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Posted: 10/23/2013 9:05:16 PM EDT
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Been collecting AK's primarily but with the great panic dying down and PSA sending me daily emails, I couldn't help myself. I thought, hmmmmm, I wonder if I can build a nice AR on the budget?
Week 1 So this started out with the Blemished PSA Lower and Classic LPK deal. For good measure, I also went ahead and bought PSA CHF 12" 5.56 A2 Upper with BCG Total cost - $530 shipped. 
Week 2 I received the lower + LPK within a week. Picked it up from my FFL, watched a couple of youtube videos, scanned the EE for deals and installed the LPK that same night. I didn't have any AR specific tools, so I adapted with tools lying around my garage. 
I'm my excitement, I completely forgot that I need a buffer tube kit. Well, I didn't have one handly, so off searching the EE again. No deals to be had. PSA had another daily special a few days later for a Blackhawk kit for $32. Cha-ching! While waiting for the tube kit, I started reading about this Sig Sauer SB15 brace and though, hmmmm, that would be a cool addition to my project. Kinda steep at $135 shipped for a piece of prosthetic rubber, but what the hell! I'm making my awesome first build and I'm not gonna let my cheapness get in the way - so another swipe off the CC. My LGS had a CMMG Beta 22LR conversion kit for $175 collecting dust so I went ahead and picked that up. PSA also had the blackdog 22LR mags for $11 each, picked up 4 of those. 
Total cost - $410 shipped for the SB15 brace, buffer tube kit, blackdog mags, and 22LR conversion kit Week 3 I received the brace within a week and promptly took photos 
During inspection, it was then I realized that i made a mistake buying that cheap Blackhawk buffer kit. Well, it won't fit the damn brace (due to the adjustable stock rail guide. I needed a pistol buffer tube. So off to another EE search. Didn't find one and didn't really know what pistol buffer tubes are ARFCOM approved. So I went to Amazon and read the comments on whatever they're selling there. I settled on the AR-15 Pistol Buffer Tube kit sold by AK-Builder. Being primarily on AKs, AK-Builder is a reputable shop in my book and always brought out quality products. I figured since they're good on AKs, they must be equally good on ARs. Coupled with glowing Amazon reviews, out goes my CC again. 
also added a Magpul MOE+ grip because I like the squishy grip 
and threw in some cheap Cree 7W 300LM Mini LED Flashlights for $ 6.35 
Total cost - $90 shipped. Week 4 AK-Builder buffer tube and MOE+ grip arrived so I proceeded to install it on my lower. Buffer tube was easy enough. I didn't have a castle nut wrench so I just hand tightened (later hooked up with a buddy that had the tools). 
Also went ahead and installed the SB15 brace. That piece of rubber was a real bitch to install. Since my buffer tube was not tight, it made it even difficult to jimmy that thing in. It was only later after watching a couple more youtube videos that I realized I needed to dust the damn thing with some coipus amounts of baby powder. Well, eventually it went in. 
Week 5 Nothing. Waiting for PSA to ship my upper. Week 6 Still nothing. I gave PSA some leeway given that they said processing and shipping may take up to 20+ business days to process. So I finally called them and asked for my shit. Nice lady said it's on the truck. Coincidence? Week 7 Upper arrived! So like any normal kid getting Christmas presents, I proceeded to strip the upper and clean it up good. Bolt carrier was a bit rough so I took some scotchbrite and buffed it all out. Parkerizing is good and deep and even after the scrubbing, no scratches. I then raided my safe and started looking for shit I could cannibalize off other ARs. Saw the Colt 6920 sitting in the corner, unused and unappreciated since the great panic. I immediately stripped off its KAC rails, Matech BUIS, and Vortex Sparc. In a way, I think it turned out better because the Colt is back to factory specs with it's M4 handguards and detachable carry handle. TADA! 
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! I've been reading about this other product called XO-26 sold by Franklin Armory. The VFG really intrigued me and thought it really has a benefit for pistols such as this, where it's really front heavy. I was on the other Sig Pistol Brace Thread and someone posted an ATF letter showing that it's permissible to install a VFG on a pistol if the OAL is over 26". First thing I did is to pull out the tape measure and measured from the tip of the buffer tube (not the brace) to the tip of the muzzle (excluding the muzzle brake) - good news - OAL measures roughly 26.5"! 
Most important detail of that letter 
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FML
 ... Rifle length buffertube? Sig's Arm Brace is the best thing to ever happen to AR Pistols. I love shooting it from the, um, one handed
 I stopped using vertical fore grips though since I cant use one on the 10.5, and want handling characteristics to be the same across all of mine. I dont seem to miss it though. |
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Quoted:
I wish someone would make a super long buffer tube so I could rock a 10" barrel and a sig brace and a pistol grip. I think if the buffer tube is extended another inch or so, it would be perfect for a barrel under 12". The sig brace sticks out by an inch on mine so there's room for a longer tube. However, I'm not sure if it will require a new set of buffer spring to be reliable enough. |
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Quoted:
I think if the buffer tube is extended another inch or so, it would be perfect for a barrel under 12". The sig brace sticks out by an inch on mine so there's room for a longer tube. However, I'm not sure if it will require a new set of buffer spring to be reliable enough. Quoted:
Quoted:
I wish someone would make a super long buffer tube so I could rock a 10" barrel and a sig brace and a pistol grip. I think if the buffer tube is extended another inch or so, it would be perfect for a barrel under 12". The sig brace sticks out by an inch on mine so there's room for a longer tube. However, I'm not sure if it will require a new set of buffer spring to be reliable enough. I think the A2 buffer tube would give you the extra inch you are looking for. |
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