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Posted: 10/7/2013 12:55:04 PM EDT
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First Post.
First Build. I was doing some non-FFL work for a local manufacturer, and decided that maybe it was time for me to make my own AR. I never really thought about making or having an AR, as I have a mini-14 that suits me just fine. But I guess I got bit by the bug. I purchased a 0% forging, and started there. Here are a few pictures after today's work. I do have CNC machinery, so that helps. First, I side milled the top where the upper sits, and around the buffer tube, and kissed the trigger guard to have some parallel surfaces to sit in a vise. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/AR%20Build/image1.jpeg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/AR%20Build/image2.jpeg Then, I clamped it up in a vise, did the holes, and slots, and the engraving. No, it will not be full auto, but I engraved it that way. When I mill the FCG pocket, I am just going to keep it AR style, not M16. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/AR%20Build/image4.jpeg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/AR%20Build/image3.jpeg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/AR%20Build/image5.jpeg I used the Ray Vin pdf, and some prints I also downloaded to get the dimensions. Unfortunately, I ordered my LPK yesterday, so I couldn't fit it up while I was machining. I hope all goes well. I am open to any tips, tricks, or suggestions, or opinions, as even though I know how to cut metal, the most I have done to assemble a gun is put it back together after cleaning. This project is a little more than that. |
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So I worked some more on it today. I will get the pictures of the different operations up tomorrow, time is a little tight right now.
This is where it is at. I am at a standstill. I have to wait for my LPK to come in before I can cut the threads for the buffer tube, so that I can size it in. I don't have a tap, but do have a 16tpi thread mill. I like the sandblasted finish. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps7238bf5b.jpg |
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Waiting on a vendor right now, so might as well put up some more pictures
Yesterday, I left off with the driver side complete, and needed to flip over to the passenger side. I put the forging in the vise, and picked up my X and Y zero. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps61d07884.jpg Once that was set and tools were hung, I started cutting. I figured I would cut out the forge line in the trigger guard area, and try to blend it in with the as forged radius. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps3104b82f.jpg Finish off the thickness for the pistol grip http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps24298e69.jpg Then the mag release slot. and backside engraving. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps7a807d32.jpg It is starting to go together. The pistol grip almost fits, just a little material on the angle part, and a radius, to come off. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps90dd41eb.jpg Time to clamp it between the Ray-Vin fixtures (made from his drawings), and start the trigger and selector well and mag well. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps4336c33d.jpg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zpsb7282862.jpg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zpsa93b7160.jpg A little more machining, and the mag fits. A plastic LEO mag that I was given does not fit yet, but I believe that is a corner radius thing, and will be easy to fix later on. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps8966b2ba.jpg Flip it over, and do the other side to match the top http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zpsba89b271.jpg Almost http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps67e17275.jpg That looks good! http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps5f96a788.jpg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps2811b3c8.jpg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps3baf614e.jpg Tip the receiver at an angle, finish the pistol grip tang, and drill and tap. I hand tapped it because I don't trust any machine to tap properly the first time, and I only have one forging. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps84807b1a.jpg And out of the machine, prior to sandblasting. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps05a99e93.jpg As I said before, I am hoping the parts kit makes it in soon. I really want to start dry fitting this together, and making sure that my process and programs are correct. |
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So this morning, I went to finish up the machining on the lower, and broke a drill way down n the takedown detent hole.
I am going to try to dissolve the drill out over the next day or two, and see if I can save it. PSA says that my LPK shipped yesterday, but UPS isn't showing it in the system yet. Hopefully today or tomorrow. |
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Lower kit showed up, and the broken drill is almost gone. I did some test fitting, and things are looking good. If I decide to work on it over the weekend, it should be close to the anodize step.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps3a347051.jpg |
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Dry fitting went well. All the parts I tried to fit went in just fine. So far, trigger function works perfect.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps737bdc39.jpg I think this weekend I will get out there to the shop and finish this up. It will take me a week or so to source everything I need for the anodizing, but that gives me time to decide if I want to engrave something into the side or not. And I am up in the air on whether I want to machine and then assemble an upper, or just buy one already done. Probably will be assembled. |
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Lower is complete.
Would I do a build from a 0% lower again? No. Would I do a build from an 80% lower? Probably. Would I do a build with a 4473? Heck yes. Even though I know the mistakes I made, and could repeat the 0% build much quicker now, I don't think it is worth it. The amount of time setting up for one part far outweighs the money to purchase a stripped lower. I didn't anodize this one, just rattle can over the sandblast. I have a feeling that even though I will complete an upper, and put it on here to test fire and plink with, that I will go buy a lower to replace this one. It was a great experience, and I was really amazed at how easy the lower goes together. I only launched one spring and the buffer retainer. I crawled around the floor looking for them, but they were found, and the build finished. And because of this, I figure I will build the upper myself. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zpsa2f01115.jpg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps183c0e99.jpg |
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Nice job.
How did you tackle the buffer tower, did you thread it with a tap or cut the threads on your lathe. And what EM size did you do the labels?. I'm doing an TM 80% now, just getting all the dimensions in my head and on my big notepad for moving into the shop. I'll be doing mine on a manual mill with jigs, although I could probably take the risk and do it without the jigs, then the only thing I really need to worry about is the correct hole placement for the FCG. On another note, I laughed the other night thinking what people would say or think if I labeled my selector NO BOOM and BOOM ! I'm still not sure if I really want to do that. Again, nice job. |
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Quoted:
Nice job. How did you tackle the buffer tower, did you thread it with a tap or cut the threads on your lathe. And what EM size did you do the labels?. I'm doing an TM 80% now, just getting all the dimensions in my head and on my big notepad for moving into the shop. I'll be doing mine on a manual mill with jigs, although I could probably take the risk and do it without the jigs, then the only thing I really need to worry about is the correct hole placement for the FCG. On another note, I laughed the other night thinking what people would say or think if I labeled my selector NO BOOM and BOOM ! I'm still not sure if I really want to do that. Again, nice job. thread mill derrr already at the mill stand it up drill, interpolate the hole, thread mill it.... easy |
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Quoted:
Nice job. How did you tackle the buffer tower, did you thread it with a tap or cut the threads on your lathe. And what EM size did you do the labels?. I'm doing an TM 80% now, just getting all the dimensions in my head and on my big notepad for moving into the shop. I'll be doing mine on a manual mill with jigs, although I could probably take the risk and do it without the jigs, then the only thing I really need to worry about is the correct hole placement for the FCG. On another note, I laughed the other night thinking what people would say or think if I labeled my selector NO BOOM and BOOM ! I'm still not sure if I really want to do that. Again, nice job. Buffer tower threads were milled. I stood the lower up, picked up zero, and actually used an insertable thread boring bar (normally used in a lathe) in the mill as a thread mill. The engraving was done with a broken 1/8" carbide endmill that was ground to a point, about 60 degrees included, and then ground flat to split to center. If I do another, it will be an 80%, and I will probably engrave pictograms instead of words. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps7f137ff2.jpg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/null_zps1bce3c95.jpg |
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First post, 0% build...full of win. I can barely just assemble them! I think you should build the upper from a forging just 'cause you can and to complete the rifle in the same manner. It makes sense that it isn't worth it on a time/value analysis, a stripped lower complete is still only $60-$125. Don't know why you would replace the lower with a purchased one, in-spec is in-spec. Anodized, it will last a lifetime (probably will anyway).
My home brewing probably doesn't make sense on a time/value basis either...but enjoying something you made that is as good or better than store-bought, priceless. And welcome to the forum! |
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When I saw the tool changer I was pretty sure. We have one in our shop.
http://<ahttp://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m240/cjlamb/20131028_131018_zps7630cb5b.jpg</a>" /> |
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Still trying to finish this up. I got an upper, and barrel. I was hoping to find a mid-length, but all I could find in my price range was carbine.
All that I need to get now is the gas tube, bcg, and hand guard. https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/AR%20Build/5A8EE777-270F-4EB6-9C09-35AA3CED11FC.jpg |
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A few more parts closer.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/AR%20Build/59C14163-00DF-4BF5-8BBA-C2EFBFF0308F.jpg I still need the BCG, a Delta Ring Assembly, and one roll pin for the gas tube. And an armorers tool to tighten it all up. I am hoping to finish it this upcoming week. So, this is what I have in it: 0% forged homemade receiver Enfield upper Enfield 16" 1-7 5.56 Carbine barrel Hogue grip Magpul handguard Magpul MBUS flip up/back up rear sight Magpul trigger guard Magpul ACS-L Stock KNS anti walk pins PSA LPK Homemade muzzle brake I was gifted a used charging handle, and may put on a single point sling mount. I am thinking about painting the ACS-L stock to match the lower and handguard, but who knows? Maybe leave it as it is for a while. Also, I have been toying with the idea of moving the front sight forward, using a low profile gas block, and getting a longer handguard. Right now, I just want to finish it though. |
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Quoted:
Nice work! Where did you get the auto-cad drawing to program into mill? FirearmFiles, Ray-Vin, and a friends lower that I double checked some of the dimensions on. Realistically, most of the dimensions/tolerances are not that hard to figure out. Use the pivot pin hole as a datum, and run from there. I eyeballed a zero point on the boss for the mag release, and back figured to where the pivot pin should be. If you get the pivot pin right, and the top of the receiver up around the buffer correct, the rest just falls in place. |
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Finally!
Complete. Last night I stopped by my LGS, who sold me a PSA BCG, a Delta Ring Assembly, and a roll pin for the gas tube. He assembled it for me for a small fee. Smaller than the cost of the armorers tool. I can't recommend him enough. Fair prices, and a great guy. Anyone in the Springfield, GA area knows who he is. That place is great. I got home from work, loaded a round in a mag. Charged it. It loaded perfect. Loaded 3 rounds. Charged it. No problem. Charged again. Jam. Damn. Messed around a bit, and figured it out. It was an old mag that I was given. Center Industries (only has Cage Code and date stamped), and it wont feed from the right side. I could probably get a new follower and try it again. Pulled out a new ASC mag, loaded and tested with the charging handle, and everything was fine. Loaded one round. It went bang. Loaded three. They went bang. Then the neighbor came out. Former chief of police. And he went bang-bang-bang-bang-bang, and came over to look at the new rifle, and brought me a 30 rounder he had. I loaded 5 in that, no problems. Says he has plenty, from his SWAT days, and that if I needed more, just ask. I only put about 20 rounds through it, but it felt good. I will know more when I can get some time to really sight it in. That might be a while. I am waiting on a cheap China reflex sight I just bought on eBay. For $35, I almost don't even expect it to last a full magazine. But for that price, I said why not? I will get something better in time. This was my first firearm build of any kind, and I really learned a lot. I do not have much money in this build, as I traded for as much as I could. I probably have a total of $350 cash into it. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x216/mlamarca/AR%20Build/6f1e200d-2d32-4eac-a7d1-4b8ceff1a97a.jpg I might need one or two more now......... |
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