Mega Rad Gun Thread

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10.5" is a crappy length from the standpoint of reliable function due to very short 'dwell time' (pressure time). 11.5", or longer, gives a big improvement in running more smoothly. LMT quality is good, but I wouldn't go with the FSB unless you are cloning. Building yourself can yield good results, especially if you're going to suppress it, because you can pick a reduced gas port barrel.

I don't get it, aren't Merkel, and Purdey guns much more expensive than that?

That's about how much I'd spend on a barrel alone.
they were among the most expensive at the time so the 1880s-1920s. the london best gunmakers have always been the most expensive in general. A new purdey will run you at least 70k these days.

you can get a new Merkel for around 5,000 depending on what options you get (it can go much higher). They target the middle class.
 
What does everyone think of the LMT 10.5" upper? https://lmtdefense.com/product/10-5-5-56-upper-receiver/

Want a 10.5" "other" build and I'm not sure if I want to build it myself, or get this and swap the flash hider out for a surefire.
You just doxxed yourself as living in either NJ, DE, or MD.

Jokes aside. I would not get that upper. Its extremely overpriced. If you're getting something from LMT at least get an upper thats already built. I would highly recommend something with a free float mlok rail. Its industry standard for a reason, its the best. If you're really determined to have some retro gun with a fixed front sight, get an H&R upper.

When it comes to barrel length for non-NFA other firearms, you really have 3 options.

The first is 12.5 inches and above. With this barrel length, you don't have to worry about pin and welding a flash hider. You will meet the 26 inch requirement with a standard 6 position milspec buffer tube.

The second option is 11.5. With this barrel length, you will not be over 26 inches with a standard milspec buffer. You will either have to pin and weld your flash hider on. Or you can get a VLTOR A5 buffer tube. Which is slightly longer that milspec and will get you over 26".


The third option is 10.5. With this barrel length, you will not be over 26 inches with a standard milspec buffer. You will either have to pin and weld your flash hider on. Or you can get a Just Right Carbines Extended buffer tube. Which is slightly longer that milspec and will get you over 26".

When it comes to what barrel length has the best performance, i have the opinion that 10.5 is the minimum length needed to have a reliable firearm. Anything 10 inches or longer will be okay in terms of reliability. In terms of performance on target, its all about pros and cons. The longer the barrel length, the better the performance of the bullet. I'd recommend you get an 11.5 inch. 1 inch doesn't sound like much, but it keeps 5.56 at a higher velocity for longer compared to 10.5. That being said, i have a 10.5 and at home defense ranges theres not enough of a difference to talk about.
 
psa m16a2a3 clone black friday 2024.png
I don't have the money this black friday, but assuming they do this sale again next year sometime, I am so getting this. Its a A3 clone, which is a A2, but with a detachable handle. Still has the bayonet lug and 20 inch barrel, sexy and retro as fuck, absolute peak aesthetics and performance. And as a entry rifle into the AR-15 platform, I think it would give me the least shit from PSA, considering it has the rifle length gas system and full buffer, not much to fuck up.
 
View attachment 6700193
I don't have the money this black friday, but assuming they do this sale again next year sometime, I am so getting this. Its a A3 clone, which is a A2, but with a detachable handle. Still has the bayonet lug and 20 inch barrel, sexy and retro as fuck, absolute peak aesthetics and performance. And as a entry rifle into the AR-15 platform, I think it would give me the least shit from PSA, considering it has the rifle length gas system and full buffer, not much to fuck up.
Why don't you slowly buy the parts? You can get a complete lower from them for $110. Then keep saving until you have enough for an upper.

 
View attachment 6700193
I don't have the money this black friday, but assuming they do this sale again next year sometime, I am so getting this. Its a A3 clone, which is a A2, but with a detachable handle. Still has the bayonet lug and 20 inch barrel, sexy and retro as fuck, absolute peak aesthetics and performance. And as a entry rifle into the AR-15 platform, I think it would give me the least shit from PSA, considering it has the rifle length gas system and full buffer, not much to fuck up.
Just tossing this one out to you I bought one of their 20" A3 uppers a few years ago and it never worked quite right.
I suspected it was a gas issue of some kind but it never really got sorted.
I gave up on them in general after my 10½" dedicated .22 Pistol upper keyholed right from the box.
They replaced it with a 7" one when they couldn't fix it.
 
View attachment 6700193
I don't have the money this black friday, but assuming they do this sale again next year sometime, I am so getting this. Its a A3 clone, which is a A2, but with a detachable handle. Still has the bayonet lug and 20 inch barrel, sexy and retro as fuck, absolute peak aesthetics and performance. And as a entry rifle into the AR-15 platform, I think it would give me the least shit from PSA, considering it has the rifle length gas system and full buffer, not much to fuck up.
You can probably find an actual A3/4 upper if that's what you want.

Mine is an authentic FN A2 upper. I like to brag about that.
 
Why don't you slowly buy the parts? You can get a complete lower from them for $110. Then keep saving until you have enough for an upper.

I'd like to buy it all at once. And i've seen this go on sale multiple times. Its not out of my reach if i plan properly. That and this rifle is quite literally everything i want. Full length stock, 20 inch barrel, classic polymer handguards, carry handle that is also removable- its got everything man.
Just tossing this one out to you I bought one of their 20" A3 uppers a few years ago and it never worked quite right.
I suspected it was a gas issue of some kind but it never really got sorted.
I gave up on them in general after my 10½" dedicated .22 Pistol upper keyholed right from the box.
They replaced it with a 7" one when they couldn't fix it.
I mean its PSA, the rifle of poorfags, which i am. I don't see really anyone else offering a complete A2/A3 pattern rifle for $600 once taxes are done. I'm willing to take my chances lol.
You can probably find an actual A3/4 upper if that's what you want.

Mine is an authentic FN A2 upper. I like to brag about that.
Dude you got a real FN upper, that is fucking slick. I could always buy the base rifle and just upgrade it as i go.
 
View attachment 6700193
I don't have the money this black friday, but assuming they do this sale again next year sometime, I am so getting this. Its a A3 clone, which is a A2, but with a detachable handle. Still has the bayonet lug and 20 inch barrel, sexy and retro as fuck, absolute peak aesthetics and performance. And as a entry rifle into the AR-15 platform, I think it would give me the least shit from PSA, considering it has the rifle length gas system and full buffer, not much to fuck up.

Don't waste your money on that.

Buy their premium 20 inch upper with the FN chrome lined barrel.

 
I mean its PSA, the rifle of poorfags, which i am. I don't see really anyone else offering a complete A2/A3 pattern rifle for $600 once taxes are done. I'm willing to take my chances lol.
Just tossing this one out to you I bought one of their 20" A3 uppers a few years ago and it never worked quite right.
You can probably find an actual A3/4 upper if that's what you want.

You can also try Brownells for the Colt's edition of the 20 inch upper.

Having owned both, I will say the Colt version definitely has the better finish to all parts, with no outside scratches visible.

And the ears of the FSB looked less canted or uneven compared to the PSA Premium CHF 20.

Both shoot good though, but its a matter of Colt's QC vs PSA's QC.

And Brownells is doling out free shipping with 15 percent off.

 
Its a A3 clone, which is a A2, but with a detachable handle.
not exactly. the A3 was an M16A1 with the A1E1 or A2 upper. it retained the fire control group and sometimes the stock, from the M16A1. during the development of the M4A1, the removable carry handle was adopted for the Navy as the M16A3E2, retroactively calling the earlier A3 with fixed carry handle the A3E1. the A4 has this feature as standard but also includes a RIS or M5 RAS depending on when it was made (RAS having a clamp, RIS being retained by the delta ring). the RIS being a little loose feeling was also why you see ARMS SIR and some others in use sometimes. i used a SIR #58 for example as an actual issued item rather than the KAC RIS or RAS.

edit: also for very close work, it was always preferred to have something around 11" in length, with the 11.5" being a minimum without a 24/7 suppressor and useful out of the box without special tuning other than an H2 buffer. the 10.3 and various CAR-15's and CQBR type rifles and M16 shorties that used a suppressor could get down to that with a heavy buffer to increase dwell time with mass (since there's no length), or is used with a suppressor all the time and so the suppressor itself acts to increase velocity and barrel length. M855 and to a lesser extent M193 tends to work best above 2400, and 11.5 with no suppressor gets there (barely) reliably. under that threshold and it's less likely to fragment or even tumble significantly. this is why you don't tend to see this length used without a suppressor in professional hands. the exception is if you use boutique ammo that's very heavy (mk 318 for example which is sadly discontinued now) or bespoke 77gr SMK's at 2k f/s.

ive had a lot of good experience with an 11.5" and just basic M855 or M193 (and if you have M196 or M995 it still works great but has a bit of a hold over). we'd also get some neat stuff like 75gr BTHP from AAC back in day which i think you can just buy now rather than have special batches made. it worked great in shorty CAR-15 types. you can also "extend" a 10.5 with a phantom or troy medieval muzzle device too, or maybe try a blast diffuser or linear comp.
 
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