rob_s
10-21-2009, 06:06 AM
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q111/rob_s/gun%20stuff/DSC_3832.jpg
Colt 6933s seem to be cropping up more and more. These are hands-down the best of the best in my opinion. .625" diameter, 11.5" barrel, flattop upper with the correct front sight base. They ship with double-shield M4 handguards and a detachable carry handle, M4 stock, and A2 grip. I was lucky enough to find two back when they cost no more than a 6920 plus tax stamp. Some of you may recall my suppressed 6933 that people were so outraged had no sling or iron sights.
The first thing that has to go is the A2 grip. Yes you can install a gapper or a foam plug but that does nothing to address the obnoxious finger groove, which is the real problem with the stock grip. The stock is more than serviceable, but I like having a low-profile rubber pad. The double-shield handguards are good, but they are fat and if you want to attach anything to them it can be problematic or require drilling, and the handguard cap gets damn hot.
I elected to go with Magpul MOE furniture all around. Good guy pricing through Brownells is $17 for the grip, $48 for the stock (which comes integral with a rubber buttpad for slippage), and $25 for the handguard (which feels more like a FALK and covers the handguard cap in front). They sell a triggerguard for $7 too but I am using one of their metal triggerguards that I had left over from something else. If you're wondering about the colors, I use them to differntiate my rifles from each other at a glance in the safe. Black also gets hot in the sun. I have a green handguard to put on as soon as I'm done prototyping my sling and mount (more on that below). If I were doing it again I might do tan instead due to the heat issue.
Primary sighting is through an Aimpoint T-1 that currently sits in a Larue tall mount, but since I have little to no need to quick detach it I'll be swapping that for a Daniel Defense which is lighter and matches the rear sight which recently replaced a Larue as well for the same reasons. I prefer to use a higher optic mount and run fixed iron sights that I can see through the bottom of the optic if I need to for whatever reason. Commonly referred to at "lower 1/3 cowitness".
The sling is a Blue Force Gear Vickers Combat Applications Sling that I modified with a few parts to act like a much better version of the Magpul MS-2 to remedy most of the shortcomings of that product. It is easily capable of switching between a single- or a two-point sling depending on the need simply by moving the snap hook from the ring at the rear of the webbing to the ring on the forend. The rear attachment point is a Daniel Defense Rear Receiver QD Swivel Attachment Point that replaces the receiver endplate and accepts the QD sling swivel. The front attachment is a dremeled-down Mesa Tactical Adapter Mount Hook Loop. I cut a slot in the handguard and drilled a hole further to the rear, and attached it through the back of the handguard, which also required cutting down the heat shield inside. None of which was anywhere near as difficult as it sounds.
The light is a Surefire X300 which mounts to a Midwest Industries MCTAR-04 on the front sight base. No, the mount does not come loose and with the way the screw is captured by the light itself if it ever were to back out with the light on it it can't be lost. Yes, the light "only" puts out 110 lumens and is designed as a pistol light, but this is an SBR not a long-range precision gun (even though it can easily hit out to 200 yards with a red dot sight).
The charging handle is a BCM Mod4 that Paul was nice enough to send me to try out. I absolutely love this CH and the only thing I'll be changing about it is to add some RTV for those rare times this gun takes a can (that's an Ops, Inc' 15th mount on the barrel).
Finally is the Magpul BAD Lever, which allows the shooter to operate the bolt catch with the trigger finger. Is it necessary? No. So right there it fails the test for a lot of shooters self-imposed restrictions. However it is very nice to have for administrative purposes and it does certainly shave time off of an emergency reload if you like that sort of thing or have the need. No, it does not require your finger to extend into the triggerguard to operate it.
The gun, without sling or light, is 6.5 lbs. Even with the light it is still under 7, and with the sling it is just over 7. This gives you a carbine that is every bit as capable as any full-railed, latest and greatest, billy badass gun. I have used this in matches and classes in one guise or another for several years, and used it in Randy Cain's Carbine class with an older Aimpoint to ring the 8" steel at 200 yards with XM193 (a feat the internet tells me is impossible, but there you go). I used it in Bill Jeans' carbine a few weeks ago almost exactly as it sits in these pictures and the complete setup ran fantastically, even with Wolf ammo.
This is what works for me as a non-LEO civilian hobby shooter that attends 2-4 training classes a year and runs and shoots in local monthly carbine matches and drills nights. I typically go through approximately 4k rounds a year +/- depending on number of classes attended. While I hate the term "general purpose rifle" because it usually means people don't know what they really want, this carbine really has achieved that through no set intention. I just find that when it comes time to reach in the safe and take a carbine out, the green one is the one that I grab most often. Yes, I lose some ballistic effectiveness using the short barrel, but with good ammo (I like Black Hills 75 grain) it is more than capable of having the desired effect at any range I'm likely to be able to defend in court.
This is the AR I didn't know I was looking for when I assembled my first one from a Bushmaster complete upper and lower in the midst of the ban 10+ years ago.
Parts list:
Aimpoint T-1 (http://www.aimpoint.com/products/aimpoint_product_lines/aimpoint_micro_t-1)
Larue LT660 Mount (http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/Detail.bok?no=150)
Daniel Defense A1.5 rear sight (http://www.danieldefense.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=146)
Magpul MOE handguard (http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=303)
Magpul MOE pistol grip (http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_125&products_id=286)
Magpul MOE stock (http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=70_124)
Blue Force Gear Vickers Combat Applications Sling (http://www.blueforcegear.com/product.cfm?type=cat&cat_id=5&prod_id=112)
Mesa Tactical Adapter Mount Hook Loop (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=164668)
Daniel Defense Rear Receiver QD Swivel Attachment Point (http://www.aimpoint.com/products/aimpoint_product_lines/aimpoint_micro_t-1)
Surefire X300 (http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main.pl?pgm=co_disp&func=displ&strfnbr=6&prrfnbr=24462&sesent=0,0&search_id=1669287)
Midwest Industries MCTAR-04 (http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=94)
Magpul B.A.D. (http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=362)
BCM MOD4 Charging Handle (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-GUNFIGHTER-Charging-Handle-GFH-Mod-4-p/bcm%20gfh%20mod%204.htm)
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q111/rob_s/gun%20stuff/DSC_3827.jpg
Colt 6933s seem to be cropping up more and more. These are hands-down the best of the best in my opinion. .625" diameter, 11.5" barrel, flattop upper with the correct front sight base. They ship with double-shield M4 handguards and a detachable carry handle, M4 stock, and A2 grip. I was lucky enough to find two back when they cost no more than a 6920 plus tax stamp. Some of you may recall my suppressed 6933 that people were so outraged had no sling or iron sights.
The first thing that has to go is the A2 grip. Yes you can install a gapper or a foam plug but that does nothing to address the obnoxious finger groove, which is the real problem with the stock grip. The stock is more than serviceable, but I like having a low-profile rubber pad. The double-shield handguards are good, but they are fat and if you want to attach anything to them it can be problematic or require drilling, and the handguard cap gets damn hot.
I elected to go with Magpul MOE furniture all around. Good guy pricing through Brownells is $17 for the grip, $48 for the stock (which comes integral with a rubber buttpad for slippage), and $25 for the handguard (which feels more like a FALK and covers the handguard cap in front). They sell a triggerguard for $7 too but I am using one of their metal triggerguards that I had left over from something else. If you're wondering about the colors, I use them to differntiate my rifles from each other at a glance in the safe. Black also gets hot in the sun. I have a green handguard to put on as soon as I'm done prototyping my sling and mount (more on that below). If I were doing it again I might do tan instead due to the heat issue.
Primary sighting is through an Aimpoint T-1 that currently sits in a Larue tall mount, but since I have little to no need to quick detach it I'll be swapping that for a Daniel Defense which is lighter and matches the rear sight which recently replaced a Larue as well for the same reasons. I prefer to use a higher optic mount and run fixed iron sights that I can see through the bottom of the optic if I need to for whatever reason. Commonly referred to at "lower 1/3 cowitness".
The sling is a Blue Force Gear Vickers Combat Applications Sling that I modified with a few parts to act like a much better version of the Magpul MS-2 to remedy most of the shortcomings of that product. It is easily capable of switching between a single- or a two-point sling depending on the need simply by moving the snap hook from the ring at the rear of the webbing to the ring on the forend. The rear attachment point is a Daniel Defense Rear Receiver QD Swivel Attachment Point that replaces the receiver endplate and accepts the QD sling swivel. The front attachment is a dremeled-down Mesa Tactical Adapter Mount Hook Loop. I cut a slot in the handguard and drilled a hole further to the rear, and attached it through the back of the handguard, which also required cutting down the heat shield inside. None of which was anywhere near as difficult as it sounds.
The light is a Surefire X300 which mounts to a Midwest Industries MCTAR-04 on the front sight base. No, the mount does not come loose and with the way the screw is captured by the light itself if it ever were to back out with the light on it it can't be lost. Yes, the light "only" puts out 110 lumens and is designed as a pistol light, but this is an SBR not a long-range precision gun (even though it can easily hit out to 200 yards with a red dot sight).
The charging handle is a BCM Mod4 that Paul was nice enough to send me to try out. I absolutely love this CH and the only thing I'll be changing about it is to add some RTV for those rare times this gun takes a can (that's an Ops, Inc' 15th mount on the barrel).
Finally is the Magpul BAD Lever, which allows the shooter to operate the bolt catch with the trigger finger. Is it necessary? No. So right there it fails the test for a lot of shooters self-imposed restrictions. However it is very nice to have for administrative purposes and it does certainly shave time off of an emergency reload if you like that sort of thing or have the need. No, it does not require your finger to extend into the triggerguard to operate it.
The gun, without sling or light, is 6.5 lbs. Even with the light it is still under 7, and with the sling it is just over 7. This gives you a carbine that is every bit as capable as any full-railed, latest and greatest, billy badass gun. I have used this in matches and classes in one guise or another for several years, and used it in Randy Cain's Carbine class with an older Aimpoint to ring the 8" steel at 200 yards with XM193 (a feat the internet tells me is impossible, but there you go). I used it in Bill Jeans' carbine a few weeks ago almost exactly as it sits in these pictures and the complete setup ran fantastically, even with Wolf ammo.
This is what works for me as a non-LEO civilian hobby shooter that attends 2-4 training classes a year and runs and shoots in local monthly carbine matches and drills nights. I typically go through approximately 4k rounds a year +/- depending on number of classes attended. While I hate the term "general purpose rifle" because it usually means people don't know what they really want, this carbine really has achieved that through no set intention. I just find that when it comes time to reach in the safe and take a carbine out, the green one is the one that I grab most often. Yes, I lose some ballistic effectiveness using the short barrel, but with good ammo (I like Black Hills 75 grain) it is more than capable of having the desired effect at any range I'm likely to be able to defend in court.
This is the AR I didn't know I was looking for when I assembled my first one from a Bushmaster complete upper and lower in the midst of the ban 10+ years ago.
Parts list:
Aimpoint T-1 (http://www.aimpoint.com/products/aimpoint_product_lines/aimpoint_micro_t-1)
Larue LT660 Mount (http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/Detail.bok?no=150)
Daniel Defense A1.5 rear sight (http://www.danieldefense.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=146)
Magpul MOE handguard (http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=303)
Magpul MOE pistol grip (http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_125&products_id=286)
Magpul MOE stock (http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=70_124)
Blue Force Gear Vickers Combat Applications Sling (http://www.blueforcegear.com/product.cfm?type=cat&cat_id=5&prod_id=112)
Mesa Tactical Adapter Mount Hook Loop (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=164668)
Daniel Defense Rear Receiver QD Swivel Attachment Point (http://www.aimpoint.com/products/aimpoint_product_lines/aimpoint_micro_t-1)
Surefire X300 (http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main.pl?pgm=co_disp&func=displ&strfnbr=6&prrfnbr=24462&sesent=0,0&search_id=1669287)
Midwest Industries MCTAR-04 (http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=94)
Magpul B.A.D. (http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=362)
BCM MOD4 Charging Handle (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-GUNFIGHTER-Charging-Handle-GFH-Mod-4-p/bcm%20gfh%20mod%204.htm)
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q111/rob_s/gun%20stuff/DSC_3827.jpg