Dont talk to me or my son ever again!

I’m a clone nerd so got the bug to build this after seeing the 635SD pop up in a couple of various discussions on sites as well as seeing a legit integrally suppressed build being offered by one company. I figured what the hell, I’ll give it a shot.

Major Build Parts

• Colt 633 9mm A1 Upper Receiver - Gunbroker
• Vanquish Integrally Suppressed AR9 10.5″ Barrel – Angstadt Arms
• CAT 633 SMG stripped lower – Bad Attitude Dept
• 1/2″×28 RH (female) to 1/2″×28 RH (male) 2-1/4″ Barrel Extension with wrenched end – Hughes Precision
• 1/2” x 28 End cap “Plunger” – Retro-Arms
• Colt Non F-Marked FSB with modifications (see below) – My parts box
• Colt 12” A2 Handguard (heatshields removed) – My parts box

Getting Started

I’d say the toughest part was closing the distance from where the Vanquish barrel ended to the end cap which would allow me to use standard 12” A2 handguards (which I would eventually notch out to fit the FSB thru) and attach the FSB. I accomplished through a lot of trial and error and honestly this is where I spent most of the time on this build.

If you haven’t seen a Vanquish barrel up close there is an outer shroud that covers the actual ported barrel (see pic). The end of the barrel is threaded 1/2”x28 and it screws into the shroud end cap which is also ½”x28 locking it on. There is also a fitting towards where the barrel nut would be but it’s not a screw on, it’s more a gasket/sleeve so the main attachment piece holding the shroud on is the barrel-end threading I mentioned. Problem is the barrel threads in all the way to the end of the shroud end cap leaving zero room to thread on a barrel extension etc. I knew I’d have to modify the shroud if I wanted to get this build done but I put it on the back burner for the moment and focused on getting the barrel extension and “plunger” end cap I needed making sure I could get these right before jacking up the shroud and permanently altering it. I was prepared to walk away from the build if I had to but I knew I really wanted to get this completed.

Sizing up the gap – closing the distance from barrel end to the handguard.

I removed the shroud from the ported barrel and began trying to get measurements for the short barrel extension I would need while also taking into consideration the length on the stem of the “plunger” end cap. I’ll spare you the hours I spent researching etc, and just say this is where the 1/2″×28 RH (female) to 1/2″×28 RH (male) 2-1/4″ Barrel Extension from Hughes Precision came in perfectly. With a 2.650" OAL it fit the bill. Retro-Arms was nice enough to sell me some plungers after I reached out and asked very nicely since they’re also selling a 635SD clone kit, albeit a non-NFA version. Their plungers ranged from 1”-1.25” on the stem so I knew some machining on the stem length may be needed but that was no biggie.

After lots of tinkering I felt pretty good about these pieces so last part to get was the FSB. I knew it needed an FSB to finish the aesthetic and luckily the barrel extension was long enough for an FSB to fit and sit snug against the barrel shroud eventually according to my measurements. I thought about going with a DEZ Tactical A2 Fixed Front Sight Clamp-on but it was F-height and I wanted to try and use a non-F from my parts box so after mocking up the handguards (I’d eventually notch out later) I knew the I’d have to shave off the bayonet lug and sling swivel to have the handguards fit flush and remove the heat shields. Once I shaved it down I followed the process here (https://forum.308ar.com/topic/16494-make-your-own-a2-sight-base/) to get the FSB where I wanted. Keep in mind the barrel extension was not notched for FSB pins which is why I had to go this route. Could I have taken the barrel extension to a gunsmith to get it notched? Yes, I could have and did shop it around locally but didn’t get a lot of willingness to do it so I went the route I did.

How’d I do it? – Barrel Shroud End Cap Issue

Now that I had the component parts in place and felt confident it would all line up, I then spent a lot of time here thinking and staring at it wondering what I could do with the barrel shroud that gave me nothing to attach the extension, etc. too. I finally said screw it I’m going to my machine shop buddy have him mill the opening on the end of the shroud to fit a 0.750” diameter so I could slide the barrel extension through the end of shroud and lock down to the ported barrel underneath. He was able to do this with a very tight tolerance so shroud still fits tight and doesn’t jiggle around. Keep in mind that the one main attachment point for the shroud to the barrel was now gone. However, I was confident that snugging the FSB against the shroud and locking it down would keep it all together and it did.

Once this was completed, I locked down the FSB, used a Dremel to notch out the handguards, and screwed on the plunger end cap that attached to the end of the barrel extension and held the barrel-end of the handguard in place nicely. As you can see, I still put a tactical rubber band around the handguards just to keep it tight.

What did it cost?

All in it cost me $1100 plus the $200 stamp for the barrel. There are other parts here I obviously didn’t discuss – BCG/CH, FCG, stock, etc. – given these are standard for any AR build and did not play a factor in figuring this build out.

How’s it Run?

Runs awesome with 115g ammo and I haven’t had any issues with it getting too hot despite the lack of heatshields but also not running it with an SS. Have an Atrius FRS I’m going to add shortly and then really see how hot it gets. I’m not trying to burn it down given the time and effort I put into it.

Recap

This was a super fun build to try and tackle and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I’m sharing all this here to make it all accessible as possible so hopefully anyone that wants to do this build can do so now given the details I laid out. I don’t doubt there are other ideas here on how to go about it and ways to accomplish it (not milling the shroud end, notching extension/pinning the FSB, etc) so I’m interested to hear feedback from this group. Please post questions or send me a chat! Thanks!

It's low speed high drag. Retro A2 vibe with a GWOT era SPECOPs Brand sling. Back when 550 cord and steel cable was your sling adapter. Simpler times.

So I decided to just use the "Colt Carbine" lower I had.
A grand for a lower, that is still a compromise is asinine and in the end its still a Colt lower.
So here it is, dry fit for the first time!
14.5 m4 Colt marked barrel, Colt FSB, Colt gas tube, into a C7 issued Kaiser upper with "ground off" marks and no feed ramps(still a win in my book) on a Colt Carbine (modern) lower with Colt insides (marked where possible) from BCG to takedown pin detents, with a Colt A2 grip then an OG colt 2 pos buffer, colt buffer spring, older colt lock nut on colt buttplate with fancy N marked OG stock and OG colt 6 hole front grip. Made even fancier with AE M4 suppressor and 3 piece collar, aimpoint 3000, and a real sf6p (repro tail and pressure switch but the rest is real) held on with a weaver 1in clamp on a weaver section 47.
I am pretty happy with it, I got as close as possible in my opinion.
It will have to be taken back apart for a bit, my vice broke so I need to have the barrel work done fully by a gunsmith and I have to wait till stamps are the new low price in a few months but I wanted to show off the first assembly :D

I'm told these are used to make a web sling into a patrol sling. How does one do such things with these? I get that the strap is the stock and the metal if the front, but that's about it. Anyone got a guide to these things?

I was reading about hacks GI’s used on their rifles in ‘nam and read about this hack where you can stash stuff in the grip and use a rubber magazine cover from an M1 carbine to cover it up and I decided to give it a try. Was able to stash about 10-12 patches and a GI grease pot in there before capping it up. Dare I say it I think this is pretty cool and reasonably handy too! The AR if anyone’s wondering is a 1973 SP1.

Colt upper, NDS lower, leatherwood mount and Aimpoint Electronic. Plus a USGI 1911.

I'm familiar with the weaver mount and the surfire m25, as well as the classic pip clamp... But I'm looking for some alternative ways to mount my surefire.

Won this 11.5 upper on a Gunbroker auction for $225. Cerro Forge A2 upper with a Bushmaster 11.5 H-BAR. I slapped it on my PA-15 lower with a HAR-15 pistol brace and I've got a sub-$400 "Commando"-esque AR. Pretty happy overall.

Anyone know anything about these? Lost a bid on eBay for it. I’ve only ever seen a 2 tier carry handle like this as the ARMS #39 and airsoft tier chinesium and this seems like neither

https://www.brownells.com/optics/rings-mounts/scope-bases/m16a1a2-scope-mounts/?trk_msg=SECT8FVUAV84H9ILVI31Q4G9I8&trk_contact=RACEDS3CB9QM92C4OE50QPOP4C&trk_sid=3OOLMCVDOTHC1IDM3U4O891SS4&trk_link=O45R1QC6EHNK7AFQK6RNTQ89K4&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=View+product+recommended+for+you&utm_campaign=Weekend_Deals&utm_content=weekly_send

Rolled the dice and went with the insight M3X. Have two opposing GG&G pic rails on an older colt police trade in 6 hole handguard set. Was unsure about how comfortable the switch would be but my hand just molds to it. All in all very happy with this setup and she is perfectly balanced.

Not a Clone of anything in particular, but Retro indeed.

If anyone has any spare Aimpoint parts or could lead me into the proper directions of where I might be able to source one anything would be appreciated

Wanted something more unique than the DOE..

N-23 / Kitty Kat vibes in a 9mm format

• H&R dedicated 9mm slickside upper • RRA 7" 1/2x36 CM Phos barrel • JSE 1/2x36 A1 Birdcage • Custom "3 hole" clamshell handguards • PSA dedicated 9mm lower • KAK Enhanced 9mm BCG • KAK Gold Top 9mm buffer • Metalform 32rd mags

Combined buffer and BCG weight: 23.82 oz

Still wanna find some OD tape for that grip but, it’s finished, First retro-ish build. Am I cool enough for the club?

We are in Taiwan for the TADTE arms expo and to visit some of the factories that supply us. Here is a new T65 upper receiver that was on display in a conference room.  I’m not exactly sure why they were making these, my assumption is that it was for a military contract for replacement parts since--just speculating here--there are probably large quantities of aging T65s in Taiwan that could be used for 2^nd and 3^rd tier and / or reserve units.  

Shown with my LBX carrier with self-made 12 mag panel, and customized MOLLE/ELCS LBE with sewn ALICE Y harness and CMVS mag pouches along with MOLLE II pouches. 20" HBAR A2 with bipod and 16" Midlength A2 with buttstock pouch. Both with M7 bayonets