M203 is a Colt 40mm DD with a 9" LMT barrel. Barrel is a 12.5" Daniel Defense gov profile with a Black River Tactical .0635 insert since the factory port is .073. Muzzle device is a KAC NT4 that will host a taupe NT4 suppressor once it clears. Upper is a Colt Cerro with a stamped C with a PRI gas buster CH and Colt BCG. Lower is a SBR’d 2018 “Property of US Government” marked Colt M4A1 with a CQD mount, Colt H2, B5 gen 1 contract overrun on 4 pos tube, custom polished stock Colt trigger group, 4lb hammer spring from MCarbo, and a shaved A2 grip with some electrical tape for grip. On the rail is a full power PEQ-15, NAVSEA marked rotation WMX200, Insight dual switch, KAC irons with a large knob 2-600m rear. Optic is a gen 2 SU230 marked Elcan 1-4x with a ARMS 2 mount and a 7MOA Docter on top. Waiting for my transferable M16A1 lower to clear to use with this build as well. I’ll be putting the VLTOR A5 buffer system with a Geissele SSF on that.
Only got it to cycle but not lock back with a carbine buffer and AE M855 so I’ll probably take out that Black River Tactical insert but I’d like to try it out with a LMT enhanced BCG and/or VLTOR A5 since it’s a pain is the ass getting to the gas block. Ran prefect with the NT4 though as expected with the extra gas. The DD barrel was extremely accurate when I sighted my irons at 25 yards. Will report back after I hit 50 and 100 but the 203 is completely freefloated unlike the RIS II FSP with the launcher (bayonet lug). Shot some mini slugs and it was a blast. I’m using the Docter on top for the shotgun shots.
Right now, it’s a brand new Colt BCG and it’s a little tight. I don’t have the LMT yet. I’ll try my old parkerized one with a worn in buffer spring and some IMI ammo. Haven’t seen any signs of leaks. Interestingly, when I had the heavy Elcan off the gun, it was locking back with the H2. When I put the Elcan on it, wouldn’t even cycle with the H2. I was holding the rifle as tight as I could into my shoulder without testing the magazine.
The worn in spring did the trick. Kept everything else the same and it even locked back on a cold rainy 58° day. There is no recoil to speak of. The picture is by no means an accuracy test but the top left is checking the zero on my KAC irons with two shots and the others are getting the old not-so-tight Elcan in the ballpark for 100 yards. This was all done at 50 yards with 1" stickers and 77gr IMI Razor Core then it started raining real hard so I called it a day. Extremely happy with the Daniel Defense barrels I have.
Yes, I’m using a 40mm to 12GA adapter. Here’s a pic of it on my M4A1. The shells in the picture actually dislodged something in the elevation adjustment on the Elcan while shooting so I’m afraid to shoot it with the optic mounted using normal sized shells. I’m gonna try to see if 12GA to 20GA insert works in the adapter.
So jelly I’m liquifying here. (Personally, I prefer FSB-slot fixed sights for short builds, but when chasing unicorns one takes any win one can get.) If I could get a brace that mimics the looks of a SOPMOD, a “pistolized GL/SSC” would be one of my first choices for a Home D gun, maybe even for a Hiking Carry with a 37mm blooptube carrying smoke/flares/star-shell for emergency signaling.
Did anyone ever hear about if SOCOM or anybody else ever did anything with the 12.5" can-plus-M203 concept after this? I thought I heard something about some West Coast Navy units brewing up their own improvised version with 10.75" KAC URX II’s, but never saw anything to confirm and can’t remember the source, kinda like the one I heard about a West Coast EOD variant of the Mark 18 built around CASV-EL’s.
(Personally, I prefer FSB-slot fixed sights for short builds, but when chasing unicorns one takes any win one can get.) If I could get a brace that mimics the looks of a SOPMOD, a “pistolized GL/SSC” would be one of my first choices for a Home D gun, maybe even for a Hiking Carry with a 37mm blooptube carrying smoke/flares/star-shell for emergency signaling.