posted: 9/2/2021 5:06:22 PM EDT

[#22]

Amazing work. Speechless.

Posted: 9/2/2021 7:26:17 PM EDT

[#23]

Your work is amazing John.

Posted: 9/3/2021 12:42:16 AM EDT

[#24]

John, you're killing me. Again.

Fantastic job as usual.

Posted: 9/3/2021 8:32:48 AM EDT

[#25]

Posted: 9/5/2021 9:08:56 AM EDT

[#26]

Attached File

Posted: 9/5/2021 10:46:08 AM EDT

[#27]

If I didn't know better, I'd say you were pulling our leg and just took some photos of a Guat AR10.

That is an amazing job. I hope that mine looks 1/10th as good when it's done.

Posted: 9/5/2021 11:00:17 AM EDT

[#28]

man, that work is absolutely impeccable!

Posted: 9/5/2021 5:41:38 PM EDT

[#29]

Absolutely beautiful... I would’ve been proud to have purchased a rifle like this one.

Can you imagine the result of the BRN-10 project, if Brownells had consulted (and obeyed) JT, during the development phase?

If...if...if...

Posted: 9/5/2021 6:28:22 PM EDT

[#30]

I am re-making my BRN-10 parts pile to be more of a pure Transitional. (see original below) I have the correct Dutch handguards, heat shields, shroud, and original steel HG retaining ring. My lack of shop skills has me stuck on the barrel nut, which must nhave DPMS LR308 inner threads and metric outer threads to mesh with the handguard retaining ring. When the times comes I will ask HT to reprofile the BRN-10 carry handle.