Tax return came in - 300 BLK AR?

[AKFTW]

Engraving polymer you say?

[shiddymunkie]

Indeed

Well, I think it's settled: NFA pistol lower, 10.5" PSA upper. Should make for a light and durable base for this SBR, plus at $550 - $600, the price is right too.


I was looking at the Gemtech Trek-T for about $1000, it's only 5.7" long and 10 oz! The only problem is that I would want to use it with a 22LR kit, and I don't think it comes apart for cleaning. Anyone know of a good 5.56 suppressor that can also shoot .22LR, and can be taken apart (and is light weight, and preferably short). Wow, that's a lot of "ands"..

[shiddymunkie]

NFA lower has been purchased for $114.95 out the door, and I'll be picking it up this Saturday. I'll probably start a "build as I go" thread for this project with pics and whatnot. Mods, you are free to lock this thread as I think this specific discussion has since run its course.

[Kommander]

Definitely let us know how the plastic lower goes.

[shiddymunkie]

Will do, granted I won't be doing any of the torture tests you can find on their website (lol) never the less there will be range reports and whatnot.

[UndeadInfidel]

Will do, granted I won't be doing any of the torture tests you can find on their website (lol) never the less there will be range reports and whatnot.

You ordered the LW-15? I was considering grabbing one and putting a PSA lightweight 14.7" upper on it. Could have a full ultra lightweight AR for roughly $600.

[Kommander]

Will do, granted I won't be doing any of the torture tests you can find on their website (lol) never the less there will be range reports and whatnot.

This simply will not do. ZS demands that not only do you recreate all the tests from their site, but also drop it out of a helicopter.

[greenbeetle]

They do make subsonic 5.56 but it wont cycle, generally speaking. Might as well get a .22 conversion kit for that.

I read same thing. Won't cycle most slides and energy is something like 180-225 ftlbs.

[shiddymunkie]

You ordered the LW-15? I was considering grabbing one and putting a PSA lightweight 14.7" upper on it. Could have a full ultra lightweight AR for roughly $600.

Yep, found a (somewhat) local dealer who carries them and bought one yesterday. Can't go pick it up until Saturday though
Planning on doing a 10.5" PSA myself if they ever get them back in stock. Should be pretty light when all is said and done...I did some rough calculations and came up with 5.5 - 6 lbs which includes a Trijicon RMR, suppressor, carbon fiber handguard, basic VFG, and stock. But in its most basic form, it'd be like a 4.5 lb rifle.

Will do, granted I won't be doing any of the torture tests you can find on their website (lol) never the less there will be range reports and whatnot.

This simply will not do. ZS demands that not only do you recreate all the tests from their site, but also drop it out of a helicopter.

You provide the helicopter and we might be able to work something out.

They do make subsonic 5.56 but it wont cycle, generally speaking. Might as well get a .22 conversion kit for that.

I read same thing. Won't cycle most slides and energy is something like 180-225 ftlbs.

Yeah, this was my plan also. Here's a video of a guy who is shooting a lw-15 with a CMMG .22 conversion kit and it seems to work great (no suppressor though). But it's videos like these ones that just make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrh82xbGp_k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6ryvSYAJq4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdPXMMsFUtE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k4jwzC73q0

Now this one I found the most interesting, as I have already bought a 9mm suppressor (just waiting to get all the trust stuff done ). Its a YHM, from what I've gathered it's not the quietest can in the world, but the price was right at the time (gotta love major malfunctions). Aside from the price, the feature that sold me on it was the fact that it can be taken apart for cleaning, which is pretty helpful if I were to use it with .22lr. I'm pretty sure the 9mm can won't work for .223 however, otherwise I would just stick with the one can and save myself like $1000 lol. BUT, its nice to know that if I start running low on funds with this project before I get the .223 can, at least I could still shoot .22lr suppressed with the 9mm.

[edit] Just got an idea. Do you think getting the .223 suppressor is worth it when considering the above, or should I just stick with suppressing the .22lr with the 9mm can...and for .223, using a Noveske KX3? I only plan on shooting .223 supersonic, and I hear the pig does a pretty good job at redirecting the report downrange (can't do much about the sonic crack in either case).

[Regular Guy]

Yes, 22 LR can be suppressed by the 9mm can. I'd still get a 5.56 can. The KX3 actually make the rifle louder. The PSA 10.5" brl doesn't need a 'booster' muzzle device to run right. Just get a Vltor or Vortex flash hider.

[shiddymunkie]

From a real-world standpoint, do you think it still makes sense? My knee-jerk reaction is that a 5.56 suppressor would be a helpful thing to the have in case I need to shoot my rifle in an enclosed space w/o hearing protection (house, building, etc). Then again, if I am in enclosed spaces, wouldn't the suppressed Glock be the more practical choice for a civilian like myself? THEN AGAIN, if it is, why sbr the rifle in the first place? Vehicles I suppose, plus I could still use the .22lr suppressed indoors, but obviously the ballistics would go down the crapper.

It would definitely be fun, which is most likely all I would end up using my firearms for anyway (god willing)...and if I manage my money right, I can swing it. I also have a feeling I probably wouldn't regret getting one after the dust settles, as I'm sure the money I'd save would gradually be disappear on other things, and I may or may not have anything to show for it once its gone. Then again, it is $1000...which is a lot of money

Anywho, now I'm rambling... (and if you think i'm annoying to listen to over the internet, try being the one who has all this crap bouncing back and forth through their HEAD!)

[deep breaths]

So, you'd still recommend getting one?

[AKFTW]

I think you should get a stock for your glock.

[shiddymunkie]

well played, my good sir.

[UndeadInfidel]

Yep, found a (somewhat) local dealer who carries them and bought one yesterday. Can't go pick it up until Saturday though
Planning on doing a 10.5" PSA myself if they ever get them back in stock. Should be pretty light when all is said and done...I did some rough calculations and came up with 5.5 - 6 lbs which includes a Trijicon RMR, suppressor, carbon fiber handguard, basic VFG, and stock. But in its most basic form, it'd be like a 4.5 lb rifle.

Are you positive you can change out the polymer carbine buffer tube on the LW-15 lower for a standard metal pistol buffer tube?

I honestly have no clue if they're cross compatible with standard tubes, but one would think they would be.

[Regular Guy]

So, you'd still recommend getting one?

Yeah. I would. Use yer 9mm on yer pistol and a 5.56 on yer SBR. Pistols are really limited to 25m. I can easily get hits with a AR-15 out to 300m. Even at pistol ranges, a rifle is much mo' better.

Take a class. I'm not sure which state your in but I'd get to a class.

[shiddymunkie]

Are you positive you can change out the polymer carbine buffer tube on the LW-15 lower for a standard metal pistol buffer tube?

I honestly have no clue if they're cross compatible with standard tubes, but one would think they would be.

I believe the carbine buffer tube that comes with it is actually metal and not polymer (saw someone on their FB talking about it) though if it isn't, they do say that it "accept all standard MIL SPEC uppers and lower parts" which I assume would include pistol buffer tubes. Do you think using a pistol buffer would be preferable for this build as opposed to a carbine?

[shiddymunkie]

So, you'd still recommend getting one?

Yeah. I would. Use yer 9mm on yer pistol and a 5.56 on yer SBR. Pistols are really limited to 25m. I can easily get hits with a AR-15 out to 300m. Even at pistol ranges, a rifle is much mo' better.

Take a class. I'm not sure which state your in but I'd get to a class.

Colorado

[UndeadInfidel]

I believe the carbine buffer tube that comes with it is actually metal and not polymer (saw someone on their FB talking about it) though if it isn't, they do say that it "accept all standard MIL SPEC uppers and lower parts" which I assume would include pistol buffer tubes. Do you think using a pistol buffer would be preferable for this build as opposed to a carbine?

Good to know about the metal tube. I thought it was all polymer for some reason.

If you want a 10.5" barrel without registering it as an SBR, yes. I absolutely don't trust the "cover the adjustment holes with paracord" method I see people do on arfcom. It's too easy to be construed as constructive intent if you also have access to a carbine stock, because it takes all of 10 seconds to cut the paracord off and slide the stock on.

I'd suggest buying the pistol buffer tube with pad for peace of mind. They aren't that expensive in the grand scheme of things anyway.

[shiddymunkie]

Ah I see, not for functionality purposes but for save my own ass purposes. I did think about this when contemplating whether to get the pistol or rifle lower. The rifle lower was cheaper by about $30, and was in stock (and was available at a local dealer nonetheless). The pistol lower was out of stock on nfa's website, and the dealer wasn't expecting his shipment until end of March (for those of you looking to get one, I assume that's when they be in stock online as well). Since I figured I would ultimately be using a carbine buffer for this build, as well as for all the other reasons, I decided to go for the rifle lower.

Now, it should be noted that this lower comes with a stock. If I understand it correctly, even having the parts to construct an unregistered SBR is a violation -- and so I wonder if I'd still be safe with a pistol buffer installed so long as I still had the rifle buffer and stock in my house (and no other ARs it could possible go to). It may actually be preferable to keep the rifle buffer and simply give the stock away (i'll be replacing it once BATFE stuff goes through anyway)...so that there is no way I could create an SBR without first purchasing an additional part. After all, if constructive intent includes items that have yet to be purchased/obtained, then anyone with an AR could be charged with that right now, since its just one (yet to be purchased) <16" barrel away from being an SBR. Or anyone with a Glock also, since its just one unpurchased stock away from being a shitty SBR carbine

In all seriousness though, I have come across a few scanned letters to the ATF that clear the use of non-pistol buffers on AR pistol, so long as "a stock cannot be readily attached", which for me will simply mean not having a stock at all.

[UndeadInfidel]

Ah I see, not for functionality purposes but for save my own ass purposes. I did think about this when contemplating whether to get the pistol or rifle lower. The rifle lower was cheaper by about $30, and was in stock (and was available at a local dealer nonetheless). The pistol lower was out of stock on nfa's website, and the dealer wasn't expecting his shipment until end of March (for those of you looking to get one, I assume that's when they be in stock online as well). Since I figured I would ultimately be using a carbine buffer for this build, as well as for all the other reasons, I decided to go for the rifle lower.

Now, it should be noted that this lower comes with a stock. If I understand it correctly, even having the parts to construct an unregistered SBR is a violation -- and so I wonder if I'd still be safe with a pistol buffer installed so long as I still had the rifle buffer and stock in my house (and no other ARs it could possible go to). It may actually be preferable to keep the rifle buffer and simply give the stock away (i'll be replacing it once BATFE stuff goes through anyway)...so that there is no way I could create an SBR without first purchasing an additional part. After all, if constructive intent includes items that have yet to be purchased/obtained, then anyone with an AR could be charged with that right now, since its just one (yet to be purchased) <16" barrel away from being an SBR. Or anyone with a Glock also, since its just one unpurchased stock away from being a shitty SBR carbine

In all seriousness though, I have come across a few scanned letters to the ATF that clear the use of non-pistol buffers on AR pistol, so long as "a stock cannot be readily attached", which for me will simply mean not having a stock at all.

I'd still say it would be best to install the pistol tube, and yes, keep the carbine tube and stock in your house. My issue with the whole "run a carbine tube but don't own a stock" is if you take your AR to your buddy's house and he has a stock, or if you decide to build a carbine later with a stock... or if you go to the range and shoot next to a guy with a stock. Too many ifs for me to be comfortable with.

Maybe someone else could chime in, but it doesn't seem to be worth the hassle for a $20-30 part: http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.ph ... -tube.html

[shiddymunkie]

Would I need to swap out the buffer internals as well, or just the tube?