My Bargain California Featureless Middy Build

[imarangemaster]

$179 Black Friday PSA 16" 1/7 twist Mid-Length Upper (includes shipping)
$ 39 Custom Muzzle Brakes "Tactical Tri-Delta Comp"
$ 69 Black Friday AIM M16A1 BCG (includes shipping)
$ 75 Black Friday Anderson AM15 lower (included tax)
$ 25 CA DROS fee
$ 25 Magpul MOE Midlength Handguard (BCM takeoff)
$ 20 Tapco M4 stock, Milspec tube (latch screwed to "pin" the stock)
$ 25 Tactical Intent 3.8 oz H Buffer (ebay)
$ 15 Used charging handle from a friends SIG (he went tactical)
$ 20 flip up, steel A2 BUIS
$ 50 DPMS LPK (was actually in the DPMS package) Ebay!
$ 79 Bushnell TRS-32 red dot. Factory refurbed. Came w/o mount, so just using a ring I have until my cantilever mount I ordered arrives.
The MMG was a blem and I have had it for years. I think it was $15 including shipping.
The Bungee sling was a gift from a friend in Texas.

$621.00 TOTAL. If I had not replaced the standard handguards and flash hider that it came with, it would have been less than $557!









---------- Post added at 06:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:27 PM ----------

The green striped mags are loaded with Lake City M855 Green tip, and the red striped mags are full of MK262 MOD1 77 grain OTMs. The 20 rounder (with both color stripes) are loaded alternately MK262/M855, every other round. I had this same PSA PTAC mid-length upper, but let a friend talk me out of it a couple months ago. That one got 1 MOA with the MK262 and 1.5 MOA with M193. I heard that FN makes their 1/7 twist barrels.

Information

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[imntxs554]

Very Nice Jim... Looks Great ! Is this the one you been working on ? I'm new to these, but is that a ambi selector or converted ? I Really like that Sling. Haha !

Frank

[imarangemaster]

Thanks, Frank! Yep, it is the one I was working on. As for the sling, thank you, sir! The selector is an aftermarket ambidextrous one I have had for years. It is steel, unlike some of the cheap ones you see that are actually polymer! With the California legal non-pistol grip, you need an ambi one to disengage it quickly.

[imntxs554]

What type of Gas System you use. I remember you posting about a certain one you like. Dang it looks good.

Frank

[imarangemaster]

It is a mid-length gas system. I was never a fan-boy of them when they first came out, but I really like them now. With a 3.8oz H Buffer, USGI M4 recoil spring, it eats ANYTHING from 55 grain reloads to 77 grain MK262.

[imarangemaster]

The base price was actually $532 before I changed out for upgrades (H Buffer, Muzzle brake, Handguards), it also included out California DROS fee of $25. If you remove that for being in another state, it actually drops to $497. Also, my price includes BUIS and the Bushnell TRS-32 optic. Deduct those to achieve base price for basic weapon only, would be $433.

A couple years ago, I did a cheaper build ($379 for the whole kit +$100 for lower and DROS fee. It was pretty funky, though. It had a Cheapo import LPK (it had a 15 pound trigger pull!), a commercial spec tube M4 stock with a truck spring for a recoil spring. I had to clip 5 coils off the spring for it to cycle. It did have a 1/9 twist M4 barrel, but handguards without heat shields! Also, the upper was not "T Marked" After trimming the spring, it worked fine, and did shoot about 2.5 MOA.

[imarangemaster]

There are four ways to keep an AR "Featureless" as far as grips go: Hammerhead (I like), MonsterMan Grip (OK), Kydex grip paddle, and a thorsen grip stock (which really is iffy as far as legality because of the location of the web of the hand being below the plane of the top of the trigger);

HAMMERHEAD



MonsterMan Grip



Kydex Paddle:


Thorsden


---------- Post added at 03:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:57 PM ----------

I order of utility, best to worst:

Best - Hammerhead is best, giving you a grip much like a FN P90 PDW. Very secure one handed grip when doing magazine changes. Actually, almost as good as a standard pistol grip, once you get used to it. It is, however, the ugliest. That's why I didn't use it in the pictures. I am putting it back on.

Next is the MMG. It is the best looking option, but second in utility. With an M4 stock, the thumb can actually go over the top, though, and help give a secure grip.

After MMG, Kydex paddles. When actually firing the weapon, these are the most comfortable, and natural, allowing you to pull the weapon back into your shoulder. For range shooting, that is what I prefer. The drawback, however, is that there is no wrapping around of the thumb to give a secure one handed grip changing mags.

As far as the Thorsden, here is the definition of pistol grip under California Law:

“(d) “pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon” means a grip that allows for a pistol style grasp in which the web of the trigger hand (between the thumb and index finger) can be placed below the top exposed portion of the trigger while firing.”

Thordsen actually allows the web about 1/2" below the plane allowed under the law. I would not want to be the test case. Besides, they are the UGLIEST set up! LOL

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

A grip only a politician or an bureaucrat could love. Good review of the options for those of those bound by such "wisdom".

[imarangemaster]

The same day I shot my Saiga, I took my PSA bargain to the local 50 yard indoor rifle range to to do an initial dial in and battle sight. (I use the old M16A1 25 yard target, where you aim at the bottom of the small black silhouette, and POI is just over 1" below POA for a 250 yard zero).

Conditions were less than optimal, as the guy in the next bay had to have the floodlights behind us on, so he could see to load his single shot 22 target rifle. With that in mind, he had the only good rifle rest set up, and I had the old, wobbly sled to use for my rifle.

With the rear floodlights glaring on my rear sight, first I dialed in the irons, a flip up A2 style BUIS unit with a steel body, rather than aluminum. (see original picture). I like the unit itself, as it is sturdy and precise with no wobble. I was using Federal 100 pack .223 55 grain from Walmart.

I finally got it dialed in on the desired POI. with 25 yard groups in the neighborhood of half an inch, which considering the glare on the back of the sight from the flood lights and the lousy rest, I'll call good enough for now (God, what I would give for a real outdoor range up here!). The glare on the rear sight was so bad, I didn't even bother trying 50 yards with the irons. I had politely asked him to turn it off, but as he was there first, and said he "could not see to load and adjust his sights without it!" Argh, get some glasses! I'm old too, but seriously....I did not bother wasting any MK262 MOD1 77 grainers to finish my dialing-in for my "Duty Ammo" at this time.

Then I switched to the Bushnell TRS-32 red dot. Up to this point, I have been a fan of the Tasco 20 and 30 mm shotgun scopes, like the Pro-point and vintage Accu-dot. Since I got the Bushnell as a refurb for $79 INCLUDING shipping (half price) I thought I would try it.

I like it! It co-witnesses perfectly with the BUIS up. I co-witnessed it to the BUIS to get it close, then dropped the rear sight and switched to TRS-32 only at 50 yards to fine tune it. Just a couple clicks different, and I got it dialed in POA/POI at 50 yards. With the spotlight behind me, the glare was still awful, and I had to have the red dot on the highest setting. Even at that, the group hovered at 1.5" to 2" for 10 shot strings at 50 yards. That will easily hit a 12x12 at 200 yards.

I can't wait to try my MK262 MOD1 at an outdoor range.

Anyway, after I had fired up my 223 ammo, and was just switching to the 7.62x39 Saiga, The other old guy left and the spotlight finally went off!

[Vincent]

I like the look of the Thorsden, but not on an AR. To me it looks like it belongs on a Star Wars movie prop gun.

Keep up the good work. It’s nice to see your enthusiasm hasn’t been dampened by the rather odd laws you have out there.