AR pistol build is done...for now.

Here's where my long journey has basically finished.  The last things I will add this month are polymer backup sights which I should have by 12/19.  I do have the laser that is mounted on the bottom in front of the MagPul AFG2 sighted in to be 1.5" low at 25 feet.  With luck, I will be able to get to a range to get it properly sighted in over this coming weekend.

Current parts breakdown is as follows:

• Smith & Wesson M&P 15 stripped lower receiver
• CMMG Lower Parts Kit
• MagPul polymer trigger guard
• Pearce Grips 1911 grip frame adaptor and low profile grips
• 'mil spec' sized six position buffer tube with Velcro loops cemented on
• Standard mass Carbine buffer
• Mark's Armory coated Carbine buffer spring
• 1.25" cane tip cemented onto the end of the buffer tube
• CAA Saddle with Velcro hooks cemented on
• Sling attachment secured to end plate
• Aero Precision stripped upper receiver
• Detroit Gun Works bolt carrier group (will get changed out for a better carrier but it works ok)
• Standard charging handle
• S&W M&P labeled 10" free float rail
• 11.5" 5.56 barrel (unmarked) with carbine length gas port
• ICE Arms Carbine gas tube
• Cut-down front sight base gas block (barrel drilled for the tapered pins on this, very sturdy)
• Standard A2 flash hider
• MagPul Angled Forward Grip model 2
• Green laser that runs on C123 batteries (extras stored in Saddle's battery tubes)

At this point, adding a red dot and probably a x3 magnifier will be done at some point this spring.  The barrel had 'rifle cuts' in the barrel extension and the upper had 'M4
 cuts', so I carefully expanded the barrel extension's cuts to meet the upper receiver's.  This has greatly increased the feeding of 'dummy' rounds after the first as the tips are no longer getting hung up.  I will know for sure after I get to shoot live rounds out of it as to whether or not I will still have failures to feed, a problem that occasionally cropped up with the previous upper receiver.

ICE Arms will be where I source my next bolt carrier from and quite probably my next barrel for a rifle build.  Please check them out here via my affiliate link.

This build has always followed the answers I received back in July of 2012 from the ATF Tech Department Chief.  Feel free to ask any questions on any part of my build. 

Range Report #2 - hung-up buffer ends the day early

We made it out to Ultimate Defense (http://www.udrange.com) on 6/11/2013 and shot both the P238 we picked up on 6/4/2013 and my AR pistol.

First magazine (TAC powder 55 gr FMJ hand loads) worked great  four round rapid fire strings all stayed on paper and the majority were on target at 20m - Holographic sights feel like cheating! - but 15 rounds into the American Eagle 55gr FMJ the bolt recoiled behind the bolt stop and stayed there.  I removed the magazine (still had 15 rounds in it) and since the bolt hadn't gone back forward yet there was no round in the chamber.

I tried to lever the bolt free by yanking really hard on the charging handle to no avail.  Thankfully, the armorer at the range was able to free the buffer whose roll pin had worked loose just enough to hang up on the recoil spring.  Since the bumper on the buffer was VERY brittle and rather cut up I ended the day and ordered a new buffer from the Equipment Exchange on ar15.com.  I got the replacement buffer on 6/14 and my pistol is back in serviceable condition.

Now to try out the 55gr soft points I have loaded over 24gr of IMR 4064 powder I got at the Machinist Hall gun show last weekend...

Range Report #1 - it did not blow up!

Got out to a friend's private range on Saturday to both verify my build and my hand loaded ammunition as well as to teach my son to shoot.  It was an excellent day, 100% accomplished.

I am now addicted to the immediate response from shooting at AR500 steel targets.  Paper and shoot-n-see plastic bullseyes are boring in comparison.  When you hit, you hear it.  When you miss you see the dirt cloud from the berm.  Bowling pins are almost as fun.  ;)

I also got to use my new optic, an EOTech EXPS3-0.

I got my new optic in a weird way for me.  I won it.  Field and Stream is working along with EOTech to celebrate EOTech's 1 millionth manufactured optic milestone by giving away one set of EXPS3-0/G33 magnifier per month to a lucky entrant to their mail-in sweepstakes.  I am the March 2012 winner.  Since I currently have an A2 upper the magnifier is not something I needed right now, so I sold it for a bit less than retail but was able to use the money from it's sale to finish paying off the 2000 Impala.  Win/win!

I had a forward mount that attached to the carry handle and put the red dot somewhat co-witnessed with the iron sights but the rail is way out of spec and the EOTech will NOT mount to it.  I have a new/used mount on it's way to me from an eBay purchase which should work MUCH better.

I had hoped to get pics of the kiddo shooting, pics of my wife shooting and video of my AR but the phone ran out of juice and I forgot to pack our camera.  Fortunately, my friend was gracious enough to give us an open invitation to return at any point.

My son is eagerly awaiting his 10/22, which I hope to have purchased for him before the end of summer.

Assault wepons bans are bad ideas.

Many folks have been moved by the events of last week and rightly so.  They were horrific and they were preventable, just not in the ways that Senator Diane Feinstein from California would have you believe.

In 1994, a ban was put in place to restrict the ownership of military-style 'assault weapons' from civilian hands.  This was based upon certain exact models as well as some ergonomic features that some folks saw as 'dangerous' or 'scary'.  They included the Colt AR-15 (named directly in the ban) as well as the following items along with others:  pistol grips, detachable magazines, barrel shrouds, flash hiders, collapsible stocks, and bayonet lugs.  Also banned were any magazines that could hold 30 or more rounds of ammunition.  This ban had zero effect on any items made before 1994, ex post facto laws are prohibited by Article 1 Section 9 of the US Constitution.  Those items are called 'pre-ban' as several states - including New Jersey and Connecticut -  still have active bans on these items.

This ban expired in 2004, despite President George W Bush stating publicly that he would sign any bill that came to his desk that would extend this ban.  Thankfully, no such bill came his way.

There are several reasons for this.  First, no appreciable increase in the decline of violent crime under the AWB was found by either the CDC or the FBI.  The one thing that did increase under the AWB was the number of crimes committed with magazines that were larger than 30 rounds in capacity.  Also, the Democrats took a severe beating in elections from 1994 through 2008 in no small part to their support of this ban.

Now, I have blogged about Diane Feinstein, the DNC's plank on Firearms and other things that the Dems have done in the past year to try and get the ban back in place so I won't cover those here.

Diane Feinstein has written a bill to reinstate the AWB with no provision for currently legally owned firearms to be allowed, total ban on production of parts for these firearms and a magazine capacity limit that would be accompanied with destruction of any 'high capacity assault clips'  (her words, not reality) held in civilian hands.  I have three words for the Distinguished Senator from California:  ex post facto.  Congress has no right to take anything away from me that is currently legal today to possess without fair compensation.  Looking at the current price of complete AR platform pistols and rifles, this would mean I would be owed $5000+ for my rifles/pistols and $300 for my magazines.

But wait, the battle has just begun!

United States v Miller in 1939 established that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms 100% covers military-grade firearms (Mr Miller's sawed off shotgun sans short barreled shotgun tax stamp was not fitting the court's description as no short barreled shotgun was in use by the military at that time) which means that 'assault weapons' under Diane's plan ARE PROTECTED.  Several jobs done in the US military use the semi-automatic AR-15 as an active part of their jobs, they do not require select-fire M4 rifles to conduct their duties.

This so far prompted the following letter to be sent to my Representative and Senators from Missouri:

Dear Sen. Roy Blunt, Sen. Claire McCaskill, and Rep. William Clay:

I oppose Sen. Feinstein's New Version of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban because it attempts to stop crime by making some 'features' on modern firearms illegal. This will not work.
During the previous ban, crime rates for violent crimes went unchanged from previous rates of decline as outlined in the FBI's Unified Crime Report from 1986 to 1994 and again from 2004 through 2011.
Also, Senator Feinstein's call for making existing firearms illegal to possess or transfer is in direct conflict with Article 1 Section 9 of the US Constitution. Ex post facto laws are a waste of time and resources as they are patenly unconstitutional.
The judicial review issued in United States v. Miller (1939) clearly states that Mr Miller's sawed off shotgun was not protected by the Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms as it was not a military style firearm. The semi-automatic civilian versions of the M16A2 and M4 MBR fall under this decision as they are semi-automatic versions of current main battle rifles in use by our military today.
Please, work on actually funding the mental healthcare initiatives that were unfunded in the 1980's by the same group that is calling for them today.

Signature seen by Members of Congress:
Mr. Armed and Liberal in MO
My street Address
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63xxx
Missouri’s 1st district

The call for additional healthcare funding for mental health assistance grew out of this article:  http://www.sociology.org/content/vol003.004/thomas.html.  In it, it reminds us that the Conservatives under Reagan fought back against the 'welfare state' put in place by the New Deal.  This very same group of politicians - some even the same Senators who as Representatives worked to de-fund this system -  are now rightfully calling for these intiatives to be refunded instead of enacting meaningless bans.  I agree with them, spree killers are the issue, not the tools that they use.

Please, craft letters similar to  the one I copied above and send them to your local, state and federal representatives.  We need common sense mental health care, not 'common sense' gun restrictions.  There are already laws against murder, we need fewer plea bargains and no new gun restriction laws.

Update to AR Pistol build

Here's where my build stands now.  All I need is a bolt carrier group, barrel and gas tube.  Not bad for 6 months and a lot of help from other folks.  I didn't build this on my own.  ;)

Parts so far:
Smith & Wesson M&P15 stripped lower  - Bud's Gunshop, transfered through M&M GUns, St Peters, MO
Cerro Forge A2 upper - Kurt in Russellville, MO
Carbine buffer tube - eBay
Carbine buffer & spring - Mark's Guns, MO
Magpul MOE handguard - eBay
Magpul AFG2 - eBay
Magpul 5-slot rail - eBay
Cerro Forge A2 front sight base - Kurt in Russellville, MO
Noveske KX-3 muzzle device - Kyle in Iron Mountain, MI
CMMG lower parts kit - Cabela's mail order
Pearce 1911 Grip Frame and hard rubber stocks - M&M Guns, St Peters, MO
Ambi rear plate - eBay
Charging Handle - Equipment Exchange on ar15.com
Round hand guard cap - Equipment Exchange on ar15.com
Delta Ring group - Equipment Exchange, ar15.com
Barrel nut - msc used gear seller at St Charles, MO gun show

Once I get this finished, I will get video of me shooting it.

NRA-ILA ice cream social

On August 4th I was invited to go to an Ice Cream Social at the new NRA-ILA office in St Charles, MO. I signed in but did not take the 'Vote Obama Out' sticker that they were using to track who had signed in. They now have my name, address and the new email address for my volunteer position with the LGC.

There were some very earnest folks there. I did hear terms bandied about that I had anticipated hearing such as "socialism", "anti-gunners" and "Liberal" used as negative terms.

What I did learn was that despite being told the contrary, my perception of the NRA-ILA being vocally Republican was correct. I don't think that there has been a Democrat (non-DINO) in a place of leadership since the
ILA was formed.

When the NRA-ILA is willing to allow non-Conservative views to be expressed as part of their platform or at least not spending members' money on Conservative issues, I will consider joining.

Lower is 100% finished

Went to the gun show today in St Charles, MO and got the parts needed to finish off my lower.  I got my buffer and spring from Mark's Armory's buttstocks and buffers page and am very pleased with it.

Since my last update, I have done the following:

• Sprayed the lower and grip with Rust-Oleum Dark Taupe paint and flat clear coat.
• Done a simple whip-tie with tan 550 para cord on the buffer tube.
• Attached a single-point to two point sling adapter on the rear plate consisting of 550 para cord tied with a bowline on a bite into the loop and a pair of standard bowlines on the ends.

Buffer tube installed

I fixed the issue I had with the front pivot pin detent without having to buy anything new or fancy.  I found a steel nail that was 3/32" in diameter and cut a length of it that would work as the detent.  Installation of this improvised detent pin went far better than the one supplied by CMMG.  Front pivot pin is now working as designed.

At this point, the last bits I need for my lower is the buffer (going with an "H" carbine buffer to start with) and the buffer spring.  Once I have those, I'll get a few cans of Rust-Oleum 'nutmeg' and 2-3 cans of clear flat enamel.  After the paint dries, I'll be wrapping the buffer with coyote 550 paracord.  I may add some red paracord into the mix to show off the weave pattern, not sure at this time.

Current plan for the upper will go one of two ways.  Either I'll drop $350 + S/H on a DSArms 11.5" flattop upper w/bolt carrier group or I'll part an 11.5" upper together.  It just depends on finances.  Odds are that I'll be parting one up with parts from Surplus Ammo which would cost more in the long run but would mean less money put out at once.  Since I have the vice blocks for the upper assembly as well as a good armorer's tool from ATI, I'm not worried either way.

Post LPK update

Ok, got my parts on Saturday to get the lower 75% finished, just need a carbine length buffer assembly and then it's on the parts that touch bullets.

Also, the M&P15 logo will end up being covered up by Flat Dark Earth epoxy paint.  I will possibly get that section engraved with either a replacement M&P logo or else go with the Minuteman from the Liberal Gun Club instead.

Next step is the buffer assembly and then on to the upper receiver!

After the whole build is done and I have function tested the pistol, I'll consider cutting down the LGC custom grips I have, but those will probably just get installed on the Rock Island Armory Tactical .45 I plan on getting instead.

                                              build as it stands on 6-11-2012

AR Pistol build

Finally got the partial funding to move a bit forward with my pistol build.  Yep, I said pistol.  I know, I know, Missouri allows Short Barreled Rifles to be owned by anyone that gets their Form 1 returned successfully from the ATF, but I am not ready for that just yet. 

Many of the folks mentioned in my will are not MO residents, so taking possession of an NFA firearm is tricky to say the least.  Also, who knows what the laws will be or where he will be living when my son is old enough to take possession.  On top of that, just handing the SBR off to someone that may want to shoot it is potentially an NFA violation which carries a felony charge and $25,000 fine.  So, no SBR until I get an NFA Gun Trust set up and approved.

Anyway, back to the build.

Previously, I showed my lower and Pearce Gripframe.  Now I have gotten some Magpul goodies that will go on the firearm along with the colorscheme I plan on using.  After getting a Magpul case for my iPhone, I found I like Flat Dark Earth (Magpul Urban Dark Earth is the Duracoat color I'll need to order for the metal bits) and it should make the firearm a bit better for use in hunting.

Parts shown:
Ambi-mounted sling backplate
Front and rear MBUS
Angled Forward Grip (ATF approved for pistols)
S&W stripped lower
Pearce 1911 grip frame
Magpul enhanced trigger guard



I have a CCMG lower parts kit and vice blocks to allow me to clamp down my firearm for assembly on order with Cabela's and will have them on 6/14.  After that, all I need is the carbine buffer assembly and the lower is done.  I also have a gas block/front sight heading my way from a friend in Russleville, MO.  Also I have an attachable m1913 rail coming in for the AFG to be mounted to whatever handguard I go with.

For the upper assembly, I am planning on a 10.5" 5.56 M4 barrel with standard front sight attached to an M3 'flat top' receiver.  For handguards, I plan on either a Magpul MOE foregrip or else a free-floated foregrip with top and bottom rails from Midwest Industries.  If I go withe the free floating handguard, I can mount the front MBUS without issue but it would cost more and require me to cut off the front sight tower from the gas block.  If I go with the Magpul handguard, the AFG would look almost like it was molded onto the guard and I would not have to cut off the front sight tower.

Once I get the buffer tube, then the temptation will be to get the Duracoat 'quick use' set so I can get everything the same tone of FDE. 

More pics and updates to follow!

Why does a Liberal use the Gadsen Flag as an image?

Why does a Liberal use the Gadsden Flag as an image? 
Isn't that the image of the Tea Party? 

Not really.  The yellow field backed Gadsden flag was started to be used by the Tea Party movement to show that they were fed up with the direction that the USA was taking after a black man was elected to the POTUS.  I held that symbol in very high esteem for most of my adult life and hated that a group that I found so disagreeable 'co-opted' it. 

At that point, I decided that as a counter-point symbol, the First Navy Jack should be used by Liberals, especially those of us closer to Classic Liberalism than Progressivism to show our lack of trust in the Establishmentarians that created the Tea Party Movement as well as the same demographic that is controlling both the GOP and the Dems. 

We've seen since 2010 that the ONLY THING that the TP Congress members want is NOT less government (none of these junior Congress critters are forgoing their expense accounts or running smaller staffed offices and have done nothing to effectively shrink the Federal government)but to get the sitting POTUS out using any means necessary such as government shutdown threats and scorched earth tactics.  It seems that they are worried that if this POTUS looks good.

I am a bit of an odd duck.  I see the Federal and State governments as necessary villains to assist individuals in their ability to keep their personal rights as well as to provide those things that individuals may not be able to provide for themselves, such as public schooling, health care facilities, common defense and emergency services.  I also see Corporations the way that Thomas Jefferson did. An Aristocracy of Corporations, indeed.

I close with the last political note from that great man, sent ahead to the 50th anniversary of the signing of that beautiful act of Treason, the Declaration of Independence:

“May (July 4) be to the world, what I believe it will be -- to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all -- the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form (of government) which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God.”

It begins!

On Friday I excersized by 2nd Amendment rights and have now started my AR build.
     *  Smith & Wesson M&P-15 stripped lower
     *  Pearce Grips AR-1911 grip adaptor
     *  Custom 1911 stocks from my buddy Tim's Etsy store in their green respendant Liberal Gun Club selves.

Got the grips installed and within two weeks I will have the lower parts kit.  I'll have to remove the grips in order to get the selecter/safety detent pin and spring installed as I do not have those parts just yet.

We celebrated how quickly I passed the form 4473 process (I did forgo my paranoid fears and put my SSN # on the form.  I have no doubt that this helped) by going to Ultimate Defense and getting some trigger time on their rental S&W M&P-15 and my DW put 50 .45 ACP downrange on their rental Springfield Government 1911A1. 

It turns out that since the NRA was in town, KMOV 4 wanted to get some information on women who shoot guns after speaking with Mr Bastian (owner of UDRange.com) at the NRA Annual Meeting and Trade Show earlier Friday afternoon.  They did interview Ms ALIMO but only used footage of her and not her interview.  I overcame my temptation of putting my Liberal Gun Club hat on her for the interview.  LOL

I did not attend the National Meeting and Trade Show for one simple reason.  I am not an NRA-ILA member and have no interest in joining at this time but may in the future if they decide to agree that the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is _NOT_ just a Conservative position but one for all people.  In the past, the NRA fought for gun rights for individiuals and supported politicians that did the same.  At some point after Mr la Pierre took over, the tone and targets changed.  Now the NRA is working to increase teh gun rights for those who would most greatly benefit the firearms manufacturers and Conservative interests.  For example, in 2004 and 2008, the NRA backed several Democrats and Independants that held strong RKBA beliefs and had histories of working to preserve these rights.  In 2008, a feaver pitch was reached when 'OBAMA WILL STEAL YOUR GUNS!' was the battle-cry.  In 2010, all non-Republicans were thrown under the bus.  Now in 2012 the 'OBAMA WILL STEAL YOUR GUNS!' is the message again, causing there to be major runs on guns and ammo.

The current run on guns and ammo will keep me from finishing my AR-15 rifle build in May as I had initially planned.  Manufacturers are hitting it huge, orders are piling up and things are going out of stock faster than they are being replaced.  Even the manufacturers that historically are on the bottom end of acceptable are getting record orders and have waiting lists for shipping dates.

The level of FUD spread like pasture pucks has gotten out of hand.  Membership in the Liberal Gun Club is growing daily.

And here are some pics of my build in progress:

Post-February wrap-up and updates

Well, the no-spend February wasn't as profitable but we did manage to get things back on track.  No real savings but some items that we've needed for some time have been purchased and we've cut back our 'eating out' a fair bit.

Back in January I traded some .40 S&W brass and a 1/2# of fresh Unique powder for a set of RCBS .223 full-length sizing dies so I can reload .223 ammo for my upcoming AR-15 rifle build.  I had the dies in my hot little hands for less than a day before I stuck a case.  Long story short, I've contacted RCBS support a few times and still have not gotten the replacement spindle that they have been promising me since January 25th.  I broke down and bought the X-spander spindle from Cabela's.  Since that point, I have now sized and expanded several hundred pieces of .223 PMC, Federal and Lake City brass.  Now to get a pound of Ramshot TAC powder and some Hornady VMAX 62-grain bullets...after I get a scale that is more accurate than the used RCBS 5-0-5 scale that I have.

I guess I'll send the 5-0-5 to RCBS to have them check out and recalibrate if needed.  While I have heard many good things about thier customer service over the years, my experience has been less than stellar. 

The lay-away Smith & Wesson M&P 15 lower reciever that I have on hold for me at Bud's Gunshop in Lexington, KY should be in my possession before I turn 40 at the end of the month.  Then it's $69 for the lower parts kit, $54 for the stock and recoil spring with another $400-$500 for the upper.  Or, I may just order a rifle kit from either www.akpartskits.com or www.model1sales.com.  Or both, there are still cheap stripped lower recievers out there...