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Posted: 3/29/2007 8:42:07 PM EDT
Well, I've decided that I'm going to try to do a Model 653 clone. I'll be using a surplus M16A1 upper and I'm hoping to put it on a new NoDak lower. I'm starting to collect parts and I'm wondering who's barrel to start with? I have to end up at 16"+ here in Illinois and I was thinking about using a Bushmaster lightweight 16 cut down to 14.7" and have a A1 birdcage perm. attached. I understand that there is something like a 6 week wait on this barrel from Bushmaster right now. I know there are other suppliers that handle light weight 16" barrels. Should I wait for the Bushmaster or look for someone who has them in stock? Model"1"Sales? CMMG? Is there any problem cutting down any of these barrels to 14.7. Of course, I won't be doing the cutting myself, I'll probably be sending it to Randall. Doc |
| CMMG makes a 14.5" lightweight with the correct .625 front sight base. They offer them with the standard non F marked sight bases as an option. They don't list anything like the extended A1 or A2 flash hiders to take it out to 16"s but I am sure they can arrange something if you call them or even send it to them to be attached. They are a great bunch of guys there. |
Hmmm, I like that upper; chop & crown the barrel for an XM flash hider/grenade ring from TS and that should cover me for my XM177 project. Thanks for the info. 
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Not only that, but their 14.5" barrel is also 1:12. 
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J&T Dist has a 14.5" pencil barrel listed for sale. I don't know if the fsb is .625 or bigger (.725?). J&T 14.5" pencil barrel Somebody makes an A2 flash hider that is long enough to make the 14.5" into a 16". I can't remember who it is, but do a search and you'll likely find it. Unfortunely, I don't know anybody that makes a longer A1 flash hider. |
I picked up a M16 upper at a local gun show for a pretty good price so I figured I'd go with the older Model 653 route. When I get my upper put together I can throw on my current A2 lower so I can at least shoot it. Then I can work on getting a NoDak lower to finish the build correctly. I'm thinking about getting an unfinished lower and having it engraved with a version of my avatar on the right side of the mag well and then sending out both the upper and lower to be anodized. I think it would look a little better with the engraving being anodized the same as the rest of the gun. A little more "official" looking. I think I'll be checking into the CMMG barrel option. I was just reading on another board something about them having a lightweight barrel that comes 14.7". Time to do a little research. Doc 
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