Garage Gunsmithing for the AR-15 Equipped Patriot - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Garage Gunsmithing for the AR-15 Equipped Patriot (Page 1 of 9)

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:09:24 PM EDT

Here are a few enhancements I made to my Bushmaster based Carbine. As purchased the Carbine was somewhat of a pig and front heavy due to the Heavy Barrel configuration. I also found that the front sight base interfered with my field of vision as well as fast target aquisition using the Bushnell Holosight. The solid black color of the AR-15 was an issue for me as well. It quickly attracts the attention and recognition of the human eye due to the unique shape and shadow of the rifle.

The tools for this project were simple and consisted of a bench grinder, dremel tool, large and medium sized files, hacksaw, bench vise and GUNKOTE Molybdenum disulfide based firearm finish.

My first step was to remove the front sight base straight across with a hacksaw. I then performed the rough contour using the bench grinder and smoothed it up with hand files.

Next I used masking tape and a marker to draw straight lines on the barrel beneath the handguards. I went over these lines with a dremel using progressivley larger cutting and grinding heads until the flutes were of sufficient depth.

After the fluting was completed I used a file to reduce the outside diameter of the barrel in order to save additional weight. To keep it fairly even I used a magic marker as a substitute Dykem marker to see where the high spots were after each pass with the file.

After all the metal work was completed I thoroughly degreased the rifle and applied the GUNKOTE solution per the manufacturers directions. I made the mistake of leaving the selector switch in the same position during the two or three coats required.

Project completed. My Carbine is now about 1 lb lighter and definitely better balanced after the modifications.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:10:31 PM EDT

[#1]

Fail.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:11:21 PM EDT

[#2]

oh my.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:12:14 PM EDT

[#3]

what.

the.

fuck

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:13:14 PM EDT

[#4]

I like the ingenuity... I do not like the fluting.
Matt

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:13:50 PM EDT

[#5]

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:14:02 PM EDT

[#6]

Wow. Just... wow.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:14:03 PM EDT

[#7]

Why would you not remove the safety before painting?

I really hate to criticize a persons hard work but brother that looks like shit.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:14:25 PM EDT

[#8]

this is a joke right?

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:14:40 PM EDT

[#9]

Oh my word.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:14:40 PM EDT

[#10]

tag for epic thread

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:15:16 PM EDT

[#11]

Wow man. If it works for you then great.... Let me just say I hope you never plan on selling it...

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:15:20 PM EDT

[#12]

Wow, just wow.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:15:36 PM EDT

[#13]

Im at a loss for words!

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:15:52 PM EDT

[#14]

Well, theres win and fail.

The front sight is actually a tacked thread in the Build It Yourself section. Its how you make your own low profile gas block. So win, but nothing new.

The fluting though. Oh my. Oh my oh my.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:15:54 PM EDT

[#15]

Removing the front sight......fine.

Dremmeling the barrel........

Using expensive Gunkote to make a sloppy finish when you could have just used cheap spraypaint that is more easily removeable..........

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:15:58 PM EDT

[#16]

Is this some sort of test?

Do we laugh or cry?

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:16:17 PM EDT

[#17]

It quickly attracts the attention and recognition of the human eye due to the unique shape and shadow of the rifle

Well, you certainly solved that problem, cause I can't look at it any more.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:17:02 PM EDT

[#18]

I like the chopped sight.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:17:32 PM EDT

[#19]

I took a different approach and fluted the inside of my barrel. Sure, accuracy took a bit of a hit, but it's a tradeoff one must make when on the cutting edge.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:17:49 PM EDT

[#20]

you are a savage

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:17:56 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Fail.

+1 I never want to see that happen again.

I guess trading uppers for a lighter weight one would have been too difficult???

And you spray painted your furniture???

I bet I can guess your eithnicity - not that it matters....

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:17:59 PM EDT

[#22]

Put down the dremel and step away.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:18:07 PM EDT

[#23]

DO NOT DREMEL YOUR BARREL! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:18:19 PM EDT

[#24]

No one can ever say you weren't willing to try.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:18:47 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
I like the chopped sight.

It should be covered with a mid/rifle length free float rail. Was going to do the same to my midlength's FSB, chop it and cover it with a DD 10.0

Edit: Is his barrel going to assplode?

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:19:06 PM EDT

[#26]

A+++ for having the balls to lighten your barrel by hand.

It's your carbine as long as you like it what else matters. It's not like ar15's have huge resale value anyways.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:19:49 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
oh my.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:19:57 PM EDT

[#28]

Dremeling the barrel

Please, PLEASE put something thick between you and that gun when you fire it, and use a long string.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:20:32 PM EDT

[#29]

Whatever works for you.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:21:00 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
I like the ingenuity... I do not like the fluting.
Matt

agreed, the fluting should be done on a mill and turning down the barrel should be done on a lathe.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:21:06 PM EDT

[#31]

ehh what the hell at least its lighter I HATE HBARs

I own 2

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:21:07 PM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
Dremeling the barrel home.comcast.net/~kylaer/emot-gonk.gif

Please, PLEASE put something thick between you and that gun when you fire it, and use a long string.

My thoughts exactly...
Matt

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:21:12 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
Dremeling the barrel home.comcast.net/~kylaer/emot-gonk.gif

Please, PLEASE put something thick between you and that gun when you fire it, and use a long string.

No, he'll want his face as close as possible to that barrel when firing, that way he'll be able to tell if anything is wrong with it. You should also look down the barrel while firing to see if the bullet is coming out straight.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:22:33 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Dremeling the barrel home.comcast.net/~kylaer/emot-gonk.gif

Please, PLEASE put something thick between you and that gun when you fire it, and use a long string.

No, he'll want his face as close as possible to that barrel when firing, that way he'll be able to tell if anything is wrong with it. You should also look down the barrel while firing to see if the bullet is coming out straight.

Oh that just not nice.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:22:57 PM EDT

[#35]

tag for the inevitable

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:23:24 PM EDT

[#36]

a little bit of me just died

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:24:37 PM EDT

[#37]

I don't think this thread is going the way the OP intended.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:26:04 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I like the chopped sight.

It should be covered with a mid/rifle length free float rail. Was going to do the same to my midlength's FSB, chop it and cover it with a DD 10.0

Edit: Is his barrel going to assplode?

I was thinking of chopping mine and using a specter length YHM forearm on it.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:26:30 PM EDT

[#39]

Hand dremeling the barrel ? WTF

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:26:44 PM EDT

[#40]

You should dremel the sear.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:27:06 PM EDT

[#41]

an angel just lost one of his wings, so now he has to fly around in a circle. jesus just also shed a tear.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:29:34 PM EDT

[#42]

Oh Holy Jesus.
Dremeling off the front sight? Fine.
Rattlecan camo? Fine.

Grinding grooves in the barrel with an ACW and calling it "fluting"?

Fuck!

Tie that thing to a tree and wrap it in an old flack vest before you shoot it. That "fluting" and the OD paint just screamed "GRENADE" to me.

Maybe you'll be lucky.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:31:59 PM EDT

[#43]

No sir, I don't like it.

As soon as I saw "garage gunsmithing", i thought "oh boy, this is going to be fun..."

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:33:07 PM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:
You should dremel the sear.

He should definitely dremel the firing pin 'til it's flush with the bolt face.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:33:08 PM EDT

[#45]

Quoted:

Please, PLEASE put something thick between you and that gun when you fire it, and use a long string.

I'll +1 that.

Even if the barrel is still safe, I seriously doubt it will still shoot straight.

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:34:19 PM EDT

[#46]

Sell, no, no give away your tools to someone who knows how to use them.

Bury that A-bomb of a rifle deep in the woods so that no kittens or little children will die a needless death.

Never post here again.

These things never go the way you think they will...

Posted: 2/10/2008 5:35:56 PM EDT

[#47]

Perhaps you should send the bbl to Adco or AR15barrels and have it turned down properly.

While you are at it you could have a picatinny gas block installed so you could get some back up iron sights at some point.