Lower parts kits are NOT all the same. Many of the cheaper brands like DPMS use out of spec parts with non milspec coatings. For example, DPMS trigger and hammer pins are blued and not phosphated like milspec pins. They're also slightly oversized, causing them to be a PITA to install.

The takedown and pivot pins in the cheaper kits are usually sized incorrectly as well. I've measured several different pins from various manufacturers using calipers. Colt, DD, LMT pins all measured in at .250". That is the correct milspec diameter. DPMS, Bushmaster, Stag were off by a significant margin. This discrepancy translates into excessive upper/lower receiver wobble, or an overly tight fit where you will need tools just to push the pin in or out of the receiver.

Stock to quality parts kit (like Colt) if you're building a rifle that you're staking your life on. If it's a dirt shooter or some plinking gun, then use whatever cheap commercial spec LPK you want.

 

off topic but do any of you guys run rechargeable CR123's/18650's? Recently came to the realization that all my flashlights on my guns, edc, go bag etc are all cr123 powered. I spend way to much on batteries and is becoming a hassle to keep ordering them lol.

 

i have a bunch of them running RCR123s.

bought a sucker that is 800 lumen and uses 2 18650s. this guy will blinds ya!

keep a good of regular 123s though. you know... just in case. and unscrew the lights on the gun just enough so the batts wont leak out as fast.

on your GOTO rifle though, i would keep regular 123s.

also you may wanna keep track of how long RCR123s will last just SITTING in a light. that way you can cycle them every X weeks or something.

 

yeah im going to keep regular 123's around but for like EDC i dont want to keep running them out as i use my lights a lot and it gets expensive. hmm good idea i leave all my lights caps tightened so maybe thats why my batteries are not lasting as long as they should lol.

 

my EDC flashlights all use RCR123s...

i have a 10 pack of SURFIRE lithiums. i think they say 8 year storage on them...

 

One of the smartest survivalists I've ever known expressed an interesting idea of this.

In a SHTF situation, you don't want exotic batteries. You want common batteries for extended SHTF... AA, AAA, 9V D-cell... stuff you can get from a gas station. There's no way in hell you are going to find a CR123 and such if yours runs out

 

Surefires are probably the best also I noticed that 123's suck when trying to find them. I actually really hated 123's from the beginning and it just kind of escalated into all my lights becoming 123's

 

that's why i also have a couple that runs on AA, and of course the 4D maglite itself...



four-seven had a special BOGO of this a few months ago:


runs on dual AAs.


edit: but you know what? in a true SHTF world, how many people will run up to stores to buy 123s? i know places like walmart, home depot, etc carries the ever-ready bunny lithium 123s...


reason i like 123s is they pack more juice. plus with rechargable ones, in a SHTF world, i'm sure my chargers will still work (yes, i have solar panels).

 

Gun Show in Vallejo this weekend...

 

Tempting to pick that up

 

I have this one in gunmetal:
Not sure why it keeps putting two when I edit it shows only one.

 

 

thats awesome lol, did anyone make it to the gunshow today?

 

Waited 6 months for this upper...



Matching Noveske complete lower built with all Colt parts.

 

^Fancy.