It's a Franken-rifle, really. This is the accumulation of unwanted parts I swapped out for friends from their guns. These are from the tub of misfit parts; an A2 upper, a blemished lower, a rejected Rodgers stock, damaged bolt carrier (repaired), a too long barrel, frumpy milspec hand guards, etc. Whist digging through looking for something else, I noticed that I had everything I needed, save a couple of gas key screws, to put a rifle together. This is years in the making as I'm not a gunsmith - just handy and resourceful. So I sat down tonight and threw a gun together. It's a Franken-rifle, but it was free.

Tangentially, the malfunctioning bolt carrier turned out to be a plugged up gas key. It was plugged up with a primer perfectly jammed into the key such that I could look down the tube and see the circumference of the cup and the anvil. How in the heck did that happen? What are the chances? Anyway, had a new gas key in my parts bin, but no screws. Will try to get some real grade 8 cap screws tomorrow.

Hey, free rifle, man...

We need pics of the free frankenbuild, man!

I'm currently doing something similar for my son. It's not quite free, but I had a bunch of parts lying around, and I scored an Anderson lower for $33. I'll have less than $250 in it by the time it's all said and done. I just ordered a barrel and BCG this evening, so hopefully it all gets here in time for his birthday at the end of the week so we can put it together and go shoot it.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
We need pics of the free frankenbuild, man!

Indeed.
Freedom hasn’t happened in this case unless there are pics.

Yes, pics pending. Sometime today...

Oopsie! Huge pics alert.... hang on. Editing.

looks good to me,

now add ammo and range time,


btw,, that is an A1 upper

Nice. I’ve got the parts around for a least 1 rifle. Maybe 2

Good job getting yours put together. Like you said “free rifle!”

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
looks good to me,

now add ammo and range time,


btw,, that is an A1 upper

Oops....I stand corrected. Either way it wasn't sexy enough for the previous owner. I swapped in a railed upper. He bought his rifle during the second panic after Sandy Hook. Pickings were slim and costly. The Colt lower came from buddy that didn't want the sear block machined into it. I built him a Spikes Crusader lower and upgraded his stock to a UBR. All parts he paid for.

Perfect loaner rifle.

It's simple math. Colt lower + A1 upper = cool. I've heard of a primer popping out and plugging the gas key. Turns a semi-auto into a manual bolt action.

Cool rifle.

I'd like to see a pic of the other side of the upper if you don't mind snapping one. Curious to see if it is an A1 or a C7.


Not the first time I have heard of a primer getting into a gas key.

I have personally seen one wind up in the cam pin slot and it locked that rifle up tight.

That mil spec ammo has crimped primers for a reason. It is loaded hot!

Sure. When I get a moment.

That sure is a sweet rifle...especially for free! Colt lower too....nothing but the best!

That is awesome.

super cool, Brother!

quote:

Originally posted by IndianaBoy:
Cool rifle.

I'd like to see a pic of the other side of the upper if you don't mind snapping one. Curious to see if it is an A1 or a C7.


Not the first time I have heard of a primer getting into a gas key.

I have personally seen one wind up in the cam pin slot and it locked that rifle up tight.

That mil spec ammo has crimped primers for a reason. It is loaded hot!

I like it! Free is the right price, but invest just a bit and get an A1 stock. That and some old-school hand guards with a flat trigger housing and a different flash hider would change that rifle from a franken-AR to a pretty decent looking A1 clone.

But if you want to keep it as is because free is free, I can respect that too!

I like the cobbled together look, especially the longer barrel with the collapsible stock.

I think that's what makes it so attractive to me. It is a mutt. A loyal mutt.