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Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting So, you're looking for advice on your first AR...
- Thread starter Sticks
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Switching barrels
So, we start the project by measuring head space on the NOVESKE barrel. Within .0005" of the Criterion.
Measured the barrel extension diameter with a micrometer and found the NOVESKE barrel extension to be .998"+- a few tenths. Thats a little smaller than the Criterion.
I decided that since everything was dissembled, I would true the face of the receiver. I have alumina powder in various grits. I chose 400 grit because upon close inspection I did not see a wide gap under the truing fixture when seated, dry.
A slurry of 400 grit alumina and 30W non detergent oil was applied to the face of the tool after the shank was lubed and inserted into the upper receiver. I turned the tool by hand and removed, cleaned, and reoiled and another application of slurry, about 5 times so I could inspect the face of the upper receiver and make sure it was squaring up. The high spot started at 7-10 O'clock and gradually shined up the full 360 degrees of the receiver face. I then flushed everything with non chlorinated brake cleaner. Re applied anti seize to the receiver threads and the barrel extension. No Loctite, this go-around!
Hmm, I know why NOVESKE pins their gas blocks! They are LOOSE! I may remove it and use the clamp on! Really disappointed, here!
OH! I left the red dot sight attached! It made a good handle:-laf!
Heres a pictureOo.!
GregH
So, we start the project by measuring head space on the NOVESKE barrel. Within .0005" of the Criterion.
Measured the barrel extension diameter with a micrometer and found the NOVESKE barrel extension to be .998"+- a few tenths. Thats a little smaller than the Criterion.
I decided that since everything was dissembled, I would true the face of the receiver. I have alumina powder in various grits. I chose 400 grit because upon close inspection I did not see a wide gap under the truing fixture when seated, dry.
A slurry of 400 grit alumina and 30W non detergent oil was applied to the face of the tool after the shank was lubed and inserted into the upper receiver. I turned the tool by hand and removed, cleaned, and reoiled and another application of slurry, about 5 times so I could inspect the face of the upper receiver and make sure it was squaring up. The high spot started at 7-10 O'clock and gradually shined up the full 360 degrees of the receiver face. I then flushed everything with non chlorinated brake cleaner. Re applied anti seize to the receiver threads and the barrel extension. No Loctite, this go-around!
Hmm, I know why NOVESKE pins their gas blocks! They are LOOSE! I may remove it and use the clamp on! Really disappointed, here!
OH! I left the red dot sight attached! It made a good handle:-laf!
Heres a pictureOo.!
GregH
HHhuntitall
TDR MEMBER
That gas block will tighten up with a few hundred rounds, GHarm!! :-laf A little carbon goes a long ways!! But, if you're like me, it'll all get washed out the next time it's apart, and you'll start all over.....
I've never squared the face up on any of the recievers I've put together.... for various reasons.... One, I was always leery of the heat treated aluminum... was it surface treated like the old Mausers, and cutting into it will reveal the soft underlying metal? Now, after researching it a little, I don't think that's the case!! So thanks for making me learn something!!
Second, I use either EGW or Aero uppers, and find little to no deflection in the contact surfaces.... Lucky, perhaps? Idk, but it works.... I have noticed some of the old Olympic uppers I used once upon a time have had considerable wear on the front of the recievers from wear.... Is that barrel movement? Again, IDK, but they shot well.....
Okay, now for my question.... What tool are you using to true the front of the receiver? Did I miss that in previous posts?
I've never squared the face up on any of the recievers I've put together.... for various reasons.... One, I was always leery of the heat treated aluminum... was it surface treated like the old Mausers, and cutting into it will reveal the soft underlying metal? Now, after researching it a little, I don't think that's the case!! So thanks for making me learn something!!
Second, I use either EGW or Aero uppers, and find little to no deflection in the contact surfaces.... Lucky, perhaps? Idk, but it works.... I have noticed some of the old Olympic uppers I used once upon a time have had considerable wear on the front of the recievers from wear.... Is that barrel movement? Again, IDK, but they shot well.....
Okay, now for my question.... What tool are you using to true the front of the receiver? Did I miss that in previous posts?
Last edited:
HHhuntitall
TDR MEMBER
Hmm, well, that was simple.
That extended extension wrench would work nicely.... Mine is pretty short, but small enough I can get a 3/8" drive socket on it while in the receiver..... But it's not near as stable as that extended one would be...
Well, I got it all together with the A-5 buffer system, et al!
Yes HH, it looks like that there is about just enough clearance to install the gas block over the GB journal.
That measured .7488" on both barrels.
I did install the NOVESKE gas block, pinned, et al!
We'll see how well it shoots. If it doesn't look good, I'll strip 'er down and install the clamp on!
The system looks good and feels good, to me!
A little dated on my Aimpoint 5000 RDS but, for now its all I can do.
The facing tool is basic and can be refaced as it wears! Patriot has the links.
I am curious about that Barrel extension insert tool, myself! That looks like a better way to get axial alignment on a sloppy fit!
So, if I decide to do a glue in, that tool may be indispensable?
Particularly if the tool rides in the bore of the upper receiver for alignment.
Giessele offers one also, similar to the one shown in Patriot's last link.
http://geissele.com/reaction-rod.html
Yes HH, it looks like that there is about just enough clearance to install the gas block over the GB journal.
That measured .7488" on both barrels.
I did install the NOVESKE gas block, pinned, et al!
We'll see how well it shoots. If it doesn't look good, I'll strip 'er down and install the clamp on!
The system looks good and feels good, to me!
A little dated on my Aimpoint 5000 RDS but, for now its all I can do.
The facing tool is basic and can be refaced as it wears! Patriot has the links.
I am curious about that Barrel extension insert tool, myself! That looks like a better way to get axial alignment on a sloppy fit!
So, if I decide to do a glue in, that tool may be indispensable?
Particularly if the tool rides in the bore of the upper receiver for alignment.
Giessele offers one also, similar to the one shown in Patriot's last link.
http://geissele.com/reaction-rod.html
Yea.....really.....:-laf
! I been Busier that a cat cover'n "You Know What"!:-laf Yeah I know! "No Excuse, Maggot"! Well, its ABOUT TIME, They said! 
:-laf
The carbine was tested very unscientifically with 3 rounds of 55 Gr. GI, 3 rounds of 62 Gr. GI steel core green tip and 12 rounds of 50 Gr. tipped American Eagle varmint ammo. All factory loads. I shot with the 55 Gr. GI to find the POI to zero the red dot sight. Dropped the elevation one complete turn. 2 more 55 gr to get on paper at 100 yards, about 1 1/8" apart
Adjusted the elevation and fired 3 with the 62 Gr GI. group about 2 1/4". Then let the barrel cool. I thought I had a cleaning rod that fit Huh? NOT! Have to buy a dedicated .22 caliber cleaning rod!
Next I tried 3 shots with the 50 Gr. Tipped Varmint. 3 shots inside the 62 grain group at about 3/4" X 7/8", cool, 3 more shots 50 gr. tipped at 7/8" X 1/2", cool and another 3 shots with the 50 Gr. tipped at 9/16" X 5/8". As you can see, the groups are getting smaller. I was feeling GOOD! Then I reached my Waterloo. The clouds were intermittent and sunlight varied greatly. I tried to shoot an even smaller group. However, I blew the second shot#@$%!! It would have been a HUMMER if that second shot out of 3 could have been held correctly. But I lost my sight picture as the shot broke and the followthrough was bad.
Overall, a ways to go to meet my stated goal, but not a bad start!
The red dot sight has an adjustable polarizing filter. It is not magnified and covers 7 MOA. To get the good sight picture ya need a BIG Bullseye to aim! Concentric circles! However in my case a GOOD Quality optic would better serve my poor eyesight. Still not to bad fer an old man who's blind in one eye and can't see out the other =)
Summary. The barrel shoots better as you go! According to NOVESKE, minimal break in is required. I believe attention to detail in assembly is paramount to achieving accuracy with these rifles. Good quality components really help. I am looking forward to trying some hand loads in this carbine, with a high magnification scope! For quick deployment in an emergency, I believe a laser designator sight would work better for me? Just thinking??
Cant wait to get the Kreiger barreled upper assembledOo.!
AND Handloads!!!!!!
Greg
:-lafThe carbine was tested very unscientifically with 3 rounds of 55 Gr. GI, 3 rounds of 62 Gr. GI steel core green tip and 12 rounds of 50 Gr. tipped American Eagle varmint ammo. All factory loads. I shot with the 55 Gr. GI to find the POI to zero the red dot sight. Dropped the elevation one complete turn. 2 more 55 gr to get on paper at 100 yards, about 1 1/8" apart
Adjusted the elevation and fired 3 with the 62 Gr GI. group about 2 1/4". Then let the barrel cool. I thought I had a cleaning rod that fit Huh? NOT! Have to buy a dedicated .22 caliber cleaning rod!
Next I tried 3 shots with the 50 Gr. Tipped Varmint. 3 shots inside the 62 grain group at about 3/4" X 7/8", cool, 3 more shots 50 gr. tipped at 7/8" X 1/2", cool and another 3 shots with the 50 Gr. tipped at 9/16" X 5/8". As you can see, the groups are getting smaller. I was feeling GOOD! Then I reached my Waterloo. The clouds were intermittent and sunlight varied greatly. I tried to shoot an even smaller group. However, I blew the second shot#@$%!! It would have been a HUMMER if that second shot out of 3 could have been held correctly. But I lost my sight picture as the shot broke and the followthrough was bad.
Overall, a ways to go to meet my stated goal, but not a bad start!
The red dot sight has an adjustable polarizing filter. It is not magnified and covers 7 MOA. To get the good sight picture ya need a BIG Bullseye to aim! Concentric circles! However in my case a GOOD Quality optic would better serve my poor eyesight. Still not to bad fer an old man who's blind in one eye and can't see out the other =)
Summary. The barrel shoots better as you go! According to NOVESKE, minimal break in is required. I believe attention to detail in assembly is paramount to achieving accuracy with these rifles. Good quality components really help. I am looking forward to trying some hand loads in this carbine, with a high magnification scope! For quick deployment in an emergency, I believe a laser designator sight would work better for me? Just thinking??
Cant wait to get the Kreiger barreled upper assembledOo.!
AND Handloads!!!!!!
Greg
Sticks,
the above report is just the time spent with the AR! The weather was rapidly changing and I left at 1730 hours:{.
I was able to shoot from 1100 until 1500 hours at the 300 yard line with the .30/06.
It was windy and gusty so I did not go back to 600 yards. But I did get some good feed back on the reloads for the .30 in prep for an extended session at 600 yards.Oo.
Problem is that later in the afternoon the sun is looking right down your sights! Same situation on both the medium and short ranges.
I have some ammo to load and plan the next range day!
Can you get free in June?
GregH
the above report is just the time spent with the AR
! The weather was rapidly changing and I left at 1730 hours:{. I was able to shoot from 1100 until 1500 hours at the 300 yard line with the .30/06.
It was windy and gusty so I did not go back to 600 yards. But I did get some good feed back on the reloads for the .30 in prep for an extended session at 600 yards.Oo.
Problem is that later in the afternoon the sun is looking right down your sights! Same situation on both the medium and short ranges.
I have some ammo to load and plan the next range day!
Can you get free in June?
GregH
Vltor Mur $149. You got to be logged in to see this price.
http://dsgarms.com/vlmur-1a
http://dsgarms.com/vlmur-1a
I hope so. The new job is a time eater. 6-14's plus the frequent Sunday. Throw a Divorce on top of that, I hear "Recreational time" and am forced to laugh in a morbid depressing way.
Sorry man.
Today I had some plans to spend time in the shop, after Church. Well, that got changed, but I did stop by and in about 1/2 hour did some measuring and hand fitting of the Krieger Barrel and the #2 VLTOR upper.
If you remember? I mentioned that the #2 upper seemed a little tighter in the Bolt Carrier Bore than the 1st upper receiver. I was saving that one for a "special application" Wink! Well, the Krieger did not disappoint, in this first impression.
The measurements of the extension diameter are 0.9981" adjacent to the end and 0.9994" adjacent to the indexing pin at the large diameter. The reduced diameter adjacent to the shoulder and in the same diameter as the indexing pin is located, I did not measure.
Observation; Now, the fit test! Placing a light coat of oil on the barrel extension, I carefully slid it into the VLTOR Upper. It was snug enough even with the taper that the receiver was not going on carelessly. So as I slid it on, it got tighter until within 1/8" of the shoulder. Then it required a bit of force to seat the receiver against the shoulder. There was almost no side play with the receiver seated.
Conclusion, besides facing the upper receiver square, the fit into the receiver bore is something that requires attention.
Now, no one I know, myself included, can afford numerous upper receivers to try out. .
So, we buy a quality barrel assembly and an upper. If they are sloppy? We bed them! If not, thats one step less to perform and less trouble when it comes time for disassembly. If everything else pans out? This should be a shooter as well.
Will keep ya posted!
GregH
If you remember? I mentioned that the #2 upper seemed a little tighter in the Bolt Carrier Bore than the 1st upper receiver. I was saving that one for a "special application" Wink! Well, the Krieger did not disappoint, in this first impression.
The measurements of the extension diameter are 0.9981" adjacent to the end and 0.9994" adjacent to the indexing pin at the large diameter. The reduced diameter adjacent to the shoulder and in the same diameter as the indexing pin is located, I did not measure.
Observation; Now, the fit test! Placing a light coat of oil on the barrel extension, I carefully slid it into the VLTOR Upper. It was snug enough even with the taper that the receiver was not going on carelessly. So as I slid it on, it got tighter until within 1/8" of the shoulder. Then it required a bit of force to seat the receiver against the shoulder. There was almost no side play with the receiver seated.
Conclusion, besides facing the upper receiver square, the fit into the receiver bore is something that requires attention.
Now, no one I know, myself included, can afford numerous upper receivers to try out. .
So, we buy a quality barrel assembly and an upper. If they are sloppy? We bed them! If not, thats one step less to perform and less trouble when it comes time for disassembly. If everything else pans out? This should be a shooter as well.
Will keep ya posted!
GregH
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Issue 128 – Digital Version
Digital Magazines
FREE!
TDR Test Drive - Digital Edition
Renew
Subscribe
Gift Subscriptions
Back Issues
Subscription Status
Address Change Form
Buyer's Guides
Ram Diagnostic Trouble Codes
The Perfect Collection
The Perfect Collection Vol. II
TSB Updates
Dodge/Cummins Historical Overview
Cameron Collection
What Makes Us Tick?
Product Showcase
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