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Posted: 2/14/2013 9:40:26 AM EDT
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I have a varmint AR and want to build a more "traditional" lighter upper for my lower.
I have an old M16A1 stripped upper, and a DPMS m4 carbine barrel with standard dpms options...picatinny gas block(set screw), standard handguard. Im having a hard time placing the two together partly because it just seems wrong the other is questions about the absence of feedramps on the upper. Would these work fine together as they are? should the upper be modified? should I be trying to swap either the barrel or upper for a more suitable match? What are my options for the FSB...im thinking the picatinny will look horrible with the A1 upper. Throw some ideas my way please. Thanks |
you could build something retro'ish with the A1 upper/m4 barrel combo...more suitable to a carbine stocked lower, but doable 
723 Commonly referred to as a M16A2 Carbine, slang as "CAR-15", 8 million serial number range, 1984-?: 
723 with A2 profile barrel and M203 cut Commonly referred to as a M16A2 Carbine, slang as "CAR-15" or "M4", 8 million serial number range, 1987-?: 
and don't worry about putting a ramped barrel in a non ramped upper...it will still function fine you'll end up with something close to this...just with an m4 barrel 
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So I have the upper receiver similar to the first pic. and thats the look I want. I dont think I want to attempt using a pinned FSB so is the armalite the only one that will work for me?
Something I havent thought of until you posted those pics...the "kicker" that is usually behind the dust cover isnt on this upper and Im a lefty. Can the extractor throw the casings far enough back to cause a problem? |
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the "kicker" that is usually behind the dust cover isnt on this upper and Im a lefty. Can the extractor throw the casings far enough back to cause a problem?
It can. Won't usually happen but will when least expected. A couple different fixes. Best to shoot it first see where BCG is kicking brass. If it has FA most will bounce off that before you. Johnmasen sells a bolt on shell deflector. You can make one if you are crafty. I made one out of a rubber battery post cover, scisors and superglue in 5 minutes. Works great too. You can also modify bolt ejector to throw brass in different location. Was a thread showing both my homebrewed deflector and mods to bolt in last month or so. Build and shoot it first is my recomendation and see where brass goes. In 20K rounds out of A-1 slickside and many A-1 FA(603) models I've probably been hit 10 times. Happens when you forget it can happen. Really not a big deal. Most my experiences have been ammo related or bouncing off right hand IMO. |
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Quoted:
So I have the upper receiver similar to the first pic. and thats the look I want. I dont think I want to attempt using a pinned FSB so is the armalite the only one that will work for me? Something I havent thought of until you posted those pics...the "kicker" that is usually behind the dust cover isnt on this upper and Im a lefty. Can the extractor throw the casings far enough back to cause a problem? the clamp on Armailte would be my first pick if you don't want to have a fsb pinned but you can use a fsb that has been modified to use set screws too 
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Quoted:
I have an old M16A1 stripped upper, and a DPMS m4 carbine barrel with standard dpms options...picatinny gas block(set screw), standard handguard. Im having a hard time placing the two together partly because it just seems wrong the other is questions about the absence of feedramps on the upper. You can use M4 barrel with feedramps with older M16A1 upper with no feedramp cuts without any problems. The Air Force is notorious for using older slick-side 604 uppers with M4 barrels in their GAU builds or rebuilds. |
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Im thinking hard about buying/trading for a barrel with a pinned fsb.
Is the armalite fsb just a modified stock part? If so I think I can handle doing that myself. One more question...this upper looks like its been in a toolbox for 30 yrs. Any suggestions on refinishing? |
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Quoted:
Im thinking hard about buying/trading for a barrel with a pinned fsb. Is the armalite fsb just a modified stock part? If so I think I can handle doing that myself. One more question...this upper looks like its been in a toolbox for 30 yrs. Any suggestions on refinishing? the Armalite clamp on is a bit beefier around the barrel bands than a pinned on A frame...and peculiar thing is, they don't seem consistent in which side the screw heads are on... 
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