12-28-2017, 12:00 AM (This post was last modified: 12-28-2017, 12:03 AM by earlwb.)
I had bought the parts before Christmas and finished getting it together. My Christmas present to myself. I used a 24 inch Bear Creek barrel and BC bolt too. The receiver is a side charging one. That way I don't have any problems with the charging handle using a scope and cheekrest on the rifle. The hand guard doesn't have rails on it as it won't clear the 6-24x44 scope as mounted. But the scope has about 1/8 of a inch clearance right now. I still need to double check the chamber to make sure the headspace is OK though. Anyway they had some great sales before Christmas and I couldn't pass them up. I also got the reloading dies and empty cases, etc to load up some ammo for it as well. I did get some factory ammo to use as a reference too.
Very fun! I like those side chargers as well. Be careful with the exposed gas block and tube. They get hot and can leak a little as well. Don't burn your hand.
Frontier Gear Wrote:Very fun! I like those side chargers as well. Be careful with the exposed gas block and tube. They get hot and can leak a little as well. Don't burn your hand.
Thanks, yeah I was thinking about that myself too. Fortunately I am right handed, so that keeps my front arm out of the way. I think that one definitely needs the screw in back plug for the rear where the charging handle used to be. That keeps any blow by gasses from coming at your eye and face.
Primary Arms had it on sale at like 50% off and they showed the screw plug in the pictures, but it wasn't in the set when it arrived. They are rectifying it though, as they mailed out a plug to me already. It might have been a clearance kind of thing, and the plug wasn't part of the deal at the time. But in the future it is possible that the plug may be a optional kind of thing.
earlwb Wrote:Primary Arms had it on sale at like 50% off and they showed the screw plug in the pictures, but it wasn't in the set when it arrived. They are rectifying it though, as they mailed out a plug to me already. It might have been a clearance kind of thing, and the plug wasn't part of the deal at the time. But in the future it is possible that the plug may be a optional kind of thing.
Don't shoot it without the plug. They need it, as you already stated, to keep the hot gases out of your face. The BCA uppers all come with the plug screw except for the "stripped" side charging uppers. Which is kind of silly because their side charging uppers don't have forward assists or dust covers. You can buy just the plug screw for $10 from BCA. This makes sense as a spare part in case you loose the original. I'm not sure why they sell a proprietary upper without the proprietary plug screw. I can see it for their rear or "dual" charging uppers since they use standard charging handles, but not in this case. I'm glad that they are sending you one and making it right.
I've used or sold probably over 20 of the BCA side charging uppers and BCGs. Never once have I had a problem with them. All of my personal ones have worked flawlessly and no customer has ever come back with a complaint about them. Good uppers and BCGs, especially for the price.
12-30-2017, 04:28 AM (This post was last modified: 12-30-2017, 01:16 PM by earlwb.)
Thanks.
In case someone was wondering what we were talking about with the screw plug, here is a picture of it. It is made from aluminum, knurled and anodized black. With a side charging receiver, the slot where a charging handle would go is threaded to use this plug instead. Now with the AR15, it uses the gas pressure directly on the bolt.As the bolt moves to the rear, the gas tube end is exposed. So it is possible that some gasses might get pushed out of the slot where the charging handle used to be. it could be some oil spray from lubricants too. Thus your cheek and eye might get some spray on it from the oil and or gasses. Another good reason to where safety glasses or eye glasses anyway. But the plug simply screws in to the slot at the back of the upper receiver.
Like the build. Need a single photo of the entire thing, though.
I suggest a rifle tube and fixed A2-length stock with that barrel. Not gonna be riding shotgun or 3-gunning with a barrel that long.
Like the side charger, too. The plug is indeed important. It blocks gasses, and serves to hold the BCG in the upper receiver. Very important in event of KB...
As noted, BCA sells replacement parts direct. Plugs, handles, everything.... These parts also compatible with old LAR OPS-4 and OPS-22 uppers.
12-31-2017, 11:11 PM (This post was last modified: 01-01-2018, 02:57 AM by earlwb.)
Yeah I agree. I am still deciding on the stock I want to use, so I was just trying out on a regular carbine lower to see how it does and fit. etc. I do want a rifle length buffer tube and stock. Right now most of the stuff is sold out, so it makes it tough to decide. Thus I didn't show a full length picture of it yet. Not sure on the weight yet.
Timmy2Knives Wrote:Do you find that the scope height is too low as currently mounted? You must have a better neck than me ha
It seems Ok for me when i was testing it out at the time. I used a laser to boresight it. But it didn't seem to be a problem. It might be a problem if I use a cheek riser though. I will know for sure at the gun range later when I go and unlimber it some. But you are correct it is pretty low looking. But the scope is fairly large and makes it sort of look low too. I used medium height scope mount rings on it.
I had medium height rings on an AR. It was usable but I had to tilt my head sideways and scrunch my cheek down to see the full view.
I switched to high rings.
01-07-2018, 02:04 AM (This post was last modified: 01-07-2018, 02:06 AM by earlwb.)
OK, I built up a lower just for this upper. Since it was a rifle length gas tube barrel I used a rifle length A2 buffer tube and stock for it. The rifle weighs in at about 10.25 pounds without the magazine and ammo. The rifle is about 44 inches long as well. I already had all the lower parts and a lower on hand, but I didn't have a A2 stock though. I had them as spares, but what the heck, I might as well use them. I ran across an online store that still had some, so I ordered it. Before Christmas just about everyone was out of stock on a lot of stuff. I did think about the fancy Magpul and Lu'ther stocks but I don't think I really need one for this build. But I will keep it in mind though.
I am going to get a set of high scope rings and see how that feels to me too. But right now it has the medium height scope rings on it. it does seem to feel a little short, but I am not sure yet. I am also thinking about cutting off the sling loop on the rear sling mount and just keep the metal part as a nut for the rear buttpad screw. it sorta looks odd with one sling loop on it.
01-07-2018, 04:06 AM (This post was last modified: 01-07-2018, 04:07 AM by Tex Nomex.)
earlwb Wrote:OK, I built up a lower just for this upper. Since it was a rifle length gas tube barrel I used a rifle length A2 buffer tube and stock for it. The rifle weighs in at about 10.25 pounds without the magazine and ammo. The rifle is about 44 inches long as well. I already had all the lower parts and a lower on hand, but I didn't have a A2 stock though. I had them as spares, but what the heck, I might as well use them. I ran across an online store that still had some, so I ordered it. Before Christmas just about everyone was out of stock on a lot of stuff. I did think about the fancy Magpul and Lu'ther stocks but I don't think I really need one for this build. But I will keep it in mind though.
I am going to get a set of high scope rings and see how that feels to me too. But right now it has the medium height scope rings on it. it does seem to feel a little short, but I am not sure yet. I am also thinking about cutting off the sling loop on the rear sling mount and just keep the metal part as a nut for the rear buttpad screw. it sorta looks odd with one sling loop on it.
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I like the stock choice. It has a true rifle-length barrel, so a rifle stock just "looks right." I guess I'm a bit of a purist that way. I've got long arms, so I like the A2 with long barrels. Shoot it. If the gun feels too front heavy with the A2, you might try the A1.
How much of the weight is the optic? That thing is big.
Also like the Hogue hand guard. If you're creative, you can tape off the front and rear smooth areas and spray a thin coat of Flex Seal on the knurled area. Great for grip and keeps your hand from getting too cold or too hot.
Interesting idea on the hand guard, to use some flex seal on it. Thanks for the tip.
Yeah the huge scope is an experiment to see how it does. It weighs a little under 1 pound 4 ounces. With 6-24 magnification I maybe don't need to use a spotting scope.
Believe it or not, but it actually balances on the barrel nut. I was kind of surprised by that. So it seems to balance just fine for me like that. it does have me wondering where the M16 rifles, we used in the USMC balanced at though. But I do not remember anything about it though.
I was going to order a set of high scope mounts, but I had forgotten about a scope mount I had bought earlier. So I changed the scope mounts out for the taller one. It does seem to feel better. So I will go with it now. It is only the wait to try it out at the range next.
Looks good. A bit of shooting should help sort out scope ring height. There's a center of gravity mark on the M16 upper receiver that marks the balance point that is said to aid in adding a scope.
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Personally, I always try to move the balance point as far back as possible.
