So, my feeding problems with the .45 JR aside, I've gotten started down the path I was planning to take it with the assumption that it will be made right in the future. Camera phone pics, sorry they're crappy.
The first things I wanted to change was the handguard, while the stock one is ok it leaves what feels like waay too much barrel hanging out there. I also think quad-rail is like cowbell, always need more.
I opted to go with the DD AR-15 Lite Rail 14" - since it was the longest I could find. I was also thinking about going with the Troy 13.8" MRF rail, but somehow managed to mentally justify double the cost for the additional .2" of rail. The DD Lite Rail is just slightly prettier to me, and seems to match the 'square-ish' profile of the JR.
So - the way this is supposed to install, is you put a 'BOLT-UP' plate over the barrel and up against the receiver, install the supplied AR nut on top of that, and then bolt the rail to the bolt up plate via 6 supplied bolts. No problem. Sorta. Errr, well - actually some problems. Getting the barrel nut on with the barrel in was a pain in the butt. It went on nicely when the barrel wasn't installed, but seemed really hard to get on with the barrel installed. Not sure if that's normal - this is my first 'AR'-esque platform. Took a long time, but it went on in the end.
On next to bolting the rail to the bolt up plate. The bottom two bolts go through the rail and towards the bolt up plate and receiver - worked great.
Side side and top bolts go towards the rail away from the receiver. And this is where my problems start. They went in, though on both sides the bolts made contact with the receiver resulting in some new shiny parts. The contact looks worse than it was, but was tight on both sides.
My real problems began with the top bolts, the holes for which are 75% occluded by the top of the JR receiver. This pic doesn't really illustrate it well - but you get the idea.
There's just no way I'm going to be able to get those bolts in without shaving off part of the JR receiver - which probably isn't a good plan. (Or is it? Wait - let me get my feeding / warranty issues handled first).
Now - the rail felt very very solid with only two bolts through it. It's up to four now - and I'm mentally trying to justify keeping this on in it's current state. I've slapped it around a bit, and the rail is staying on nicely, tight and aligned. No firing yet, but I'll test later this weekend and see how it goes. Some pics of the rail as mounted up below.
So my questions are:
1) Is it crazy to run this with only 4 bolts?
2) Should an optic be mounted straddling the receiver and forend rails to try and shore up the top?
I really like the feel of the of it in this config, though it's a lot more well balanced towards the front.
The first things I wanted to change was the handguard, while the stock one is ok it leaves what feels like waay too much barrel hanging out there. I also think quad-rail is like cowbell, always need more.
I opted to go with the DD AR-15 Lite Rail 14" - since it was the longest I could find. I was also thinking about going with the Troy 13.8" MRF rail, but somehow managed to mentally justify double the cost for the additional .2" of rail. The DD Lite Rail is just slightly prettier to me, and seems to match the 'square-ish' profile of the JR.
So - the way this is supposed to install, is you put a 'BOLT-UP' plate over the barrel and up against the receiver, install the supplied AR nut on top of that, and then bolt the rail to the bolt up plate via 6 supplied bolts. No problem. Sorta. Errr, well - actually some problems. Getting the barrel nut on with the barrel in was a pain in the butt. It went on nicely when the barrel wasn't installed, but seemed really hard to get on with the barrel installed. Not sure if that's normal - this is my first 'AR'-esque platform. Took a long time, but it went on in the end.
On next to bolting the rail to the bolt up plate. The bottom two bolts go through the rail and towards the bolt up plate and receiver - worked great.
Side side and top bolts go towards the rail away from the receiver. And this is where my problems start. They went in, though on both sides the bolts made contact with the receiver resulting in some new shiny parts. The contact looks worse than it was, but was tight on both sides.
My real problems began with the top bolts, the holes for which are 75% occluded by the top of the JR receiver. This pic doesn't really illustrate it well - but you get the idea.
There's just no way I'm going to be able to get those bolts in without shaving off part of the JR receiver - which probably isn't a good plan. (Or is it? Wait - let me get my feeding / warranty issues handled first).
Now - the rail felt very very solid with only two bolts through it. It's up to four now - and I'm mentally trying to justify keeping this on in it's current state. I've slapped it around a bit, and the rail is staying on nicely, tight and aligned. No firing yet, but I'll test later this weekend and see how it goes. Some pics of the rail as mounted up below.
So my questions are:
1) Is it crazy to run this with only 4 bolts?
2) Should an optic be mounted straddling the receiver and forend rails to try and shore up the top?
I really like the feel of the of it in this config, though it's a lot more well balanced towards the front.
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