My Bushmaster M4 Build-in-Progress

[esrice]

In the spirit of Fenway's "About to Pimp My AR" thread ( https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/long_guns/27014-about_to_pimp_my_ar.html ) I thought I would share the start of my EBR journey into BRD.

At the beginning of March I purchased a NIB Bushmaster Patrolman's M4 Carbine (M4gery) from a fellow INGOer. He was kind enough to include 5 extra magazines.

The purpose of this rifle is to be multi-faceted. It will be used for plinking (.22), target shooting (Appleseed perhaps?), SHTF/Zombies, and for home defense. It is also my intention to hit a carbine class (or two, or three).

For the latter reasons, I wanted something that wouldn't completely break the budget, but also something that didn't cheap out on what I think counts the most: usability and reliability. That's why I picked what I felt was a good solid manufacturer squarely in the "middle-ground" of the AR world. Sure, a Colt or an LMT would've been the bees knees, but right now they are priced out of my range.

A big thanks to all those INGOers in the Long Guns section that helped provide ample information on the AR platform. With your help I felt confident in making the decisions that I did. A special thanks goes to Mark (shooter521) for all the question answering that he provided during my search. He's a wealth of knowledge and a pretty good guy at that. If you have a Glock/AR/AK question and you need 1st hand answers, he's your guy.

Ok, on to the pr0n. . .

Bushmaster M4 Patrolman's Carbine
Removeable carry handle
5.56 caliber
1:9" twist
Chrome-lined bore and chamber
6-position collapsible stock

Soon to add:

Ergo Suregrip
Magpul Enhanced Trigger Guard
Midwest Industries Free-float 2-piece quadrail
Streamlight TLR-1 weapon light (not pictured)
Aimpoint CompC3 2moa

I'll be sure to post 'after pics' after she's all done! (done for now anyway)

Future plans include:
BUIS (the Troy units sure look nice)
Optic Mount (drinking the LaRue kool-aid)
Sling (1-, 2-, 3-point? Who knows!?)
Mags (PMAGS)
.22 Conversion (Spike's)
Stock (Magpul CTR w/friction lock)
VFG (something stubby)
Rail covers (liking the Magpul XT and ladders) w/INGO patch

 

[NateIU10]

All that stuff (excluding the trigger guard) will take 5-15 mins, max. Get going man!!!

My problem is that once something comes in the mail, I have to do it right then, no matter what

Oh, and watch that spring and detent in the grip

 

[esrice]

All that stuff (excluding the trigger guard) will take 5-15 mins, max. Get going man!!!

My problem is that once something comes in the mail, I have to do it right then, no matter what

Oh, and watch that spring and detent in the grip

The quadrail will take a bit more time, as the delta ring will need to be cut off. The rest of it should be fairly straight forward, but I'm gonna have Mark walk me through everything (and provide the tools ).

I did learn the detent spring trick from a YouTube video.

 

[NateIU10]

is it one that clamps over the cut off part of the external rings?

Either way, you sir, are much more patient than I. I can already hear the faint buzz of the dremel Good luck on it all!

 

[Gray Squirrel]

Might as well put in a good two stage match trigger and make that thang really sweet.

 

[esrice]

is it one that clamps over the cut off part of the external rings?

Yes.

Midwest Industries MCTAR-20

 

[shooter521]

A special thanks goes to Mark (shooter521) for all the question answering that he provided during my search. He's a wealth of knowledge and a pretty good guy at that. If you have a Glock/AR/AK question and you need 1st hand answers, he's your guy.

Thx.

 

[esrice]

Thx.

Don't thank me until after all the other AR-newbs come calling and I have to start vying for your time. You'll hate me then.

 

[bigcraig]

Well, since your are following in Fenways footsteps, when are you going to buy a suppressor?

 

[esrice]

Well, since your are following in Fenways footsteps, when are you going to buy a suppressor?

The same time my imaginary 10.5" barrel comes in. Crack dealer.

I guess I need to half-thank Craig for solidifying my decision to buy the Aimpoint vs. an EOThingy. (poor Fenway got so much CRAP for that, even from Mike @ Raven!)

 

[jblomenberg16]

Nice rifle! As far as Optics mounts go, I really like the Aimpoint QRP mount. It works great on my Aimpoint clone, so I'm sure it would work just as well on the real McCoy!

It puts the sight high enough for the desireable lower 1/3 co-witness with your irons. I like to shoot mine with the rear BUIS folded out of the way. Gives me a faster acquisition. With the irons up its just like shooting regular irons, just with the addition of a nice red dot at the top of the Front Post.

 

[shooter521]

Nice rifle! As far as Optics mounts go, I really like the Aimpoint QRP mount.

It puts the sight high enough for the desireable lower 1/3 co-witness with your irons.

I like the QRPs, too. They're rugged, they work, and because they are "old technology," you can pick 'em up for a song from the ARFcom guys who are constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses. I bought two that way for $50 apiece in VG+ condition with the M4 spacer. I would still be running them on my primary guns, if I hadn't won LaRue mounts at Pat Rogers' carbine course two years in a row!

All that said, the QRP with the M4 spacer gives a "true" co-witness, with the iron sights lining up in the middle of the Aimpoint window. I found that to be a bit cluttered even with the rear sight stowed, and prefer the lower 1/3 co-witness that the LaRue mounts provide.

YMMV.

 

[cosermann]

the delta ring will need to be cut off.

Do you mean the barrel nut? The delta ring comes off with a pair of snap ring pliers.

 

[shooter521]

Do you mean the barrel nut? The delta ring comes off with a pair of snap ring pliers.

No, he means the delta ring. The snap ring can be removed with the proper tool, but removing the underlying weld spring and the delta ring itself from an assembled barrel means either dismounting the FSB, or cutting the delta ring and spring off. Mr. Dremel makes the latter process much faster and easier than the former.

Midwest Industries MCTAR-20
(Note first item under "Features")

 

[ARdysfunction]

I prefer to take off the FSB and have a spare delta ring for future builds. Depending on how many rounds have been through the rifle the taper pins can be a real pain, or come out fairly easy. If you heat it up with a butane torch it helps on the stubborn ones.

But the dremel way is defiantly quick.

Nice looking build you have going!

 

[cosermann]

No, he means the delta ring. The snap ring can be removed with the proper tool, but removing the underlying weld spring and the delta ring itself from an assembled barrel means either dismounting the FSB, or cutting the delta ring and spring off. Mr. Dremel makes the latter process much faster and easier than the former.

Midwest Industries MCTAR-20
(Note first item under "Features")

Oh, I see, it's a 2-piece handguard. That makes sense.

But, the snap ring, spring, and delta ring can indeed be removed from a barrel assembly without cutting anything off. You do have to remove the barrel, but once the barrel is removed, the snap ring is the only thing holding the delta ring/spring on the barrel nut.

If one doesn't want to remove the barrel, then of course cutting is the only option.

 

[rhino]

That's a good idea, but removing the front sight base defeats the purpose of getting a two-piece handguard that you can install . . . without removing the front sight base. If you're going to remove it anyway, you can just use a one-piece freefloat fore end and save some $$$.

I prefer to take off the FSB and have a spare delta ring for future builds. Depending on how many rounds have been through the rifle the taper pins can be a real pain, or come out fairly easy. If you heat it up with a butane torch it helps on the stubborn ones.

But the dremel way is defiantly quick.

Nice looking build you have going!

 

[rhino]

By the way . . . no AR is on the road to true pimpatude until you get at least two lights mounted on it.

 

[ARdysfunction]

Good point Rhino...Guess I didn't really think that one through. I only have one rail system that is two piece the rest are all one.

 

[esrice]

By the way . . . no AR is on the road to true pimpatude until you get at least two lights mounted on it.

*goes shopping for a second light. . .*