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Posted: 1/11/2010 11:14:35 PM EDT
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What better way to commemorate my 1,000th post than with a buildumentary.
So, to paraphrase Egg Chen: This is nothing, but that's how it always begins: very small. 
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Quoted:
Where did you get the slick-side upper receiver? I've been looking for one forever! It's a 9mm upper. You have to drill your own gas hole. http://www.model1sales.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=UPA300&storeid=1&image=a3uppersall.gif&CFID=46855352&CFTOKEN=88259423 |
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Quoted: Quoted: Where did you get the slick-side upper receiver? I've been looking for one forever! It's a 9mm upper. You have to drill your own gas hole. http://www.model1sales.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=UPA300&storeid=1&image=a3uppersall.gif&CFID=46855352&CFTOKEN=88259423 I thought so too, but then I saw that it had a full ejection port. Is it a 9mm? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Where did you get the slick-side upper receiver? I've been looking for one forever! It's a 9mm upper. You have to drill your own gas hole. http://www.model1sales.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=UPA300&storeid=1&image=a3uppersall.gif&CFID=46855352&CFTOKEN=88259423 I thought so too, but then I saw that it had a full ejection port. Is it a 9mm? You just have to remove the 9mm dust cover and block and install a standard dustcover. |
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Quoted:
Where did you get the slick-side upper receiver? I've been looking for one forever! It's a Rock River Arms 9mm. You'll need a regular dust cover because the 9mm one is chopped. Bought the receiver through ADCO (to save on shipping) and had them drill the gas hole. They'll also be lightening (and possibly chopping) the barrel and pinning the comp. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Where did you get the slick-side upper receiver? I've been looking for one forever! It's a Rock River Arms 9mm. You'll need a regular dust cover because the 9mm one is chopped. Bought the receiver through ADCO (to save on shipping) and had them drill the gas hole. They'll also be lightening (and possibly chopping) the barrel and pinning the comp. Gotcha. I was considering having this done a while back, but got lazy and just bought a regular built-up upper. I was hoping someone finally decided to market a slick-side A3 upper. Maybe I'll put a call in to ADCO. What did they charge total for the upper and drilling? |
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Yeah, I used the Lo Pro on my first middy build. She's a heavy bitch. Balances well, but too heavy for what it is. That's partially what prompted this build. If I'm going to hump something heavy, it might as well have some oomph behind it. I have a FAL para carbine for that role. Something like a .223 carbine shouldn't weigh much. My goal was to have it as close to five pounds (or less) as possible. We'll see, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I have another Lo Pro I'm saving for a future build. I don't foresee funding for that one for at least another two years... and then who knows what wonder-cartridge they'll come up with by then. |
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Quoted: Where did you get the slick-side upper receiver? I've been looking for one forever! Brownells is your friend. The two I ordered just arrived today. |
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I thought the LoPro uppers had a different height top rail, don't they?
I have been looking at one of THESE to get rid of the FA and deflector. I don't like the side charging stuff, but i like that it is more plain. Don't know if it is lightweight either. |
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As mentioned above the DPMS Lo-pro as well as the Rainier both are made thicker. So they are heavier than the 9mm receiver. The earlier RRA 9mm uppers actually had a gas hole in them. They changed it up several years ago and now they don't. They are the best option for a lightweight build. With that said, they are not that much heavier. You can notice the difference when you have the two side by side, but it isn't much.
I actually used a Sun Devil slick side on a lightweight build. I do believe the one on Rainier Arms is sub-contracted by Sun Devil, but it is just a guess on my part. It looks incredibly similar. What really saves weight is a light profile barrel and a Cav Arms polymer lower. I also used a JP Ent lightweight (aluminum) bolt carrier. It is very handy and light. Unfortunately I sold it to help pay for a 2 week Hawaii vacation. But I will build another. I really need to get another Cav Arms polymer lower before they get real scarce. 
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Quoted:
As mentioned above the DPMS Lo-pro as well as the Rainier both are made thicker. So they are heavier than the 9mm receiver. +1 See my above post. It's also a different aluminum. The 9mm ones are better. I actually used a Sun Devil slick side on a lightweight build. I do believe the one on Rainier Arms is sub-contracted by Sun Devil, but it is just a guess on my part. It looks incredibly similar. What really saves weight is a light profile barrel and a Cav Arms polymer lower. I also used a JP Ent lightweight (aluminum) bolt carrier. It is very handy and light. Unfortunately I sold it to help pay for a 2 week Hawaii vacation. But I will build another. I really need to get another Cav Arms polymer lower before they get real scarce.
It's too bad Cav Arms doesn't make a lower with an integral buffer tube for collapsable stocks, otherwise I would have bought one and definately came in under five pounds.  I also considered the LW JP carrier, but there have been comments about the reliability of that setup (with the LW buffer). Young Mfg. was recommended. I about did a spit-take when I saw the price.
Also I've already purchased, set aside, and replaced one item: Magpul ASAP sling mount got traded for a Daniel defense. Damn ASAP weighs a ton, has useless horns on both sides that snag, doesn't fit flush to the back of the receiver, and I'd end up taking a bolt cutter to the ring and replacing it with a loop of paracord. I might replace my YHM front sight and separate side-sling mount with a GG&G tactical modular flip up front sight (taper pin version) to save a few ounces at the front of the barrel. Maybe I'll sell them to my buddy who I'm also doing a lightweight build for. I'll find out exact weight first to see if it's worth it. edited for spelling |
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