Spectre Ballistics Light Practical Carbine - NR Receiver Set

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Assembled the rifle today. Straightforward process.

Magazine issue:
MagPul. Tight, hard push to seat, hard pull to remove. Bolt jams against follower when magazine is empty. Probably OK when magazine is loaded. Will find out.
Thermold. Push in, pull out. Cycles OK.
USGI aluminum. Seats easily, almost drops free, cycles OK.

Too bad, I have more MagPuls than any others; run like a top in ARs, have been my "go to" magazines for years. Have to see how many metal magazines I have, might have a few.

Should be at the range this week.
 
tiriaq said:
Assembled the rifle today. Straightforward process.

Magazine issue:
MagPul. Tight, hard push to seat, hard pull to remove. Bolt jams against follower when magazine is empty. Probably OK when magazine is loaded. Will find out.
Thermold. Push in, pull out. Cycles OK.
USGI aluminum. Seats easily, almost drops free, cycles OK.

Too bad, I have more MagPuls than any others; run like a top in ARs, have been my "go to" magazines for years. Have to see how many metal magazines I have, might have a few.

Should be at the range this week.
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We opted to make magpul mags a bit snug to improve performance with certain metal mags designed for larger calibers. The bolt will snag on many followers, but that's just the nature of the rifle and not an issue when loaded.
 
Gatehouse said:
I took the hand guard off to see what was happening and sure enough there is a tiny fireball popping straight out of the gas tube! Maybe I got it right side up instead of upside down. What a dumbass Laugh2
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Turns out I had installed the gas tube the way I wanted it - upside down. Looks like the gas didn't like being contained to cut a hole in the gas tube within a few shots, which is pretty wild. Gas tube wasn't new by any means so maybe there was some weakening of it, I'm not sure if that's a thing or not. I've got a handful of other brand new gas tubes- some stainless some nitride coated, but I'm not sure if I should just try another one the same way or try some other option. Tapping the gas hole might be a real pain in the butt as there is that circular plate that holds the handguards in place in the way. Maybe using a barrel with a A2 sight is more trouble than it's worth? Hopefully someone here that is smarter than me comes up with a solution. :)

119899913_10158602374570516_8439046435024226609_n.jpg
 
We'll look at making some plugs. Should just be a matter of cross drilling a dowel pin. I think lots of people will want to use the A2 sight. We have yet to see this problem with the gas tube getting punched though, but there's lots of different gas tube manufacturers out there, so it's likely to happen to someone else.
 
Gatehouse said:
Turns out I had installed the gas tube the way I wanted it - upside down. Looks like the gas didn't like being contained to cut a hole in the gas tube within a few shots, which is pretty wild. Gas tube wasn't new by any means so maybe there was some weakening of it, I'm not sure if that's a thing or not. I've got a handful of other brand new gas tubes- some stainless some nitride coated, but I'm not sure if I should just try another one the same way or try some other option. Tapping the gas hole might be a real pain in the butt as there is that circular plate that holds the handguards in place in the way. Maybe using a barrel with a A2 sight is more trouble than it's worth? Hopefully someone here that is smarter than me comes up with a solution. :)

119899913_10158602374570516_8439046435024226609_n.jpg
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If you want to restrict the gas Install the gas block backwards without the tube.
 
SpectreBallistics said:
We'll look at making some plugs. Should just be a matter of cross drilling a dowel pin. I think lots of people will want to use the A2 sight. We have yet to see this problem with the gas tube getting punched though, but there's lots of different gas tube manufacturers out there, so it's likely to happen to someone else.
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Hmm, makes me wonder if I should try again with a brand new gas tube. Although a solid plug would be a desirable modification.
 
SpectreBallistics said:
We'll look at making some plugs. Should just be a matter of cross drilling a dowel pin. I think lots of people will want to use the A2 sight. We have yet to see this problem with the gas tube getting punched though, but there's lots of different gas tube manufacturers out there, so it's likely to happen to someone else.
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This was the solution that I chose. Turned a plug, drilled it, then installed it with the roll pin. I should know later this week if there is any leakage.
 
Or you could just weld it shut.
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Just an FYI for everybody.... If you pre-ordered more than 1 receiver set they might not all ship together. If we don't have enough inventory to fulfill your entire order we will invoice you only for what is available, and then once more inventory is ready we will invoice you for the rest. All orders are also fulfilled in the order received.
 
Got the rifle down to the range today - just test fired, and preliminary grouping to get the scope lined up.

I assembled the rifle using parts from a competition service rifle. A1 stock, Armalite 20" barrel with standard handguards. Leupold Mk.4 2 1/2-8 in PEPR mount.
NO extraction issues. No misfeeds. The action needs to be cycled briskly. Snap it open, snap it closed. Ejection is positive. I was shooting the same handloads I used in competition - 69grSMKs, Varget powder, Winchester brass. Odd sensation, firing a rifle that handles just like an AR, without the "sproing" under the cheek.
I'll take some photos tomorrow in the daylight.
 
tiriaq said:
Got the rifle down to the range today - just test fired, and preliminary grouping to get the scope lined up.

I assembled the rifle using parts from a competition service rifle. A1 stock, Armalite 20" barrel with standard handguards. Leupold Mk.4 2 1/2-8 in PEPR mount.
NO extraction issues. No misfeeds. The action needs to be cycled briskly. Snap it open, snap it closed. Ejection is positive. I was shooting the same handloads I used in competition - 69grSMKs, Varget powder, Winchester brass. Odd sensation, firing a rifle that handles just like an AR, without the "sproing" under the cheek.
I'll take some photos tomorrow in the daylight.
Click to expand...

Looking forward to seeing pictures! We'd love to see some groups as well.
 
No groups to share yet; was able to function test, and get enough information to get the scope more or less on. Pistol practice yesterday. I went early, but not early enough, folks arrived before I was able to do all the rifle shooting I wanted to do. As an AR, this barrel and scope would hold a minute and a half, can't see any reason this would change. Initial shots were on the paper at 100m, not far from point of aim. This indicates that the receiver and barrel assembled nicely lined up, speaks to the quality of the receiver machining.
 
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tiriaq said:
No groups to share yet; was able to function test, and get enough information to get the scope more or less on. Pistol practice yesterday. I went early, but not early enough, folks arrived before I was able to do all the rifle shooting I wanted to do. As an AR, this barrel and scope would hold a minute and a half, can't see any reason this would change. Initial shots were on the paper at 100m, not far from point of aim. This indicates that the receiver and barrel assembled nicely lined up, speaks to the quality of the receiver machining.
Click to expand...

How did your sealing method for the gas block work out?
 
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