Finished my new build and reworked my original AR

11B3XCIB · Dec 21, 2012

Not sure why the photo is so tiny, but here's what I started out with:

Here's what I had when I was finished:

I am looking at getting a PA Micro dot or a Vortex Sparc or something for the FDE rifle. My goal is to keep the weight down on it. Right now, it's at about 7.8lbs unloaded. The black rifle weighs 10.5lbs. Other than that, the only other upgrade I'm planning comes in the form of a tax stamp which I'm expecting any day.

It was a little easier to do this a couple months ago, but I bought all the parts when PSA had them on sale, trying to build a premium M4 package myself rather than buying one. I got out about $225 cheaper than if I had bought the identical model off the shelf waiting for things to come on sale.

heymatthew · Dec 22, 2012

Well done! Love the forward rail on that first gun. Both look great!

11B3XCIB · Dec 22, 2012

The rail is a 12.37" Samson Evolution rail made specifically for Rainier Arms.

Instead of a round tube, it's multi faceted for grip and comes with a couple rail sections and a QD swivel mount. It mounts with no special tools; just two crescent shaped metal pieces that hook over the barrel nut and it tightens on with two allen screws. Super easy.

Pops · Dec 27, 2012

I like the forward rail on the bull barrel. I've look at options like that and I found a lot of them tend to be rough on my hands to shoot.
For some reason the manufacturers like to put rails on the top, the bottom, the sides.
I like the look as well as the clean design.
Have you shot it since you put it together? How's the balance?
The Ar I have is configured more like the one with desert tan parts.
Pops

11B3XCIB · Dec 27, 2012

Pops said:
I like the forward rail on the bull barrel. I've look at options like that and I found a lot of them tend to be rough on my hands to shoot.
For some reason the manufacturers like to put rails on the top, the bottom, the sides.
I like the look as well as the clean design.
Have you shot it since you put it together? How's the balance?
The Ar I have is configured more like the one with desert tan parts.
Pops

The Samson Evolution has a full length rail on the top but I solved the sharp edge problem with Magpul ladder rail covers down the full length. They make that design with the triangles for Rainier Arms, and this version is sold through Samson:

The design allows you to mount the rail sections at 45 degree angles like in the picture rather than at 12, 3, 6, and 9 oclock

Both are smooth, and are narrow enough you can wrap your hand around it.

The rail is sturdy and balances nicely, it's the heavy barrel that makes it a little front heavy, but the ACS stock helps balance it out. The barrel is also by Rainier and it's a tack driver. I've put about 300 rounds through it and the only issues were ammo related: I had a primer literally fall out of a new Lake City XM193 round and dump the powder charge into my magazine :shock: