AR9 build: Colt/Uzi or Glock mag

[awp_101]

Doing a thought exercise on a potential AR9 “pistol” build and debating the merits of a Glock mag vs a Colt/Uzi mag setup. I’d be using an extra 5.56 receiver with a mag adapter and a standard upper receiver. Planned use would just be range fun, not a work gun or anything close to serious gaming.

Looking at various vendors it looks like the Colt-style adapter is less expensive than the Stern Defense Glock adapter. Glock mags are less expensive plus they’re easier to find locally and online but the steel mags should theoretically have a longevity advantage. I’m not sure if the Colt-style mags have an advantage in feeding since they run straight up and down vs Glock mags needing to be at the proper angle. Bolt prices seem to be a wash.

Thoughts based just off the above choices?

Thanks!

[ranger]

I have both - an early PSA kit using the mag adapter and the Colt style mags and a more recent PSA version using the Glock mags. I prefer the mag adapter with the Colt style mags as 1) bolt locks back and 2) the mag adapter/Colt style mag is more traditional (to me) vertical orientation. My PSA using the Glock mags does not lock back on empty and has an angled mag orientation. In general, the Glock mags or clones (ETS) are readily available. Both style AR9s work well for me as training "carbines" on pistol bays with pistol steel. I actually prefer my MPX SBR but that is MUCH more money.

46501


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[CleverNickname]

I have both, an SBR on a Colt-style DDLES 9mm lower and a Stern Glock mag adapter in a 5.56mm lower. If I had to pick, I'd go with Glock mags. Initially I had some trouble finding reliable Colt-style mags, but I finally found some Metalforms that are reliable. I don't know if you own any Glock handguns, but if you do, then it's a no-brainer. Also, with Colt mags, I found that repeated attempts to rapidly insert the mags into the magwell (shooting USPSA PCC) really dinged up my DDLES lower's magwell over time, even with a polymer magwell installed on the lower. I don't see that happening with Glock mags, but even then, you can get a enlarged polymer magwell for the Stern that covers pretty much the whole bottom of the lower's magwell. The Stern mag release does take a little getting used to, but since you're not using it for anything other than a range gun, I don't think that it'd be a big deal.

Either way, consider getting a CMMG Guard radial-delayed blowback upper. It lowers the recoil better than anything else I've tried. You have to remove the fixed ejector and the feedramp from the Stern adapter, and modify the magazine release on the 5.56mm lower so the adapter will sit slightly lower in the magwell. But that only takes 10-15 minutes, and then the adapter will work with a Guard upper. Supposedly it will work with some Colt-style lowers too, though I haven't tried it.

[John Hearne]

Adapter, we don't need no stinking adapter:

https://www.meanarms.com/products/detail/endomag-9mm

I bought some when they were released. Took a little hand fitting to make work. Ran them to get guns zeroed and do a quick test but haven't run them hard, yet.

[awp_101]

ranger and CleverNickname, thanks for the feedback! I just might end up eventually getting both versions to fiddle with. I found Metalform mags running $23-$29 and Glock mags $25-$36 so the cost difference is less than I expected.


Adapter, we don't need no stinking adapter:

https://www.meanarms.com/products/detail/endomag-9mm

I bought some when they were released. Took a little hand fitting to make work. Ran them to get guns zeroed and do a quick test but haven't run them hard, yet.

Thanks, I had totally forgotten about those! Where was the hand fitting necessary? To get them into the mag body or to feed properly?

[John Hearne]

Thanks, I had totally forgotten about those! Where was the hand fitting necessary? To get them into the mag body or to feed properly?

The ejector is built into the magazine and some dragged excessively on the bolt. I tried fitting to three different uppers and each one interfaced a little differently. My goal was to get them to run just enough to let natural wear occur.

[awp_101]

The ejector is built into the magazine and some dragged excessively on the bolt. I tried fitting to three different uppers and each one interfaced a little differently. My goal was to get them to run just enough to let natural wear occur.

Thanks, I'll add them to my list to try.

[rdtompki]

Best of both worlds might be a CMMG RDB upper and a 5.56 lower. The ejector is built into the upper so you could use the CMMG-specific Mean Arms magazines. I built a lightweight 9mm upper for steel challenge using a 5.56 lower; the Means Arms Endomags do the job, but not being able to eject a round (or fired case) without having an empty mag inserted is a small pain. If you go with Endomags you definitely want to follow the break-in (5.56 versions only) otherwise you could break the ejector trashing the mag inserts. I'm considering going to a Stern Defense adapter since I already have 9mm glock mags.

[mmc45414]

I have a CMMG Colt style lower and have been happy. If I had a Glock I would probably have a Glock mag lower.

If this is just a fun gun several friends have PSA guns that run for fun. And it seems like you can get their lowers for about what a mag well converter costs.

Also I think only the nicer pistol mag lowers have a bolt hold open?

And I have had good luck with the Brownells mags. Some of the others (plastic followers) feed ok but do not lock open.

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[awp_101]

I'm keeping a G19 as my TEOTWAWKI pistol (the only things left will be roaches, slant-six engines and Glocks, right?) so I do have a few Glock mags on hand but not enough to make it a huge logistical issue if I go with the Colt style. The impression I'm getting is all three choices are acceptable, just vet the mags.

I thought about a dedicated Glock mag lower but one of the things I'm considering is SBRing one lower and running 9mm or 5.56 as the mood hits. A dedicated pistol mag lower makes that difficult.

[CleverNickname]

I thought about a dedicated Glock mag lower but one of the things I'm considering is SBRing one lower and running 9mm or 5.56 as the mood hits. A dedicated pistol mag lower makes that difficult.

But then you have a lower with two uppers, and it's not a lot more money to just get a second lower and SBR it to have two complete guns.

[jandbj]

I thought about a dedicated Glock mag lower but one of the things I'm considering is SBRing one lower and running 9mm or 5.56 as the mood hits. A dedicated pistol mag lower makes that difficult.

I have a Glock mag pistol lower and a 5.56 SBR... mean arms let’s me run the 9mm pistol upper on the SBR lower. All is sweetness and light. If I did it again, I’d go colt mag pistol lower. The insertion angle of the Glock mags just feels odd to me. A small quibble, but a quibble none the less.

You could also get a stern defense magblock to use Glock mags in the 5.56 lower... mean arms endo mags really are the easy button solution.

[JRB]

Having the privilege of owning a transferable UZI, I've come to heavily respect and trust the reliability of the UZI magazine. I believe Colt was very smart to adapt the UZI mag for their 9mm AR's, and I'd do the same were I building a 9mm AR.
The only possible exception would be the New Frontier 9mm lowers that take MP5 magazines, but the HK mags are a tad spendy.

[mmc45414]

Having the privilege of owning a transferable UZI, I've come to heavily respect and trust the reliability of the UZI magazine. I believe Colt was very smart to adapt the UZI mag for their 9mm AR's
I had forgotten that was the origins of the magazine. I think I am going to start referring to mine as "Uzi Style" instead of "Colt Style" :cool:

[Screwball]

When I get another AR pistol, which will be 9mm, it will take Glock magazines. Main reason is we are switching to a 9mm Glock duty gun.

I don’t have any direct experience with a Colt 9mm magazine setup, but I do with a Macon Armory .45 magazine. I tend to run ambidextrous magazine releases out of all of my ARs... and had to swap a standard one into it after switching magazines (I put one in after ordering the new magazines, as my old setup used H&K USC magazines). Ambidextrous magazine release wouldn’t securely catch the magazine, as the adapter reduces the amount of the release tab that catches the magazine. Really sucks as removing the magazine with my left hand really was comfortable... and I do it with my 5.56mm magazines.

Might be a moot point, as I would be stuck changing the controls with a Glock magazine, but just something to consider if you are looking for control similarities. I have heard mixed reviews on Colt magazine reliability... Glock magazines are Glock magazines (everything but 10s are good to go). Aftermarket Glock magazines... depends on which brand.

[CleverNickname]

I had forgotten that was the origins of the magazine. I think I am going to start referring to mine as "Uzi Style" instead of "Colt Style" :cool:

Well, it's the origins, but there are differences. Colt-style mags have a tab at the back of the follower which activates the bolt hold-open, and the mag bodies themselves are shaped slightly differently on the rear to accomodate that tab. Also, the mag catch slot is in a different place. You can cut an additional mag catch slot in Uzi mags and get them to work in 9mm ARs, but you'll still be missing out on the bolt hold-open.

[awp_101]

Digging around for inspiration reminded me of the DOE SMGs.

46691

.300BLK built in the DOE style
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Either would make a nice pistol package...

[awp_101]

The big PDW thread has me thinking on this project again. For a Colt mag setup which is the smarter play for a budget build, removable conversion block, fixed conversion block or dedicated lower? If a dedicated lower is the better plan, complete PSA or stripped CMMG?

Remember, this is a budget build for funsies not something to drive the ISIS 5th BDE (Dismounted) off my lawn.

[jandbj]

The big PDW thread has me thinking on this project again. For a Colt mag setup which is the smarter play for a budget build, removable conversion block, fixed conversion block or dedicated lower? If a dedicated lower is the better plan, complete PSA or stripped CMMG?

Remember, this is a budget build for funnies not something to drive the ISIS 5th BDE (Dismounted) off my lawn.

5.56 Lower you already own with endomags. I sold my Glock mag pistol lower and just use a Colt A1 upper chopped to 10ish” and threaded 1/2x28 on my SBR lower. Great with and without a can. No funky insertion angle for mags. I got 3 of the endomag inserts and run them in odd colored pmags. Works well enough for my range toy usage.

[awp_101]

I've already got 2 Endomag kits and 2 new PMags to convert, just haven't done it yet. It looks like I'm about to get out of the Glock game altogether except for my Ruger PCC so I'm looking harder at the Colt mag options to go along with the Endomags.

[jandbj]

https://www.deltateamtactical.com/ProMag-AR15M16-9MM-Magazine-Quick-Change-Adapter-Block_p_10292.html

These reportedly aren’t as crappy as most promag stuff. No personal experience but a few folks I know run them with no complaints. The Hahn ones are the pinnacle of quality but also cost 3x as much. I have a buddy that runs a Hahn with his M16 and it’s absolutely perfect.

For glock mag host, I’ve taken a step on the oddball side and pre-ordered a recover tactical brace thingy to use with a G19 with a red dot. It’s presently inbound from Israel.

[mmc45414]

For a Colt mag setup which is the smarter play for a budget build, removable conversion block, fixed conversion block or dedicated lower? If a dedicated lower is the better plan, complete PSA or stripped CMMG?
I have a CMMG that I bought as a complete lower. Came upon it during a prior frenzy and it was laying in the case because PCC wasn't cool yet. I had to "tune" (bend...) the ejector but since it has just rocked.

One consideration is last round bolt hold open. If you buy one of the inserts that does you have spent half what a lower cost (not checked current prices).

Also, the Brownells mags have been great and they are very nice.



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[Dennis]

I am fully dedicated to 9mm Glock so I bought a Stern Defense adapter and it functions 100% with OEM mags. Magpul mags don't always seat well and my early ETS mags not at all. My main issue is that the inner workings of the adapter sorta get in the way of quick/imperfect mag changes. If you try and slam a mag home not perfectly lined up it can catch on something. Relatively minor for a fun gun but makes me sad when the adapter is so beautifully made.

After a year I switched to a Hahn Colt mag adapter which also works great and I can slam mags at odd angles all day long. I already had a Colt Sporter 9mm and lots of mags so it was an easy choice. As an 80's kid the mags look cooler too!

I also have a QC10 dedicated Glock lower on a carbine that works just fine other than the spotty LRBHO.

Hope this helps!

Dennis.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200402/012d78d1587896a43e6d3fdd48a127f0.jpg

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[rob_s]

I owned a factory Colt 9mm AR that I sold many years ago, and I still have a “factory” Anvil Arms SBR lower with a mag block for Colt mags that I’ve had for at least 10-15 years from a time when things were different.

If I were starting from scratch today, and assuming I was already a Glock shooter (I am), and particularly if my handguns were almost strictly Glocks (mine are), I would look for one of the dedicated lowers that takes Glock mags without any sort of block.

I can’t speak to the quality/reliability of these things, but I would prefer not to have to buy a whole new slew of mags, pouches, etc. I already have Colt mags coming out of my ears so I’m not starting over fresh today.

One example I am aware of with non-blocked Glock maxwells...

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-9mm-billet-complete-glockc-style-magazine-pistol-moe-lower-blk.html

[mmc45414]

I have a CMMG that I bought as a complete lower.
I should also mention that I like mine, but several friends have 9mm PSA stuff and it seems fine for your use.

Were you talking Pistol/PDW or carbine?

[Dave J]

FWIW, and just as a single data point, I have a fairly recent production Colt-style CMMG that runs reliably with every magazine brand I’ve tested, including ASC, Brownells, Mecgar, Promag, and C-products. Genuine Colt mags are out of my price range, although AFAIK they’re rebranded Mecgars. I’m inherently suspicious of both Pro-mag and C-products, but they both run fine in my gun. IIRC, the springs on the C-product mags seemed to be a little weaker than the other brands, so I’d rank them at the bottom of the pack. That’s really the only deficiency I can find in any of them. ASC’s can be had from Primary Arms for about $15 each, which I think is a great deal, and negated any cost advantage of Glock magazines for me.

I really wanted AR-style manual of arms, to get carbine reps in when I couldn’t shoot 5.56, so that ruled out many of the Glock mag options. I also felt like using a dedicated lower might help eliminate potential variability in the mag block location. If I was less concerned with the manual of arms, I’d have looked a lot harder at dedicated Glock lowers, but so far I’m really happy with the CMMG gun. Sample size of one, so take it for what it’s worth.

[orionz06]

Limited round count through it, but knowing the people behind Lone Star Armory (https://www.lonestararmory.us/product-category/firearms/tx9-rifle-series/) and the work they did and what the guns did before they released them made their Glock mag PCC/PCP an easy choice.

[awp_101]

Were you talking Pistol/PDW or carbine?
Pistol/PDW. I've already got a QC10 10.5" barrel mocked up with a 10" (IIRC) rail and a Stern Defense bolt. Right now I'm giving serious thought to a Colt mag conversion so I can use the Endos or Colt-style mags but that's entirely subject to change on what I've talked myself into when I'm done rolling pennies.

[mmc45414]

Pistol/PDW.
As long as you are not talking SBR you could dabble with both.

I would lean Colt since you do not have Glock pistols, but one drawback is good Colt style mags that are not 32rnd, rather long for the PDW idea. 21rnd Magpuls might be good for the AR and Ruger.


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[RevolverRob]

Hahn Precision dedicated block is what I would and have used. I'm on my third conversion this way, uses the superior stock AR15 bolt catch. It's not complex, if you can remove a bolt catch on an AR15, you can install and remove the block in as long as it takes you to remove the catch and reinstall it.

Paired with Hahn's sub-caliber heavy buffer, I've literally never had a problem feeding my guns from steel-bodied Colt-mags; Metalforms, ASCs, or C-Products all work fine. Sometimes the C-Products or ASCs stick a little on insertion, but usually just need some of the finish removed from the mags (whatever they use is a thick bake-on thing). Feed, function, lock-back, and drop-free all work, 10s, 20s, and 32s all work.

Guns feed all normal weights of ball and JHPs in normal weights, no problem.

My most recent one is New Frontier Lower, Rock River Upper, Hahn Dedicated Block and Sub-Caliber Buffer, CMMG trigger is currently sitting next to the bed loaded with 30-rounds of 115-grain +P XTPs.

51193

[awp_101]

OK, at this point the only advantage a Glock mag lower gets me is a steady supply of cheap-ish mags and but it's duplicated by the Ruger. RevolverRob I've never messed with the Hahn, does the bolt catch have to come out for installation? Not a big deal if it does, I've just never seen it mentioned that I recall. I think I need to hit Brownells and see what they've got...


As an 80's kid the mags look cooler too!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200402/012d78d1587896a43e6d3fdd48a127f0.jpg




51193

As a child of the 80's myself, I approve of these images. I always thought the suppressed Uzi from Cloak and Dagger was hot hot hot too:


https://youtu.be/AOh4PeDIkWs

[Dennis]

...

I've never messed with the Hahn, does the bolt catch have to come out for installation? Not a big deal if it does, I've just never seen it mentioned that I recall. I think I need to hit Brownells and see what they've got...


I would rather have a suppressed .380 that makes bad guys tumble end over end!

There are bottom and top Hahn adapters. The top install is more "secure" but you need to remove the bolt catch to install and no LRBHO. The bottom can just be pushed in from the bottom and is secured with a nut/bearing but you get LRBHO.

Choices...

Dennis.



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[RevolverRob]

OK, at this point the only advantage a Glock mag lower gets me is a steady supply of cheap-ish mags and but it's duplicated by the Ruger. RevolverRob I've never messed with the Hahn, does the bolt catch have to come out for installation? Not a big deal if it does, I've just never seen it mentioned that I recall. I think I need to hit Brownells and see what they've got...





As a child of the 80's myself, I approve of these images. I always thought the suppressed Uzi from Cloak and Dagger was hot hot hot too:


https://youtu.be/AOh4PeDIkWs

Hahn makes three different blocks - bottom load, top load, and dedicated. The top and bottom load blocks are like the Promag or old Spike’s blocks. They use set screws (bottom) and friction (top) to secure the magazine block in place.

The bottom insert type usually locks the bolt back without any further changes, but may be more mag finicky. You also may have to adjust the tension regularly or the block and mag will wiggle. It’s ideal if your lower isn’t dedicated. You insert the block into the mag well, tighten the tension screws and in theory you’re ready to go. In practice they usually take more fine tuning. The top-load block basically just fits into the magwell from the top of the receiver and uses a 9mm-specific bolt catch, if you want bolt hold open. If you don’t care about bolt hold open, then you won’t need the catch. The “top load” is basically as close to the original Colt SMG pattern as you get outside of Colt parts. Remember the Colt SMG is an open-bolt gun, so I think Colt didn’t bother with a bolt hold open in the initial design. The standard manual of arms with open bolt guns is, “If the bolt is forward the gun is safe and/or empty.”

That said the dedicated block is the better choice, in my opinion, because you don’t need a 9mm bolt catch. But yes, you do have to remove the standard bolt catch, fit the block, then reinstall the bolt catch. Basically it’s for if you have a “dedicated” lower to being 9mm converted. I kinda view the bottom and top load blocks as vestiges of a by-gone era. These days with so many cheap and plentiful lowers, it seems unlikely you do not want to just dedicate one to the caliber.

[RevolverRob]

I would rather have a suppressed .380 that makes bad guys tumble end over end!

There are bottom and top Hahn adapters. The top install is more "secure" but you need to remove the bolt catch to install and no LRBHO. The bottom can just be pushed in from the bottom and is secured with a nut/bearing but you get LRBHO.

Choices...

Dennis.



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That’s why the “dedicated” is the best. More secure, last round bolt hold open, no specific parts needed (the top can give your LRBHO, but only with the “9mm” bolt catch).

[Dennis]

That’s why the “dedicated” is the best. More secure, last round bolt hold open, no specific parts needed (the top can give your LRBHO, but only with the “9mm” bolt catch).Unfortunately my ability to buy new lowers are limited given my location. Luckily I have a Colt Sporter 9mm already but just a couple "pistol" lowers... Although if I lived somewhere free I may have like 100 lowers!

Dennis.



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[CleverNickname]

In my experience, a dedicated mag block is a pain to install and remove. So if you can't easily change from 9mm to 5.56mm (or whatever), why not just get a dedicated 9mm lower instead?

e: n/m answered my question while I was posting.

[Dennis]

In my experience, a dedicated mag block is a pain to install and remove. So if you can't easily change from 9mm to 5.56mm (or whatever), why not just get a dedicated 9mm lower instead?

e: n/m answered my question while I was posting.If you can buy whatever you want then definitely dedicated. More toys better!

Dennis.


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[RevolverRob]

In my experience, a dedicated mag block is a pain to install and remove. So if you can't easily change from 9mm to 5.56mm (or whatever), why not just get a dedicated 9mm lower instead?

e: n/m answered my question while I was posting.

These days this is probably the most right answer if you want colt-pattern: https://www.primaryarms.com/cmmg-ar9-dedicated-9mm-lower-receiver

Correction: I got it wrong - the original Colt design was a closed bolt gun. Why the hell did Colt redesign the bolt catch?

I would probably opt for the top-load block if I only had one lower. You’re still going to have to remove the 9mm upper to fit a 5.56. You don’t get last round bolt hold open this way, but it’s probably a better trade than the tension setups of the bottom-load blocks. I like Hahn Precision parts, but I’ve never seen a bottom-load block not need to be tuned and retuned when removed and reinstalled.

[TGS]

The popularity of AR9s tickles me a little. When we had finally ditched our Colt SMGs completely as an agency a few years ago, I'm pretty sure it was just us and NY DOC ESU using them.

They were universally loathed. They broke down constantly. We loaned a bunch to another federal agency's protective team after an active shooter incident revealed they had a substantial lack of long guns (their primary being the MP5), and they opened the crates, checked'em out for 5 minutes and put them back in the crates as a last ditch resort and decided to simply go short handed until more MP5s were transferred in.

It's not a weapons system I think I'll ever get the itch to buy, even for nostalgia reasons.


Correction: I got it wrong - the original Colt design was a closed bolt gun. Why the hell did Colt redesign the bolt catch?


I'm not sure I follow, but were you saying that Colt SMGs don't have bolt hold opens or was I reading something incorrectly? Our Colt SMGs most certainly had bolt hold opens.

[awp_101]

For my wants/needs/purposes a drop in will fit the bill just fine. Brownells has top loads from Hahn as well as their own branded version with a 32 round mag. If I add the same mag to the Hahn it's less than $2 difference.


Why the hell did Colt (fill in the blank)
That could be the first sentence in every chapter of a book on Colt history.

[awp_101]

It's not a weapons system I think I'll ever get the itch to buy, even for nostalgia reasons.
I get it. I carried an M16A2 and an M4 in the late-90s and early-00s but I have no burning desire to replicate either one. If I have anything that's similar in style, it's a coincidence and not anything done out of nostalgia. Do you think you would have a different opinion if you'd had more positive experiences with them?

This build and getting quality parts into my "good" carbine are the priorities on my AR to-do list. They are also probably the only things on that list that stand a realistic chance of getting done despite all my ohhing and ahhing over and want of an AR45, something in .450 Bushmaster and a 6.5 Grendel.

[RevolverRob]

I'm not sure I follow, but were you saying that Colt SMGs don't have bolt hold opens or was I reading something incorrectly? Our Colt SMGs most certainly had bolt hold opens.

Read a wrong, but I didn't explain it well - Sorry two fold problem:

1) I thought the Colt SMG was an open bolt design originally, and the closed bolt was just the semi-auto version. Most open bolt SMGs don't lock back on empty, so it's just kind of superfluous to have one that does. I had been told in the past Colt added the bolt catch later, per some agency request. In other words, I thought the odd 9mm-specific bolt catch was a later addition, because the original design really didn't need one.

2) It turns out it is a closed bolt design, period. Which means, instead of making a magazine block design that uses the original AR15/M16 bolt catch, Colt opted to make a modified 9mm-specific bolt catch. And why they did it that way is anyone's guess. Particularly when we have modern magazine blocks that do not require the 9mm catch, it's not a difficult machining problem, I'm sure Colt could figure it out.

I suppose it could still be that it wasn't part of the original specs and was added later.

__

And yea, the AR9/Colt SMG definitely isn't an MP5 or Sterling or Swedish K, or I guess APC9...It's more like a Grease Gun or Uzi...something made as a stop gap because reasons. But they are fun when they work and can be made to work. But like most blow-back guns, they need lots of mass behind the bolt, lots of lube, and usually heavier/hotter ammo.

I will never forget the first time I shot an Uzi. I had a major love affair with Uzis as a kid. And someone handed me a transferable Vector on the range and a mag. So, I brought it up to my shoulder and started shooting. Good god...what a pile of unergonomic shit. Grip forces the gun way up, cheek weld? Only if you've got a neck like a brontosaur. The grip safety...it seems to require only 4-tons of grip pressure to deactivate. Also, whoever thought it was a good idea to not let you work the bolt without gripping the grip safety, dumb, makes manipulations difficult. And that sliding safety? Detents are weird, sometimes it clicks, sometimes it doesn't. Then there is the mag release...

And I remember my heart breaking a bit, kind of like meeting your hero.

Anyways, when I was done with that mag, I gave it back, picked up a Lage Upper equipped Mac and got back to having fun. :eek:

[TGS]

Do you think you would have a different opinion if you'd had more positive experiences with them?

100%. I have a near mockup of our Mk18s from work sitting next to me right now just because I love'em so much.

I imagine if we had MP5s general issue, I'd probably have an MP5 too.

[TGS]

I will never forget the first time I shot an Uzi. I had a major love affair with Uzis as a kid. And someone handed me a transferable Vector on the range and a mag. So, I brought it up to my shoulder and started shooting. Good god...what a pile of unergonomic shit. Grip forces the gun way up, cheek weld? Only if you've got a neck like a brontosaur. The grip safety...it seems to require only 4-tons of grip pressure to deactivate. Also, whoever thought it was a good idea to not let you work the bolt without gripping the grip safety, dumb, makes manipulations difficult. And that sliding safety? Detents are weird, sometimes it clicks, sometimes it doesn't. Then there is the mag release...

And I remember my heart breaking a bit, kind of like meeting your hero.

Anyways, when I was done with that mag, I gave it back, picked up a Lage Upper equipped Mac and got back to having fun. :eek:

Enough! The Uzi holds a dear spot with our older agents. It was a matter of betrayal when Uzis were taken from service and replaced with Colt SMGs. From the days of porn 'staches and fros:
51229

51230

[Dennis]

And I remember my heart breaking a bit, kind of like meeting your hero.

Anyways, when I was done with that mag, I gave it back, picked up a Lage Upper equipped Mac and got back to having fun. :eek:

Ok this is going to take awhile but I promise to come back OT...

During the last last scare, on principle, I got a MPA 9mm MAC type that ended up more or less as I expected. Horrible sights but a stock/brace would make it fun.

Then during the last scare I got a semi Vector UZI. Looks awesome but I ran into every meeting-your-extremely-flawed-hero issue that RevolverRob so eloquently laid out. The clunky semi fire control system only makes it worse. Makes the MPA seem like fine machinery in comparison...

Of course I also needed an MP5 before the last ban so I got a reverse stretch POF MP5K. Even though I had fun shooting MP5s in the past, when I started putting more rounds downrange I ended up not liking the "rolling" recoil impulse.

Just for the heck of it I got a couple Scorpion EVOs as well. Not bad. A little bulky with a mediocre trigger but runs 100%.

I also built the aforementioned QC10 dedicated Glock into a carbine with a Faxon 16", Brownells BCG, HeavyBuffer, and a SSA trigger. AR inline recoil, slim lines, and a G trigger makes for a quick firing and pointing 9mm carbine. In the end it's my favorite fun 9mm long gun.

See I brought it back on topic!

Dennis.


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[Duelist]

But then you have a lower with two uppers, and it's not a lot more money to just get a second lower and SBR it to have two complete guns.

That’s how it starts. Now I don’t even know how many I really have. I found a stripped lower I forgot buying the other day.

[awp_101]

So after lots of detours, delays and quite possibly forgetting about this project (:rolleyes:), I ordered the Hahn top loading block and 3 Brownells Colt mags a couple of weeks ago.

I installed it last week and promptly found out a standard 5.56 mag catch doesn’t have enough reach to lock the mags into the lower. I ordered a 9mm mag catch from RRA last Friday and it arrived today. Not bad at all considering there was a holiday in there.

Anyway, the new mag catch solved the problem and I ended up with this:
76910

There’s also a CMMG MK9 lower on the way so there’s probably a carbine in my future as well...:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Sanch]

For those using Glock mags with AR lowers, is there a polymer mag release button that can be used? Similar to how the Shield Glock mags suggest not using their steel mag release with factory polymer mags again.