First shots

[Cofisher]

Some of you may remember my interest in building a ‘black gun’. I have succeeded! Put twenty rounds into a berm today. It is everything I was hoping for.

I made it in 6.5 grendel. A small, fast round. 123 grain is the average bullet weight. Moving around 2400 FPS. It’s report is similar to the 223. I put a muzzle device that focuses sound away from the shooter. It works. A very mild recoil, again no more than the 223.

One minor glitch with first rounds. A couple times the bolt did not close fully. Looking into that now. Should not be too hard to get it right.

Next time out I will get it on paper.

[JEBar]

have to hand it to you, that's something way above my own paygrade .... I won't ride in a boat or airplane I've built nor will I ever shoot a firearm I've made ...

[Vaquero]

Sounds like you've done well, I've built a couple lowers, but
not an upper yet though. I do have a stripped one that matches one of the lowers.
Maybe one day.
Be interesting to see it on paper. Congrats on the build.

RP

[wolfman]

Grendel seems like a great cartridge for that platform. Throws more lead than the 5.56 but little/no more blast & recoil.

[Cofisher]

That was my reasoning. Just getting started, but it seems to hold true. Really liking it.

[leverjc]

Sound like a great build. I think there are a lot more interesting calibers out there for the AR than .223. I like mine in .223 but the one I built in 300Hamr is more versatile. My son built an AR in 6.5 Grendal and thinks it is the best thing since ice cream. Have fun shooting.

[Mgderf]

have to hand it to you, that's something way above my own paygrade .... I won't ride in a boat or airplane I've built nor will I ever shoot a firearm I've made ...

To each their own, but assembling an AR15 is a piece of cake.
I built my first AR15 in my dining room, by myself, with no more instruction that a tutorial I found on AR15.com
It took me all of 45 minutes to complete that first lower, mainly because I sent a detent pin into low-earth orbit and had to go searching for the thing.
That was a .223

I've since built more, for myself and many others.
I've now assembled complete AR15's, and a couple of AR10's, in .223, .300Blackout, 6.5 Grendel, 7.62x39, .308 Winchester, and 9mm.

Building AR15's is nothing more than an adult erector set.
They just go bang when you're done.

[Cofisher]

Well, it’s been a while. My rifle suffered from extraction and loading issues. I adjusted and tuned for some time. It finally came down to the bolt. Replacing the bolt that came with the barrel solved all my issues. I had purchased a bcg with appropriate bolt. I used the bolt that came with the barrel. It appears that was the mistake. Changed the bolt, like magic it works as advertised.

So, a defective bolt to be returned. I will finally be able to put some rounds on target. Not long til I will be able to use it for deer hunting.

An educational experience. As the whole build has been. Feeling much better about it.

Will show sight in results soon.

[Headhog]

Congratulations. Glad you got it working as it should. AR's can be a great source of fun. Or frustration when they don't run correctly.

Paul

[Cofisher]

Yup. Happy smile today.