“We’re all put to the test… but it never comes in the form or at the point we would prefer, does it?”
― David Mamet
I woke up this morning thinking about the .204 Ruger, which has nothing to do with David Mamet's utterly profound quote above. I've got a wonderful JP Rifles .204 upper that I plan to build into a kick-ass varmint rifle later this spring. My plan is a Geissele trigger (there's a surprise, since I'm an unabashed fan), a Randy Luth buttstock, a JP captured spring, one of the new Burris "Predator Quest" 4.5-14X scope which is PERFECT for this gun…here's my question for you guys…which lower? JP…Wilson Combat…Mega…Sun Devil…Del-Ton…Black Rain…Spike's…I'm all a'fuddle! I've used Spike's, JP, Sun Devil and probably some I've forgotten.
This is going to be a "forever gun," so I don't want to skimp on the lower if it's important…
...so what do you guys think?
Here are the .204 Forums, which I've been studying. As you guys know I got interested in the cartridge when we were doing a SHOOTING GALLERY episode with my friend Marc Christenson at DS Arms. He brought down a .204 upper and a registered full auto lower…had to be done, so we immediately cooked the barrel out of the upper…perhaps a 4000+ FPS round is the wrong one for full auto…was fun, though…
Heh, I'm building a 5.56 AR for squirrels so I've recently gone through some similar decision making. I've decided to make a DMR-esque version with an 18" Shilen barrel (Wylde chamber) in a VLTOR MUR upper. Still trying to decide on the scope, but I guess my point is that the lower matters least out of all the components that make up the rifle. I've only had one bad lower, a Stag that was out of dimension, and they replaced it quickly and without hassle when I approached them about it. Buy whatever's cheap and in stock wherever you enjoy shopping the most.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Sobiloff, the lower is just the lower.
ReplyDeleteIf the holes are in the right place, the name on the side is just for show. It's not like you're going to wear it out...like you will the barrel. ;)
I think you should do a concurrent piston-driven .204 t̶r̶u̶c̶k̶ Mini Cooper S g̶u̶n̶ pistol build.
ReplyDelete"I want to build a kick ass varmint rifle "
ReplyDeleteMB let's be real. Do you have time for serious varmint hunting? I can't picture you for hours on end sitting behind some bushes waiting for a yote or spending several days in a row nuking a prairie dog town. Without doing a meeting or conf call LOL...
CR…LOL! I wish I could! Only Iain Harrison has succeeded in the unholy blending of cars and guns:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.garaget.org/video/148012
With a little lip of the hat to Magpul:
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/01/chris-dumm/new-from-magpul-minigun-microbus/
mb
How about something from York Arms or someone similar with custom engraving and serial number? http://www.yorkarms.com/
ReplyDeleteMichael. Love how they mounted the tactical flower vase right on the roof of the microbus.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your build.
I like the Creedmoor Sports lower (manufactured by Palmetto) paired with the Geissle trigger. The hammer and trigger pin holes are just slightly (and purposefully) under milspec to be a light press fit. Better trigger consistency without the pins moving around and you can use the pins that designed for the trigger instead of a KNS setup. Works great for my NRA High Power Service Rifle.
ReplyDeleteLOL at the image of a liquefied barrel drooping from a full auto .204 Ruger.
ReplyDeleteGood for you guys.
A forever gun you say? Make it an 80%er.
ReplyDeleteI started with just the desire and no parts so my own choice was to put a new barrel on a complete rifle from CDNN - sort of a morphadite Colt - looks like it was put together by Colt from parts on hand to raise cash. It shipped with a floating 16" barrel so it's just a bolt/barrel/gas tube and gas block switch.(bolt because the Shilen barrels ship with a bolt).
ReplyDeleteI was shocked to find that Winchester calls .204 brass seasonal run - I wonder if Winchester ammunition is in the process of fading away now that the firearm business is just using the name.
Looks like I may have to thank Steve Hornady for keeping around the cartridges Hornady was involved in - I have enough .376 Steyr to last the life of the barrel on my Dragoon and I'll buy a bunch of .204 from Hornady though I'd like to be able to try Lapua and Norma and maybe RWS.
Nice to know I can swap the barrel again all by myself when the time comes with no shipping costs. The extra intervening maintenance - presumably buffer spring and other springs is a tradeoff for a heavy hit putting a new barrel on a bolt gun.
Tegra Arms carbon fiber lower. 3.65 ounces.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.tegraarms.com/products/ar-15-lower
ReplyDeletefor this build,
ReplyDeletehttp://megaarms.com/ar-15/lower-receivers/forged-lower/
why?
- critical tooling dimensions held within ±.001″
- features a nylon tipped upper tensioning screw
CMT tactical makes the best AR upper and lowers. That is all.
ReplyDeleteLarry,
ReplyDeleteIIRC, there are several prairie dog colonies in Boulder, not too far from the Secret Hidden Bunker. Unfortunately the hippies might get a bit upset even though the furry little locusts propagate an environmental disaster on their little towns.
Okay…any receiver in a storm…will keep you informed…
ReplyDeletemb
Hey, Michael, if you want something off the beaten track, check out the retro receivers from Nodak Spud LLC. I have no business relationship with them except as an extremely satisfied customer. Their receivers are (mostly) made from the old M16A1/Colt SP1 style forging so they're a hair lighter than the "standard" lower that incorporates the A2 reinforcements. If you don't know those guys (and the whole "retro AR" sub-movement), you're missing something.
ReplyDelete