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Air Force GAU-5A Rifle (Page 4 of 5)
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It would be nice if you included a parts breakdown if the first post of the thread, it would cut down on people doing it incorrectly for you I personally think the 12.5 will do well but my thing is 10.3 uppers so I’ll probably build a custom version Originally Posted By Midwest_Ind: As many of you probably know we were involved in the production of the Air Force GAU-5A Rifle which is a break down carbine that ejects with the pilot and gives them a means to defend themselves. We are proud to have been involved in the development of this project and have been discussing the idea of releasing a clone in pistol form. Your thoughts on offering this would be appreciated. |
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It is my understanding that the parts are as follows: For the military rifles: BCM 12.5" Barrel Ergo Gas Block Ergo Grip Magpul PRO LR BUIS Midwest Ind G3ML10-BLK rail Cry Havok QRB And don't forget the Ergo folding grip. Midwest used a different BCG, Upper receiver, barrel, and gasblock from the issue models. It looks like they might have also used a knock-off of the KAC ambi-safety. I'm not familiar with what brand that is, but it looks good. I'm not sure if MWInd makes it or just uses it in the trigger kit. I was under the impression that the military was using the Gen 1 QRB, but it looks like their website says the military uses the Gen 2 - 2 pin model. Cry Havok is now on gen 3 of the QRB. Sadly, it looks like the rail and the gun wasn't a good enough seller for Midwest to keep it around. I think that is a shame because it is a pretty nifty setup. IMHO, I think Midwest would have had better luck just selling a clone correct upper vs a full gun. |
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| If it's under $1,200, I'd be hard tempted. |
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Originally Posted By Postal0311: IMHO, I wonder if you would be better off selling it as an upper or as a kit. Just the upper, no sights. The upper, sights, and grip. Part of the question would be how accurate it would be to being a proper clone? I have read that the adaptor has changed and that the barrel is BCM. I couldn't find what gas block they are using. I really don't think it would sell well. When I have talked to people about this gun the responses have always been negative. A kit would be the cats meow. If only offered as a pistol version, I would get one. Looks like it would store perfectly in the lock box under the back seat of my truck. Damn. Looking back at the original post, it was started in 2019. Going to the MI page doesn't show it at all. Damn. |
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Originally Posted By 1AEGW: You can still build it. The Havoc Detachable Barrel System is available at Brownells. That's pretty much the heart of the concept. The folding CAA Grip is also available. Other than that it's regularly available AR Parts. @1AEGW could you please show us where the handguard is still regularly available? I know there are at least a couple people looking to buy them. People have been posting on reddit about it. |
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@Postal0311 It's an MI Handguard available on the MI website? It's a 12.5" Barrel, I'm guessing the havoc barrel nut pushes it forward a little bit. May be thee 10.5" Handguard? https://midwestindustriesinc.com/mi-combat-rail-lightweight-series-handguard-m-lok-tm/ ETA: Looks like the linked rail has 2 alignment ears that come off the back that the Handguard for the rifle doesn't have. oh well. |
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Originally Posted By 1AEGW: @Postal0311 It's an MI Handguard available on the MI website? It's a 12.5" Barrel, I'm guessing the havoc barrel nut pushes it forward a little bit. May be thee 10.5" Handguard? https://midwestindustriesinc.com/mi-combat-rail-lightweight-series-handguard-m-lok-tm/ ETA: Looks like the linked rail has 2 alignment ears that come off the back that the Handguard for the rifle doesn't have. oh well. The Havoc barrel plate needs to be modded for the newer MI rails. Some more info in this archived thread |
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I was being a smart-ass, I shouldn't have. The rail has been discontinued and appears to be out of stock everywhere. Now, for a cloner, they would want to get that exact same rail. A few people have been asking about them in reddit, so I was looking around to see if I could find any in stock for them and had no luck. If someone was just wanting to build a take down gun, there are any number of rails that would work, but you are limited by rail width and some anti-rotation systems will prevent the rail from mounting up. But, of course, if someone were to use a different rail, we wouldn't be talking about a GAU-5A. |
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Originally Posted By backbencher:  Why would a SP in the Phillipines carry a carbine designed for an ejection seat before the requirement for such a carbine had even been drafted? Originally Posted By backbencher: Originally Posted By DerekCCW: Also carried one as K9 handler, Clark AB Philippines Why would a SP in the Phillipines carry a carbine designed for an ejection seat before the requirement for such a carbine had even been drafted? He's probably talking about the first GAU-5A, which was a 10"slickside carry handle carbine, originally issued with a moderator. |
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Originally Posted By bigstick61: He's probably talking about the first GAU-5A, which was a 10"slickside carry handle carbine, originally issued with a moderator. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By stoner01: Originally Posted By bigstick61: He's probably talking about the first GAU-5A, which was a 10"slickside carry handle carbine, originally issued with a moderator. /media/mediaFiles/sharedAlbum/hes_right_you_know-328.jpg Yeah. The USAF really dropped the naming conventions on these. As an additional duty, I ran our armory at my first duty station which had GAU-5's and GUU-5's of various mods both official and not. They were old XM-177's that had literally been hand stamped with the USAF GAU and GUU designations over top of the XM-177 markings. Some had forward assist, some were slick, Some had deflectors, and some had 14.5" barrel retrofits. Some had A2 uppers swapped in, most did not. My personal issue carbine at that unit (late 90's) was from the Vietnam War era and had the original (likely an original length replacement) barrel with the moderator removed and an A1 flash suppressor added. All were full auto. I loved that noisy little pin driver. We weren't 11B's or SOF types so for the most part our personal weapons were used as PDW's that were able to integrate with other units and services if required. They got far more play than a pilot's butt gun but it's a similar concept. The pilot bailout PDW should have had a new designator. Like the GAU-5ANAL or something. |
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Is that a JBO's safety I spy? My favorite safety selector. https://www.joeboboutfitters.com/JBO-AR-15-Ambidextrous-Safety-Selector-p/jb-ambi-safety.htm |
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Originally Posted By tnaaron81: I like it but probably can’t afford it. 300 blackout would be better with a shorter barrel. Put a folding stock on it and fit the whole thing in an ammo can. A new caliber would likely be an non-starter outside the most SOF of SOF but yeah. |
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| So the USAF adopts an MI component for a survival weapon system, then that part gets discontinued. How is the .Mil supposed to support that weapon system now? Clamp a Geissele FF rail onto it? The barrel nuts are different. |
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1995 M1025A2 3SFG GMV ODA391 "Roughnecks"
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Originally Posted By stoner63a: So the USAF adopts an MI component for a survival weapon system, then that part gets discontinued. How is the .Mil supposed to support that weapon system now? Clamp a Geissele FF rail onto it? The barrel nuts are different. |
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Originally Posted By JTM20: My clone build https://i.imgur.com/uKbondCl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/A6PmJ2Rl.jpg That is cool AF. I need to build something like that just to keep it in a bag in the truck but pair it with Colts SCW folding stock. Troy made a kit years ago that was pretty compact and fit in a small pelican case. I want to say there were a few manufactures playing around with compact QD AR barrels. I don’t know why it never really caught on. https://coltparts.com/colt-scw-ar15-folding-stock-assembly-kit/ |
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Originally Posted By RattleCanAR: Why didn’t you just separate the upper from lower and put a cheap plastic cover on the open halves? I have shot the issued GAU. Because that would be significantly longer and not fit in the bag this was designed to fit into. |
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Originally Posted By stoner63a: So the USAF adopts an MI component for a survival weapon system, then that part gets discontinued. How is the .Mil supposed to support that weapon system now? Clamp a Geissele FF rail onto it? The barrel nuts are different. Just because its not listed, and you and I can't buy it, doesn't mean the Air Force can't get it. I would suspect MI can keep making these in the right quantity to satisfy their contract. If the Air Force needs rails, you can bet MI will supply them. |
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Originally Posted By Postal0311: Because that would be significantly longer and not fit in the bag this was designed to fit into. Originally Posted By Postal0311: Because that would be significantly longer and not fit in the bag this was designed to fit into. Before the official version, the Air Force tested a version that involved chopping the barrel right at the FSB with wires attached to the takedown pins. Originally Posted By Lancelot: Just because its not listed, and you and I can't buy it, doesn't mean the Air Force can't get it. I would suspect MI can keep making these in the right quantity to satisfy their contract. If the Air Force needs rails, you can bet MI will supply them. I know MI still supports the Gen 3 rails since I’ve talked with their tech support about mine, so I dont doubt they’d build .gov more Gen 3 rails if they asked. |
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Originally Posted By Lancelot: Just because its not listed, and you and I can't buy it, doesn't mean the Air Force can't get it. I would suspect MI can keep making these in the right quantity to satisfy their contract. If the Air Force needs rails, you can bet MI will supply them. Bingo Troy MI |
Midwest Industries Inc.
Quality Manufacturers of Tactical Rifles & Accessories
www.midwestindustriesinc.com
Quality Manufacturers of Tactical Rifles & Accessories
www.midwestindustriesinc.com
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Originally Posted By ObsoleteMan: My version, fits in a skram go bag: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/201992/IMG_20231126_190638328_2_jpg-3049101.JPG Very cool. Following your example I stuffed my 8.5-inch .300 Blk in mine. It fits with the regular pistol grip as well. Saved me $500 not buying the cry Havok QRB kit. :-) |
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Originally Posted By Midwest_Ind: Bingo Troy MI Originally Posted By Midwest_Ind: Originally Posted By Lancelot: Just because its not listed, and you and I can't buy it, doesn't mean the Air Force can't get it. I would suspect MI can keep making these in the right quantity to satisfy their contract. If the Air Force needs rails, you can bet MI will supply them. Bingo Troy MI @Midwest_Ind Contract over run??? 
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How much crack did you have to smoke to reach that conclusion, a $20 rock or Whitney Houston level shit?
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I swear I'm just an AR build junkie. Now I have to build one of these. Just bought a QRB off Brownell's with their 15% off code. Using a 10.3" M4CQBR barrel & DD Mk12 gas block. This moderator, maybe? https://www.phoenixweaponry.com/store/Phoenix-Model-607-3-5%E2%80%9D-Moderator-p294533015 |
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My take on a go-everywhere rifle in a bag: Attached File |
Death to quislings.
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Originally Posted By backbencher: My take on a go-everywhere rifle in a bag: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/84655/IMG_20240523_235941_874_jpg-3225016.JPG That looks very handy and all one piece. I had forgotten about this folding system. What barrel length and how do you like it? |
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Originally Posted By alaskantinbender: That looks very handy and all one piece. I had forgotten about this folding system. What barrel length and how do you like it? Originally Posted By alaskantinbender: Originally Posted By backbencher: My take on a go-everywhere rifle in a bag: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/84655/IMG_20240523_235941_874_jpg-3225016.JPG That looks very handy and all one piece. I had forgotten about this folding system. What barrel length and how do you like it? 16", folds to 17" w/ the barrel extension, swaps from pistol to rifle & back, so I can CC it into beer stores.  It's had some teething issues, and there's no instructions on how to adjust the gas block - so I wasn't actually adjusting it. It went back to the factory & they said it was running fine w/ their new production non-adjustable bolt carrier, so I need to put a new lightweight bolt carrier in it instead of the adjustable Bootleg it has now. Now that I know how to actually adjust the gas, it should start running fine. I need to chop the handguard, it's too long, and I want to turn down the barrel to a featherweight. |
Death to quislings.
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Originally Posted By backbencher: 16", folds to 17" w/ the barrel extension, swaps from pistol to rifle & back, so I can CC it into beer stores. It's had some teething issues, and there's no instructions on how to adjust the gas block - so I wasn't actually adjusting it. It went back to the factory & they said it was running fine w/ their new production non-adjustable bolt carrier, so I need to put a new lightweight bolt carrier in it instead of the adjustable Bootleg it has now. Now that I know how to actually adjust the gas, it should start running fine. I need to chop the handguard, it's too long, and I want to turn down the barrel to a featherweight. Very nice with a longer barrel as well. Great info, thank you. |
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Originally Posted By tortilla-flats: I swear I'm just an AR build junkie. Now I have to build one of these. Just bought a QRB off Brownell's with their 15% off code. Using SLR ION Ultralight 9" handguard Well, I had a thought about trying to build a true clone, but not being able to source the correct handguard, I guess I'll continue with an 11.5" build. |
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Air Force GAU-5A Rifle (Page 4 of 5)
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