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.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Printable Version

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.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Hank Rearden - 03-18-2013

First off let me say thank you to all of the members here who have taught me so much over the past 6 months. There is an amazing amount of knowledge on this forum, and I appreciate all who have contributed and maintain this site.

Conception;
Several years ago I read an article in some unremembered magazine about some new crazy 6.5 load for an AR-15, and the seed was planted. I loved my 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser and thought how cool would it be to have that in a semi-auto package. At that point I was hooked.

Obama Reelected;
"Shit" Placed the order for my receiver on November 7th the day after. "Better get started before he does".

I chose a Black Rain Billet receiver set (my second). They are my "Home Town Team" and they really make a great product.
[Image: IMG_7272_zpsedb00776.jpg]

Newtown, Connecticut Shootings;
"Holy Cow, where are all the parts?"

Barrel,
McGowen 18" Stainless double flute, 1-8 twist, rifle gas. These were made for Loki before they closed the doors. Nitride dipped and came with a Les Baer bolt.
[Image: IMG_7264_zps2c1fdbd7.jpg]

Hand Guard;
Seekins SP3R. I like the shape, and think the flat bottom will be very handy.
[Image: IMG_7283_zps41c77fa1.jpg]

Butt Stock;
Magul UBR, Wanted to balance out the weight of an 18" barrel. Heavy but I have one on another rifle and really like it.


Misc parts;
JP adj. gas block
JP Standard-Profile Compensator
Magpul MIAD Grip


All Metal parts are being Cerakoted in Magpul FDE. The Handguard, Grip, and Buttock are getting a hand painted Multicam finish. I'll be picking them up on Wednesday.
Here is the photo that my finisher sent me this morning.
[Image: Hillbilly_zps63914295.jpg]

Hoping to get started on the assembly this weekend, but I'm still waiting on a few supplies.

I'll post more as the build progresses.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - LRRPF52 - 03-19-2013

Ooooh. Now we're talking. I like that barrel, 18" RLGS. All your other components are top-notch as well. What is the gas port diameter? That barrel will run more optimally with the 120-130gr class of bullets. 107gr and 108gr should run fine too, as they have longer shanks/engagement surface with the rifling to help build pressure.

It will be interesting to see what velocities you'll get with that 18"/RLGS.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Hank Rearden - 03-19-2013

LRRPF52 Wrote:Ooooh. Now we're talking. I like that barrel, 18" RLGS. All your other components are top-notch as well. What is the gas port diameter? That barrel will run more optimally with the 120-130gr class of bullets. 107gr and 108gr should run fine too, as they have longer shanks/engagement surface with the rifling to help build pressure.

It will be interesting to see what velocities you'll get with that 18"/RLGS.

I'm not sure how to go about measuring the port diameter. Are there gauges
or can it be done with my calipers?

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - jroger3 - 03-19-2013

Looks like you are going to have great looking rifle when done. Be careful with the Seekins handguard screws. Make sure you note where the short ones go and be careful starting them. I had heard that they strip easily so I was being careful and ended up stripping one of mine anyway. My guard had burrs on the underside of countersunk holes that needed filing down before I could slip it on. Hate paying $200 and still have to file away. But it looks really cool and rides my benchrest bag great.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Whelenon - 03-19-2013

Nice package, look forward to the completed rifle.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Hank Rearden - 03-19-2013

Mine had the burrs as well. Filed them off while doing the prefit.
jroger3 Wrote:Looks like you are going to have great looking rifle when done. Be careful with the Seekins handguard screws. Make sure you note where the short ones go and be careful starting them. I had heard that they strip easily so I was being careful and ended up stripping one of mine anyway. My guard had burrs on the underside of countersunk holes that needed filing down before I could slip it on. Hate paying $200 and still have to file away. But it looks really cool and rides my benchrest bag great.


.264 LBC Birth Announcement - LRRPF52 - 03-19-2013

Hank Rearden Wrote:I'm not sure how to go about measuring the port diameter. Are there gauges
or can it be done with my calipers?

You can use drill bits or your calipers.
[Image: 90gasport.jpg]

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Hank Rearden - 03-21-2013

Measured the gas port with a drill bit and my calipers. .082 is the diameter.
Does that seem OK? Also picked up most of parts from the finisher, and should have the lower finished soon.
LRRPF52 Wrote:You can use drill bits or your calipers.
[Image: 90gasport.jpg]


.264 LBC Birth Announcement - LRRPF52 - 03-21-2013

Bill A. found that .094" gas ports are most optimal for 20" and 24" barrels, while 16" MLGS barrels have a .078" gas port. I'm not sure what the MLGS 18" have, but you will want more than that with a RLGS 18", so .082" sounds like a good starting point. With factory 123gr, you should be running well. Who knows what it will do with 100gr and under with moderate/lighter loads. I guess we shall see.

I'm interested to see if 123gr loads that produce certain velocities in 20" barrels will be within 50fps out of yours, since you have a RLGS.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Hank Rearden - 03-21-2013

The Lower is complete.
I have a Geissele trigger on order, but I'll use the one that came with the lower parts kit until it shows. Still waiting on a few upper parts. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Image: IMG_7309_zpsdb8e847f.jpg]

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - montana - 03-22-2013

Top notch, your going to have a great looking rifle. Let us know how it shoot's.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - usmc1371 - 03-22-2013

Looks good so far. The horde like to see the end result.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Shivesy - 03-24-2013

It's good to see that someone else is shooting a McGowen barrel. I'm interested in how yours shoots. I have no complaints on the one they did for me. I assume the barrel you have is a 6.5BPC correct? My 20" RLGS needed to be opened up to .093 (3/32 drill bit) to function properly. When it came from McGowen the port hole was way small (.062) Best thing I found to do is oil up the bolt carrier real good and make sure your gas assembly is installed correctly. Add one round into your chamber and put in a empty magazine into your mag well. After you shoot off your round the bolt should lock back behind the magazine. If the bolt doesn't lock back you could be undergassed. (gas port to small)
Don't mean to alarm you because when you get your AR together and it shoots fine, then your good to go. But if your bolt doesn't lock back behind the empty mag, just remember that you MIGHT just have to open up the gas port a bit. Like another poster stated "you never know until you shoot it".

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Hank Rearden - 03-27-2013

Spent a few minutes tonight polishing the feed ramps. Also knocked off the sharp inside edge on the 2 and 3 oclock lugs.

Before

[Image: 9b0cddec-0464-49ce-b1e1-07a2013c9d56_zps2d8ad6c8.jpg]

After

[Image: IMG_7317_zps3a2ce25e.jpg]

Sorry about the photo quality, hard to focus that close.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Hank Rearden - 04-02-2013

Here she is Gentlemen...

[Image: bdeaaa5b-8e9d-491d-b64e-b800834ce7dc_zpse3124531.jpg]

The only thing missing is the full auto carrier. FailZero sent me the tracking # Friday and it should be here on Wednesday.

I've managed to shag a few boxes of Hornady loaded 123 Amax for the function test and break in. I'm also going to be working up a load with TAC and some Nostler 123 custom comps.

Thanks again for the combined knowledge found here.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - rickOshay - 04-02-2013

I'll be interested in your range results with the NCCs riding TAC.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Hank Rearden - 04-02-2013

rickOshay Wrote:I'll be interested in your range results with the NCCs riding TAC.

It will probably be a few weeks, but I'll make sure to get them to you.

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - LRRPF52 - 04-02-2013

Very nice. What buffer are you using?

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - Hank Rearden - 04-02-2013

LRRPF52 Wrote:Very nice. What buffer are you using?

Going to test the H2 and standard spring out of my other rifle, and then make a final decision.

What do you think?

.264 LBC Birth Announcement - LRRPF52 - 04-02-2013

That should work out for you, as long as the spring is a carbine spring and you're shooting 120-123gr. The worst I can see is that you would have to go to a lighter carbine buffer of 2.9oz, or open your gas port, but with your port diameter, I'm thinking she will run smoothly.

One reliability tip I will mention is to radius your ejector face. This seems to be helpful with the Grendel because the wider bolt face allows for case rims to come in at an angle that sometimes hangs up on the ejector face edge, especially a sharp ejector face, so a nice radius will allow smooth transition of the case head into the bolt face.

This is a common practice with hi-power shooters. Here's an unmodified 5.56 bolt. Notice the flat ejector face with a sharp edge to it:

[Image: 2013-04-01222249_zps2b4f0846.jpg]

Here's a modified ejector on one of my 6.5 Grendel bolts:

[Image: 2013-04-01221743_zps8f017d09.jpg]