I’ve been wanting a mk18 for a while now. I’d like to do it as cheaply as possible, while still having quality parts. I’ve been debating building one, but obviously the ris ii is pretty scarce. I’ve already got a pistol that I’m waiting to SBR when i get back to the lower 48 (currently in Alaska).
Would you all recommend buying a factory upper and putting it on my current (pistol) lower, or buying a complete mk18 pistol?
Well you’ve said the magic words my friend…“cheaply as possible”…
Dude, I’ve built all my ARs using PSA stuff, hand me down pieces of kit, part trades and parts bought via ebay(deals on legit stuff can be found on there btw). I’ve ran all my SBRs in live fire drills, bump fired them while using hundreds of rounds of crappy steel cased ammo. They all run fine.
I say use that pistol lower, buy a complete upper when you stumble upon a good deal, and then make it into your MK18.
Heck, look at LAV’s Alfa Inspired AK. It’s not a true facsimile of the Russian’s but it’s a darn good gun.
Here’s my advice. Forget this clone stuff ad go for function. Good luck finding that rail (as you mentioned). As long as you can source a good barrel that isn’t overgassed you should be fine.
I’ve been flirting with the idea of a Mk18 for my next build. I know DD is way over gased, I also remember reading something a while back that LMT increased the size of their gas ports as well, any truth to that?.. And what about running the LMT E-carrier in conjunction with the A5H4 buffer/buffer tube, would that mitigate to some degree an over gassed barrel? I’d be running 100% suppressed…
This. I got rid of my Block II guy and changed it to a lighter weight set up. Love it. They look cool but the stuff is getting out dated.
Still have my MK18 set up until I can find a set up I want to run.
You could build the upper using parts you find in various classifieds for around 5-600. With the difficult part being the rail I guess, but I still see them around on EE from time to time. I built my Daniel Defense MK18 upper over a time period of about 1 year, but did it for about 650.
A complete DD MK18 upper will run you $1000 + probably. If it were me I’d build it myself and NFA the pistol lower.
Ok, given this information, would you guys recommend a mk18 upper, or just a 10.x" bbl with a DD lite rail (or other)?
Look at getting a radical firearms 10.5 upper. Bought several and on ran them on a full auto RR like a clock.
Never heard of them but I’ll check it out.
Check out Westernsport.com. They’ve got factory DD 10.3" uppers with different rails for ~$700. DD makes them exclusively for Westernsport. Full DD MK18 parts minus that boat anchor of a rail (RIS II) for $300+ less.
Thanks, I’ll look into it. I may just get the MI g2 rail, it has a similar look and definitely weighs less.
And I’ll be willing to bet that those are the same overgassed barrels they use in all commercial sale uppers.
Based on how mine shoots, I suspect you’re correct. Just not sure that there’s a better alternative at this point.
The OP would be better off buying a BCM, KAC, or Colt 11.5" barrel/upper.
If you cant find the DD rail check out Centurion Arms C4 rails. They are pretty good and will work just as well. Also find a good barrel is key one that isnt over-gassed and a cheap POS.
I’d love to hear recommendations on a mK18 length barrel that is ported properly and currently available. OP asked about a MK18.
I also believe that there is value in having a barrel ported such that it runs reliably regardless of what .223/5.56 you happen to find. As I’m no longer in the military, I have to use whatever I can get ahold of. Having a barrel ported to only run on MilSpec pressure ammunition is of far less utility when you don’t have the DoD supply chain feeding you.
Porting is one of those “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” sort of things. No way to please everybody.
I’ve been looking into the 10.3" Hanson profile bbl’s from Ballistic Advantage. They claim the port is ".073, and $204 with a pinned gas block
You can just get a Colt 10.3 factory barrel. Mine has been flawless both suppressed and unsupperssed with an H3(real military gas post size). But I just built another 3 MK18’s with DD 10.3’s(one being 300 blackout). Im running a H3(H2 in the 300) in those too and doesn’t seem that much worse then the Colt suppressed. I wanted CHF 10.3’s and they seem ok at this point maybe slightly more gas but not as bad as made out to be. Maybe mine are just on the small end of the spec for DD. The way I look at it if its a SHTF situation and Im out or cant get to my ammo at least the rifle will run better with any shit ammo you can find anywhere, but just be a little overgassed with the good shit.
The problem is that most people I know and see are shooting their SBR’s with suppressors in which case it’s really overgassed. A slightly larger port, isn’t an issue. But not where some of them are at. .074-.076 is survivable. But the low 80’s stuff is just crazy.
I’m running mine with a KAC NT4 suppressor and I do notice more felt recoil with the DD’S but the ejection pattern on all of them including the Colt are not even close to being correct when shooting suppressed. I guess I look at it they are all over gassed suppressed. As long as it’s still reliable it doesn’t bother me that much. But it might be that I’m running a heavier buffer automatically with any 10.3 barrel. Most leave the original buffer in their rifle. Even the Colt 10.3 is more reliable with an H3 buffer in it.