My 5.56mm project

[Spring]

In 1994 I bought a full-auto M-16. I soon took it out to shoot it and it never worked properly. The bullets just wouldn't feed from the magazine. About 2 months ago a friend of mine that is a Colonel in the USMC got me with one of their small arms specialist to see what the problem was. Seems there was no problem at all with the gun--only the cheap bulk ammo I had bought for it. With quality bullets, it was in perfect shape. As you know, since my gun was made the military has updated these guns, though the action is basically the same. Most newer guns, of course, only shoot in 3-shot burst, as compared to full-auto like mine. Seeing the new version of these guns being carried by our guys in Baghdad, as compared to my version which was carried the Mei Cong Delta, I decided I wanted to update my gun. I've finished it now, though I'll be adding a vertical foregrip next week. Here are the before and after shots. What do you think?

Before:

After:

 

[hntnnut]

I LIKE!!!!!


Richard

 

[machine]

GGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ that looks SWEET!!!
My Bushmaster wont work with cheap ammo either.........

 

[luvthegsp]

I Likey!!!!!

 

[plan_b]

I like the old school A1 look more.

 

[Spring]

The new guns are not for everyone, but it's nice that you can change these guns as needed over time. The new version's ability to become longer or shorter as conditions warrant, or to more easily move around in close quarters, has it in high demand by those that use these things for a living vs the old design that is fixed and long in its structure.

 

[Bwana Turtle]

That looks great ! I wouldn't go for the verticle foegrip though . Just my

I just hope you thank God every night that you don't live in Kalifornia !

 

[Spring]

I haven't firmly decided on using the vertical foregrip at all times, but I've got a Surefire light that I'm going to use on it periodically, and the light has a pressure switch that attaches to a VFG. I can also see why a VFG is popular with full-autos in that they could help control muzzle rise. Others like a VFG placed near the magazine so that it can allow for resting your elbow against your body when the gun is in a ready position for a longer period. Of course all of this is a function of somone's needs.
I really enjoyed putting this rifle together. I bought the original M-16 in 1994 and rarely shot it through
the years. A couple of months ago I got very interested in the opportunities available in upgrading this gun. After a variety of conversations with people that know much more about this than I do, I started working with Wes Grant @ MSTN. He really knows his stuff and was quite a resource.
Listed below are the things I've added to the gun so far:

LMT CQB MRP with 14.5" chrome-lined barrel
PRI Gas buster
LMT Full-auto bolt carrier group with extractor mod
EOTech 552 with LaRue 110 mount
Troy sights, front and rear
Magpul MIAD pistol grip
Phantom 5C2 flash hider
LMT SOPMOD stock
TangoDown VFG
KAC Q/D sling swivels
Surefire M962 light with LaRue mount

I have some C Products stainless steel magazines with the black mar-lube finish coming, which should look good. The gun shoots great, though it can really go through the bullets!

 

[MarinePMI]

All too often its not "cheap, bulk ammo" per se, but the fact that the powder they use does not generate enough gas to cycle the bolt.

M-4's/"Shorty's" are particularly sensitive to this...

BTW, nice weapon.

 

[z71stealth]

Very nice!

Been thinking about doing the same to my Bushmaster carbine, but lack the $$. I'm a bit on the fence about a vertical fore-grip, but then again mine doesn't have the fun button (full auto)...and it wouldn't be much use bump-firing... Anyway, do you know if you can get a pressure switch for the Surefire lights that could be mounted to the rail covers you've got? Seems like sticking it on partway back on the left side would make for easy pulsing using your thumb...