My M4orgery project

[dwalker460]

Not long ago I picked up a set of sequentially numbered PSA lowers. One I built up with a cmmg LPK, VLTOR Clubfoot, mil-spec buffer/tube/spring, MOE+ Grip, CMMG 300BLK 16"SS upper with a TROY rail and Burris AR332 optic. Awesome gun, really like it.

The other I am have decided I wanted to build up a lightweight, simple 5.56 rifle, along the lines of an M4. Its been slow going because I just buy a piece or two here and there. So what I have so far is-

PSA lower
A3 upper
DPMS upper parts- ejection port cover, forward assist, etc.
Spikes M16 BCG
VLTOR IMOD stock (hopefully on its way, need to check)
standard front sight
CMMG standard handgaurds


What I am looking at using-
16" Chrome lined barrel, looking at an AR Stoner or BHW
gas tube
AR Stoner muzzle break- yes I know its not really an M4 style, but I like it
standard carbine buffer and spring- might go with a flat spring, not sure yet
mil-spec tube
MOE+ or BCM Gunfighter grip
MOE handguards- might do a tube or quadrail if I find a good deal
LPK- probably another CMMG from Bowers, its just easy to go pick up
charging handle- probably use a "standard" one
folding rear sight, probably a Troy

Will use some form of optic, probably just a red dot. I picked up a Vortex Sparc the other day and Bowers showed me another red dot they had in stock I might try, so no Aimpoint or EOtech out of the gate.

BCG, stripped upper and lower-

[dwalker460]

Ok sooo I have this almost complete. Picked up a mess of parts and got to assembly.

On the upper I test fit a Daniels Defense 14.5" pencil barrel, MI lo profile gas block capped with a Troy Claymore brake. I installed the ejector port door, forward assist, then added a BCM Gunfighter charging handle to the Spikes M16 BCG. Lastly, I picked up a YHM Specter length quadrail from kwando today and installed it to check for fit. I made a mistake in getting a carbine length gas tube instead of a middy, but will fix that tomorrow by picking one up at Bowers.

The lower was assembled with a PSA parts kit, mil-spec buffer/tube/spring, and for now a stock A2 grip and a temporary stock from another project. I may put the OD green MOE stuff I have up for sale on it tomorrow since I have had little interest in it.

Topping the weapon off is a Vortex Sparc red dot and its fedd via Pmags, which I will be only using for the 5.56 rifles and using Troy Battlemags for the .300blk.

Tomorrow I will pic up the gas tube from Bowers and pin the brake on in the shop, then its off to the range for break-in.
Pics up tomorrow.

[kwando]

Can't wait to see it! Beside and I will be at the range tomorrow, like I said if you need ammo txt me tomorrow and I'll bring some for you.

Make sure you live it unlike me!

[dwalker460]

Well I went to Bowers and picked up a mid-length gas tube, installed it and ran through my final function checks.Went ahead and installed my brand new OD Green MOE Stock and MOE+ pistol grip, looks good! Everything checked out so off to the range!

Went to Cherry Creek Friday afternoon. Oh yeah, it was cold, 38deg was the warmest my truck indicated, and the temps just kept on dropping. On the good side the range wasnt crowded and I was in no rush at all.

Loaded up 30 rounds of .223 PMC Bronze 55gr into one of my Troy Battlemags- all my PMags are in loveland- and away we went! The gun ran perfectly from first round to last. Loaded up another 20 rounds and again the gun went bang every time the trigger was pulled. I specifically ran the .223 instead of hotter 5.56 to aggravate any sort of feed issues there might be. No FTF or FTE at all for those first fifty rounds. Next trip out will feed the rifle many more rounds of both .223 and 5.56. The boresight on the Sparc was good, only needed some up adjustment to get it on target. Groups were not as good as I had hoped, but that had more to do with me than the rifle.

No complaints or issues at all. This was built with the goal of being as a liteweight a rifle as I could reasonably build and I think it hit the mark. That said, its I will likely change the optic out, maybe to another AR332 Burris or similar with at least 4x magnification as the main optic with the Sparc or similar on a 1o'clock mount for close in work. Also going to add some OD green rail covers. I am not a huge fan of quadrails much at all, and while the YHM is nice and lite and all that, I would almost rather have another Troy Alpha or Battle rail than the YHM. Also considering just a FF tube... we will see. These options may add weight which is opposite of the goal, so probably just add the rail covers and be done.