My AR SBR Build-in-Progress

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  • esrice

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    No Aimpoints were harmed in the making of that video. One may have been a bit offended though.
     

    Mosinowner

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    I saw that in the AR15 thread, I almost had a heart attack. Now I am wondering if esrice is going to sell me on EOtech. So now I am going to have to go to Larue and look for EOtech mounts.
     

    MontereyC6

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    Sometime prior to NFA Day. I gotta get more time on it, and get it in the studio for pictures.

    If you need any help, let me know. My 10.5" sbr is wearing its T1 now. When doing comparisons, you could run them side by side without having to swap sights. ;)
     

    esrice

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    UPDATE

    Now that I've got Project Iron Widow completely built and the Form 1 in-hand I've decided to give it a thorough once-over and continue to post my findings here.

    Yesterday's weather was so gorgeous that I decided to spend my day off working with the SBR. Unfortunately lovemywoods wasn't available to join me, and neither were the 20 INGOers I sent a last-minute invite to. ;) So I ventured down to the range myself with a camera and a tripod.

    My goals for this trip to the range were:

    • Apply blue Loctite to all screws and witness mark screw heads
    • Inspect and evaluate current weaponlight setup
    • Zero Troy iron sights for 50/200
    • Zero Aimpoint H1 for 50/200
    • Evaluate Meprolight M21 optic (review to come at a later date)


    Upon arrival at the lovemywoods homestead I took over the reloading bench to work on the Noveske. Every screw or bolt that didn't come from the factory got a dose of blue Loctite and then reinstalled.

    I picked up a dark brown paint pen from a local craft supply store to witness mark the screw heads. The paint matches the dark color of the DD MK18 rail and is very subdued.

    IMG_9112.jpg


    If a screw were to come loose under sustained recoil I'd be able to detect it. But hopefully the Loctite does its job and it won't be an issue.

    IMG_9113.jpg


    I also checked all bolts and screws that were installed at the factory and everything was nice and secure. :yesway:

    Then I moved on to inspecting my weaponlight setup. For the past several range sessions I've been using a Streamlight PT1L in a Haley Stragetic SBR mount. I chose this combo for its light weight and comparatively low cost.

    IMG_9107.jpg


    IMG_9109.jpg


    A 9.5" rail doesn't leave much light mounting "rail-estate" for someone who prefers a forward support hand grip. Combine that with a 10.5" barrel that pokes out just forward of the rail and it further restricts light placement options. Because of this, the lens on the PT1L quickly became coated with residue, and the light's anodizing was literally blasted off.

    IMG_9110.jpg


    IMG_9111.jpg


    There was a 3rd issue-- when clicked ON the light would only flash, but not stay on. Clicking again for OFF it flashed again. At first I thought it was totally busted, but then realized that the rear tailcap wasn't fully tightened down. I tightened it down and the light returned to normal operation. I tried to replicate this with my PT2L and it too reacted in the same manner.

    That's all fine and good, but I'm still not thrilled that such a minor deviation in the tailcap position can render it useless.

    Because of these issues I didn't even bother trying the longer PT2L. I think its time I sucked it up and went with a Surefire Scout light. And if I got over my dislike of tape switches I could even mount the light on the opposite side of the rail. For now I went ahead and removed the light and mount from the gun entirely.

    Having the gun now squared away I packed up and headed down to the range for zeroing the Troy iron sights and Aimpoint H1.

    IMG_9114.jpg


    IMG_9115.jpg


    I rarely shoot alone so I brought along a tripod for the camera. Although it takes some additional fussing, it did allow me to capture some angles that are otherwise unsafe when there's a person behind the camera.

    I started with the irons. While I feel that it's important to know how to shoot with irons, and while I appreciate their role as a backup to an optic, I find them antiquated, imprecise, and slow (comparatively). Shooting suddenly felt like work. :D

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqrSP2fbdVo

    But I couldn't argue with the results. Hits at 200 yards on an IPSC-sized Bobcat Steel plate were easily accomplished if I did my part.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MInxVaww3fM

    Next came the Aimpoint H1. It already had a pretty close zero from the rifle it was mounted on previously, but I wanted to refine it. I first co-witnessed the dot to the irons and made some minor adjustments. I shot a group and then made another adjustment. But my next group was even farther off. :scratch: That's when I realized I had adjusted windage with my elevation knob and elevation with my windage knob. :ugh: Live and learn. :D

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZUKnA0EhpE

    But I finally got her locked down and where she needed to be. :yesway:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uyoSmoGYLQ

    The last thing I did was remove the H1 and replace it with an INGOer-provided Meprolight M21 optic. Its a 1x "red dot" that uses fiber optics and tritium rather than electronics and batteries to provide day and night shooting. Shooting it was Phase 1 in my review process. I'll have that full review up at a later date. Here's a teaser. . . .

    IMG_9139.jpg


    So that's where I stand with Project Iron Widow. Next I'd like to strip it down, clean it up, and put it in the studio for some "glamor shots".

    Will update as the project progresses! :ingo:
     

    HamsterStyle

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    Awesome. I ended up staying home from work yesterday too. :(. Stupid migraines. Anything else, I probably would have called you and roughed it out. Lol. Looks like it was a fun and productive day of shooting.
     

    lovemywoods

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    Don't you know it's illegal in Indiana to shoot over water!!!!
    :D

    OK, that's taken care of. (Pseudo-inside joke.)



    Sorry I couldn't be there to shoot. Looks like you accomplished what you wanted.

    Generally, in firearms, it's a good thing when the rifle is consistent. Just like in ammo, you want the same velocity, same bullet weight, same powder weight, etc. to have tight groups.

    I noticed that your SBR is extremely consistent in its ejection of the spent casings. Last night I found 69 cases on the face of the dam. They were even with the back of the shooting bench and 4-6' to the right. I could have put a bushel basket over the whole group (if I had a bushel basket of course!). The majority of the rounds looked like you poured them on the ground from a large drinking glass, they were that close!
     

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