Another (*yawn*) AR15 project thread

[Joe Camo]

Figured with some of the recent AR15 inquiry and "build" threads, I'd add mine.

I wanted a "dual purpose" AR15 - one with a short 16" carbine bbl for good handling and easy carrying yet still be capable of MOA or better accuracy with "good" ammo - and be reliable with a wide variety of ammo - a tough combo to find.

I started with this mid-length upper kit from Palmetto for $549: http://palmettostatearmory.com/2277.php . I see the price has now gone up $10 since I ordered mine. Still a great price, I think, for a complete kit (minus stripped lower) with MOE furniture upgrades and a match-grade 1:8 stainless Wilson barrel. What really sold me on this barrel was an ARFCOM write-up I stumbled upon about the 15K+ round torture test ADCO did on a similar Wilson SS match barrel (including full auto dumps). It survived admirably so I figured this barrel could easily handle what little abuse I'd give it. Five days after I presssed the "submit order" button it was at my door. The fit, finish and quality of the parts and assembly looked top notch. It even came with a properly staked FA bolt carrier.

I missed out on the $50 PSA lower sale, so I picked up a stripped lower locally that matched the upper finish like they were anodized together. A couple hours later & it was together. The lower fit the upper perfectly with no gaps or play, and the MOE stock fit the buffer tube like a glove with no play. Needless to say, I was extremely pleased with everything.

I tossed on a rear folding BUIS and a cheap red-dot for the time being. I'm waiting on a couple 1/2" risers to mount a 1.5 - 4.5x scope with QD rings as the primary optic, so I can quickly switch between it and the BUIS ... or put the red dot back on if I want.

Haven't yet had a chance to shoot it due to other projects needing my attention - like reassembling a jeep in my garage - hopefully soon, though!





JC

[Snowgun]

The barrel looks TiN coated in that pic...that would be AWESOME.

Can you even see through that optic with it mounted so high?

[Joe Camo]

The scope probably looks higher than it actually is. The dot co-witnesses perfectly on top of the front sight post.

The color is off a bit in the pic, the barrel doesn't really have a goldish cast to it. I actually would prefer it to have had a matte finish since I don't care for shiney stainless on guns ... nothing a bead blaster can't fix though!

JC

[rugersol]

Nice rifle!

Lookin' around on there, found this ... same thing w/o MOE fer $499 ... if the bbl's any good, that's a helluva price!

Says on there, these bbl's are "PSA" ... I take it ya found somewhere they said they're Wilson?

Like to hear how it shoots!

[Joe Camo]

It is engraved "1/8 Wylde Palmetto" near the muzzle, but the chatter on several of the AR forums when this upper came out earlier this year said the PSA Facebook page (or some other social networking site) at one point made reference to it being a Wilson barrel.

I debated the base kit for $499, but getting all the MOE furniture for only another $50 was worth it to me.

JC

[justaguy]

Always good to see people posting about guns.

[Paul]

Always good to see people posting about guns.

Warning issued for trolling.

[Scott Notaeh]

Nice. I keep looking at the Palmetto Dissipators. Do Want.

[Scratch]

Nice, I'm planning on getting that exact same upper (but without the MOE) I'm ordering tomorrow.

[Joe Camo]

Nice. I keep looking at the Palmetto Dissipators. Do Want.

Same here, I really like the looks of those. My initial thought was to convert this one into a dissy, or at least my interpretation of one; we'll have to see what happens ...

JC

[JJ]

Nice. I keep looking at the Palmetto Dissipators. Do Want.

Same here, I really like the looks of those. My initial thought was to convert this one into a dissy, or at least my interpretation of one; we'll have to see what happens ...

JC

Out of curiosity, so you just like the look of the dissy upper from palmetto? I am curious since they are a "mock" dissy and only have the carbine gas system. As opposed to the true dissipator with a rifle length gas system.

[Scott Notaeh]

Nice. I keep looking at the Palmetto Dissipators. Do Want.

Same here, I really like the looks of those. My initial thought was to convert this one into a dissy, or at least my interpretation of one; we'll have to see what happens ...

JC

Out of curiosity, so you just like the look of the dissy upper from palmetto? I am curious since they are a "mock" dissy and only have the carbine gas system. As opposed to the true dissipator with a rifle length gas system.

JJ,

I like the idea of the shorter barrel for the carbine type maneuverability with the sight radius of a rifle length. I have heard that the rifle length gas system is not as reliable on the shorter barrel. I think a middy gas system would be optimal and I have read that Palmetto will have this available in a few weeks.

Here is what we are talking about for those who click links: http://palmettostatearmory.com/2243.php

[Joe Camo]

Personally, I like the looks of long handguards on the 16" or shorter barrels and front sights placed near the muzzle, all visual halmarks of the dissapator design. The long handguards also offer a practical benefit of heat shielding the full (or nearly so) length of the barrel.

Yep, a true dissapator has a 16"bbl with a rifle length gas tube and a bored out gas port to get the weapon to function reliably. I personally don't care for that setup; I'd prefer a mid-length gas system with a lo pro gas block under the handguards ... that, among other things, would be "my interpretation" of the original dissy design, as I alluded to in my previous post. Nothing says I have to accept the original mechanical design of the dissapator in order to like how it looks.

JC

[JJ]

.

Yep, a true dissapator has a 16"bbl with a rifle length gas tube and a bored out gas port to get the weapon to function reliably. I personally don't care for that setup; I'd prefer a mid-length gas system with a lo pro gas block under the handguards ... that, among other things, would be "my interpretation" of the original dissy design, as I alluded to in my previous post. Nothing says I have to accept the original mechanical design of the dissapator in order to like how it looks.

JC

Fair enough, i was just curious. the long sight radius is the only real benefit I can see myself, the short gas system can be overcome via a haevy buffer.

Myself, I'm not much of an irons guy so it holds no real interest to me. And if i decided I wanted the long sight radius I would do a low pro block and a FF rail-mounted sight to accomplish it. Many different ways to skin a cat.

[Joe Camo]

Myself, I'm not much of an irons guy so it holds no real interest to me. And if i decided I wanted the long sight radius I would do a low pro block and a FF rail-mounted sight to accomplish it. Many different ways to skin a cat.

Actually, that is exactly how I would build "my" dissy - a 15" FF tube (like a Troy TRX Extreme) on a 16" barrel with a sight at the end of the top rail. In fact, there is a newer SW M&P15 out very similar to this concept ... M&P15 TS ...I drool a little every time I see it.

JC