Pint-sized Powerhouse: My Palmetto State / Doublestar 7.5" AR 15 Pistol Project

Addictions come in many flavors:  mine just happens to be gun collecting.  Firearms find their way into my collection for various reasons.  There are some guns that I desire due to their historical significance.  Others, I seek out because they are examples of fine workmanship, exceptional engineering, or both.  Still others have been selected due to their utility for self-defense, hunting, target shooting, etc. -  my "working guns," as it were.  And finally, there are what I consider my "fun guns":  firearms that I simply find entertaining - plinkers and the like.  And my newest acquisition falls into this last category.

I say "acquisition," but that is not technically accurate, as this particular firearm is one that I built from parts.  The first gun that I built completely from parts, actually... an AR 15 pistol.  This particular build has been in the works for quite a while:  I have been picking up pieces here and there for nearly a year. There seemed to be no rush to complete it as I originally conceived of this gun simply as an exercise in "kitchen table" gunsmithing.  However, as recent events have thrust the possibility of new gun control legislation into the spotlight, and with this being an election year, I decided that I should go ahead and finish this gun while I still had the opportunity.

AR-style pistols are nothing new, and you will find them in several different calibers.  For this project, I decided to stick with the traditional 5.56mm chambering, even though you will find many detractors who ridicule the use of this rifle cartridge in such a short barrel.  And to be honest, their arguments are not without some merit.  The 5.56mm cartridge was originally designed to be used in a rifle with a barrel 20 inches in length.  Any less than this length reduces the efficacy of the cartridge.  Now, it seems the majority of AR models on the market today are based on the 16 inch carbine barrel, a length that generally produces adequate ballistics.  As you decrease the length of the barrel, however, not only do you rapidly lose velocity (and hence energy), you also decrease the reliability of the weapon:  the AR direct impingement gas system does not operate as smoothly when it is shortened.  The short barrel does not allow the pressure in the gas tube enough time to act on the bolt in the same manner it would in a longer barrel.  The trick to getting an AR pistol to run reliably requires experimenting with springs, buffer weights, etc.  Thus, the loss of energy (affecting fragmentation of projectiles in the target) and potential loss of reliability are factors that must be considered.

After weighing my options, I decided to stick with 5.56mm for two main reasons:  first, if I am going to have an AR, I want it to be in that caliber, as that makes it compatible with my other AR, and thus parts and accessories can be shared; and second, it allows me the option of running a .22LR conversion kit, thus making this a much more affordable range gun.  And if, God forbid, I should ever have to use this gun in a defense role (it would probably fall way down the list of my options), it would still have enough "oomph" to get the job done.

This build started with an A2 upper that I happened to have lying around, waiting to be assembled.  I really like the look of the A2, with the built-in carry handle...  it is to my mind what an AR-15 should look like (one man's opinion, true, but hey, this is my gun we are talking about).

A2 upper receiver
(image courtesy of ar15.com)

For a lower receiver, I bought a stripped lower from Palmetto State Armory.  Occasionally, you can get a great bargain on these lowers, and I bought mine on sale for $49.99 last Valentine's Day.  A fantastic deal on a fantastic lower.  Note:  when building an AR pistol, it is extremely important that you use either a lower designated as a pistol lower, or a "virgin" lower that has never been assembled as a rifle.  If the lower has ever had a buttstock attached, (even if it is clearly labled "pistol" on the receiver) you may not use it to build a pistol without running afoul of the NFA regulations.  You should always check to make sure that the lower was transferred to you as "pistol" or, (preferably) "other," not "rifle," before using it for a pistol build.

PSA Stripped Lower Receiver
(image courtesy of palmettostatearmory.com)

This being a stripped lower, I required a lower parts kit to finish it.  I decided to go with the DPMS kit, as I had heard good things about them, so this I picked up from Tri-Cities Gun Depot.

DPMS Lower Parts Kit
(image courtesy of surplusammo.com)

As I was assembling a pistol, I decided to go with the Doublestar Arms carbine-length pistol buffer tube.  The research I had done indicated that the longer buffer tube and spring was less prone to malfunction and required less fine-tuning to operate reliably.  This I picked up from another local gunshop, Gunslingers, in Kingsport, TN (a fantastic place for AR fans...  they have just about anything you could need or want).  I also swapped out the standard pistol buffer for an H2 buffer, as the data seems to show that 7.5" pistols run more smoothly with the heavier buffer.

Doublestar Arms Pistol Buffer Kit
(image courtesy of jsesurplus.com)

I also decided to go with the Magpul ASAP ambidextrous single-point sling adapter, which I picked up at Tri-Cities Gun Depot, as well.  I like how it allows the sling to move freely to either side of the weapon.

Magpul ASAP
(courtesy of del-ton.com)

To finish the upper, I ordered a pistol-length gas tube with roll pin, and a Yankee Hill Manufacturing Mini Free Float Tube Forearm from JSE Surplus.  Since I would not be adding a vertical fore grip (another NFA no-no), I decided against a railed handguard, and instead went with the more rounded tube from YHM, which is also very light-weight as well.

YHM Mini Free Float Tube Forearm
(image courtesy of galatiinternational.com)

For a barrel, I again chose Doublestar Arms, and ordered the 7.5" Heavy Profile Barrel with Forged Sight Base from J&T Distributing.  It did not come with a barrel nut (almost all 7.5" ARs are fitted with free float tubes... in fact, I do not know where you would find a standard 2-piece handguard that short), but has M4 feed-ramps, and you can choose to have it chrome-lined for an additional cost (I went without chrome-lining...  just a personal preference).

Doublestar Arms 7.5" AR Pistol Barrel
(image courtesy of jtdistributing.net)

One reason I went with the Doublestar barrel is that I had also picked up a Doublestar bolt carrier group and charging handle at Gunslingers.  I know that most reputable manufacturers turn out parts that meet the industry standard for specs, but I always like to get a barrel and BCG from the same company when I can.  Sticking with the "evil black gun" look, I chose the phosphated BCG, rather than a chrome group.

Doublestar Arms Bolt Carrier Group
(image courtesy of tacticalar15s.com)

And to finish it out, I decided to go with the Levang Linear Compensator as my muzzle device.  I have read a lot of good stuff about this comp from other pistol builders.  One of the issues with the AR15 pistol is that there is a LOT of unburned powder that makes it out the end of that short barrel, resulting in a tremendous muzzle flash, and the noise and concussive force produced by firing the gun can be overwhelming.  The Levang Linear Comp addresses this by directing this gas, noise, and force forward away from the shooter, thus making the gun more shootable.

Levang Linear Compensator
(courtesy of parallaxtactical.com)

Put all of these parts together, paracord wrap the pistol buffer tube for added comfort when getting a cheek-weld, throw in a Magpul 30 round P-mag,  and the end result is one pint-sized powerhouse - the AR15 pistol.

Say "Hello" to my little friend!!

I will update this post when I have a chance to get it out and shoot it.  Not looking for any sub-MOA groups with this little one, but I imagine it will be a BLAST at the range!!  And if there are any other AR pistol enthusiasts out there, tell me about your builds...  I would love to find out what your setups are.

Oh, and one final thought:  to all of the gun forum sages out there who are so quick to denigrate the AR pistol, the .500 S&W, the Barrett .50 caliber rifle, or any other firearm, as impractical, useless, excessive, or unnecessary...  these are the same arguments that those who would take away all of our guns have been using for years.  Let us not give these people any more ammunition by turning on one another.  Do I have a need for a .50 caliber Barrett?  No.  I would love to have one for the collection, but it will probably never happen for me (no offense, Ronnie...  you make wonderful guns, but I cannot afford to feed one).  But that does not mean that they should no longer be available to those who would have one.  Just like a two-seater convertible - practicality is not the end-all-be-all.  The Second Amendment says "shall not be infringed," so let us try our best to keep it that way.

Plum Crazy Sportical Update: NcSTAR additions

In this follow-up post to my Plum Crazy Sportical review, I will be reviewing some recent additions I have made to the original.  Finally having given in to my curiosity about the AR platform, I am now wholly given over to the customization bug.  In addition to the NcStar back-up iron sights I installed shortly after having assembled the rifle, I decided to add a reflex sight.  Also, having nearly blistered my finger on the gas block after rapid firing 100 rounds, I began to think that a vertical foregrip might be in order. And as always, the guys at Tri-Cities Gun Depot were there to make it happen.

The first addition I sought to make was the red dot.  I have always been hampered with somewhat poor eyesight, being nearsighted with astigmatism.  As a result, iron sights are often difficult for me to see.  While the aperture sight of the AR is better suited to my vision than, say, buckhorn sights, at distances fifty yards and above, I still find it hard to get a proper sight picture.  The red dot sight works very well for me, however, making it easier for me to acquire my target quickly and remain on target.  I have used red dots in the past on different rifles, most recently an SKS and a .22LR plinker, so I thought adding one to my AR would be just the ticket.

The red dots I have used in the past have all been tube styles, but for this project, I decided to go with an open reflex sight.  My choice was the NcSTAR Tactical 4 Reticle Sight.  I know that NcSTAR often gets a bad rap from the armchair spec-ops guys on the firearms forums, but most of the people I have talked to who actually own and use their products have no qualms about relying on them.  Plus, with a lifetime warranty, I am willing to give the sight a try.  The different reticles are bright, clear and, while I chose to go with the simple red dot, the option to change reticles depending on the shooter's need is a big bonus to me.  The sight also has adjustable brightness levels, ranging from 1 to 7, so the shooter can pick the level that suits his or her need.  The kit comes with the sight, a tiny screwdriver to adjust the locking screws, an allen wrench to tighten the scope mounts as well as to make elevation and windage adjustments, two batteries, a cleaning cloth, and a rubber lens cover.  The sight was a cinch to mount on the top rail, and just a few minor tweaks of the reticle adjustments had it dead on.  One other thing I like about the sight is that it absolute co-witnesses with the iron sights.

My next addition was the foregrip.  The DPMS Sportical upper I bought comes with the Glacier Guard handguards, which are apparently proprietary to DPMS.  The holes on the bottom of the guards do not line up with all mil-spec weaver rails.  I first attempted to add a ProMag rail, but was unable to make it work with the Glacier Guard.  Somewhat frustrated, and not really wanting to change out handguards at this point, I was assisted in my quest by Tom and Brian at TCGD.  Tom showed me that (who else?) NcSTAR has an M4 Hand Guard Weaver Rail, which has a floating mounting screw that enables it to mate up with different handguards, the Glacier Guard included.  Feeling that my search was over, I started to look at foregrips, when Brian pointed out to me that the internal fins on the Glacier Guard (which give the handguards the heat dissipation from which the name stems) prevented the washer and nut from fitting properly.  Now this is where  it gets good:   with a great deal of care and patience, Brian used a file and knife to notch out the fins enough to allow the washer to fit, and the rail went on as though it were designed for this particular handguard.  In the meantime, I had picked out the Vertical Folding Grip by the Mako Group.  It has a great feel to it, fits my hand well, and as a bonus it has a battery compartment inside that I now use to store my spare battery and adjustment tools for the red dot sight.  And while I shouldered the rifle and decided where I wanted the grip to go, Tom tightened down the mounting screws to lock it into place for me.  These guys could not have made this any easier for me.  Now that is customer service.

An hour later, I was on the range, blasting away at some aluminum cans at fifty yards.  Everything works just as it is supposed to.  The red dot was right on, and did not lose zero through 100 assorted rounds of Federal .223 FMJ and 5.56 FMJ.  The barrel got smoking hot, and even the Glacier Guards were uncomfortably warm to the touch, but the Mako foregrip made shooting comfortable, and really enhanced my aim shooting freehand.  It is hard to describe the enhanced ergonomics of using such a shooting aid...  it just makes it feel so much better.  Here is a crappy cell phone picture of the Plum Crazy Sportical as she looks now (the magazine is a Thermold 20-round polymer):

A close-up of the vertical grip and rail:

The NcSTAR red dot and rear BUIS:

View through the red dot (setting 7):

View of red dot and BUIS co-witness (setting 7):

View of red dot and BUIS co-witness (setting 1):

Thus far, I am really liking this rifle.  It is accurate, has been totally reliable to this point, and is a lot of fun to shoot.  I will continue to post updates with respect to any of the parts I have added to this gun, to let my readers know how they continue to function.

Finally, just a thank you to Tom and Brian at the Gun Depot for their help in picking out my accessories, and helping me to install them.  When people ask me why I started shopping at Tri-Cities Gun Depot, I tell them it was for the low prices.  When someone asks me why I keep shopping there, I tell them it is because of the unparalleled service I receive there (and the prices are still the best in town, too).

The $500 AR 15 Project -- My Plum Crazy DPMS Sportical

The AR 15...  for many, it is the end-all be-all of rifle platforms.  And for good reason:  it can be just about anything you want it to be.  From short barrel patrol rifle to long range, heavy barreled varmint gun, the modular nature of the AR 15 lends itself to customization like no other weapon.  Stocks, handguards, pistol grips, sights, barrels, gas blocks, fire control groups...  there is nothing on an AR that cannot be made to match a particular shooter's preferences.  Even caliber is up for grabs:  the standard 5.56 / .223 can quickly become a .204, 5.45, 6.8, 7.62, 9mm, or even .22LR.  The choices are seemingly endless.

And in spite of this, I have never owned an AR platform.  And to be honest, until recently, I have not felt as though I have been missing anything.  I have been very happy with my .22s, my SKS, and my milsurps.  And I suppose I still thought of the AR in terms of the original M16s that our boys in 'Nam got saddled with -- clumsy, prone to jam, impossible to keep clean, and generally disparaged by those veterans who chose to share their stories with me about their time in the service.  Now, a lot has changed since the Sixties (thank God), and the AR has benefited from some technological enhancements that have made the platform much more reliable.  The direct impingement gas system still needs care and cleaning, but you need not be fanatical in your fastidiousness anymore.

Recently, I had a change of mind, and decided I would like to join the thousands of AR enthusiasts and see what I have been missing.  And to do so, I also decided to undertake a sort of self-imposed challenge:  to build a lightweight AR, and to do so for $500.

Now, those of you who have ARs know that this is a nearly impossible task.  Nevertheless, I had an ace up my sleeve.  There is a company in Arizona called PCF manufacturing who turns out polymer AR lowers (C-15) under the name brand "Plum Crazy."  These lowers are made of a "space-age" teflon-impregnated polymer, designed to near mil-spec dimensions, meaning that they will mate with just about any mil-spec AR 15 upper. And these lowers cost $130...  complete.  That's right, this is a complete lower, including fire control group, bolt catch, mag release, and six-position collapsible stock, all for $130.  Interestingly, the fire control group includes a polymer hammer and trigger, the mag catch and release are polymer, and even the take-down pin and pivot pin are polymer.  All of this equals reduced weight.

(Image courtesy of clark-corner.com)  Before I went Plum Crazy, I did a lot of research on the product.  I have had several polymer pistols, as well as polymer stocked rifles (a .30-'06 and an SKS, for example), so I am not too worried about the polymer not being able to handle the stresses involved.  Especially considering the majority of stress is absorbed by the upper on an AR.  I did come across a few instances of lowers that had broken, but for every bad experience I found, I read three or four positive reviews.  And more often than not, the naysayers were not owners of the Plum Crazy firearms, but "knew a guy who had a friend who's brother had one blow up..."  Not exactly dealing with raw data in that situation.

Most importantly, however, is that the company PCF Mfg. offers a 100% lifetime warranty on their products. I dig a company that will stand behind its product.  And even the few people I found who had experienced broken receivers (usually their own fault due to dropping the gun or torquing the receiver while trying to mate it to the upper) had found the company quick to replace their lower.  And they are made in the USA.  I figured it would be worth a try.  It certainly helps my bottom line, both with weight and cost.

Luckily for me, a local gun shop, Brackin's Gun Alley stocks the Plum Crazy (March 2013 update:  unfortunately, I can no longer recommend Brackin's Gun Alley, and I will just leave it at that).  I was able to pre-order one for $130, which means that after background and tax, I was out $153.  When I got the receiver, I was suitably impressed.  The lower seemed well made, and was thicker and stronger than I had imagined.  The finish has a few minor molding remnants on it, but could be easily removed.  The trigger was what astonished me, however...  while not a match group by any stretch, it is very crisp, with little to no slop, and breaks cleanly at between  4.5 and 5 lbs.  Extremely good for a stock trigger in this day and age.  The one thing that I found fault in is the safety.  An AR safety is designed such that it cannot be engaged if the hammer is in the forward position -- the hammer must be cocked back before you can put the safety on.  The Plum Crazy safety, however, can be engaged while the hammer is forward.  Not a deal breaker, but it means it is not mil-spec in this regard, and is something that prospective owners should be aware of.

Now that I had my lower, I needed an upper to go with it.  In keeping with my light weight requirement, I knew I was going to be looking at a pencil profile barrel, most likely the minimum 16".  I also decided to look at some "slick side" receivers:  receivers that do not have the forward assist, shell deflector, or dust cover.  As a lot of AR fans will point out, these uppers are not mil-spec, but then, neither am I.  I am not going to be heading out to the sandbox anytime soon, so I really do not need the dust-cover...  this is a plinker, plain and simple.  Forward assist is just a way of getting a few more shots in before cleaning your gun, or for forcing a frozen bolt forward in sub-zero temperatures, and is not necessary for my purposes, either.  And lastly, as a righty, the shell deflector would do me no good at all.

So, keeping this in mind, I decided to go with the DPMS Sportical 5.56 upper from MidwayUSA.  The Sportical is designed on the lo-pro receiver, meaning flat-top, no sights, and a railed gas block.  It is designed for someone who is going to add optics to their AR (which I am...  I have a red / green dot sight that needs a good home).  It also comes with your choice of pencil profile or heavy barrel, both in 1 in 9" twist.

(Image courtesy of midwayusa.com)  Well, it just so happens that MidwayUSA had these uppers on sale for $360.  So I ordered one.  I got it via UPS today, and I assembled the lower and upper this afternoon.  Having read about the tight fit many Plum Crazy owners were experiencing, I was poised to expect a difficult time assembling the rifle.  It was not to be, however:  the pivot went together quite easily, and the rear of the receivers popped right together with just a little pressure from the heel of my hand.  Both pins went in snugly, and the two halves fit as though they were made for one another.

I finally had my AR.  And I came in just over my goal of $500, at $513.  Well, almost.  I forgot the magazine.  A quick trip down the road to the gun shop fixed that.  Add a 30 round steel magazine for $14, and that brings us to a grand total of $527.  If it weren't for Tennessee's insane sales tax and the background check, I would have made it.

So, I didn't make my goal of $500, but I came close enough to make me happy.  This rifle isn't going to make the front page of ARF.COM, and I am sure that many AR purists will turn their noses up at it, but it fits me well.  I quite like it so far.  Especially the way this gun shoots.  It is almost ridiculously light, just over 6lbs with red dot and 30 round magazine.  I may look at adding back-up iron sights at some point, but for now, for my purposes, the red dot is sufficient.  I think it is going to be a great little rifle.  I have put 25 rounds through it (Federal .223 bulk box 55 gr. FMJ), to sight in the red dot, and to break in the barrel, cleaning after each round per the instructions from DPMS.  Each round chambered and fired flawlessly, spent brass was positively ejected to my right, and the plastic lower hasn't blown up yet.  When I get through the break-in process, I will post some pictures or a video of how it is shooting.  It may be time to break out another Osama bin Zombie target!!

Update:  I picked up a set of iron sights at Tri-Cities Gun Depot this week, and switched them out for the red dot.  Here are some pictures of the Plum Crazy Sportical setup: