I replaced enough parts to get rid of the play, but haven't had time to get back to that project (other projects found their way to taking priority with the lathe). The first was that my old lathe had too much play to trust it to make the parts. Then I came up with what I think will be the solution, but it had two serious problems. Later, I tried an Adams piston conversion, and got the same results. Factory ammo wouldn't even pull the brass out of the chamber. It worked, but only if you used hot handloads with slow burning powders. I even reworked the buffer so that the total weight of the moving mass of the buffer was 0.4 ounces (two part buffer with a stationary 'guide rod' at the rear of the buffer tube). Wolf makes lighter buffer springs, and it's easy to cut a few coils off of them. That led to some tinkering with trying to get a pistol caliber, pistol length gas DI upper to work with calibers weaker than 7.62x25. I eventually built a colt pattern 9mm upper, and found myself agreeing with the people who say the felt recoil is almost the same as a 5.56 upper. Works very nicely with a 16 inch barrel and a pistol length gas system, but it doesn't throw the brass far enough that you'd have to take more than two steps to pick it up. I think I got the third or fourth barrel that Marty made for that configuration, then spent some time tinkering with the magazine issue until I ended up using CZ24 mags. Not long after that, Marty had a thread here about 7.62x25 uppers using the DI gas system, and the statement about it having very little recoil caught my attention. I had a wreck in 2005, that left me with some nerve damage in my shoulder and made me very recoil sensitive for several years. The only real job with that approach is building the piston and spring system. The only modification needed to the bolt would be to open up the bolt face slightly, and a standard firing pin could be used. On the other hand, using a standard length receiver would allow chopping the back off a standard bolt carrier and replacing the gas key with the new piston and spring. An off the shelf firing pin would cause less concern about reliability, than shortening and remachining one and attempting to get the proper heat treat on it. ![]() Without digging one out to check, I think the rear of a standard AR bolt could have enough material safely removed to work with the shortened receiver, but that still leaves the firing pin. Biggest problem I see with the shortened receiver is that the chamber is moved closer to the hammer, so both the bolt and firing pin have to be shorter. Leaving the receiver at the standard length would eliminate some problems, but would add to the length of the gun with no justification other than making it easier to build. I didn't know it existed until after they stopped making it. Would be nice if the stock hadn't been discontinued. You were the first arfcom member that I could think of that probably wouldn't have much trouble putting something like that together. Why limit one's self when there are so many intriguing options out there? But, its just one choice in a world of many. The AR platform is wonderful in its simplicity, diversity, and no other firearm has the range of options it offers. In my safe there is range of firearms from single shots, lever guns, and of course semi-autos. ![]() I sold off nine of my AR's during the panic, keeping three that met one need or the other. I have owned up to a dozen or more of them at one given time in various calibers and set-ups. I have worked with the AR platform on and off since using one in the military many years back. If, however, one has a diverse range of activities they may find that they need a wider range of firearms to fulfill those activities. If one has narrow interests then one platform may be the way to go. So, when one is looking at a "platform" I would say that one should lay out a set of priorities. Once size does not fit all for many of us. Target range, plinking, long range varmint hunting, small game, etc. ![]() Since starting this hobby as a child back when Ike was president I think it would have been a lot less interesting if stuck with the same firearm for all my different activities. Fact is I really enjoy the hobby of shooting sports and like diversity in what I shoot. Since I have not "trained" with any particular platform since leaving the military and since I am not working as a professional mercenary or profession where my life depends on instant use of firearms to me, and probably many others, that is not a particularly important issue. I see that people bring up the point that the AR platform is the one they are use to and "train" with. If one is not going that route then there are more questions to ask one's self. If one is considering SBR then the AR platform makes sense for sure.
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