New AR-15 build

[LouSiffer]

I just got an email today showing my lower has shipped and should be here Thursday. Of course now the hard part is finding an upper that isnt an insane price.

ALSo, Razor, you have any idea who makes the lowers. I am guessing CMMG.-Lou

[Razor]

Lou, I have no idea who's making those lowers for them. They're Mil-spec but I still haven't figured out who's lower parts kit they're using. In comparing them to my Windham lower and my Colt LE6920 lower there are some differences; namely the magwell bevel and the raised areas are more flat instead of rounded like the Windham and Colt. Everything functions well, and I dare say the USM4 lower has a better feeling trigger than my Colt.

On another note, I snagged a clean Windham R16M4FTT AR-15 on Gunbroker tonight, and didn't even have to bid over $1,100.00. The shop is local to me so I'll go pick it up tomorrow, split it up and put the upper and lower on Gunbroker tomorrow night.

[LouSiffer]

I LOVE the Windhams!! I feel they are not only the best AR in their price range, but, the best in much higher price ranges. I am wanting an AR10 when they get it out. It was supposed to be out this spring, but, you never know at thispoint. -Lou

[Razor]

Thought I'd share some updated pics of my LE6920. I'm a southpaw, so I recently installed a BAD-ASS ambi safety selector, and a Troy ambi bolt release lever. The Troy folding rear sight was a stocking stuffer from me to me this past Christmas. I added the Magpul MOE furniture this past summer, but I did leave the Rogers Super-Stoc on there as I really like the feel of it.

[LouSiffer]

Nice build. I am really impressed with the USM4 you turned me onto. I will say the safety is oddly super stiff. Once I go through it, it will be better. As you said, HUGE magwell bevels. I just wonder who makes these. -Lou

[Razor]

Lou, my USM4 safety was super stiff too. I swapped it out with a Windham lower safety I had lying around. Funny thing is, the USM4 safety feels great in the Windham, and the Windham safety feels great in the USM4. I originally took the USM4 safety out and greased and oiled it and it did help somewhat. Detents, springs, safeties and machine work all looked good and equal between the USM4 and the Windham, so it doesn't make a lot of sense where swapping them worked, but it did.

[LouSiffer]

Lou, my USM4 safety was super stiff too. I swapped it out with a Windham lower safety I had lying around. Funny thing is, the USM4 safety feels great in the Windham, and the Windham safety feels great in the USM4. I originally took the USM4 safety out and greased and oiled it and it did help somewhat. Detents, springs, safeties and machine work all looked good and equal between the USM4 and the Windham, so it doesn't make a lot of sense where swapping them worked, but it did.

Kind of blows that " Its all Mil-Spec! " theory in the ass doesn't it? -Lou

[straycat]

I think the Mil-spec term is used loosely theses days.

[Razor]

Kind of blows that " Its all Mil-Spec! " theory in the ass doesn't it? -Lou

Well, the USM4 lower has better specs than the Windham, which is pretty close to my Colt lower in terms of appearance. Windam's specs are pretty close to Mil-spec. Of course, the Colt lower parts appear to be better quality/finish. I don't know what lower parts kit the USM4 is, but rumor has it that Windham is using Stag lower parts kits which believe it or not are pretty good quality. What I find amusing it that I just swapped spring, detent and lever out of each lower, and now both seem fine. If I were Lou, I'd swap out the safety out of his New Frontier to his USM4, and see if that changes anything. I'm suspecting the USM4 lower parts kit is either CMMG or DPMS, but haven't been able to confirm it yet.

[LouSiffer]

It would knock me off my feet it was DPMS. The trigger is too smooth on the USM4. Not great....yet......but definately above DPMS quality. I am kind of leaning to CMMG.-Lou

[straycat]

Update slide fire

Found a slide fire stock today so off to test it out tomorrow.

[LouSiffer]

I tried one out. They are kind of tricky to learn to use. I think they may work better on AR's with a poly lower versus forged aluminum since the poly's usually kick more. If I remember right, I had to have a very limp/weak grip on the gun to get it to do what it was supposed to......which then made it pretty inaccurate. -Lou

[straycat]

Seems like a pretty easy thing to get used to I'll give it a try.
I have lots of select fire experience so it should be a breeze.
I'll probably get a class 3 permit soon because I have found a few guns for sale at pretty fair prices.
My county/municipality has lost their fight trying to not allow class 3 ownership.State and Fed told them they had no right to deny what is legal everywhere else in the state.
Contacted slide fire and asked them if they offered or had one in the R&D phase for the Czech VZ 58 and they said they had had people wanting them and they have discussed it.

[LouSiffer]

You may have better luck with it than I did. Let us know what you think. -Lou

[straycat]

The slide fire stock works fine but the range was really busy so the range officer let me do a few bursts.
Ok so it works so I'm happy with it.