New hobby recently, as hunting trips are on the back burner with a toddler and new job.
Building those horrible evil black rifles, AR15s! (Yes, I'm across the ditch, so I'm allowed to do this, as I have the correct NZ endorsements).
I already had a Schmeisser AR15 (top of the line, German made) used more for service rifle shooting, but I was keen on building another AR more for hunting purposes, as the Schmeisser has a H-Bar profile Walther barrel. Great barrel, but not so good for carrying around the hills.
The Schmeisser from factory
In current service rifle mode
First new build was a Spikes Tactical lower receiver with Formosan parts kit and buffer tube/spring/buffer.
Lower complete with a horrible 2nd hand thumbhole stock which caused endless issues, namely cracked join, deeper screw hole in butt plate, leading to buffer hitting the protruding screw. Sigh!
Aero Precision upper (Spikes were sold out) and Spikes bolt carrier group.
You can see the grub screw fitted to allow the one piece stock to come off without destroying the selector spring.
Colt 11.5" carbine barrel in 5.56x45mm. Yes it is loud! But it will run with a can.
All fitted with Midwest rail, JP Adjustable gas block and spacer in butt plate to make it legal length in NZ (762mm).
Rifle complete with suppressor and mount/scope. VX2 scope is off my .22lr, as the Vortex 2-7x35 intended is back with Vortex with a faulty lense, ie it fell out!
I then wanted this to fit in a daypack as a breakdown rifle, it would be more compact and lighter as a E-Cat rifle with an adjustable carbine stock and I could then run mags bigger than 7 (I have plenty of 30's
).
So after getting an new Aero lower, getting it registered and parts fitted, Hiperfire EDT trigger, Magpul pistol grip, Stag milspec Buffer/tube and Magpul CTR stock.
I now have 2.5 ARs!
The thumbhole lower will eventually have a top (it will stay as NZ A-Cat though, to allow others to shoot it) and I have a new ODL titanium suppressor coming as well. Also plan to get a Leupold VX6 1-6 scope.
The 11.5" build shoots 65gn Sierra Gamekings and 77gn Sierra Tipped Matchkings at 0.6MOA, so good for a home build Frankenstein.
I can see why these are so popular as home builds in the USA.