Building a 180 in 223/556 , looking for tips

nicola890

nicola890

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Hi guys, I've recently bought a Spectre 180 lower for myself as a project to build a 180 in 223/556.
I've heard I can get some or most of the parts from TNA, but I am a bit unsure which parts I need to get (other than the more obvious ones). If anyone here has prior experience in building a 180 platform, would it be possible to share with me a list of necessary parts and tips/tricks for proper assembly?

Thanks a lot!
 
I was gonna go the same route, I bought an timney impact trigger from Brownells, a used handguard and IBI barrel off the EE.
And a Spectre lower.
But I’ve now changed direction and just bought a used complete rifle, that had already been upgraded with the Spectre lower.
Much cheaper that way.
If you email TNA they’ll give you a complete list, but it’s gonna be more costly to go that route.
 
nicola890 said:
Hi guys, I've recently bought a Spectre 180 lower for myself as a project to build a 180 in 223/556.
I've heard I can get some or most of the parts from TNA, but I am a bit unsure which parts I need to get (other than the more obvious ones). If anyone here has prior experience in building a 180 platform, would it be possible to share with me a list of necessary parts and tips/tricks for proper assembly?

Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...

Shot you a PM. I have a list of every part you need from TNA with links.
 
A rifle length gas system is even better, assuming you are going with a =/+ 18.5" barrel.

Edit to add (per below): - add a quality barrel to your list.
I'd recommend supporting local and look at IBI.
 
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beltfed said:
A rifle length gas system is even better, assuming you are going with a =/+ 18.5" barrel.
Click to expand...

One thing to note that they've found in developing the Sterling RS18 is that a pencil barrel in concert with a gas block hanging at rifle length may introduce a resonance or "whipping" under rapid fire that can affect accuracy. Similar behaviour has been seen in the States with a heavy suppressor on a pencil barrel. You may want to use a normal profile barrel, fluted barrel, or Faxon gunner profile barrel, as they should have enough stiffness to support the gas block at rifle length without issue.
 
I'm not going to slag the design in TSE's forum, but I'm pretty sure the issues with the accuracy of the RS18 prototype has to do with the budget-wise barrels they are using.
It is stringing due to excessive heat that is building quickly that a mediocre quality barrel can't handle. Now that isn't to say they probably didn't take too much 'meat' out of the barrel from the extension to the block regardless, but those barrels they are using certainly can't handle it.
I have a Knight's SR-15 that has a C8 pencil barrel and it can handle 10 round strings of fire just fine with no degradation to the mpi due to stringing - It easily holds 2 moa with 10 rounds out to 500m. Likewise with the Sig PE-90s - so quality barrels can handle it.

The RS18 design has it right with the rifle length gas from the get-go though. Mid-length (Armalite or Knight's) would be a compromise (for the length of barrel being 18.5" or greater) and the carbine that the WK went with was all about bare-bones cost savings - iirc, and a poor choice.
 
I have a lightly used 180 with factory barrel , on the way and I also have a IBI barrel .
I’ll be testing both , one will go on the EE.
 
beltfed said:
A rifle length gas system is even better, assuming you are going with a =/+ 18.5" barrel.

Edit to add (per below): - add a quality barrel to your list.
I'd recommend supporting local and look at IBI.
Click to expand...

Is it possible to close off the carbine lenght gas port and drill a mid lenght hole?
Without compromising accuracy.
 
beltfed said:
I'm not going to slag the design in TSE's forum, but I'm pretty sure the issues with the accuracy of the RS18 prototype has to do with the budget-wise barrels they are using.
It is stringing due to excessive heat that is building quickly that a mediocre quality barrel can't handle. Now that isn't to say they probably didn't take too much 'meat' out of the barrel from the extension to the block regardless, but those barrels they are using certainly can't handle it.
I have a Knight's SR-15 that has a C8 pencil barrel and it can handle 10 round strings of fire just fine with no degradation to the mpi due to stringing - It easily holds 2 moa with 10 rounds out to 500m. Likewise with the Sig PE-90s - so quality barrels can handle it.
Click to expand...

Have you had a chance pre-OIC to try your SR-15 with a very heavy muzzle device? I've read of the pencil barrel of the What Would Stoner Do AR-15's pencil barrel having a similar "whipping" to that noted by the RS18 when being fired with a heavy suppressor. It may be a combination of what you say, that both barrels, the prototype RS18 and the WWSD, have less "meat" then yours, and the heat build up is causing the resonance, rather then just a lack of basic stiffness.
 
beltfed said:
A rifle length gas system is even better, assuming you are going with a =/+ 18.5" barrel.

Edit to add (per below): - add a quality barrel to your list.
I'd recommend supporting local and look at IBI.
Click to expand...

Is it possible to close off the carbine lenght gas port and drill a mid lenght hole?
Without compromising accuracy.
 
45C - that would be a question for a competent gunsmith and more than likely some trial and error. I personally wouldn't bother with the exercise. I would sell the barrel with the carbine gas to someone who wanted it and forge ahead with a new barrel.

Ustauk - I have not shot the SR-15 with a suppressor or anything heavier than the Inconel KAC break at the end of the barrel. As with any rifle, once you start hanging a suppressor or bayonet off the end, you're going to see zero/mpi change or possibly a change in accuracy, but that is not what is affecting the RS18 in my opinion.
No barrel has the ability to buck that whip, unless you are talking some crazy thick super gun or something. Look up high speed footage of a rifle firing - thick barrels are made to be more resilient to the effects of heat build up for any given string of fire, not to be able to eliminate that whip.

With reference to the barrel thicknesses:
The 20" PE-90 barrel is .780" just in front of the extension and tapers to .590" in front of the gas block. The gas block, piston and piston tube are all substantially heavier on a PE-90, plus it is all tied into the hand guard, and they came with an accuracy guarantee of 10 rounds of GP90 into a 100mmx100mm square at 300m.
 
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