Last year I decided to build an AR. For no other reason than to get to say, "I built it myself." I bought a matched stripped upper and lower at a gun show, and over time, at each gun show we attended, bought more parts for it. I bought all mil spec parts kits, read manuals, watched YouTube videos, and put it all together.
My biggest problem was the barrel. I wanted an 18", black 1:8 or 1:9 twist barrel, chambered in .223 wylde. I figured I'd get the best of both worlds, and be able to shoot either .223 or 5.56 nato with the most accuracy. I realize that .223 wylde is not mil spec, but as long as everything else was, no biggie.
At the Greenville SC gun show, a vendor offered to sell me an 18" .223 wylde barrel for $80.00. I figured that was a great price, so I bought the barrel and everything else I needed to complete the upper from him: the barrel, gas block, gas tube, muzzle brake, Magpul handguard and all associated mounting hardware. All the rest of the furnature was all Magpul.
I completed the build, and I think it turned out well for my first attempt...
Before I fired it, I wanted to have it checked out by those who know more than me. I volunteer for our county Sheriff's Office, so I know many of the deputies. I asked the head firearms officer if he could get one of the guys on the SWAT team to look it over for me. It's what these guys live for, so there was no problem there... I brought it out to the range and when I took it out of the case, they both remarked that it was a nice looking build. Then they tore it apart. Everything in the lower was good to go. They loved the custom charging handle and the BCG. When they pulled the handguard off, that's where the red flags and bells started going off!
They took one look at the now exposed barrel, and the first thing they condemned was the aluminum gas block. They said I needed a STEEL gas block, and the mounting screws needed to be dimpled with a punch. Then they looked at the barrel, and asked me where I got it. I told them from a guy at a gun show. They strongly advised me to get rid of the barrel. When I asked how they could tell it was not good just by looking at it, they said that any reputable barrel manufacturer will ALWAYS, at minimum, stamp their name and the caliber in which it is chambered on it. This barrel has NO markings, and NOTHING stamped into it. He asked how can I be certain it's chambered in .223 without checking it with the proper gauges? He said if any particular barrel has actually been high-pressure tested, It should have "HP" stamped on it, and "MP" if it has been magnetically impulse tested. Since this barrel has NOTHING stamped ANYWHERE on it, they said they wouldn't trust firing it.
Other than that, they said it looked like a decent build. And if I change out the gas block and barrel, I could still salvage it. I haven't tried contacting the guy who sold me the barrel yet, but he was not at the last Greenville gun show. I suppose I could ask if he'll refund my money for the barrel and gas block, and if he won't, then I'll be out a little over $100. Although it bites, it's not the end of the world.
So now I have to get a new barrel and gas block. I'm debating with myself whether to dump the .223 wylde and just go for the 5.56 nato chamber. I just want the rifle for plinking and target shooting, will most likely shoot .223 ammo in it- but will still have the option of 5.56...
My biggest problem was the barrel. I wanted an 18", black 1:8 or 1:9 twist barrel, chambered in .223 wylde. I figured I'd get the best of both worlds, and be able to shoot either .223 or 5.56 nato with the most accuracy. I realize that .223 wylde is not mil spec, but as long as everything else was, no biggie.
At the Greenville SC gun show, a vendor offered to sell me an 18" .223 wylde barrel for $80.00. I figured that was a great price, so I bought the barrel and everything else I needed to complete the upper from him: the barrel, gas block, gas tube, muzzle brake, Magpul handguard and all associated mounting hardware. All the rest of the furnature was all Magpul.
I completed the build, and I think it turned out well for my first attempt...
Before I fired it, I wanted to have it checked out by those who know more than me. I volunteer for our county Sheriff's Office, so I know many of the deputies. I asked the head firearms officer if he could get one of the guys on the SWAT team to look it over for me. It's what these guys live for, so there was no problem there... I brought it out to the range and when I took it out of the case, they both remarked that it was a nice looking build. Then they tore it apart. Everything in the lower was good to go. They loved the custom charging handle and the BCG. When they pulled the handguard off, that's where the red flags and bells started going off!
They took one look at the now exposed barrel, and the first thing they condemned was the aluminum gas block. They said I needed a STEEL gas block, and the mounting screws needed to be dimpled with a punch. Then they looked at the barrel, and asked me where I got it. I told them from a guy at a gun show. They strongly advised me to get rid of the barrel. When I asked how they could tell it was not good just by looking at it, they said that any reputable barrel manufacturer will ALWAYS, at minimum, stamp their name and the caliber in which it is chambered on it. This barrel has NO markings, and NOTHING stamped into it. He asked how can I be certain it's chambered in .223 without checking it with the proper gauges? He said if any particular barrel has actually been high-pressure tested, It should have "HP" stamped on it, and "MP" if it has been magnetically impulse tested. Since this barrel has NOTHING stamped ANYWHERE on it, they said they wouldn't trust firing it.
Other than that, they said it looked like a decent build. And if I change out the gas block and barrel, I could still salvage it. I haven't tried contacting the guy who sold me the barrel yet, but he was not at the last Greenville gun show. I suppose I could ask if he'll refund my money for the barrel and gas block, and if he won't, then I'll be out a little over $100. Although it bites, it's not the end of the world.
So now I have to get a new barrel and gas block. I'm debating with myself whether to dump the .223 wylde and just go for the 5.56 nato chamber. I just want the rifle for plinking and target shooting, will most likely shoot .223 ammo in it- but will still have the option of 5.56...
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