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Return to “Building my First AR-15”

by Pawpaw
Mon Nov 21, 2016 11:51 am
Forum: Rifles & Shotguns
Topic: Building my First AR-15
Replies: 35
Views: 7151

Re: Building my First AR-15

remanifest wrote:After doing some research on gas systems specifically, I'm strongly considering spending little extra cash for a piston system. While I understand direct impingement works perfectly fine, and is a reliable system, the fact that my upper parts will be cleaner as a result of using a piston system is very nice.

No matter how clean I am, it will ease my mind to know that I'm putting the gases somewhere that will localize the crud, and save me time in maintenance.

Any thoughts?
If you're still willing to consider a DI upper with the front sight tower, MidwayUSA is having a Black Friday sale which includes an AR Stoner complete upper for $280.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/221905 ... _-20161121
by Pawpaw
Wed Nov 16, 2016 11:43 am
Forum: Rifles & Shotguns
Topic: Building my First AR-15
Replies: 35
Views: 7151

Re: Building my First AR-15

couzin wrote:
Pawpaw wrote: The #1 problem with the M-16 when it was first introduced in Viet Nam was the lack of a chrome lined barrel and chamber. When the rifle was the least bit dirty, corrosion would set in and cause extraction issues in the middle of a firefight. I realize not many of us live in a jungle environment, but I want that extra protection just in case.
Not really, the first versions (not talking about the AR15 model) of the m16 / xm16e1 (with fa) were being shipped without cleaning kits because colt proclaimed it was a self-cleaning rifle. A delivery problem with powder types caused the fouling. Rifles that had proper cleaning kits did not have near the jamming problems the others did. The m16a1 was the masterful fix.
Close, but not quite. Colt never said the rifle was self cleaning. That was the Army not wanting to "waste money" on a rifle they saw as a temporary solution.
The Self-Cleaning Gun

With the purchase and distribution of more than 85,000 AR-15 rifles in Vietnam, there was not a single .22 caliber cleaning kit, operator’s manual or chamber or bore cleaning brush available. As recalled by Gene Stoner, the Army had no intention of buying the rifle so the government did not want to waste money on cleaning kits and manuals. The AR-15 was supposed to be an “interim” solution until they could get the SPIW (Special Purpose Individual Weapon) finalized and fielded. Therefore, the gun was touted as being self-cleaning. Troops were instructed that it was not necessary to perform any cleaning or maintenance on their weapons prior to going out on patrol or on a mission. Due to lack of reasonable maintenance guns would be fouled, firing thousands of rounds without cleaning. By not cleaning, the humidity and other environmental factors, the gun was even more prone to corrosion in the barrel and chamber. With the lack of availability of cleaning supplies, operator manuals and maintenance training, rifles were found to be in unserviceable condition in the hands of infantry soldiers. Many soldiers in the early part of the Vietnam War received training on the M14 rifle in basic training and when they arrived in Vietnam they were issued an M16. They received no instruction on operation and maintenance. With the introduction of Ball propellant, the fouling became more of a problem without maintenance
Many corners were cut to save money. Much of that, including the lack of chrome lining, was due to McNamara’s “Wiz Kids”, who were focused on numbers and understood nothing about small arms.

If you'd like a more complete picture, take a look at this article which lays out the conclusions of the Ichord Hearings.

http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display. ... icles=1735
Failure to Extract

Failure to extract problems were due to the bolt unlocking sooner due to the change-over from IMR to Ball powder. There was still high residual pressure in the chamber and the cartridge cases did not have sufficient time to contract to be easily removed from the chamber. Thus, the extractor would slip off the rim or shear part of the rim off leaving the fired cartridge case in the chamber. To clear this malfunction, often the bolt would be closed again and the cartridge would come out of the chamber. If you compounded this malfunction with a corroded and pitted chamber, the cartridge case would become lodged in the chamber and have to be pounded out with a cleaning rod. This was by far the most serious of any malfunctions of the M16 in Vietnam. Chrome plating the chamber cured the extraction ill. The next major improvement to extraction took place in the 1970s with the addition of the rubber extractor spring buffer, which greatly increased extractor force. This particularly helped carbines that had a much higher cyclic rate.
by Pawpaw
Wed Nov 16, 2016 10:00 am
Forum: Rifles & Shotguns
Topic: Building my First AR-15
Replies: 35
Views: 7151

Re: Building my First AR-15

parabelum wrote:1/7 twist is great for heavier bullets, as stated previously. I do think that you really need a longer barrel still (20") to see a substantial difference though over 1/9.

If possible and budget permits, I'd suggest a chrome lined barrel.
It will be easier to clean and won't get hot as quickly, so your accuracy will be improved. You will also have a longer barrel life.

If I was building, the right barrel would be my biggest investment next to properly staked bcg.
I have to disagree with the part I highlighted in red, based on personal experience.

My Colt 16" pencil-barrel 1/7 rifle is most accurate with Fiocchi 77gr HPBT ammo. With that ammo, I can hit at will out to 500 yards. One day I was at the range with a friend who brought his brand new Olympic Arms rifle with a 1/9 twist 16" barrel. I was helping him try several different loads to find out what his rifle liked best. He tried my Fiocchi and was getting good results at 100 yards, but couldn't seem to hit the target at 200 yards. It turned out that the rounds were losing stability somewhere just past 100 yards and tumbling. We found a couple of keyhole strikes down low where the bullets had probably hit the ground and skipped into the target. After that, he aimed very high with 5 more rounds and then went back to smaller bullets. On the next cease fire, we found a couple of hits from the Fiocchi... all keyhole strikes.

I personally (YMMV) won't have a non-chromed barrel on an AR. The #1 problem with the M-16 when it was first introduced in Viet Nam was the lack of a chrome lined barrel and chamber. When the rifle was the least bit dirty, corrosion would set in and cause extraction issues in the middle of a firefight. I realize not many of us live in a jungle environment, but I want that extra protection just in case.

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