the tgo receiver build thread

[R_Bert]

So I'll bring this thread back from the dead...   Mine is finally done.  Well, sort of.   :)   Took rather a while to collect all the pieces, but I'm glad I was picky and got exactly what I wanted. 

 

 

TGO CMT billet lower

PSA LPK

PSA 16" midlength complete upper, BCG and charging handle included

Magpul MOE handguard (bought from someone here)

PSA flip-up rear sight

Cavalry Arms C1 fixed stock

Primary Arms red dot and mount (bought from someone here)

 

This is my first AR.  :woohoo:

 

Building it was pretty darn easy.  I just followed the videos that OS posted and while I did sent a detent flying once or twice, thankfully it didn't go far. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The storage compartment in the stock is cavernous!  I can easily fit two 10 rd stripper clips in it.  I think I could squeeze 3 in there if I really wanted to.  I plan to get a Hogue pistol grip for it and when I swap that, I'll put the correct selector detent spring in this time (oops...  :doh: ) and adjust the set screw to snug up the fit between the lower and upper. 

 

Thanks to all who posted the many helpful hints on how to build it.  :hat:

 

When I did the big unveiling for my wife.... she said, "Cool!  When do I get to shoot it?"  Right after I do, dear.  Right after I do.  :)

Thank you for bringing the thread back (I missed this one when I posted to TMF ).

 

My pile of parts is to be my first AR-15 also.

 

How many hours do you think you have in it (learning & assembly, as I a way behind you).

 

Good work, looks great!

 

I got my .204 Ruger barrel a while back, still need a forearm & stock.  Then, mostly ready.

 

I hope after this coming Friday, to be freed up to seriously work on mine.

 

 

 

B.

[peejman]

Peejman, super clean and nice looking build. Kinda old school, kinda new school and lots of way cool...

 

Mark

 

 

Thanky, that's exactly what I had in mind.  I like the old school fixed stock rifle look but the A2 stocks are too long for me.  While they're essentially the only game in town, I'm quite happy with the Cav Arms stock.  The mid-length upper gives it that rifle look.  I still may get a carry handle for it, but having shot a couple AR's with red dots...   they're just so darn easy.  And I got a good deal on the optic here.

 

 

 

Thank you for bringing the thread back (I missed this one when I posted to TMF ).

 

My pile of parts is to be my first AR-15 also.

 

How many hours do you think you have in it (learning & assembly, as I a way behind you).

 

Good work, looks great!

 

I got my .204 Ruger barrel a while back, still need a forearm & stock.  Then, mostly ready.

 

I hope after this coming Friday, to be freed up to seriously work on mine.

 

 

 

B.

 

 

Time to build it?  I probably watched the lower assembly videos 2 or 3 times before I started assembly.  Took me about an hour to build the complete lower... and I probably did it 3 times.  Both the pivot and take down pin were really stiff at first and I fiddled with them for a bit until I was satisfied I'd put them together correctly.  While the threaded bolt catch pivot pin is very easy and convenient... mine was also pretty very stiff.  A minute or two with a small round file fixed that.  Then the issues that I had with the selector spring made me completely remove, check, and reinstall the trigger group twice.... and I still used the wrong spring!  :doh:   I blame PSA for intentionally confusing me by putting too many springs in the LPK.   :lol:    But I'll fix that when I get the new pistol grip. 

 

Beyond that it takes about 5 seconds to slap the upper on the lower (I bought a complete upper) and you're done.

 

I did swap the hand guard which took maybe 5 minutes.  The hard part there was installing the Magpul version.  It was really tight on the FSB and took a bit to convince myself to push it that hard.  But once I did that, it went right on. 

 

Installing the flip-up rear took maybe 2 minutes.  I read the reviews that said to push it rearward while tightening... so I did and it tightened up fine. 

 

Installing the optic took maybe 20-30 minutes.  No rocket surgery there, just me being slow and anal about leveling it and getting it where I wanted it on the rail.  I've not shot it yet but after installing the sights, the red dot and irons appear to be within a couple inches of one another at ~100 yds.  The dot appears to be exactly the same height as the front sight and the width of the post to the right. 

 

So in all of that... maybe 90 minutes if done all at the same time.  Probably 20 minutes (or less) for someone who knows what they're doing.  These things really do go together like Legos.

 

On the other hand, that FAL that I built was MUCH more involved.  ;)

 

[Mark A]

Ar15.com has a great link on the parts. I watched the same videos you did then pulled up the parts list on my ipad and used it to
ID each spring as I built it..

Worked well for me, Mark

[Rightwinger]

Mine finally made it to completion as well. 

[mikegideon]

Spiral flutes. Is that a Shaw barrel?

[Rightwinger]

Mike I honestly don't have any idea who the manufacturer is.  I took a chance on Ebay because the reviews were all rating the guys barrels excellent.  Marked as 223 Wylde.

I'm really thinking of buying one of this guys pistol barrels and building my first AR pistol because of the quality.

 

I still need to stretch its legs, but it zeroed in two 3 round groups at 25 meters and then aimed fire at 50 yards was all in the little shoot n see's 8 ring or better (6 inch circles).  Couldn't get any further as my range is woods and the chiggers and ticks were out in force!

[mikegideon]

Shaw has a patent on spiral fluting. That's why I asked. Nothing wrong with their barrels. I have a few.

[Rightwinger]

Shipped from Birmingham, AL.  Shaw is in PA.  Don't know?  I've seen spiral fluting on several sites barrels but no mention of Shaw.  White Oak Armaments is one of them.  Bought a .204 Ruger upper off him years ago.  Didn't know Shaw had a patent on that.  Well if I got a Shaw for 170 clams, I'm pretty happy.  I'm pretty happy anyway.

 

Guy on Ebay goes with the name or screen name of jack_obowski  Don't see anything in a Bing search on the name.  (and by the way, screw google, that's for the bots)

[Lumber_Jack]

[quote name="mikegideon" post="1161192" timestamp="1403374758"]Shaw has a patent on spiral fluting. That's why I asked. Nothing wrong with their barrels. I have a few.[/quote] Well the have a patent on a type of spiral fluting. All you have to do is deviate from their patent slightly and it's no problem. Lots of spiral flutes out there.

[mikegideon]

Here it is...

 

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6324780.pdf

[mikegideon]

Well the have a patent on a type of spiral fluting. All you have to do is deviate from their patent slightly and it's no problem. Lots of spiral flutes out there.

 

As I read it, some of that is done under license. Patent infringement is complicated. I haven't read their claims. Here's a thread...

 

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f17/spiral-fluting-not-allowed-barrel-manufacturers-42913/

[Rightwinger]

One warning if anyone does get these barrels...be careful sliding your gas block over the engraving on the barrel.  I was wiggling the gas block on and it just nicked the edge of the engraving raising an edge.  A cleaning brush took the edge off but it still bothered me that I almost marred the heck out of a new barrel.  When it says .750 it means it!

[rugerla1]

A big thanks to Glock30! I got this from him yesterday and have been drooling over what direction I want to go with accessories to finish the build. The list so far that he has done to the lower is as follows:

CMT billet TGO Lower
PSA LPK
Magpul CTR stock OD

Hogue grip OD
Seekins Precision tool steel bolt catch
Seekins Precision billet magazine release button
Kies hammer/trigger pins, nickel boron coated

Magpul ASAP (modified to work with the CMT lower)

 

And I just ordered the BCM Gunfighter Mod 4 charging handle for it. This will take a while for me to finish due to funds, but I'm am so excited! What piece of work this lower is, CMT really does great work!

 

 

Edited June 22, 2014 by rugerla1

[Rightwinger]

I'm noting quite a bit of Seekins precision stuff on the CMT lowers.   Looks like we all went with quality. 

 

The one thing some of you might want to look at is the extended take down and pivot pins.  I'm really liking having something to grab a hold of rather than the struggle to push a tight pin through.

[rugerla1]

I'm noting quite a bit of Seekins precision stuff on the CMT lowers.   Looks like we all went with quality. 

 

The one thing some of you might want to look at is the extended take down and pivot pins.  I'm really liking having something to grab a hold of rather than the struggle to push a tight pin through.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/737924/yankee-hill-machine-ar-15-ez-pull-takedown-pin-set-steel-matte

 

 

This what you used? They look pretty nice.

[Rightwinger]

Went with a set of Xtremes.  2nd set I've bought.  They come with extra detents in case you "launch" one and the tools to assist while building. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390641296614?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

The larger "punch" can serve as a final drive punch for the forward assist and roll pin on the gas block.

 

Oh and the larger tool is used by pushing it through from the other side of your lower and you get your spring and detent compressed then hold them in with the large tool.  Then push the pin in pushing the tool out, bang, installed.

Edited June 22, 2014 by Rightwinger

[rugerla1]

Thanks RW, that is nice with the tools included. Oh, and extra springs for the fliers...since I will probably have one  :rofl:

[Rightwinger]

Yep.  For all those still building ARs, I would also highly recommend the RRA "Oh Shoot' kit.  You'll eventually need something out of it.

http://rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=523

[rugerla1]

FYI Palmetto State Armory has free shipping on orders over $100 till midnight tonight if y'all are needing anything.

I went ahead and picked up this BCG with free shipping.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/ar-15-parts-sale/palmetto-state-armory-5-56-full-auto-nickel-boron-bcg-with-logo.html

Edited June 22, 2014 by rugerla1

[R_Bert]

Yet another click-adjustable gas-block

 

Anyone used one of these?

 

http://www.blackfoxresearch.com/Click-Block.html

[Lumber_Jack]

[quote name="R_Bert" post="1188921" timestamp="1410470472"]Yet another click-adjustable gas-block Anyone used one of these? [url="http://www.blackfoxresearch.com/Click-Block.html"]http://www.blackfoxresearch.com/Click-Block.html[/url][/quote] I don't care for the looks of that one. Especially for $89. If I were buying on it's be an SLR rifleworks first followed by Syrac Ord Gen II

[R_Bert]

Yet another click-adjustable gas-block

Anyone used one of these?

http://www.blackfoxresearch.com/Click-Block.html

I don't care for the looks of that one. Especially for $89. If I were buying on it's be an SLR rifleworks first followed by Syrac Ord Gen II

It is rather ugly. I am definitely going click-adjust, and had my eye on the Syrac since first seeing them.

The side adjustment on this one was interesting, but I have almost decided to go with minimal length on hand guard (otherwise would need greatly extended hex wrench from the front).

........Now that SLR looks real good...... Edited September 12, 2014 by R_Bert

[Lumber_Jack]

[quote name="R_Bert" post="1189071" timestamp="1410529400"] It is rather ugly. I am definitely going click-adjust, and had my eye on the Syrac since first seeing them. The side adjustment on this one was interesting, but I have almost decided to go with minimal length on hand guard (otherwise would need greatly extended hex wrench from the front).[/quote] Yeah. I've found that I don't need field adjustments unless I'm adding and removing a suppressor. So the long wrench isn't a huge issue. SLR sells one FYI 5" OAL http://slrrifleworks.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=94 13" OAL http://slrrifleworks.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=75

[R_Bert]

Who did your coating?

 

 

 

 

 

I never added mine here either, so here it is

[Lumber_Jack]

[quote name="R_Bert" post="1189220" timestamp="1410566676"]Who did your coating?[/quote] Mike at Law Enforcement Sales in Oak Ridge. It came out great! Plus he's a good dude