I've heard Rosco and Faxon make some of their barrels but this is all they say about the SOCOM. "The Brownells Government Barrel Assemblies are manufactured by a US Government Contractor for M4 barrels, and held to exacting standards."
Great job, nice looking rifle. You cover a lot of important tips for assembly. I used the trigger that came in the parts kit for my M4A1 build, but just ordered the same Geissele set up. I actually prefer this type of trigger. The great thing about ARs is you can always upgrade parts as you desire (or can afford to pay for them) On my M16A2 build, though, I used a drop in, adjustable match trigger. That rifle has a heavier barrel and despite being a "clone" I set it up as a match target rifle. I also just ordered a Matech BUIS for the M4A1. I currently have a Colt carry handle on mine. I have not decided if I will ever spend nearly the same cost as the entire rifle to buy an ACOG. I'm not there yet. For the side swivel, I installed one of the pins before assembly and used a roll pin starter punch to start the 2nd pin. I had tried the wrench pliers and they just didn't seem to want to fit in the space. My last 2 rifle projects began with an estate sale find of two stripped Colt uppers, 1 of them an A2 and one of them an A4/M4 and a Colt carry handle. $75 for the A2 and $50 for the A4. Always keep your eyes open for the opportunity to start projects requiring irresponsible expenditures of $$$ 😎
My understanding is the Army M4A1 versions used primarily the MATECH and USMC/NAVY mostly used the KAC 300 or 200-600. I could not locate a new KAC anywhere but the MATECH is available. I found the wrench pliers are a little tricky but if you pre-install one of the pins first I found the wrench pliers worked the best from the bottom pin. It's a tricky little booger no matter how you do it. Mounting an ACOG using a cantilever mount for better eye relief was what I'm after but it seems the MAGPUL PRO was the only thing that fits under the American Defense mount without an additional spacer which gets the ACOG a little to high for my liking. I'll get it figured out but like you're saying for what you get and some of the mounting and eye relief issues the ACOG is very pricey. For now it's the carry handle which is how they first showed up to the armory before upgrades and the SOPMOD stuff started up. As for triggers I still lean towards a good single stage. The Geissele SSP is very good in my opinion. A lot of my builds start out as spare or used parts! Sometimes a new build will start from a single left over roll pin! Lol! Thanks Gary!
@@peteregger7928 I wasn't aware of the Matech/KAC difference between Army and Navy. I have seen some of the KAC sights for sale used. I got a good deal on the Matech. I have enough "take off" parts to finish out a couple of stripped lowers, but then I would just end up replacing them again. When I bought the M4A1 lower from PSA, they also had M16A4 lowers on sale ($39.99 each) and since my FFL will charge me the same transfer fee for as many guns as I put on one 4473, and since PSA had a flat $9.99 shipping cost...I bought one of those also. That's how is "save" money. I already finished the lower on that one. So, we both know where this is going. 😂
@@garyK.45ACP Maybe I'll just get the MATECH and do a new build Army version! Could just put the MATECH on this one and change all the video titles on this build series to ARMY. 1st option I think! Lol! If you already have a lower put together... I know enough to know where you're headed!
@@peteregger7928 I actually like the looks of the KAC sight. Reminds me of a tang sight on my Savage Model 99. But I got a great deal on a Matech...so, there you go. Sometimes, especially buying small parts, I try to get as much as possible in one order to save on shipping cost. So when I ordered the lower parts kit for the M4A1, I ordered 2 and put one in the M16A4 also. BTW, I use the 4-40 set screw to secure the take down pin detent which you showed in one of your videos. Cheap, easy upgrade. I think all lowers should come tapped that way. For any flattop AR build, I first test it with a very good quality Leupold scope I have, just to establish a "base" for accuracy comparison. I don't worry about "zeroing it" per se, but just get it on the paper to test the accuracy _of the build._ Then I take the scope off and install the final sights and zero the rifle. That also let's me know if the sight is working properly. I had one carry handle sight that was terrible. The windage would change when I flipped between apertures, and wouldn't return to zero for elevation or windage. I would not have known if it was the sight or the rifle if I hadn't established a baseline.
@@garyK.45ACP That's a good point when changing the aperture. I have a number of carry handle sights where the peep holes are drilled off center. That's very common in my experience. Who knows what's going on between the two?
The first AR I built is a commando clone, I'm pretty sure the buffer tube retainer hole is off so that Offset Buffer Retainer Pin is a good thing to know about thanks
Thanks for watching! That retainer pin issue turned out to be more common than I originally ever thought. Galloway Precision and now Brownells sells the off-set retainer pins.
Some of the stuff I've had for a while but using more current prices about $1,225.00. This does not include taxes or any shipping although I did shop around trying at least to avoid shipping. If you weren't in a hurry and waited for sales you could probably easily knock off at least $100 for the same parts I used... maybe more. You won't save much by building your own but at least it won't be slammed together by monkeys and things will be right as much as can be when you're done!
That midwest rail looks better than I thought it would, was not aware they had little lugs that match the barrel nut. Great build. I ordered two little tins of Aeroshell 64 off ebay because this series reminded me how many little things it's good for.
Aeroshell 64... it's the correct stuff! The only thing that could be an issue with the Midwest Industries rail is that they include QD holes at each end of the side rails which would prevent you from using the correct 11 rib RAS rail cover. I believe the 11 rib would still work on the top and bottom rails. The 9 rib rails should work on the sides but they would run up against the very edge of the QD holes. Probably would look the best with all 9 rib. I haven't tried any of this yet so just going off the different size rail cover dimensions.
Correct relationship between barrel extension and BCG bolt lugs which includes cam slot machining for correct locking and unlocking. This also affects the timing and mechanical dwell time. The relationship between the BCG carrier bearing surfaces and receiver bore ID. To tight or to loose which also affects how the BCG bolt engages with the barrel extension and how well the gas tube performs with the BCG gas tube interface. Some buffer tubes are rough machined and some are very well done being nice and smooth on the internal bore which allows for smooth buffer action. Gas port size and location on the barrel often dictates success or failure. Over gassed can cause premature wear and with insufficient buffering you get feeding and extraction issues with bolt bounce. Under gassed and get the same feeding and extraction issues and your rifle becomes a single shot. Improper gas also causes too little or too much gas dwell time. Sometimes the magazine well or magazine is off causing excessive BCG carrier drag and hold open issues on the last round. I can't point to just one thing as an AR is quite the balancing act. The three main areas I don't cut corners on is the barrel, BCG and also ensuring the upper receiver ID bore dimensions are good. With those three being right I can usually find a tuning or work around to get the rifle reliably functioning. My two most challenging builds were the DPMS pattern LR308's. I know what to do now but never again! I have not been defeated! $$$ Lol!
This Rifle Is One Of My Favorites You Have Done So Far Pete 😊😀❤️ Love It And Your a Member Like Me of The Carry Handle Gang 😀 I Cant Wait For a Lengthy Video Of It and Accuracy Testing Then When You Get Your Trijicon ACOG You Can Re Test It Again At Various Distance 😊😀👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼😇👍🏼
Thanks Chris! As is for now! Already blew June and July budgets! Still have the M16A2 project to finish so more to come on that one! Need to order a barrel and an A2 buttstock for it. I was just commenting with @garyK.45ACP that a lot of these new build projects start from spare or left over parts from other builds. He does the same thing! This M4A1 Retro project started from a single left over roll pin that I had! Lol!
A beautiful build, Pete, in addition to being an excellent tutorial! I just wish U - Tube allowed you to show the actual assembly process, but I find your videos very educational anyway. I see you had an actual Colt side mount sling attachment. Where did you purchase the "wrench pliers"? Thanks, Pete!
Thanks John! I've had a number of videos pulled down and the channel threatened for deletion although not recently since I changed how I show things. It's unfortunate that a protected freedom on two fronts is constantly attacked both the 1st and 2nd. The "wrench pliers" shown are Klein. I chose them over the Knipex brand because the lower jaw is reversible if you need teeth. The Colt side mount was purchased years ago but since then have turned into unobtainium. I think it was you and Gary that mentioned TNTE had a cage code version available although not Colt?
@@peteregger7928 Brownells has the side mount sling attachment for $49.99. It's out of stock right now, but they usually acquire more in a relatively short time. Thanks for the info. I take it you're not allowed to quote prices, going by your replies to some questions. Have a great day, Pete and I look forward to seeing you shooting the latest build on the range. I'm lucky, Pete. I live in the country, the N.Ga. mountains on our farm w/ lots of acreage & our property is surrounded by uninhabited mountains. It's beautiful, imho.
@@John-zf5wc I've lived in Missouri, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Ohio but mostly grew up in California. Nevada has been my home now for the last 25 years. I love your part of the country with all the trees and greenery. Some of my wife's family is in Lafayette, Louisiana. Southern living is completely different than the Southwest! Always struck by how friendly and polite people were in Lafayette! New Orleans is a completely different story! Atlanta the same way! Any big city in America is a disaster now! We all know why!
