Building an AR Puppy

I would have to sort, but I have a pile of mixed head stamps.

300 BLK brass arrived. The box was all beat to heck, but there was a bag inside that was intact with the brass. Haven't had time to open and inspect. I need somewhere to store them. Looks like a trip to the Home Depot for another plastic bin.

Was the box one of those flat rate boxes?

Yes. USPS. Inside was another USPS item, a bag, but it was intact.

The brass looks really nice. Well made, edges nicely finished.

Dev, you gonna play around with any subsonic loading or just stick with supers for now?

For now I will probably stay with supersonic. I plan on hunting with this in a couple months, so I have work to do, getting sighted in, finding a good load, etc.

Subsonic seems either too pistol-y or basically a can round. Since I am not allowed to own a can (us citizens are just not reliable!) I don't see much use for the sub's. They are not so good for hunting, and simply heavy, which I suspect puts wear and tear on the weapon.

Shot any of your loads yet?

Not yet, Corn. You have the built-in range. I have to make a production of it. And I haven't even settled on what load to create.

Comps. Or muzzle brakes. Name them what you want, most AR's have one.

?So who's schooled on which is great, which OK, which not worth it. I have the comps that came with the 2 uppers that I bought, one from Sig and one from YHM. I put a Wilson comp/flash hider on the .300BLK. I have no idea whether they work well, or don't contribute much to the shooting. I have no experience with any others.

So I read about this https://www.houldingfirearms.com/product/hpf-irish-curse/ comp. It is, of course, suppose to be the cat's meow. But I wouldn't know.

?So is anyone schooled in the different comps out there. Wish Ballard was around.

My preference leans towards the suppressor I am putting on the rifle. I have a few AAC flash hiders with external teeth which allow the suppressor to screw directly on. I have a few SWR flash hiders on the other rifles.

I'm facing the same concerns and choices.

It all depends on what's your mission for the firearm. For example: if it's home defense and could be shot indoors, you'll want a (relatively) quiet compensator. This one is supposed to be good: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/PRI-MSTN-QC-Brake-p/pri%20qc%20comp%2005-0089b.htm

If you want one to eliminate muzzle rise, all the cool kidz shooting 3 Gun have a favorite. And I can't find it now.

And be sure to check your state's laws. Kali allows compensators, but not the vastly more evil flash hiders.

Well, I suppose one can create a higherarchy of characteristics.

I would put muzzle control at the top.
I would put quiet before not quiet.
I am not sure where I would put flash hider. I know overseas the sniping rifle had no flash hider, and the snipers were not happy being out in the dark alone as they felt if they fired it was like firing a 106 recoiless.
I would put crown protection last. ANY comp/flash hider will protect the crown.

?So do you know of an article that compares various comps for efficacy.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/22829785/AR15-Compensators-pt-2 <-- this looks really good

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/11/foghorn/ask-foghorn-best-muzzle-brakes-for-the-ar-15/

I'm still looking for that 3 Gun recommended comp. @#$%^&*!

One thing you should be aware of: a compensator works by channeling the gases to the sides and up, which can impact people and things nearby. One dooood 4-5 stations to the left had a brandy new compensator. With the first trigger pull he became the most hated guy on the range: damn thing was LOUD! Worked well, tho.

Ah, yes. I clearly recollect that phenomenon when I was hunting dogs. My partner had a .243 Ackley Improved with a comp and that sucker was LOUD. Even outside. Noticeably so.

Thanks for the links. I will look them up later.

Your first link my firewall software won't let me access.

Your second one mentioned two - not exactly an exhaustive review. But he does mention your previous one from Bravo Co.

?You looked at that one from Houlding - the Irish Curse.

Devereaux wrote:Your first link my firewall software won't let me access.

Your second one mentioned two - not exactly an exhaustive review. But he does mention your previous one from Bravo Co.

?You looked at that one from Houlding - the Irish Curse.

1)   Hmm... my PC is locked down 30 ways from Sunday and I can still access the article. I read a bit of it and it looks like a very good one.  Try another browser? Shut down the firewall? Or try this: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=91837  Part 1 - the link is part 2

2)   A gunnie told my the quietest muzzle brake is no muzzle break. Of course, you have a punkin sized flash.  

3)   Thought whiskey was the Irish Curse....  Man, that compensator looks involved and expensive -- which would make it a Scot's curse. [Edit:] Expensive - but not all that bad.

Charlie Foxtrot wrote:

Devereaux wrote:Your first link my firewall software won't let me access.

Your second one mentioned two - not exactly an exhaustive review. But he does mention your previous one from Bravo Co.

?You looked at that one from Houlding - the Irish Curse.

1)   Hmm... my PC is locked down 30 ways from Sunday and I can still access the article. I read a bit of it and it looks like a very good one.  Try this: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=91837  Part 1 - the link is part 2

2)   A gunnie told my the quietest muzzle brake is no muzzle break. Of course, you have a punkin sized flash.  

3)   Thought whiskey was the Irish Curse....  Man, that compensator looks involved and expensive -- which would make it a Scot's curse. [Edit:] Expensive - but not all that bad.

OK. THAT worked. AND there are at least 6 or 7 in the test. I will read it as work allows. Thanks.

Hey. I liked that article! It was informative, non-biased, honest, and seemed fair. It even included reasonable caveats. Perhaps I need to get that TTI comp. Might be nice if it's in .308 - it would go on the .300BLK.

Thank you, CF, for a great link.

De nada.

The Pt 2 is actually better; you should work on getting it through your firewall.  The Miculek compensator is well respected.


.308 version

INCIDENTALLY - if no one has noticed, Brownell's is running a sale on lowers. Some name company.

$50 per! Almost tempted to buy a couple just to have.

Uggg.... too many good deals lately.  I guess that is a good problem to have.  Unfortunately, I don't have any 'extra' funds to spend, and probably won't until tax return season.  I have a completed AR lower just sitting there in the safe.  Don't know what it will turn into... maybe one of these:

Tac-Sol AR22 SBX

or maybe one of these:

.458 socom

or perhaps something like this:

6.5 grendel

A bit expensive when you add a new caliber to the loading table. New bullets, dies, etc... It is nice to have options though.

I've been happy with my DD 6.8 SPC II upper. And it seems to be getting some traction with the military lately - but I think that is but a faint hope.

OK. I'm STILL having "issues" with my Sig 516 upper. Took it and the BLK to the range the other day. Ostensibly it was to sight in the BLK, but I had about 100 rounds in brand new mags to shoot. Got part way through the second mag - and a shell jammed on loading! I have no clue what all this is.

I have one trick still to try. Switch the gas piston selector to wide open, or 3rd position. Perhaps that is intended to shoot .223, which is what I believe I have. MAYBE with a little more oomph the thing will cycle better. Else I have no idea what all is the issue.

AR's are suppose to SHOOT. Under all conditions. (Well, I know. I got a little carried away. Still, it is supposedly a MUCH better POS than the POS we had in Nam.) I sense this is a piston issue.

I would try a call into Sig and see what they say.  Time to test Sig's customer service maybe?

How did the 300 blk rifle do? What kind of ammo are you shooting out of your 300 blk?

The BLK did terriffically. I sighted in the Aimpoint Comp4s, and although it took a lot of "up" to get it on target, once it was there, it shot nicely.

I was shooting commercial stuff. 150gr Hog Hammer, I believe it is called. Midway I think had a special on it, and it looked like decent hunting ammo, so I bought some. Comes with nickle cases. Rifle ran well. I am ready; now only the deer need to comply.