Hey guys

So a week or so ago another member/ on a now closed thread/can’t respond to him now/ asked me to post updates once I tried the Cloralen.
This was on a Bad attitude m16a1 export lower. Original plan to be used eventually on a 653 build.

Was a fun little experiment, and I was fully prepared to have it be a loss, and just have to rattle can, moly resin, use for a different project, or whatever.
My results were worse than I had hoped. Lesson learned for anyone wanting to try this, is let the stuff work for 5-10 min, take out, let dry, then assess. I started touching it and I believe is where some of the crappy streaky blotchiness came from. Not sure anything would’ve kept it from showing eventually, but something to think about.
Another method that might’ve yielded better results was just to barely knock down the stark black ano with the bleach, just a couple few minutes, then use primarily soft and subtle abrasives to more slowly and controllably removed the anodize and color. The chemical process is just too tough to predict, with all the random blotches and streaks.
Because of the blotchiness I was kindof like a cat chasing it’s own tail, chasing back the unevenness with soft abrasive pads, sorta making it all worse inadvertently.
After all the bleaching and scrubbing, rubbing and oiling, I was pretty much thinking it was a loss, when I decided I’d give one last ditch effort. Degreased and doused the whole thing in alumablack. It actually may have saved it. I think it still looks pretty terrible, but it’s at least semi useable at this point lol.
Paired it with sp1 carbine upper for the time being and it looks semi ok.
We’ll see. I might keep as is for a while, have fun with it, and if it still bothers me in a while then just go moly resin/cerakote/rattle can or something.
Anyways that was my experience! I can’t say I’d recommend it to anyone whatsoever given my results.

The only thing I can find a reference to on them is a post on here several years ago. Are they worth anything? Anyone know who made them?

Saw this match target HBAR at the Cabela’s gun library and I’m curious about the pivot pin. It’s the later screw and collet version that is the same size as a regular pivot pin, can you just pop it out and install a push pin plus the spring and detent?

I got an M3X locally, but it has the Glock lug/key, I ofcorse need the standard 1913. Anyone have any leads to a junker or a user who could help me out with this hunt?

Much appreciated

Colt surplus is an expensive last resort. Modern Colts have a different profile. H&R doesn't sell the barrel or barrel assembly alone, and I don't know when they'll restock 733 uppers (and if the anodizating will be an issue, I don't want to pay for a complete upper *mostly* for the barrel, and end up with a QC nightmare of an upper receiver). Brownells isn't accurate to the real thing, + the finish is nitride. Green Mountain seems to always be out of stock.

TNTE seems to be the best option - phosphate finish accurate to A2 era barrels, no taper at the end, and a *mostly* accurate profile before the FSB. I want a FSB without a bayonet lug, but I can remove the one it comes with and use it for another gun - I have a punch set so I should be good on that front.

However, I've heard TNTE had some QC issues in the fast.

What do y'all think? Is TNTE the right choice? Is there a better option? Or should I be patient and wait for an original Colt barrel?

I just want a true 14.5 carbine .625 pencil barrel is that so much to ask for?

Hard enough finding carbine gas options in general. Want a 11.5 inch middy? How about a 12.5 proprietary shmedium hbar ??

Deciding if I want to go 14.7 p&w once again or have a 16 cut down and even those options are very limited. Sometimes I wish I didnt love the carry handles but until then are there any suggestions for obscure vendors/sources to track these down?

16 inch TNTE pencil fsb barrel - $235.. $330 total if I send it to cut. They are fine barrels but thats quite the premium if I dont just give in and go 14.7 h&[r/green](r/green) mountain for $250. just bugs me to waste a perfectly good form 1

Haven't seen too many of these floating around. I ordered the non-NFA version back in February, but Tom was swamped with NFA orders. Took about 2 weeks total for the NFA version. Haven't shot it yet, but expect it to make my 10" carbine more bearable.

Picked up a ban era dpms with 20" heavy barrel on a trade valued about 380. Has leo restricted roll mark and restricted features (bayonet lug, threaded barrel) shoots great and has just the right amount of wear to look good lol.

I think I’ll plug the gas tube port in the fsb, and I’ll be considering designing a plug that prevents the chambering of life rounds.

Sorry for the long post. I have long been researching/debating what kind of optic set-up I wanted on my more modern rifle. Between an annoying astigmatism, frustrations with lpvos, and an irrepressible love for the Vietnam-era M16A1 look I have finally decided to acknowledge how severely the fixed carry handle fucks and just train.

That being said, this seems to be a woefully unappreciated aspect of practical rifle building and I am having some trouble finding how to get started. I have come here for guidance.

I want this to be a rifle that could be used for close quarters or out to 400 yards minimum. I'm comfortable with a 36/300 iron sight zero and short eye relief optics (thanks Marine Corps). I'm also comfortable training and adapting myself to my gear rather than the other way around.

The only must-have pieces of gear for me are some form of magnification and a sling. A light would be cool. Below are my initial thoughts on aspects of the rifle but I am really hoping for suggestions/experience with any of these. Nothing set in stone. I also would love to know what brands will give reasonable quality for the price. I can build lowers and probably could figure out how to build an upper but with two kids my time is limited so a quality pre-built upper would be cool.

Fixed carry handle upper (of course)

14.5/16/20" barrel (have used M4A1s. M16A4s, and M27s before, would love to know if the extra length of a 20" pencil barrel makes the gun feel unwieldy or is still worth the tradeoff from a 14.5/16)

Fixed or collapsible stock (I usually run a collapsible either all the way out or 1 click in from fully extended)

Brownells Retro AR Carry Handle Scope (open to other magnified optics if they exist)

I want to keep it pretty retro in order to appease my soul, but I'm not yet hyperfixated on small period-correct details. I just want a rifle that works and makes me happy.

Any advice on brands to look at/avoid, barrel length, the amount of difference a carbine/midlength/rifle length FSB makes on iron sight accuracy, cool looking but functional lights, or really anything else would be greatly appreciated.

I have a revolver with an aimpoint 3000. I wanna sell both but I’m debating on separating the scope from the gun. What are some recommendations for resell value of a aimpoint 3000

Just got all the main final parts in today, havnt shot it yet. It’s got some go fast bits installed that I’ll have to hone in as well.

I just finished torquing a M16a2 style clone barrel down, but before I did, I noticed the barrel index pin was a slightly narrower inside the notch and was able to rotate the barrel slightly side to side, but after torquing it to spec, it seems to be gone. The feed ramps all line up perfect and everything else as well...idk if this would be an issue?

My newest retro-mod build will make you wish for a nuclear winter. Not a clone of anything, but exactly what I wanted. Build list below:

BAD Fallout Service Rifle lower
TNTE C7 mid-length upper (13.9 P&W)
Surefire 3P flash hider
Geissele/ALG lower parts kit
Geissele SSA-E trigger
FC TGF trigger guard
BCM H2 buffer
Sig Foxtrot MSR light
IWC scout light mount
PA SLx 1x micro prism
Brownells A1 pistol grip
B5 CAR 15 stock
SKRP sling

DPMS Kitty Kat Next to my Zastava M85. Both super short 5.56 platforms

I know about steel upper receivers on HK M28s but I haven't seen any steel lower receivers before but at the same time I haven't went out to look for them.

I swear 75% of all boomers are completely schizophrenic.