I did some measuring..

 

 

Spikes 14.5" Carbine Barrel

Spikes BCG

Troy 15" Alpha

KIES Blastmaster Comp (waiting on the Comp to get here)

PSA Lower

MOE Pistol Grip

cheapy Pistol Tube (till the Comp gets pinned/welded on)..

then changing to MOE stock (to be pinned)

 

this gives the KIES Comp an 1 1/4" hanging out the end past the rail.. and its LINEAR so gases don't bake the rail end..

 

You could also get a Troy Claymore or DPMS Levang to do the same thing..

 

came to like $677 with the BCG for the complete upper..

 

over 19" sight radius with my MBUS installed..

 

*ETA I live in PA folks.. though this UPPER is NJ legal once its pin/welded..

this gives the KIES Comp an 1 1/4" hanging out the end past the rail.. and its LINEAR so gases don't bake the rail end..

 

I was like until i saw your comment. My 16" barrel with TTO comp bakes my 15" tube, i can only imagine the pain if the tube actually overlapped the ports.

 

You have quite the addition...i mean, collection going.

*ETA I live in PA folks.. though this UPPER is NJ legal once its pin/welded..

 

14.5" is still an SBR... You would neeed to pin/weld a brake to be legal in any state to 16", unless of course you have it registered as a SBR. 14.5" barrels are the same in any state with out a SBR reg. You need to pin/weld a comp to 16", only difference is that you can use a flash hider in another state.

 

On another note, LOOKING GOOD!!!

I have only a pistol lower here so I'm ok with this in the same bldg..

 

And Thanks.. I figured I'd be different..

 

Yes I am pinning to over 16" final length.. then I will go fetch my lower with carbine stock on it..

Ahhh, hard to see!! i thought the stock was extended, but i guess it's just the lack there of. lol. And i'm a little hung over and totally missed it in your description.

The Vltor Comp VC-1 may work also as its 2.1" but not sure how much of the 'slots' on the sides would go under the rail.. hmmm.

I'm not sure if there all designed the same, some push the gas back, some just push it out to the sides. So if a comp pushed the gas back, you may have issues even if the ports clear the handguard. Your 100% guaranteed with the forward directing brakes, but i think anything else and its a gamble. Your best bet is to try and find people with the same barrel handguard combo and see what works/ doest work for them.

I had the Levang on my 18" SPR and it worked well and kept the noise down.. kinda straight back.. and cushy..

 

I went with the KIES version as its in stock more than the levang..

 

the Claymore would be the 2nd choice.. then the Levang Linear 3rd..

 

can't wait to get it done and shoot it..

Pic with Comp on the end and the meager 1 1/8" protrusion..

 

That defines "maximizing rail space"!

Being a guy that really doesnt care much about looks and follows the form follows function path, whats the benefit/application to this arrangement?

can you post an overall pic, no weird angle, im curious how this would look.

lightweight 16 oz rail.. (see post below with weights from Troy rep.)

 

19 1/2" from post-post on the MBUS Set..

 

Should be at or under 6 lbs.. total..

 

ideally if you check around the web.. there a place building this same thing with DD LW barrels.. and options..

I would but I've disassembled and am waiting on a FN A3 new upper receiver and a Troy VTAC 15" rail..

 

Its back in pieces..

 

Heres a pic when I had it on the stock a few days back for testing the weight..

 

 

I ordered MY Troy Alpha 15" last Friday and they said yesterday all was GTG via phone.. today I call back and they say the ALPHA is not avail till end of March.. but they have the VTAC 15" Alpha ready to go.. so they are shipping it today.. the good news on that issue is the VTAC 15" is 9 oz.. the Troy 15" Alpha is like 13-16 oz..

 

The upper is coming in from Ranier hopefully by Saturday or Monday.. My order from Delton from Saturday for an upper and some parts for this is showing as NOT shipped either.. everyone is messed up..

 

The suppliers as in overdrive for TAX returns and upcoming elections from what I've been reading..

That's exactly why I ordered my upper from you yesterday, instead of a month or 2 from now when I intended! (I had a little surplus tax return money, and the "anxiety" of wanting to get my build finished NOW.)

 

That's a big difference from the Troy to the VTAC! (I was surprised at how much heavier the Troy MRF 12" was over the Centurion C4, something like 6-8 oz. heavier.)

That's exactly why I ordered my upper from you yesterday, instead of a month or 2 from now when I intended! (I had a little surplus tax return money, and the "anxiety" of wanting to get my build finished NOW.)

 

That's a big difference from the Troy to the VTAC! (I was surprised at how much heavier the Troy MRF 12" was over the Centurion C4, something like 6-8 oz. heavier.)

 

I was incorrect/backwards.. per Jeff at Troy just now on the phone..

 

The Troy 15" Alpha is 12.08oz, the VTAC 15" Alpha is 13.02oz..

 

They haven't updated there sites yet as its new.. and I was comparing the 11 or 13" I think..

 

Less than 1 oz +/- difference isn't a deal breaker for me..

The VTAC 15" just got here about 3 minutes ago..

 

 

 

 

Still waiting on the other key parts..

An ounce or 2 isn't much!

 

I can say with about 99.9% accuracy that I haven't seen an AR build like that before!

I wanted something different.. and came up with this..

 

not really a new idea.. short barrel and a long rail...

 

but using the 15" rail on a short barrel is new..

 

I've worked on a sell price point where I make a whopping like $40 to assemble it..

 

The parts prices are the killer.. $250 for a DD LW barrel.. $189 for the rail.. etc.. adds up real quick..

 

I sold one already to a guy in AL.. he like the cool factor..

 

He opted for the lower cost MI SS15 handguard option.. (its 14oz..)

I got the weights (in oz) for the build..

 

Upper

 

8.6 upper rec

13.8 rail with barrel nut

2.5 gas block and tube (estimated but close I am sure)

25.5 14.5" standard M4 cut barrel

3 KIES Comp

9.4 BCG (full-auto type avg)

3.2 Charging Handle

 

65.6 oz total = 4.1 lbs.

 

 

Lower with stock

 

8.85 lower

8.2 LPK

17.5-18.2 with stock and carbine buffer tube assy. with carbine buffer

2.9oz MOE grip

 

37.45oz = 2.34 lbs.

 

6.44lbs total..

 

& yes I was bored..

Finally done..

 

 

 

balances just in front of the mag well..

Looks great! How's it shoot?

Only test fired it with 10 rounds today of PMC XTAC 5.56.. all GTG thus far.. no melted Alpha rail..

 

I have to get to range to get my MBUS and RDS set..

 

I've got 2 customer builds that have barrels coming in tommorrow afternoon..

 

They come 1st...

Nothing fell off or melted... I call that a success!

 

Once those pesky customer builds are done... (I think I know one of those customers... he's a pain in the a$$! ) go have some more fun and give us a range report

Went to Range 14 today with it..

 

 

20 rounds PMC XTAC 5.56 62gr.. then 40 rounds PMC Bronze 55gr FMJ. then 80 rounds of Wolf WPA 55gr (both HP and FMJ).. 0 issues with it.. got the MBUS and RDS setup..

 

@ 100yards..

 

Nice! Looks like it shoots as good as it looks! Congrats on the killer build!

I sold the TRS25 last week as the overall optic 'tube' was too small IMHO..

 

Heres Evil with the new MOE stock..

 

 

Heres today at 100 yards with the MagPul MBUS set while kneeling.. just about a 6" group.. (low and left..).

 

 

 

I was aiming low & mid-section.. Using Wolf WPA 55gr FMJ and 55gr HP ammo..

 

 

I also got another clay and a 16" water bottle at 100 yards too..

 

I need to 'bag it' and set it up though.. I was helping my in-law and a friend today zero there AR's, and 45 minutes is not enough..

 

I also clipped a gallon milk jug at 150 yards 6x with it.. while kneeling..

 

Now at 290 rounds with 0 issues..

Now at 290 rounds with 0 issues..

 

Are you following any "break-in" procedure or are you just letting it rip?

You always have interesting write-ups and photo's to go along with your builds. Thanks again

Are you following any "break-in" procedure or are you just letting it rip?

 

I 'broke-in' with a brand new BCG and just let her rip.. I wiped the BCG after the initial outing last weekend..

 

I just boresnaked and wiped the BCG down yesterday.. no fuss or muss.. at around 500 rounds I'll take apart the BCG and inspect the rings and such..

 

Thnx Ray Ray...