Update #2B - Gun Show Goodies

I know, long time no update.  Hopefully this will make some people curious about the actual construction of the project.  Living in NY, I was glad to see a gun show happening locally to my college.  Since it is only 10 minutes away, I took a couple of friends and we strolled through the aisles.  I knew there were a few groups there that sold individual gun parts, and I think I made out pretty good.  I unfortunately could not deposit my paycheck in time, so I was limited to what I could get.  Here is what came home in my goodie bag.

First up is a really nice tan pistol grip.  To be honest, I really was hoping that I could find one.  I had scoured the internet for what seemed like hours and could not find a single one.  This one is made by Rock River Arms.  It fits really snug on the WE M4 receiver, but all of the holes line up like they are supposed to.  Cost to me was $8.00.

 

Next up is a charging handle.  There are two different types of charging handles for real steel AR15's, extruded and forged.  Extruded means the material was squeezed out of a single die and then machined to the right shape.  Forged means that a massive press smashes hot material into a die which results in the shape with not as much machining needed.  The one I have pictured is an extruded one.  The man I talked to said you don't need a forged one unless you plan on running into combat.  With this being airsoft, I figured an extruded one was good enough.  Cost was $15.00.

Next up is a nice little combo.  A steel castle nut, stock ring, and a Milspec sized buffer tube.  The threads for the buffer tube fit no problem, and all the other parts make the stock fit feel so much better.  You can even see for yourself the quality difference in just the finishes if you look back at my other post.  The WE tube was 4 position, while this real steel is 5 position.  Cost of all this was $5.00 for the castle nut, $2.00 for the stock ring, and $25 for the buffer tube.

 Next up is another piece that makes airsoft quality parts look like pathetic toys, a real steel Ma-Tech rear sight.  I bought a King Arms replica a month ago thinking it would be good enough, but I found it felt weak when it was folded and I could only hope that the blow back action didn't cause it to flip up.  I am happy to say I won't have to worry about that with the real one.  Cost was $70, which is easily half of what I see online.  I really did get a steal.

Last but not least is a little bag of goodies.  This a 'lost pieces' kit by Bushmaster.  It contains extra parts that could get lost when you do a full disassembly, or roll off the table during a build.  Inside of this bag are take down/pivot pin detents and springs, selector switch detent and spring, buffer retainer lock and spring, firing pin retaining pin, extractor springs, and push pieces for the extractor.  The best part is, there are two of each part.  Save for the extractor parts, each one fits perfectly into the WE M4 receiver.  Cost was $15.

All in all, I think I made out pretty good.  I spent around $140 (I had to borrow $10 from one of my friends), but it was all worth it.  I could have spent another $40 if I got my paycheck cashed, but oh well.  Online retailers can make up the difference.  I found out my open bolt kit was delayed due to being out of stock, but it is on its way now.  Then I can accurately gauge what parts I am missing.  Until then, everything is sitting in a bag waiting to be assembled.

Next up will be my first guide, the Charging Handle Mod!  Stay tuned, this is a very nice trick for WE M4 owners.

Update #1A and #2A - WA parts and CM901 beginnings

Well, I had a very productive Friday this past week, and it resulted in feeling really good about these projects.  I have decided on a numbering/letter system for my updates, The number is what the project number is.  So for example, #1 is the OD VLTOR WA M4 project, and #2 is the CM901 WE Tech M4.  The letter is the essentially the update number.  The higher the letter, the more recent the update.  "A" being the first, "B" the second, and so on.  Simple, but effective.

First off, I ended up having to reorder some of parts for the WA, since they disappeared from the retailers I had originally linked to.  They have been ordered and should be here in a few weeks.  That being said, the same shop had a bunch of steel parts floating around, so those will end up in my gun as well.  I just have to source a new spring set and the lower will be mostly complete.  I was actually shocked that I will have the lower done before the upper.

Secondly, I found a half built WE M4 which I got to take home for my purposes. 

I spent the next few hours looking it over to see what I needed.  So far, the pricing looks pretty good.  Because the WE Tech rifles are 1:1 real sizing, I can just go and snag the parts I am missing from the local gun shop or show for a really good price.  Just to make this even more authentic, I will see how many of those parts I can get from Colt.  (Maybe even find the charging handle with the logo on the back of it.)  Otherwise, here are the parts I am going to replace/need.  I have organized them into three lists:  Needed Real Steel Parts, Needed WE/Airsoft Parts, and Other Parts I Might Replace.

WE/Airsoft Parts Needed:
Anti-Rotation Pins
Gas Block
Folding Front Sight
Ambi-Selector Switch
Selector Detent and Spring
Vortex Flash Hider
Trigger Group Screw
Rail System Assembly
Custom Machined Aluminum 13 inch Outer Barrel

Real Steel Parts Needed:
Tan VLTOR IMOD Stock (Mil-Spec)
Tan A2 Pistol Grip
Full Length Gas Tube
Forward Assist
Trigger Guard

Parts That Might Be Replaced:
Magazine Release
Buffer Tube
Castle Nut
Stock Ring
Dust Cover
CAR Type Buffer

I know finding some of these real steel parts will be easy, and for a good price too.  I am expecting those to cost around $150.  The airsoft parts will just need locating.  Those will cost about $200, mostly because of the rail system.  Right now, the only thing on its way is an Open Bolt kit.  I will have to get the dimensions off of the barrel once I get an armor's wrench to remove that barrel nut.  At least now I will have a battle plan when I go shopping.  The only thing I am still in need of is a place to get my parts annodized/powder-coated and engraved.  I don't have to have the engraving, but adds so much to the individuality of the gun.  If you have any ideas, offer up!  I am always looking for suggestions.

That is it for now.  Progress is being made!  Hopefully I can start assembling one of these things into a working gun to sling some plastic at people.  Since it is winter time in the Northeast United States, I have to wait for some warmer weather.  Until then, Here are some more pictures of the start.

Gas M4 Project #2 - CM901 Look-a-Like

Hey GBB followers, Gratuitous Geek here with another project on my mind.  I browsed around the different threads over at the Gas Guns Info Forum, and I've seen people build WE M4's with real steel parts and quite a set of unique looks.  It is a great place to look around and get tons of info for your GBB build, whatever it may be.

I saw a few builds with the new WE open bolt conversions and with the price that WA parts and mags cost, it would almost be worth getting a WE M4 just to blast around with.  Having seen the custom MAGPUL PMAGs for the WE someone is making, I wanted to take handle at a gun I think is cool, the Colt CM901.

First off, here is a little disclaimer. Yes, I played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.  Yes, I heard about the CM901 from this game, BUT that does not make me equivalent to all of the six year olds who post on youtube that "this gun was awesome in call of duty".  Some people might not know, but real companies came to Infinity Ward/Activision/Sledgehammer Games and said, "Everytime you make a game, people buy the guns in it.  We want to bring you our prototypes to put in the game."  Why do you think there is a massive 'Colt' logo on the charging handle of the CM901, or perhaps the 'L3 Communications' on the holographic sight?  It is a brand new form of advertising basically.  That being said, I saw it in the game and looked into it.

For those who might be interested, the Colt CM901 is a new AR derivative assault rifle with a unique feature.  The CM901 can convert between 7.62 NATO, 7.62 x 39mm, 6.8 SPC, and 5.56 NATO with a change of upper, magazine, and a magazine well adapter.  Colt says it will take milspec uppers in 5.56 with an adapter, which is quite nice.  I saw the look and was drawn in.  The color really intrigued me so much I wanted to build an M4 around it.  The problem is the magwell is extra long for 7.62 NATO magazines and the front pivot pin is lower on the receiver.  The CM901 also has a reinforced lower receiver, as well as an ambidextrous bolt release and magazine release.  I won't be able to copy the look exactly, but I figured it would be close enough.  Here is a pimp my gun rendition:

                                   

The mix between anodized aluminum, FDE/tan, and black will definitely make the rifle stand out.  This will be my CQB gun, so the FPS will be slightly less than 350.  The idea is to make it similar to what is in the game, so building a 13 inch upper would better fit.  The only possible issue I could run into is I would have to buy the parts for the upper before I anodize it.  Each time you anodize parts, the color is off just a little bit, and I want it to match as best possible.  Highlights of the build are:

- VLTOR IMOD stock
- 13 inch barrel
- Knight's Armament folding front sight
- M14 style Vortex Flash hider
- Monolithic Free Floating Rail System

I still haven't decided on the rail system. When I was looking at the different pictures of the CM901, I couldn't figure out what length rail system it uses!  It is a toss up between a 10 in and an 11 in.  I am still trying to crunch the numbers judging from pictures, but I will do my final measurements based on the 13 in barrel, since I know that is the official length.

I have to find a place to get the receivers and rail to match with the color I want.  It is either an FDE or Tan color, but it ends up slightly darker with almost an orange color to them.  I don't want to paint it because I haven't had the best luck with painting unless someone offers to powder coat, annodize, or Duracoat it for me at a good price.

If you haven't noticed, I placed a 20 round PMAG in the magwell.  The CM901 comes chambered in 7.62 NATO and with a new MAGPUL 7.62 PMAG, so I figured I could match the look.  But WE doesn't make PMAGs?  There is a way to convert them that many people have tried with great success.  I have seen the 30 round PMAGs converted, but not a 20 round.  There is a Guide on Gas Guns Info I will be using to get similar results.  Should be a pretty easy, but time consuming conversion judging by the guide.  I only need to make 3 or 4 magazines unless I decide to use it as a field gun too.

I will be posting up a guide for both since I will probably end up doing them for someone if they want.  If I had to do pricing on doing conversions for people, it would probably be $15 if you provide both a WE magazine and a PMAG, $55 if you provide just the PMAG, $35 if you provide just the WE magazine, and $80 if I need to provide everything.  Send me a message if you want.  I am around on different forums so it would probably be best to contact me by way of a PM or otherwise.

So that is my next project.  I should be picking up a few parts soon to begin this project.  Pictures will be up of these projects I promise.  In the next few weeks I am hoping to start one of these things.  While you are waiting, I have review in the works for my WE-Tech M14.  Look out for it soon.

Side Project #1 - Kimber style MEU

So after looking around at my armory, I realized I missed a gun that I think everyone had at some point, an M1911.  Now there are tons of variations with different colors and styles, so everyone can find one to fit their style.  Since most are TM compatible, parts are easy to come by as well.  If you have ever met me in person, I love OD.  All my gear is OD, my guns have at least a small speck of OD somewhere, so when someone posted up a WE MEU with an OD slide and frame on my local forum for sale, I had to grab it.  It didn't come with magazines, but for the price I paid for it I wasn't complaining.

I played around with it a little bit and it was neat for sure.  It wasn't what I wanted though.  I have two full sized pistols, a KWA USP and a KSC GLock 17.  I have to admit, the compact guns are nice and handy for secondaries.  I was browsing around different ways to make a custom gun when I came across this picture:

http://www.dawsonprecision.com/images/534-009.jpg

I looked at it, and thought to myself, "I never owned a compact M1911".  I looked around and saw all sorts of brand new slides and other fancy parts, but I wanted to keep it simple.  I put together a simple shopping list and went to town.  About a week later, I built this piece in about an hour.  I think it turned out quite good.

Externally, I swapped out the slide with a CQB Master 3.8 M1911 slide.  The picture is a 4.3, but they were out of stock where I bought the parts.  What is nice about that is it is a true drop in replacement.  It has the outer barrel, inner barrel, hop up unit, and blowback unit that comes with stock WE M1911s.  I think the contrast between the OD and the black with the subtle accents of silver make it a unique piece.

Internally, I changed a few things as well.  All I really did was buy a CQB Master Upgrade Kit.  It comes with an enhanced polycarbonate loading nozzle, CNC'd piston head ported with 8 holes for a better seal, a CNC'd cylinder bulb for more gas flow, and 160% recoil and hammer springs.  Doesn't take long to install as long as you know how to disassemble the TM based M1911.

New nozzle compared to the stock one. (new one is the lower, greyer one)

The loading nozzle as a better feeding tang on it so it feeds more reliably.  The polycarbonate is much stronger than the plastic made from the stock one.

New Piston vs. Old
(Sorry, I accidentally deleted the picture I had and I already installed it)
The new piston has a better design to maintain a better seal.  When I actually took the blow back unit apart to replace this, the screw was halfway out already!  Nothing a little blue locktite didn't fix though.

Springs (newer one is red)

This is where it got interesting.  The hammer spring I already installed on the gun, it was about 20% longer than the stock spring, and the coils were thicker.  Pretty easy to do.  Where the fun came in was the recoil spring.  The kit is designed to be a drop in replacement for 5.1 and 4.3 guns.  Since this is a 3.8, the recoil spring is even shorter.  In the picture above, you can see the 3.8 compared to the 5.1 spring and the 160% upgrade.  I decided to trim it down to be about 20% longer than the stock 3.8 one, since it is 20% longer for the 5.1.  Unfortunately, due to the increased wire diameter, the slide would not lock back on an empty magazine.  So I had to due a little bit more trimming.....

Took about an 15 minutes of fitting the slide, but you can see the results.  The spring ended up shorter than the standard one.  It was just long enough to fully reset the slide, and just short enough to allow the slide to lock.  I haven't had a chance to test to see if it is still more powerful than the original.  A mistake I think I made was not trimming the spring at both ends.  There are coils at the ends that do not add power to the spring, and take up space when it contracts.  I will probably be buying a replacement to see if I can get it to fit better for more consistency.  Right now, it occasionally doesn't fully close, but it is a simple fix.

All in all, it was a neat little project.  I missed having an M1911, so now i have something a little bit unique.  Time to go and get a holster, and a few more extra magazines.  An interesting side project to say the least.  This will be the first of many in my ever expanding arsenal of gas blowback guns.

Thanks for tuning in once again, I know this blog is much slower than others I've seen, but hang in there.  I always seem to have neat ideas popping randomly in my head.  I hope everyone has a happy new year, and here are a few extra pictures I took.

Expanding and Dreaming of Possibilities.....

Quad G back here, and I've got a few things to get off of my chest.

First off, I think I want to have a second build.  Yea, I know I haven't even finished the first, but after looking at tons of parts and waiving through page after page of pictures and videos, I have so many ideas for many projects.  On top of that, if I get the chance to use a CNC milling machine and a giant chunk of aluminum, the whole world is mine.  From LR300s to CM901s (Okay, I played MW3, so what?  It's a cool gun), I could have EVERY M16 VARIANT UNDER THE SUN.  I sound like a gun collector don't I?

This brings me to thought number two, I have thought about opening up repair services publicly.  I've seen a few people on forums do tech work and it seems like something I could do.  I have been hesitant to do so because of my school work and regulations with my college housing.  I don't want to endanger a future I could have if I could simply avoid it all together.  That being said, I hate not having any money to build cool stuff, so anything could help me out.  I enjoy working on airsoft replicas, so I wouldn't mind installing parts or diagnosing things.

Bringing me to thought number three, I have thought about building WA guns for other people.  It could easily make me enough money to finish my own gun in under a year if enough people are interested in it.  I would probably not make any money on parts, just labor.  I wouldn't even consider it labor.  This type of stuff is something I enjoy, so it isn't even work to me.  Pricing becomes an issue though.  I haven't priced out what my build is going to cost, but I am expecting it to be around $1,200.  I would not want to build something that WA, G&P, or someone else is able to sell.  There is no way in hell I would be able to compete with their pricing.  I would consider though installing or changing parts out for someone on an existing WA system.

Probably the first step in helping someone build a WA from scratch is to sit down over the phone, or Skype and talk about their rifle.  I would start from front to back and see if there are any parts they have in mind.  It would easily take an hour or two to develop a mostly complete parts list.  It took me a month to fully develop mine!  Half of the battle would be finding the parts though, but now that I have scoured the internet, I have a good idea where to find everything.

I put up a poll the other day about me offering my services.  Leave a comment below if you really do want me to build a gun.  I might consider it.  Keep in mind that it is probably going to cost $1,500 with one magazine.  I would also like to hear what kind of rifle you would build.  Who knows, maybe one day I will make an offer!

Last thing to say for this post is just one thing, I have a good feeling I will be expanding this blog to cover other gas projects.  I just got a moderately new M1911 that I want to make a few changes to.  Look out for that in the next few months.  A few different guns from WE and KWA are coming out soon, so I want to snag those for my collection and I do plan on posting a review.  Next time I will have a few boxes in tow, and look out for a WE M14 review as well.  Thanks for reading!

The Lower Receiver - Where the Magic Happens

The Gratuitous Gas Gun Geek here once again with part two of my list of parts.  The lower receiver is where all the magic starts once you pull the trigger.  An amalgam of pins, spring, and other small parts, the lower receiver is where many people can get hung up on when constructing a rifle for the first time.  Many of the parts in the lower receiver look similar to the real steel counterparts, so it help to have basic knowledge of the real steel M16  or AR15 can come in handy.  You don't need to be an expert, but looking up "AR15/M16 function" on Youtube can provide helpful insight onto some areas.

Now, another advantage that some people have is to access an already constructed Western Arms M4.  Since I now work as a Gas Blowback Technician at my local airsoft shop, I have access to a half working WA M4.  Like many guns out there, it looks like a complete mess of different components, but the fact of the matter remains, it is still mostly complete.  I was able to talk to the owner and took it home for study.  Within the hour, I had the lower completely stripped.  I jotted down every dent and every spring, making sure I didn't forget anything and reassembled it.  Sure it may be missing a few things, but at least I have a better idea for how it works.  Without further adieu, here is my list of parts for the lower receiver:

G&P VLTOR Metal Receiver
(Ordered)
G&P VLTOR style 5 Position Buffer Tube
(Not Ordered)
Tango Down Style M4 Pistol Grip - OD Green
(Not Ordered)
G&P Frame Parts Set
(Not Ordered)
G&P Steel Anti-Rotation Pins
(Not Ordered)
G&P Dual Sling Mount
(Not Ordered)
G&P Steel Buffer Lock
(Not Ordered)
G&P Speed Buffer
(Not Ordered)
G&P Steel Bolt Release
(Not Ordered)
G&P Steel Sear
(Not Ordered)
G&P Speed Buffers
(Not Ordered)
G&P Steel Hammer and Firing Pin
(Not Ordered)
RA-Tech Buffer Spring (Winter)
(Not Ordered)
RA-Tech Buffer Spring (Summer)
(Not Ordered)
RS VLTOR EMOD Stock
(Not Ordered)

You may be wondering why there are multiples of certain parts.  The issue that could arise is the frame set that I linked above.  According to the description, many of the parts of a reinforced aluminum alloy.  It doesn't matter if it is reinforced or not, aluminum will not be as strong as steel with the same part dimensions.  Granted, it is quite the expense to switch to steel, but the extended life is well worth it.  Certain parts don't have to be steel, like some of the housings.  They do not encounter the force or changes in momentum that other parts will.  If the steel parts end up failing, then the aluminum parts are there to back up until new parts can be ordered.

I also thought about adding a fourth function to my WA build.  Granted, the receiver is marked with only 3 functions, but RA-Tech made a four function selector switch to have safe, semi-automatic, 3-round burst, and fully automatic options.  It was originally designed to be able to turn a WA M4 into the similar Chinese T91, but I think it would be similar to a four function MP5.  It is quite easy to do, RA-Tech made the parts to drop right in.

RA-Tech 4 function Selector Switch - 60 degree
RA-Tech 3-Round Burst Trigger Group

I'm still deciding whether or not to add the burst function.  If I would, I would be tempted to completely remake the receiver.  I have access to a milling machine, so I could machine out a lower receiver from a solid block.  Then I could have it anodized, and laser engrave new trademarks with "Burst" added.  It would definitely add a truly custom look and feel for the rifle.  I think for now I will just make sure I can get one working with standard parts.

The first packages should be arriving in the next few weeks.  Still can't put anything together, but that is what package number 2 will be.  Time to gather my tools.

The Upper Receiver- The First Half of the Battle

Once again, the Gratuitous Gas Gun Geek is back with an update to his build. Since I have been milling this WA project in my head for quite awhile, I think I have most of the parts ironed out for this build. I have broken down my list into two sections, the upper and lower receiver, so it helps me make sure I do not duplicate my parts. I will be linking a website for each part, but that does not mean I ordered it from there. The status of each part is also shown.  I haven't bought much, but what I did buy has a nasty habit of disappearing before I get the chance to order it, so I jumped on it while I could.  In my opinion, I think the upper receiver will be the easiest and fastest part of this project.  Most issues I would run into would be fitting and alignment.  Without further adieu, here is a list of all of the parts for the upper receiver:

G&P VLTOR Trademarked Receivers
(Ordered)
Stainless Steel Hop up Round
(Not Ordered)
Prime Design CNC'd Hop Up Chamber - AEG barrel and Hop Up
(Not Ordered)
Polarstar Concave Hop Up Spacer
(Not Ordered)
G&P Max Accuracy Bucking for AEGs
(Not Ordered)
Precision 6.03 Inner Diameter AEG Barrel
(Not Ordered)
G&P M4A1 Profile 14.5 Inch Steel Outer Barrel
(Not Ordered)
Real Steel Barrel Nut and Delta Ring Assembly
(Picking up at a local gun show or online somewhere)
Dytac VLTOR Low Profile Gas Block
(Not Ordered)
Guarder Stainless Steel Gas Tube, Carbine Length
(Not Ordered)
G&P VLTOR Type II Flash Hider (14mm CW)
(Not Ordered)
King Arms VLTOR CASV-M Rail System
(Ordered)
Custom Polymer Loading Nozzle & Wedge lock
(Someone from a forum I belong to makes loading nozzles with a special plastic.  All I need to do it ask him to make me one.  Not Ordered)
RA-Tech Steel Bolt Carrier w/ VLTOR Logo
(Not Ordered)
TSC VLT Style Charging Handle - Latch Type A
(Not Ordered)

This list is pretty basic.  The receiver is aluminum, just like the real steel, but the barrel is steel as is many other parts.  If you haven't noticed, I did not include my sighting system.  I do know what I want to do for that, but when I explained it to some people, they didn't quite get it.

As part of my rules, I chose not to use a commonly found optic.  For airsoft, this means that EOTech's, Aimpoints, and ACOG's were out.  A newer type of red dot has surfaced in the real steel world known as the Micro Red Dot.  These optics have similar features to their larger counterparts, but have a smaller size to lighten the weight and reduce the sight's impact on the surrounding area (How much visually is blocked by the parts of the optic.  Things like the battery tube, adjustment knobs and the mount for instance.)  I have recently found an optic base manufactured by LaRue Tactical, called the Iron Dot.  This mount has a Doctor Optic style of sight seated high enough for co-witness and a protective shield surrounding the actual optic.  They make different mounts to fit other sights like the Burris Fastfire, but one does not exist for airsoft.  I found one that was the closest I could get to the LaRue mount.  It lacks the shield, but that is nothing a plasma cutter, a few bends, and a tap couldn't fix.

Another issue I was running into was with the rail system, the VLTOR CASV-M.  The neat thing about this system is that even though you need to have a low profile gas block, it comes with a folding front sight that mounts to the front.  The issue I run into is co-witnessing.  The rail adds some fraction of an inch (I believe it is 0.375 in) to the height of the flat top mount.  If I mount this Micro Red Dot, then I an afraid I can't cowitness with the included front sight.  There is a simple solution to this, which is buying a separate front sight.  I am still deciding if I want to spend the extra cash on something like that.  Granted, it would be a small fraction of the overall cost for this build, but sometimes, every penny counts.  So here is my optics and BUIS set up.

Dytac Micro Red Dot Reflex Sight with QD Mount
(Ordered)
SR25/PDW Style Flip Up Front Sight
(Not Ordered)
UTG Tactical Flip Up Rear Sight
(Not Ordered)

I like the look of the A2/A4 style of rear sight and the large adjustment knob requires no tools.  I also like the slim profile of the Knight's style flip up front sight (A similar one comes with the rail).  The red dot is a unique touch to the minimalist style on the top of the receiver.  I was trying to avoid have the most tacticool optics package, and I think a small profile helps that.

So that is all I have for this post.  I talked with my local shop and parts have been ordered.  Hopefully the next post is the unboxing.  I won't be able to build anything yet until I have some more money.  Until then, look out for an lower receiver parts list.  I welcome any criticism in my list, but I am pretty confident in what I have come up with.