Bravo Company SBR Build 20 Months Later

General Firearms NFA
1

I decided to post this in light of some of the various posts that have popped up lately. Back in 2009 while I was in Iraq I decided to build an SBR. I came to that decision because I really didn’t see anything offf the shelf that appealed to me and I wanted it set up a certain way.

My search led me to go the Form 1 route (build an SBR) and I went to Bravo Company to get what I needed.

I purchased an 11.5" barrel with FSB, Daniel Defense 10.0 Lite Rail, M4 upper, BCM lower (purchased at an earlier date) and Magpul UBR stock.

I sent the barrel to Robb Jensen to cut and shave the FSB down to fit under the rail. I wanted to have a streamlined look and I was going to be running an AAC M4-2000 suppressor most of the time.

The build was completed in August 2009. Though it has undergone a few changes the barrel, BCG and lower parts have essentially remained unchanged.

Until this past weekend I never had a malfunction regardless of the ammo I shot. Then I finally suffered a bolt over base malfunction shooting some Herters steel case 55gr. (Thanks Pappabear :D).

It has had approx. 4500 rounds (I think closer to 5000) through it almost all of which was suppressed and I pretty much never cleaned it (at least in the traditional way). My cleaning regime mainly consists wiping the BCG off, wiping out the chamber area and relubing it. I punched the barrel probably 8 times. I know 4500 may not be alot, but you have to consider the time I spent away after it was completed in A’stan and various other locations for work.

I cleaned it tonight simply because I am getting ready to make some changes and I wanted to do an inspection in light of the malfunction. While checking the ejector I noticed it felt a little mushy. So I pulled it out and noticed the spring was not looking so good. I subsequently replaced the spring.

First pic is a new ejector spring and the old one for a visual comparison.

The second pic is of the BCG.

The third pic is the current configuration.

I have fired a wide variety of ammo through this set up. Over half the ammo was Hornady 55gr. steel case TAP, and some of the Herter’s 55gr. steel case. It has also seen Federal M193, Lake City M855, Israeli 55gr. surplus, Swiss RUAG M193 clone, Hornady 75gr. 5.56 TAP, Hornady 75gr. steel case TAP and some handloads worked up by markm.

It has been very accurate with most of the ammo fired using the ACOG. I can easily hit steel at 300-400 yards. 90% of the time it has been fired suppressed.

Look for some future stuff after I put together my next upper using a Vltor MUR and BCM 11.5" CHF barrel.

2

Nice update Iraq. 4,500 rounds might not be a ton, but it’s probably more than what many put through their rifles period. I still think it’s a solid number considering that most of it was done suppressed and with only 1 stoppage. Very nicely done!

3

Nice gun and update! I’d love to have 4500 rounds down range with my AR. I’m currently only at 1200 rounds, limiting factor is money to buy ammo.

4

Where’d you get the multicam “shroud” (don’t know the term) for the suppressor? And you can fire with that on there right?

5

Note the squared away workbench! :stuck_out_tongue:

6

Ejector spring is something not often looked at. Thanks for the comparison pic of the two. Did you replace the ejector and the spring, or just the spring?

7

Are you running a Gas Buster charging handle or the RTV mod to a regular CH? I had my first experience shooting a suppressed SBR a few weeks ago and it was not pleasant. I felt like I needed a gas mask on.

8

what…everything is right where he needs it…in arms reach:D

9

That’s unusual. None of the Suppressed SBRs I’ve shot have been gassy… including the gun pictured above… which doesn’t usually have the PRI thingy installed.

10

I saw one made by US Palm at a EAG Carbine 2 class.

11

Looks like others I’ve seen. Like one real close to my door.

But the build looks great!

12

Part of my usual check is ejector and extractor since they are high wear items. I only replaced the spring since the ejector itself doesn’t really wear (per se) and looked fine.

13

That is a nomex/cordura suppressor cover made by from riflesonly.com.

14

I have been alternating between a BCM Gunfighter 3 and PRI and I honestly cannot see the difference. I also experience very little gas blowback either.

15

Great thread IG, I really like the purpose and the direction of it…keep the updates coming brother:)

I’m gonna include a link to this thread in the thread about the MRP CQB in this sub forum. I think this type of thread serves two great purposes for future readers…one it provides a great example to future builders about a particular AR configuration and generally breaks down the spec’s behind the rifle. Secondly it equally shows how one should test, evaluate, readjust, test, evaluate,…evaluate, and finally exhibit a finalized configuration with then a whole thread that supports how and why the said finalized rifle got to be where it currently is.

Every man deserves a badass bench vise like the one in the pic, a good one will last many, many lifetimes. Can’t tell if yours is a family type handy down or if it’s relatively new since it has a nice blue finish on it.

16

I got it a couple of years back. None of the ones my old man had would be looking so nice without some elbow grease.

17

Real geniuses all have fucked up work places. Haven’t you ever seen some of Van Goghs canvasses?

18

Absolutely. What about Evil geniuses though?

19

I liked the messy bench. It reminds me I’m not the only one out there with a work space that looks well used!

20

Is there some sort of cave man guide on how to detect an ejector spring is too weak?