New AR Build!

Elvis · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:08 am Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

that sure is a fancy looking smoke pole.
It sure would get a few comments out on the trail.
as Vince says hope it shoots good too. photos of range trip results please.

Dawgdad · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 7:42 am Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

Go forth snd Shoot! Can't wait to hear back on the down range performance.

Crackshot · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:02 am Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

Yes , very nice. Please post photo's of you best and worse targets.

slimjim · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:09 am Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

Thanks, all! Got the barrel nut torqued on correctly this morning after a call to WOA so I'm ready to go tomorrow. Got 40gr V-Max, 55 FMJs, and 69 SMKs to break the barrel in with. Will post results. The rifle weighted in at 8 lbs 3 oz.

slimjim · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:52 pm Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

I had a long day at the range yesterday breaking the barrel in (9-4). Great weather! So far I've only put 12 shots through it with time in between for getting the copper out. Shoot my .22s while the barrel sat. After the 11th shot the copper fouling was noticeable reduced. Think I'll go single shot - cu cleanse for 20 shots. First groups with factory ammo look promising. I did turn the gas off so I didn't have to chase brass. I immediately noticed that the brass was cool to the touch when extracted vs burn your skin in semi-auto mode.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

Nice shooting Slim:

The reason the shells are cooler in single shot mode is that no gas is directed to eject the shell. Whereas in semi or full auto, gas is redirected to expel the shell.

slimjim · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

Ominivision1 wrote:

in semi or full auto, gas is redirected to expel the shell.

That plus the case is extracted from the chamber while the "pressure cooker" is still hot and active. Just really surprised to feel a case that was cool to the touch within a few seconds of being fired.

Crackshot · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

Just wondered, What did you torque the barrel nut to?

slimjim · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:12 am Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

Crackshot wrote:

What did you torque the barrel nut to?

That is a good question and I don't really know. The only way I had to tighten that barrel nut was to put a pipe wrench on it. It only took a very small amount of torque (only a couple of degrees of turn) to align a gas tube hole with the port in the upper receiver. I called WOA to inquire. They told me that they torque all their barrel nuts to 80 pounds and not to worry. Said since the barrel nut and receiver were both aluminum to torque and untorque the barrel nut several times and it would soon line up with the next hole in the barrel nut. The operation worked as they described and its on good and tight.

Crackshot · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:32 am Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

I was just wondering. The torque spec as per the military was 32 -80 Fps So the torque range is rather forgiving. I was just wondering what they told ya is all, thanks.

slimjim · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

Finished the installed of the Clark's Carbon Handguard.

www.clarkcustomguns.com/clk750.htm

The final step is using a strong adhesive to bond the handguard to the sleeve of the barrel nut. I used Brownell's AccuGlass. At first I didn't want a handguard that had to be glued. However, when I found out that the VTAC handguard (my other choice) had to be bonded to the actual receiver and it took 450 degrees of heat to release it, I reconsidered and went for the lower weight (1/2 pound savings).

Here is a picture of the bonding set-up. I installed upside down to make it easier to clock the stud to the upper receiver/barrel. I had a good friend make me an insert to hold the carbon tube centered on the barrel. He also machined some vent holes for me. You can see the intake slot on the bottom (more pictures later). I used masking tape to protect the tube from stray adhesive. This was very beneficial because a ridge of adhesive formed as I pushed the carbon tube up over the barrel nut. I stopped a 1/4 inch from getting it completely on and wiped off the excess. I did that a couple of more times as I completed the insertion. I may have also used a bit too much on the inside of the tube as a ridge formed in front of the sleeve of the barrel nut. I soon realized that this would interfere with the gas tube if allowed to hardened. A paint stick was not long enough to reach, so I used a discarded arrow shaft to smooth out the top section. I couldn't get at the bottom of the circle because the support plate for the stud inside the tube blocked the arrow.

slimjim · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 3:07 pm Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

The adhesive is cured and here is how the rifle finally turned out. Time to finish the barrel break-in and start loading some of Dawgdad's recipe for 75gr Hornady A-Max!

slimjim · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

Here is a close-up. I just slide the gas block forward an 1/8" and retighten to turn the gas off and operate it as a straight-pull bolt action.

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

That handguard is sweet Very Happy

if shoots as good as it looks it will be a tack driver Very Happy

. Ya did a great job

Joe

fnuser · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: New AR Build!

Midway finally got my 6.8 barrel back in stock I got an Apex machine co rifle-length handguard to go with. will post a pic as soon as all hits the ground. I like yours though the vents are a nice custom touch.