I built a FDE carbine with a lightweight DTI barrel that I got from JSE Surplus. I brought it to work to test fire it and my friend fell in love with it and couldn't live without it.
So I had to build another one.
I had a stainless barrel sitting around and put this one together. Another friend ended up getting it from me.
One evening I saw that Jo Bob Outfitters had lightweight Bootleg uppers on sale so I bought two. I placed an order for a lightweight DTI barrel with a carbine gas system from JSE Surplus, but was shipped a barrel with a Mid-length gas system. I liked the barrel but I needed a correct gas tube and handguard. I called JSE and the lady I spoke to said that she was very sorry for the mix up. I told her that I really liked the barrel but needed the other parts. She took my order and in two days I had the parts.
I was very happy with the way this rifle turned out, but then a friend showed up the day after I finished the build. Guess what happened to the rifle?
Well I really wanted my lightweight carbine and told myself that I would build one and this time not let slip out of my hands. So on November the 24th of last year I ordered a new lower with a Spartan helmet engraved on it. A few weeks and the lower still wasn't at the shop. After tracking it we found it at the shops 2nd location in another city. That took a little tine to get straight and arrived at my dealers shop two or three days before Christmas. I took it out of the box and discovered that it was damaged. One side where the pivot pin goes has some very small cracks. I got on the phone and got a hold of April at TN Arms. I just have to say that she is a sweetheart. She sent a return shipping label and said that she would get a replacement shipped out.
Well, about two weeks passed and no lower. I was about to call TN Arms when a nice lady called. She advised that she worked for TN Arms and had my lower but didn't know what to do with it. I told her that it was sent back for a replacement. She said she would have one shipped out the next day.
Can you guess what happen next?
Another week or two went by and still no lower.
I called and was told that they did not have a current copy of my dealers FFL. After this was cleared up the lower showed up. It's February now.
I wanted to do this build in FDE. The only bad thing with FDE is that everyone's FDE is a different shade, But I can live with that.
I ordered the Mission First Tactical Battlelink Minimalist Stock in FDE and when it came in the color was almost flesh, so I sent it back and got the Scorched Dark Earth color. Much better.
I called DTI and asked if I could order the lightweight Mid-length barrel but with the round handguard cap installed. I was told yes, I placed the order.
The barrel arrived a week later and guess what? It had a triangle handguard cap instaled. But there was a round handguard cap, in a plastic bag, in the box. I called and talked to the same person. She told me to ship the barrel back and she would have it corrected. I told her that with my luck with this build that it may be six months before the barrel got back to me and that I would replace the cap myself. At this point I am really happy.
I wanted a lightweight black nitride BCG from AIM but they had been out for a while. so I ordered the NIB one.
I also ordered a set of 2A Armament titanium take down pins for the build.
Now it's time to build the rifle. I had all the parts. What could go wrong now?
Something was out of spec.
Even the standard Mil-spec pin didn't fit right.
I called TN Arms and they asked for pics. I sent them and called the next day. The young lady put me on the phone with someone I will not name. I tried to explain to him what the problem was and he told me that he was going to send my one of their standard Mil-spec pins and that would fix my problem. I told him that I had plenty of Mil-spec pins but wanted to use the 2A titanium. He told me there wasn't much differences in the weight and would send me a new pin. I tried to talk to him but he just kept telling me" THIS IS YOU PROBLEM AND THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO". I told him to go ahead and send the pin.
I called 2A and talked to John. John said that he would ship me a new set. I asked if he wanted my set back. He said yes if I didn't mind shipping them. In a few days I had a package from John with two sets of take down pins. One for a AR15 the other for an AR10. Great! Now I have to build an AR10. Thanks John.
Now, you remember the mil-spec pin that the un-named guy was going to send? Two weeks later and still no pin.
I called TN Arms and thank God an angel answered the phone. It was April. We talked and I told her that the un-named guy really pissed me off. She said that he was not allowed to talk to customers anymore and that they had already taken his phone out of his office.
I shipped the lower back last Monday and got the replacement on Friday. April is a sweetheart.
It took almost 4 months, but I finished the build. I did build two other rifles for myself during this time.
Guess what happened when I shot it? It runs like a dream.
Oh! That's George between the diamond knots.
I'm not going to let anyone talk me out of this rifle, build your own.
