My New ST-15 Lightweight 14.5" Carbine

[JaxChris]

The purpose of this build was to keep it light but not at the expensive of comfort, versatility, reliability, balance, and ruggedness.

NOTE: I don't own a camera and my apartment is poorly lit (I hate it bright). The rifle is functionally complete but I'm still deciding on light, laser, optic, and sling. The foregrip will be the new MagPul RVG that shipped from AIM today and should be here by the end of the week.

Here's my new baby fast asleep:
http://i44.tinypic.com/28rnqt3.jpg

Time to get baby out of bed:
http://i42.tinypic.com/zwhlk9.jpg

Here's a couple full length shots for sizing:
http://i44.tinypic.com/29ol4q1.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/96c70m.jpg

Close up view of the Nickle Boron parts & ambi-selector:
http://i42.tinypic.com/2wmnvyw.jpg

An angled view down the side of the weapon, to help show how thin it is:
http://i42.tinypic.com/213ox2r.jpg

Here's a close up of the Norgon Ambi-Mag & my modified BAD Lever designed for left-hand manipulation:
http://i42.tinypic.com/2ykml29.jpg

The BAD lever has been cut down to exact length needed so that the Norgon is unimpeded but can still be easily used as a Bolt Hold Open lever:
http://i44.tinypic.com/2uogjzn.jpg

The extended Bolt Release paddle allows for positive engagement for a left-hand shooter without any need to shift your grip, all 3 actions are now at a comfortable distance and none of the controls interfere with one another:
http://i43.tinypic.com/5vzxi1.jpg

A close up shot of Tom @ Spike's pin & weld handy work, perfectly smooth (taken at angle to show there is no glob):
http://i43.tinypic.com/2js2t1.jpg

And this shows the balance (and weight?) of the weapon, I'm holding it 1 foot in the air using just a finger and thumb with a full 30 round P-Mag (hand holding the phone was shaky, not the weapon):
http://i42.tinypic.com/2j4wyg0.jpg


Any questions or comments? Fire away!

[JaxChris]

Here is the parts list for this build, everything seen was purchased through Spike's:

Lower:
Spike's CAK Series Lower Receiver
Spike's Battle Trigger
Spike's Billet Trigger Guard
Spike's Mil-Spec Receiver Extension
Spike's ST-T2 Buffer
Spike's Ambi-Selector
MagPul MOE Grip
MagPul ACS Stock
MagPul Enhanced Stockpad
MagPul BAD Lever (custom work)
Norgon Ambi-Mag Release
KNS Gen2 Mod2 Anti-Rotation Pins
Daniel Defense QD Single Point Sling Plate

Upper:
Spike's Forged Upper Receiver
Spike's NiB Bolt Carrier Group
Spike's 14.5" Lightweight .625 Cold Hammer Forged Barrel (Custom order)
Spike's .625 F-marked FSB
Spike's Stainless Gas Tube
Daniel Defense OmegaX 12.0 FSB Rail
Daniel Defense Ladder Rail Covers
Daniel Defense A1.5 Fixed Rear Sight
BCM Gunfighter Medium Charging Handle
YHM Phantom 5C2 Pinned Flash Hider

Accessories:
Spike's Soft Rifle Case
Spike's Single Point Sling (temporary)
MagPul P-Mag's
MagPul RVG Foregrip (got the last one from AIM)

Undecided:
Optic (Aimpoint H-1?)
Optic Mount (Daniel Defense Aimpoint Micro?)
Sling (Blue Force? Gear Sector?)
Light (Surefire X200?)
Laser (LaserMax Unimax?)
Ambi Charging Handle (Badger Ambi Latch?)

[JaxChris]

Coming Soon:

Spec's, Range Reports, & Philosophy of Build

[Satan_3pc]

Nice! What's with the bare bolt carrier? What is it exactly?

[Secpro]

Noce build padre. Looks really good.

[lino]

looking good man...

[ss1]

Nice! What's with the bare bolt carrier? What is it exactly?
It's a NiB plating/coating that makes is self lubricating and clean. The company (Fail Zero) that does it is in FL (Jupiter I believe). We are going to stock them at Guntech or take in BCG's to have them coated. They also offer the plating on guns. The price is very reasonable and was thinking about resurfacing my Ni Colt 1911 gvt with it.

ETA: here's a thread about it. http://tacticaladv.com/showthread.php?2140-Fail-Zero-M16-4-Basic-Kit

[lino]

was thinking about resurfacing my Ni Colt 1911 gvt with it.



do it and post the pics...

[JaxChris]

Nice! What's with the bare bolt carrier? What is it exactly?

My Bolt, Bolt Carrier, Gas Key, Cam Pin, Hammer, Trigger, & Disconnector are all Nickle Boron coated. I have extra power trigger hammer springs for strength and the trigger pull is extremely smooth and doesn't have any grit feel of standard coatings rubbing together.

This rifle can be run dry without issue... and that also means no oil in there for the carbon and gas to clump or stick to. I may also be investing in a super thin, long stroke, lubeless piston system that will fit under that slim rail to prevent the gas from even getting there. But first I have to see what the weight would be and if I'll still be able to keep the center of gravity in the middle of the magwell.

[Satan_3pc]

That's what I thought. It's the thing that was posted a couple of months ago. Nice!

[JaxChris]

Yep yep... you should come check it out yourself and see what you think of it.

[lino]

so have you put some lead down range with it yet?

[JaxChris]

Not yet. Foregrip is in the mail. Only have 100 rounds of 5.56 laying around right now, that's really only enough to sight it in. I may bring it with me to the range Friday while we're shooting the woman's new PF-9. Would like to find a great deal on an Aimpoint H-1 (don't need T-1's NV compatibility). If not, then I may get one of the cheaper clones that doesn't have the amazing battery life that the Aimpoint's do.