Best AR gunsmith in Memphis area? If not Memphis, in TN?

[G27]

Looking for a really good AR gunsmith, preferably in Memphis. Just need a slight tweak, but would prefer someone really known for the craft...

[LA_357SIG]

what do you need tweaked? You might be able to do it yourself or get a board member to walk you through it (or do it for you).

[G27]

Well, I've finally found time to sight my AR (pinned standard front sight, MagPul BUIS) and eve with the rear sigth all the way tot he left it's shooting slightly to the right. After doing some reading, it appears the barrel needs a slight shim, but I'm not sure.

Any help is appreciated...

[LA_357SIG]

That is a fairly easy fix if you already have the tools. A bench vise, 2 wood blocks or an upper vise, and an armorers wrench. (I have the $25 DPMS one) If you don't mind parting with it for a while you might consider sending it back to the manufacturer to fix. Call them and see what they can do.

...or if you have a detatchable carry handle handy put it on and put the rifle on a table upside down and see if it is in fact a crooked front sight base.

Sorry I didn't give you the answer you were looking for. I've been to only 1 gunshop in Memphis and that's Classic Arms off Germantown Pkwy.

....

[Guest fdx28]

Best AR guy in Wes Grant of MSTN.biz

[TNRobocop]

Well, I've finally found time to sight my AR (pinned standard front sight, MagPul BUIS) and eve with the rear sigth all the way tot he left it's shooting slightly to the right. After doing some reading, it appears the barrel needs a slight shim, but I'm not sure.

Any help is appreciated...

Never heard of shimming a AR barrel. It's not really designed to do that.

Could be the front sight is canted. I would try different rear sights, including a removeable carry handle first before anything drastic.

The magpul sights are plastic and could have been slightly warped is a possibility.

[G27]

Never heard of shimming a AR barrel. It's not really designed to do that.

Ahh, well, I'm truly ignorant about these things...

Could be the front sight is canted. I would try different rear sights, including a removable carry handle first before anything drastic.

Mine came with the removable handle, which I replaced with the MBUS - both have to be all the way to the left.

I could sent it back to the manufacturer, but I'd hate for it to get caught up in a 'repair loop' kind of thing as they're quite a distance away from me. I'd rather pay someone more 'local' to fix it, just have no idea where to go.

[TNRobocop]

It's "possible" that the barrel nut is misadjusted, which would slightly cant the gas tube, which in turn will tweak the front sight tower.

It would have to be looked at obviously to tell for sure.

Another thing, which is possible, is that you are shooting the wrong bullet weight out of it. 1-9 twist can shoot most any standard loads, 1-12 can only shoot 55 gr. Probably not the issue here though.

If it came as a factory gun, send the upper back in under warranty. If it is a u-build it one, you might just have to have them replace the barrel.

I have built/inspected/repaired literally hundreds of uppers and sometimes you get a FUBAR one, even a new one or one from a good builder and it has to be swapped out.

Edited November 23, 2009 by TNRobocop

[G27]

Well, I was all set to ship this upper to the manufacturer to take advantage of the lifetime warranty but hesitated (I'd really rather drop it off somewhere than ship it) and I'm glad I did - apparently Anvil Arms has closed shop (well, technically they were taken over by a creditor but it looks like the owner bailed and took EVERYTHING with him, including people's paid for firearms and accessories).

So, now that sending it back to the manufacturer isn't an option, who's the real-deal AR gunsmith in TN?

Hero Gear? Other options?

[R1100R]

I had a front sight that was slightly canted. Put it is a vise and wacked it lightly with a rubber mallet. Worked great. Had to do it on a couple of AK's in the past. I thought why not, they are both pinned.

Also check the front sight post to make sure it is not a little canted. The magpul buis is a true backup sight with not much adjusment. Made for CQB.

Edited January 5, 2010 by R1100R

[Guest gunsmoke308]

bring it to classic arms in cordova mason in the back can fix it

[G27]

I might just do that, gunsmoke308 - I dropped it off Ed Mason 15 weeks ago for a simple front site adjustment, still nothing.

In fact, I'm calling/picking it up tomorrow or Friday and bringing it over - this is pathetic...

[Guest jackdm3]

Is Ed Mason and gunsmoke308 one in the same?

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/gunsmithing-troubleshooting/36160-looking-gunsmith-memphis-area-3.html

[Guest Halfpint]

Common misconception Jack . . . the confusion stems from sharing a name.

Ed Mason is the gunsmith at Dowdle. Mason Sheffield is the smith at Classic Arms. So when people call looking for "mason" or just "the gunsmith" we have to explain rather often that it's not the same guy, and he's without the backlog of work.

As far as AR work, something that's shooting that far left . . . I'd let Mason look at it, or myself (I'm the AR guy, but not exactly a 'smith), but my money is 100% on Wes Grant at MSTN--I know the theory, so to speak, and I've been playing with black rifles for years, but the man has tons more hands-on experience than I do, and I have no shame in conceding that fact.

[G27]

Ed Mason told me the front site was off, but it's now taken 15 weeks to get it straight (well, I don't have it yet - who knows how long it might actually take).

I understand being 'busy', I run a very successful small business myself, but this level of service is deplorable.

I'm picking my AR up and bringing it to Classic this week.