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Posted: 12/27/2014 1:40:01 PM EDT
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Got a few questions i can't find the answer too.
Are there any "better" barrel extensions than Armalite? I'm building another 308 on the Aero M5 receivers, and I'm thinking about doing a full custom barrel. I've read that the Armalite and dpms barrel extension are dimensionally the same, is this true? If it is true, is there anyone making a barrel extension out of better steel than 4140? I believe that's what Armalite and dpms is using, but i can't get any solid info on that. I'm just wondering if there is a barrel extension made from better steel than Armalite. I want the best, and i trust Armalite more than dpms, but if there is even better, i want that. If anyone wants to know why, because America. |
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Jeff at GAP measured both ArmaLite Inc. and DPMS LR-308 barrel extensions a number of years ago, and said they appeared to be dimensionally the same at the time.
BAT Machine makes the highest quality barrel extensions I have personally seen. Get your bolt, and have a smith who knows what they are doing headspace the extension, bolt, and barrel at the same time. Gas guns need a little bit of slop to run. |
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What about third party barrel mfgs? Are they making their own, or using Armalite and dpms, or outsourcing to others like BAT?
I've got some pretty crazy fluting ideas, and i need to start with a full blank. I'm going to use a blank from Black hole, if the BAT extension is better than what they use, I'll supply them with the BAT, if not, just get a full blank with their extension and chamber pre-cut. I'll wait till after the holidays to pick their brains. ETA: horrible auto correct |
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I look it at more in terms of a demand-supply chain from the name brand companies to the machine shops and kilns. Because of the specialized machining involved in making extensions, it's usually outsourced with a certain set of specs that the name brand company asks for.
These involve setting the materials specs for the steel alloy, the manufacturing steps, tolerances for the dims before and after heat treating, and any finish work. DPMS and ArmaLite set these parameters independently, although they may have used the same suppliers at one time. I doubt they will be comparing notes with each other. The key is, does the company you're dealing with have competent engineering staff, as well as manufacturing and Total Quality Management. |
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I've figured it out. Im going with a Bartlein blank and BAT extension, or an Obermeyer barrel. I've got a couple of builds going on, so obviously this one will be on the back burner for a bit. But this is still very much a real project.
My next endeavor will be finding a damn good machinist to finish my blank and do my custom fluting. When all is said and done, this barrel will probably be around 1000$ i think. Hopefully less. Anyone here know of top notch barrel machinist that do custom stuff? Or should i venture outside of arfcom for this info? |
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Before GAP ever thought of using ARMALITE parts for their first GAP-10s:
http://www.medeshafirearms.com These gyz ain't virgins, either: http://accurateordnance.com/ Knew of a few more but these two equal GAP any day of the week and any of the three win the coin toss on the day you didn't pick. So, you can't lose. Last I knew they all would do the barrel work with your bolt and ship it to you to finish mating with your upper receiver and hand guard of choice. Just let them know: DPMS vs ARMALITE rig. Gas tubes can make a difference. 
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I've asked this before. Armalite rifle length gas tubes.
They are longer, this is obvious. But when i compared my friends 20" Barrel Armalite and my 20" barrel ar15, the gas port looks to be the same distance from the receiver. I swore i remember reading in the old Armalite ar10 faq, that the port location was the same, and the longer tube just made up the difference for the higher receiver. Using a standard ar15 rifle length tube would not protrude into the upper enough, and can cause short stroking issues. I remember asking this, and Mr Know it All LRRP kindly informed i was wrong in my assumptions. I only bring it up because i was looking at my buddy's AR10, and it LOOKED very similar. I tried finding the info in the old Armalite faq but I couldn't find the faq anymore. The one Taylor-WSO did. Anyways, thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to reach out to them soon, and see if i can get some pricing info. At this point, it really matters who can or is willing to do my custom flutes. It's possible i may have to go to a third party after having the barrel profiled. I'm kinda secretive on the ideas, because I've never seen it done before and i don't want someone to beat me to it. |
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Found it. I need to pay attention more when i read shit.
15. Can I use a AR15 gas tube on the AR10? Yes BUT realize the AR10 gas tubes are about .2" longer than the AR15 tubes. They can be used in a pinch but might cause a loss of gas/short stroking. They are longer to make up for the bigger (wider) barrel nut that Armalite uses on the larger AR10. Mid length gas tube is 12.060"and rifle gas tubes 15.500" Note the gas tubes on a DPMS/KAC are regular AR15 gas tubes. This is why i keep thinking the gas port location is the same. And the added length is only going into the receiver, not further down the barrel. The way this sounds, is i could use the Rifle length gas tube in a DPMS style receiver and function fine, if not better. This is what i don't understand. And i apologize to LRRP if I'm causing you to echo again. I tend to over think things, and this just might be one of the many. |
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Quoted:
Found it. I need to pay attention more when i read shit. 15. Can I use a AR15 gas tube on the AR10? Yes BUT realize the AR10 gas tubes are about .2" longer than the AR15 tubes. They can be used in a pinch but might cause a loss of gas/short stroking. They are longer to make up for the bigger (wider) barrel nut that Armalite uses on the larger AR10. Mid length gas tube is 12.060"and rifle gas tubes 15.500" Note the gas tubes on a DPMS/KAC are regular AR15 gas tubes. This is why i keep thinking the gas port location is the same. And the added length is only going into the receiver, not further down the barrel. The way this sounds, is i could use the Rifle length gas tube in a DPMS style receiver and function fine, if not better. This is what i don't understand. And i apologize to LRRP if I'm causing you to echo again. I tend to over think things, and this just might be one of the many. Another thing to consider, the spec for the inside diameter for the AR15 gas tube is 0.120", and the spec for the inside diameter for the AR-10 gas tube is 0.134". |
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