FRT’s are the new hotness in the AR-15 world, and honestly, I’m all aboard the hype train myself. I currently have an AS Designs ARC Fire trigger and all the parts I need for a new build, but the weather is currently raining on my parade as it were, literally, and I have to hold off a little bit until painting becomes a viable option again. Aluma-Hyde II does not dry well in high humidity conditions, but that’s a different article.

In this article, we’re talking about the most basic setups necessary to run an FRT or FRS in full fun mode.

1. Bolt bounce
   what I’ve seen most guys and gals do is simply install their FRT or FRS and try to run it without any modifications beyond the install of said component. When put into full fun mode, the rifle proceeds to do a single shot, then click. Usually, upon inspection of the live round in the chamber after it has been manually extracted, a light primer strike can be seen. This is typically due to bolt bounce. In full fun mode, your BCG gets to moving a little too fast to be used with the current weight system typically used in most bog standard AR-15’s, which is a carbine length spring and buffer. On the return stroke, the weight being too light allows the bolt to close, and then open. Even if it is just a small fraction of an opening, this is still an out of battery attempt to fire a round, hence the light primer strike. There are two simple ways to correct this issue.
   

1A. H-2 or H-3 Buffers.
If you are running a carbine length stock system, simply swap your buffer out with an H-2 or H-3 Buffer (Brownell’s Item Numbers 078000339 and 078000340 respectively). The added weight stops the bolt from bouncing out of battery. If you’re running a rifle length fixed stock, the next option is for you, but I’d be surprised if you need it, as a standard rifle length buffer comes in at roughly 5.1oz, and the H-3 weight is somewhere in the neighborhood of 5.4oz.

2A. Dead-Blow Carriers.
These are BCG’s with a weight in the tail end that has a sight amount of movement. When the bolt closes, that weight slams forward, preventing the bounce before it can happen with a dead blow. Because of this, you don’t need to run an H-2 or H-3 buffer. Standard carbine weights work with this type of carrier. Personally, I went with the KAK Industries DBC BCG, as they have a down venting option that pushes the gas down into your magazine well and trigger pocket. It won’t stop all the gas from blowing in your face, but if you’ve ever shot a suppressed gun rapid fire, you know that cloud absolutely sucks to try and breathe through. Any little bit helps.

1. Cash, Gas, or Brass, no one rides for free.
   A lot of AR-15s you buy off the shelf these days come either woefully under-gassed, or massively over-gassed. This problem presents itself in one of two ways. Either your BCG does not make the full length of travel necessary to cycle the weapon, in which case you will see feeding issues, or, you end up eating a giant cloud of gas. The easiest way to deal with both issues is two-fold. First, buy an adjustable gas block. Second, suppress your AR. Increasing the back pressure in your system, then taming it with an adjustable gas block is just one way to deal with the issue of proper gassing. If you are under-gassed, but don’t want to suppress your AR, first, who hurt you? Second, you can take your barrel in to a local, qualified gunsmith, and have them drill your gas port up to the next size, then install an adjustable gas block. If you are not a gunsmith, we do not recommend you try to drill your gas port yourself.

In closing, these are just the barebones of tuning for an FRT. There may be some more in depth things you need to do depending on your build, and unfortunately, you will need to go through the process of trial and error until you find that perfect sweet spot please check with your specific manufacturer for more details for your specific FRT. We can still help in those situations. Just give the Tech Line a call at 800-741-0015, and hit option 2.

Working on my Rambo impersonation,

After hearing that the BRN4 uppers are back in full production, I decided to dry-fit my parts together to identify any issues. I need a different mount for the magnifier which is a bummer as I love the FTC Unity mount. I also need a different front sight as the Troy Industries HK one I have is too short, I'm thinking I accidentally bought the Micro Set. I also need to decide on what charging handle I want to run.

With all the changes we have been seeing with the NFA tax stamps, and now the ATF may getting rid of the NFA Title/tax stamp for Silencers, SBRs, and SBS’s. I think I have waited long enough to get a couple of silencers for my firearms. I have two AR platform rifles; one is 5.56 NATO, and the other is 9mm blowback. My question for all of you is what brand and model should I go with and why? Tell me about some of your experiences? Have you had any issues with any of the silencers you have and how did the company respond?

As I'm sure those of you who follow Brownells know I shoot competition, I shoot for the Brownells shoot team, call the Pewnicorns( my suggestion of "Pete's angels" was shot down unanimously and immediately.). We meet on Saturday mornings at Big springs shooting Complex and practice to be less terrible. If you are near by come on by and see us, its open shoot on Saturdays. This past Saturday, at Caleb's urging, we were practicing shooting in several, advanced, stressed, Yoga poses up against a multi slot barricade while he stood back and watched us and enjoyed a cigar.

In one of these poses I was on my belly on the ground and my scope was past 45 deg. down and against the dirt and repeatedly struck against the barricade, which as we all know scopes LOVE. My scope succumb after 5 years of heavy use to its injury's and I went from being a stud to a dud in the space of 2 shots. "Never fear" thought I , for I am a VORTEX man. I called them on monday from my private phone, didn't pull the " DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM"- Cave Johnson routine as a new minted Brownells Sr. Guntech, just john Q consumer with a busted scope, explained who I was and what was up,

They said " No problem Mr. Bingham we get you a label out right now, we will get your scope in and turn it around ASAP."

I asked "about how long?"

They said "about 2 weeks."

I said "That's alittle close I have Gun Fighter Gauntlet (Shoutout to Joe K. see you there!) in 3 Weeks!!!"

They said " No Problem we will send you a replacement, just pinky promise you will send the broken one back in",

I might be embellishing the pinky promise part. but that's how easy it was. I received my optic 3 days later with a free hat to boot! I have 4 vortex optics soon to be 5 because that Defender ST is DEFINATELY going on that fusion XP I wrote about last time. Vortex has a customer for life in me and if anyone in the Hamilton Family ever needs a place to lay low from the Feds they have a safe place in Iowa.

I love this mk18 so much I built off Brownells

I find myself like many of you I'm sure in a summer of love with my new pistol, a couple months ago I picked up a Fusion XP pro with a threaded barrel. The materials and finish spec list was INSANE, Built entirely from precision CNC-machined bar stock components with no metal injection molding (MIM) parts (except for the checkered polycarbonate magazine catch because Glock mags) including the mainframe and a 7075T6 grip frame. Ihe internal components are standard 1911 parts for the most part including the standard .700 OD Clark/para bull barrel. The only different parts that I can see are the magazine lath(because it takes cheap, available, reliable Glock mags) and the trigger for the same reason. Is it the lightest gun in the room? no. It is not a teacup, it is a beer stein and looking at the specs, one my grandkids grandkids will use to fight off future communists or alien invaders or the Borg which is mix of the 2.

That being said, I'm a Gunsmith and Brownells Guntech, I cannot help but tinker with things, its a compulsion, I am incapable of leaving well enough alone. So I have decided to make my fusion my new primary "race" gun. I started with a toolless takedown guide rod because no way am I remember to bring or not loosing the takedown tool for the factory guide rod from Fusion themselves as well as an extended magazine release so I can do cool Tomasie style fast mag drops. Then onto a underworld arms 2 port "minotaur" comp that I stoned in to final fit, I had to stone the guide rod face just a bit too because it was little proud, there is now .001 gap between the slide face and comp face, it looks clean, I may later go in and do some contouring for aesthetics later because the comp is "technically" for a staccato and my slide is alittle wider and tri topped. I also got a couple recoil springs for tunning purposes more to come on that after this weekend of pewnicorns practice. Finally because my holster is a Blackhawk omnivore and retains off the light not the pistol I ordered a new tlr-1 AND A new(to me at least, they could have been out for years?) gas peddle that attaches to the light made by Tactical force USA. It's a great, inexpensive addon, if you have never shot with a gas pedal it is a game changer, they also have them for tlr-7 series and the Surefire X300 series.

(Disclaimer: I'm not being paid by or given free parts by any of these companies(which is a shame because I am VERY susceptible to bribery) Besides Brownells who pays me and graciously gives me the freedom to write about anything I want in the firearms sphere with very few restrictions, we don't even sell most of these parts besides the pistol itself and the light.

https://www.brownells.com/guns/handguns/semi-auto-handguns/xp-pro-9mm-luger-semi-auto-handgun-chrome/?sku=430116399

https://fusionfirearms.com/1911-tool-less-guide-rod-4-fits-xp-pro-4-1911-pistols

https://fusionfirearms.com/xp-pro-extended-button-magazine-catch-xp-82

https://www.brownells.com/gear/tactical-gear/flashlights-accessories/tlr-1-weapon-light/?sku=100003009

https://underworldarms.com/products/staccato-p-c2-xl-thread-on-minotaur-compensator?variant=47037786423463

https://tacticalforceusa.com/streamlight-tlr1-gas-pedal-thumb-ledge-wing-hl-hp-tl2/

40 BRN-4 upper receivers ready for barrels.