Flat Dark Earth AR builds?

Alright Gunny, we are getting awful close lol...

I notice you have your forward sling mount in the forward slot vs the rear-most slot which seems to be all the rage now. Any reason for going all they way forward? I tried it there but it seemed to get in the way of my grip...

Your rig is really looking good. :D
I mounted the sling mount forward because it gave me the most grip options. I can hold the hand guard and vertical grip similar to the AFG.



I can use just the vertical grip.



Or, I can use a more traditional grip on the hand guard.



When it's mounted to the rear, it hangs the muzzle a little lower and gets in the way if I want to just use the hand guard. I've always been different, but it works for me. ;)

I've considered mounting an AFG closer to the mag well and removing the other vertical grip. If I do that, I can the use the AFG or extend my hand forward and still use the hand guard for the more traditional grip.

And yes, Army and Navy can get along. :)
 
Last edited:
Been posting it in the pics thread, but here is my FDE revision of the M&P 15 OR/ORC...getting close to complete. Looks kinda like Gunny's...I guess Navy and Army can get along ;).

The black MOE Vert Grip - not sure if I like a vert grip enough to pay for another one in FDE, so I just left it black for now. Added the STR, Vickers sling and IO/Tango Down Micro cover today. Not to mention my one and only FDE Mag lol. "For Photo Use Only :D"



Full Parts List...
Magpul Pro BUIS
Aimpoint Micro T-1 / LRP mount.
Magpul STR Buttstock
Magpul MOE Handguard, Vert. Grip, MOE+ Grip
Magpul Enhanced Trigger Guard, BAD Lever
Rainier Arms Charging Handle
Norgon Ambi Mag Release
Battle Arms Dev Ambi Safety

And I don't know why my safety crosspin is so oily, I think I've wiped that sucker down about 5 times already :confused:

You know BAD makes the bad *** Ambi safety in FDE? I know this because I just ordered it :D for my FDE build!!!
 


Vltor upper, Aero Precision lower. Duracoat Magpul FDE (Obviously not a perfect match).
I had a Magpul AFG on it but didn't really take to it, it's on the M&P 15-22 now. I find that I actually use the vertical grip like an AFG as opposed to gripping the grip with my whole hand. Go figure!
 
I'm in the early stages of my very first build :p . I have the lower parts coming in and just ordered a Hogue desert tan grip.

 
photo2_zps84391449.jpg


photo4_zps99898a46.jpg


photo2_zps3e425dae.jpg


photo1_zpsb5437677.jpg
 
78Staff,

Have you considered how hot the gas block gets? That Magpul front sight is plastic, right?


The Magpul Pro BUIS's are all metal. A really nice buis, imo. Easy to adjust but firm enough they won't loose zero. Manual flip up/down with solid detents. They are very low profile, the rear sight blends right with the rear of the upper unlike Troy, MI, PRI's, Magpul Polymer, etc which stick out like a sore thumb imo. The the front sight is also much lower profile that most others - these are same plane sights designed for railed fore-end, but since the OR has a rail height gas block they line up perfect.

At first I though I wanted the Troy/MI design, since it defaults to the large aperture (short yardarge) when flipped up, but I find I shoot the small aperture most of the time anyway, so it's a win/win. That and recent Troy politics...meh I went with the Magpul.



 
Last edited:
Your rig is really looking good. :D
I mounted the sling mount forward because it gave me the most grip options. I can hold the hand guard and vertical grip similar to the AFG.

Yep I like your hand position, on mine the with the gas block the way it is I was worried about inadvertently hitting/grabbing it and burning my fingers or what not... also why I moved the V. grip back one slot as well. May be non-issue, though - just didn't want to find out the hard way lol.
 
Yep I like your hand position, on mine the with the gas block the way it is I was worried about inadvertently hitting/grabbing it and burning my fingers or what not... also why I moved the V. grip back one slot as well. May be non-issue, though - just didn't want to find out the hard way lol.

get a longer hand guard....... that's why I used a 13". Yesterday was the first time shooting it. I attach a bipod on the end, works great, shot amazing..
 
The Magpul Pro BUIS's are all metal. A really nice buis, imo. Easy to adjust but firm enough they won't loose zero. Manual flip up/down with solid detents. They are very low profile, the rear sight blends right with the rear of the upper unlike Troy, MI, PRI's, Magpul Polymer, etc which stick out like a sore thumb imo. The the front sight is also much lower profile that most others - these are same plane sights designed for railed fore-end, but since the OR has a rail height gas block they line up perfect.

At first I though I wanted the Troy/MI design, since it defaults to the large aperture (short yardarge) when flipped up, but I find I shoot the small aperture most of the time anyway, so it's a win/win. That and recent Troy politics...meh I went with the Magpul.




I have the same rear sight on my gun. It's a nice high quality sight.
 
get a longer hand guard....... that's why I used a 13". Yesterday was the first time shooting it. I attach a bipod on the end, works great, shot amazing..

I have considered it, just have limited options without changing the gas block out. UTG makes one in their Pro line that will go around the OR gas block with minor modifications (see BluGrass's posts above), but other than that I don't think there are too many choices. It's on the "pondering" list ;)
 
I have considered it, just have limited options without changing the gas block out. UTG makes one in their Pro line that will go around the OR gas block with minor modifications (see BluGrass's posts above), but other than that I don't think there are too many choices. It's on the "pondering" list ;)

heck, change out the gas block, it's cheap. Then you can use whatever you want for a hand guard.... free floater is the way to go...
 
heck, change out the gas block, it's cheap. Then you can use whatever you want for a hand guard.... free floater is the way to go...

I see also DD, Centurian and MI make an extended setup ranging from $250-400. Honestly before I'd drop $400 on a DD rail I'd rather allocate those funds for a SPR build ;). The MI pieces look intriguing though...

I'm honestly not too sure how much I like the MOE handguards, being realistic. I figured I'd try them since the cost is minimal, but may wind up with the stock carbine guards back on anyway. Just fun trying new things :D I may still do a gas block change as well...

EDIT - actually as I think about it, if I do change to something other than the MOE or std M4 style I'll surely go FF so would be removing/changing the block anyway.

And I thought I spent too much money on fishing tackle... sheesh. Where are the cheap hobbies, anyway? lol. Dang that reminds me I need to order some new gearsets for a couple reels.
 
Last edited:
BTW, the FDE AR did good today at the 3-gun, wasn't sure what to expect with the 14.5" barrel and non-free-float barrel, but we done good! I put my Eotech up against a lot of scopes and outdid many of them! Don't sell your quality red-dot short! 8" steel out to about 275yds or so, but the 1MOA dot did the deed.
 
And here is mine. Since I am left-handed, I wanted to add some of the ambidextrous accessories when I converted my S&W M&P 15T to flat dark earth. Thanks to the other forum members for helping me decide on parts and suppliers!

Total parts list: MOE carbine length stock (# MAG400FDE); MOE Grip (# MAG415FDE); MOE Vertical Grip for Rail (# MAG412FDE); Magpul Magazine (# MAG570FDE); Magpul Ladder Rail Protectors –FDE; Magpul Extended Rubber Butt Pad (# MAG317); Monstrum S3940-M Scope with Illuminated Mil-Dot Reticle and Integrated Red Laser Sight; Troy Ambidextrous Bolt Release; Troy Industries Ambidextrous Magazine Release; Battle Arms FDE Ambi Safety Selector; BCM Gunfighter Mod 44 Ambi-Laser Etched; FDE Etched Ejection Port Cover-from thunderboltgunworks

The only thing missing is the sling. The new butt stock requires Uncle Mike's Super Swivels to go into the lanyard hole for the sling attachment.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN0963.jpg
    DSCN0963.jpg
    153 KB · Views: 85
  • DSCN0981.jpg
    DSCN0981.jpg
    158.5 KB · Views: 119
  • DSCN0990.jpg
    DSCN0990.jpg
    98.9 KB · Views: 75
  • DSCN0996.jpg
    DSCN0996.jpg
    114.9 KB · Views: 77
  • DSCN0999.jpg
    DSCN0999.jpg
    121.4 KB · Views: 70
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top