Edit: My drunk ass effed up the uniform in the background, so I’ve deleted the pic. Will update later.
I hesitate to post this because its not a franken-gun. However, I did put some effort into it. It is a conventional Army clone-ish. I still need to get an un-painted M68 (or ACOG) and a PEQ-15.
Lower: Colt from a monolithic rifle. I added a band of tire tube, a couple drops of oil, and a USGI M16 sling.
Upper: this is where it got fun. I used a 6920 upper with KAC RAS, and added a Matech rear BUIS. I rebarrelled it with a MMC “contract” “SOCOM” 14.5” barrel. I pinned and welded an A2 to it using a KAC spacer, but then measured it again at like 15.999999”. Well, ****. I swear it was 16.1” before I welded. Well, maybe I don’t know how to measure. So, I ground off the weld and found a locknut that a buddy donated with a loud ass brake. It was significantly thicker. I used a bridge reamer and a cylindrical dremel stone to open up one third of it, since the thread root was chubby. I then used sandpaper on glass to time it so the flats were vertical. Then, I did the same to the forward face until the A2 was timed properly. So then I measured twice, three times, and hit the drill press again. After I pinned it, I welded it again and measured it at 16.1”. I blued it, then Kryloned it black.
It weighs 9.04 lbs with a M68, OWL, sling, and empty mag.
I thought about posting this in a clone forum, but was surprised to find that there is none here. With the “SOCOM” barrel and modern optic, its not appropriate for the retro forum.
Indeed. “Simple things done well.” OTOH, at 9.04 bare it makes you wonder what CMP was smoking when they came up with their 7.5lb weight limit for Modern Military class…
The weight has me stumped though. My LMT SPM 14 weighs 7 lb 13 oz with a Matech, AP PRO, Troy quad rail with KAC panels + broomstick, and BFG sling. Is the SOCOM profile that much heavier? I know you have a light too, but still.
Mine is still too heavy for the CMP and its basically identical to an M4.
Somebody at CMP was smoking crack or something when they pulled that 7.5# number out of their ass. And they kinda need work on responding to Rules Questions email right now too… seems to me if they were serious about “Service Rifle” they’d authorize anything the military allows to basic 0311/11B riflemen. (Things like Matech/KAC BUIS, Vickers slings… no VFG’s I can understand somewhat.) Then again, with the Elmer Fudd culture we should be grateful they deign to allow filthy Modern pissants at all…snort
My scale could very well be off. I’ll have to check it. SOCOM barrel is said to be like 4 oz more, and the OWL is a chonker. This upper is consistently heavier than my non-SOCOM/lopro gas block/RIS II upper by a few ounces, no matter which sling swivel and front BUIS I use.
The weight is more centralized than an equivalently heavy “modern” rifle, since its got a stubby handguard, and “SOCOM” profile, which is a bit more front-light than some similar weight barrels. This gun still handles really well, although I do prefer a longer handguard.
Thanks for reading. I don’t think I’ll go so far as a UID. What happened was, I wanted something to train with and demonstrate technique for dudes that are using basic M4s. So I wanted it to feel and function identically. Well, that turned into cloning, since I already had the Matech, shitty sling, and Comp M. The OWL is kind of a placeholder. It will get an IR device and a more commonly issued light later.
Cloud Defense says the OWL is 11 ounces with battery, plus the heavier barrel and I think the KAC rail is a couple ounces more than a Troy. I think our scales are probably right, 9 lbs just sounded like a lot more than “almost 8 lbs” in my mind.
I agree about the longer handguard. Midlengths and FFs spoiled me.
