Help Me Upgrade My "Zombie Defender"

[SweetMK]

I have not been much of an "AR Guy" but, a few years ago, I saw a guy at a gunshow trying to trade his AR for a new Ruger 10/22 rifle,,

Well the dealer said "NO WAY!!"
As the guy started to walk away, I asked if he would like to sell it for the cash he needed to get the 10/22,, $325,, IIRC,,

He said yes, I came home with the "Zombie Defender"

The gun came with the regular bolt (BCG), as well as the 22LR conversion, and 3 of the 25 round 22LR magazines

In the pic, the gun is set up to shoot 22LR.

The gun has a Magpul pistol grip, Magpul sights, and I think the Handguard is Magpul as well,,

The shoulder stock is a Troy Battle Ax CQB Collapsible Stock.

I have been waiting for the Flat Dark Earth components to appeal to me,
that hasn't happened, yet. (I have been waiting for the appeal to change for over 2 years )
but, to replace those FDE colored components, I think I would be spending as much as I did to buy this gun.

As far as performance, the gun shoots flawlessly, with both 5.56, and 22LR.
It has never jammed with bulk 22LR, or the inexpensive FMJ 5.56 ammo (well, it used to be inexpensive!! ).

Since the pic, I have removed the black bolt-on rail components from the handguard.
While I was doing that, I washed all the FDE colored components,,
all of those components improved in appearance,, but,,

So, where should I start, how can I help the appearance of this gun, ?
Does it need any functional improvements?
I did buy a red dot for it, but, I ended up putting that red dot on a 22LR Ruger pistol,, for now, at least,,,

Help me spend some $$$ to make the Zombie Defender better,,,

Thanks!!

 

[rkwood]

I can't be certain from looking at the photo, but you may want to check the flash hider and ensure that it has been pinned and welded to the barrel, and that the overall length of the barrel, including the properly pinned and welded flash hider, is 16" or greater. If not, pull the upper off the lower immediately and correct the situation. (This may have been why the dealer at the show declined the purchase...)

Other than that, I'll bet you could find a set of black mil-spec M4 furniture from P&S Products, Colt Defense or Remington Defense in gently used take-off condition for around $50, pull off the Magpul sights, put the red dot scope back on and call it "good'" if accuracy has been acceptable. Sell the Magpul & Troy parts and you may actually come out not having spent any extra money at all.

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[Alpo]

I don't know if this would work, because I dislike and therefore have nothing to do with ARs.


But krylon makes a type of spray paint especially for plastic. If you don't like the color of your butt stock or your forearm, could you not remove them from the gun and get some black or dark green or whatever color pleases you "made for plastic" spray paint and change the color?

 

[stansdds]

It could be worse, it could have been in pink. Krylon spray paint for plastic would be the low buck way to go for changing the color, but you still have desert sand colored sights.

 

[MyDads38]

I replaced all the stock, black furniture on my M&P Sport 2 with new Magpul FDE furniture from a LGS for $125. Was installed for free while I waited. Some LGS have had excess Magpul furniture in their Bargain Bins and still can't sell at a discount. I wouldn't think you'd have a problem replacing what you don't like

 

[SweetMK]

Also, I guess I ought to take a pic of the extra recoil buffer and spring that came with it,,

I just weighed that buffer, it weighs 3 ounces, and it rattles inside,,
I have no idea as to when a different one of those is needed,,
I have not taken out the one that is in it to see what that buffer weighs.

Also in the bag I found a front sight adjust tool,,
then,, after several minutes of fiddling, I figured out the other device is a broken shell extractor, you twist the knob, and a bushing slides up and expands,,,

 

[JJEH]

I can't be certain from looking at the photo, but you may want to check the flash hider and ensure that it has been pinned and welded to the barrel, and that the overall length of the barrel, including the properly pinned and welded flash hider, is 16" or greater. If not, pull the upper off the lower immediately and correct the situation. (This may have been why the dealer at the show declined the purchase...)

This!!!!!

Also the flip up sights are mounted backwards.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

A little bit of noise abatement would be to replace the buffer spring with a Silicone Carbide spring. No more "Boing" and they are good for around half a million rounds instead of 25K to 50K for mil spec. (less for cheap springs) I got mine several years ago from Midway.

My latest AR has Desert Tan furniture, it is in 300 BO so I use Desert Tan mags to avoid ammo confusion.

You might be able to sell you take offs easier than if they were black!

Ivan

 

[rkwood]

This!!!!!



Also the flip up sights are mounted backwards.

JJEH - I totally missed the backwards sights! Good catch.

Seriously, check that barrel. You may have an unregistered SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) which is a violation of the National Firearms Act and a felony. That muzzle brake / flash hider must be pinned AND welded, and the total length of the barrel must then be 16" or greater in order for that gun to be considered a legal rifle. It appears to be a home-built parts gun and the original owner may have been unaware of the rules.

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[Echo40]

Well, the first, most obvious choice is to buy some of this...

Hornady Zombie MAX

Because the most important part of a firearm is the ammo that you feed it, so you need ammunition which was designed specifically for self-defense against zombies. Unfortunately, so far only Hornady has specialized zombie-killer ammo, but it's what you need.

Personally though, if I were going to have a designated weapon for Zombie Defense, then I would get me one of these...

Beretta 92 Custom -- Samurai Edge

 

[SweetMK]

The barrel is good, the arrestor was TIG welded to the barrel.

I opened the gun, it has the Spike's Tactical ST-T2 Tungsten Heavy Buffer - 4.0oz

I have never noticed the spring noise, but, would I hear that with ear protection on??

Believe it or not, there is no way the sights can be reversed, and still flip down.
I have been told that before,, so, I have had them off,, not enough room to turn them 180 degrees,,

 

[SweetMK]

Well, the first, most obvious choice is to buy some of this...

Hornady Zombie MAX

Because the most important part of a firearm is the ammo that you feed it, so you need ammunition which was designed specifically for self-defense against zombies. Unfortunately, so far only Hornady has specialized zombie-killer ammo, but it's what you need.

Personally though, if I were going to have a designated weapon for Zombie Defense, then I would get me one of these...

Beretta 92 Custom -- Samurai Edge

I have been trying to buy a 5.56 bullet mold off of eBay,,
I have some VERY high silver content brazing alloy, that I was hoping to use to make

silver bullets,,

I understand those zombies hate the taste of silver,,,

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have been trying to buy a 5.56 bullet mold off of eBay,,
I have some VERY high silver content brazing alloy, that I was hoping to use to make
silver bullets,,
I understand those zombies hate the taste of silver,,,

Funny you should mention that. In the late 60's a local dentist used a 158 gr RH 38 special mold to make bullets from "Used silver" filling alloy. He didn't use a warm enough heat source and his alloy dripped into the mold. (The bullets looked like a small silver brain!) He shot an intruder in the head late one night, the guy dropped like a bag of flour! During the investigation, the Coroner used the other 5 bullets in the revolver for "Testing". The dentist was cleared of any wrong doing! About a week later the Coroner showed up asking if he could purchase some of those bullets. Upon entry, they fell apart into sever small pellets and totally scrambled the intruder's brain!

I have two 22 caliber bullet molds and would not recommend either for 223! Stick with what works: Poly tipped or FMJ, Those will cure whatever ails you!

Ivan

 

[always_an_eagle]

Besides ammo and magazines, better sights and a sling are my suggestion. If you want a red dot, perhaps a sig romeo or a holosun for a budget sight.

 

[Echo40]

I have been trying to buy a 5.56 bullet mold off of eBay,,
I have some VERY high silver content brazing alloy, that I was hoping to use to make

silver bullets,,

I understand those zombies hate the taste of silver,,,

Nope, Silver is for use against unholy creatures of the night like Werewolves and Vampires, Zombies are fortunately easier to kill and require nothing more elaborate than removal of the head or destruction of the brain, so a simple well-centered shot to the forehead should suffice. Z-MAX is simply better because they're engineered to expand more readily in the softer, degenerating/decomposing tissue of a zombie, and you want full expansion for hydrastatic shock within the gray matter to insure that even if your shot isn't lined up perfectly, it's still drop the zombie.

But then again, I'm referring to the George A. Romero Shambling Reanimated Corpse style of zombie rather than traditional Voodoo Zombies which quite possibly may be weakened by silver, but those are not my area of expertise and tend to be more rare than your typical ghoulish shambler which spreads via some sort of viral infection.

 

[Robspeire]

JP Enterprises Silent Captured Recoil Buffer Spring Assembly Gen 2 AR-15. Really quieted my Colt down well worth the $$.
Also put a Radian Talon Ambi Safety 2-Lever Kit . &
Radian Weapons Raptor Ambi Charging Handle.
However seems as thou all Radian parts are out of stock now.

 

[JJEH]

The barrel is good, the arrestor was TIG welded to the barrel.

I opened the gun, it has the Spike's Tactical ST-T2 Tungsten Heavy Buffer - 4.0oz

I have never noticed the spring noise, but, would I hear that with ear protection on??

Believe it or not, there is no way the sights can be reversed, and still flip down.
I have been told that before,, so, I have had them off,, not enough room to turn them 180 degrees,,

Well then, it seems like all you need is mags and ammo. Whatever you shoot at isn't going to care what color the guns furniture is