9mm AR upper
9mm AR upper
Who makes a good 7"/9" upper in 9mm?
- Frank Castle
- Silent Operator
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 8:56 pm
Re: 9mm AR upper
I decided to make my own after looking at the options. Its a fairly easy build as it has no gas tube so go as short as you want. I went with an ADCO 5" barrel as they offer them with a 1/2x28 thread unlike others. I then went with a 3 lug and added Rocksett to keep it there. Tros makes a nice 3 lug but you are committed to it and I just prefered having open options
I used a Colt 9mm upper only because it lacked the gas tube hole, and the forward assist. A 7" rail on a 5" barrel has a real nice SD look to it.
Although you didn't ask Im going to add my 2 cents in case anyone needs it. There seems to be a lot of quirks to a 9mm AR but I did my research on others failures and seemed to have gotten it right. There is no gas tube so recoil (moreso suppressed) is a little harsher on the lower, and hammer. To slow it down, I went with a HeavyBuffers.com 9Q buffer and their heavier buffer spring. Also a ramped bolt won't beat up the hammers as much but will limit some some hammer choices. I found the POF drop in trigger works well with the ramped bolt (I didn't want a dedicated 9mm hammer). I have yet to try the Giessle SD3G trigger in to see if it will like the ramped bolt but hoping it will take it. It seems to be hit or miss on feedback out there.
LOWER: There are some Glock mag dedicated lowers but I went with a standard lower and a HAHN mag (top load) conversion.
Magazines: Promag brand sucked as I assumed it would but gave one a try. I attempted to convert an UZI mag via dremel and failed. I wound up going with C products magazines and all 7 performed flawless. (Stag arms magazines are rebranded by C-products also) I did however take the advice of a forum member and lightly sanded the contact points of the followers to smooth it out prior to the first run.
The only problem I encountered with the build was the magazine catch. This I found was a common complaint. Its supposed to accept a standard AR catch but I found it wasn't angled or canted inward enough to grab onto the magazine. I could pull magazines out with a slight wiggle. The solution was to dremel a 9mm mag catch (essentially the same as an AR catch and will still function with AR Mags) but it has a small bump by the post. I took off some that metal bump off the inside portion of it, making it lean inward enough. Works great now.
PS you can choose to go with a dedicated 9mm Bolt catch for a bolt hold open feature. I am fine without it holding open.
I used a Colt 9mm upper only because it lacked the gas tube hole, and the forward assist. A 7" rail on a 5" barrel has a real nice SD look to it.
Although you didn't ask Im going to add my 2 cents in case anyone needs it. There seems to be a lot of quirks to a 9mm AR but I did my research on others failures and seemed to have gotten it right. There is no gas tube so recoil (moreso suppressed) is a little harsher on the lower, and hammer. To slow it down, I went with a HeavyBuffers.com 9Q buffer and their heavier buffer spring. Also a ramped bolt won't beat up the hammers as much but will limit some some hammer choices. I found the POF drop in trigger works well with the ramped bolt (I didn't want a dedicated 9mm hammer). I have yet to try the Giessle SD3G trigger in to see if it will like the ramped bolt but hoping it will take it. It seems to be hit or miss on feedback out there.
LOWER: There are some Glock mag dedicated lowers but I went with a standard lower and a HAHN mag (top load) conversion.
Magazines: Promag brand sucked as I assumed it would but gave one a try. I attempted to convert an UZI mag via dremel and failed. I wound up going with C products magazines and all 7 performed flawless. (Stag arms magazines are rebranded by C-products also) I did however take the advice of a forum member and lightly sanded the contact points of the followers to smooth it out prior to the first run.
The only problem I encountered with the build was the magazine catch. This I found was a common complaint. Its supposed to accept a standard AR catch but I found it wasn't angled or canted inward enough to grab onto the magazine. I could pull magazines out with a slight wiggle. The solution was to dremel a 9mm mag catch (essentially the same as an AR catch and will still function with AR Mags) but it has a small bump by the post. I took off some that metal bump off the inside portion of it, making it lean inward enough. Works great now.
PS you can choose to go with a dedicated 9mm Bolt catch for a bolt hold open feature. I am fine without it holding open.
Last edited by Frank Castle on Wed Dec 16, 2015 9:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 9mm AR upper
Wow, thanks! Lots of great info. So using a ramped bolt means you don't have to use a 9mm hammer? You can use the AR hammer already there? Thanks again for all the info. You pretty much answered all my future questions in one shot and now I can proceed with more confidence.Frank Castle wrote:I decided to make my own after looking at the options. Its a fairly easy build as it has no gas tube so go as short as you want. I went with an ADCO 5" barrel as they offer them with a 1/2x28 thread unlike others. I then went with a 3 lug and added Rocksett to keep it there. Tros makes a nice 3 lug but you are committed to it and I just prefered having open options
I used a Colt 9mm upper only because it lacked the gas tube hole, and the forward assist. A 7" rail on a 5" barrel has a real nice SD look to it.
Although you didn't ask Im going to add my 2 cents in case anyone needs it. There seems to be a lot of quirks to a 9mm AR but I did my research on others failures and seemed to have gotten it right. There is no gas tube so recoil (moreso suppressed) is a little harsher on the lower, and hammer. To slow it down, I went with a HeavyBuffers.com 9Q buffer and their heavier buffer spring. Also a ramped bolt won't beat up the hammers as much but will limit some some hammer choices. I found the POF drop in trigger works well with the ramped bolt (I didn't want a dedicated 9mm hammer). I have yet to try the Giessle SD3G trigger in to see if it will like the ramped bolt but hoping it will take it. It seems to be hit or miss on feedback out there.
LOWER: There are some Glock mag dedicated lowers but I went with a standard lower and a HAHN mag (top load) conversion.
Magazines: Promag brand sucked as I assumed it would but gave one a try. I attempted to convert an UZI mag via dremel and failed. I wound up going with C products magazines and all 7 performed flawless. (Stag arms magazines are rebranded by C-products also) I did however take the advice of a forum member and lightly sanded the contact points of the followers to smooth it out prior to the first run.
The only problem I encountered with the build was the magazine catch. This I found was a common complaint. Its supposed to accept a standard AR catch but I found it wasn't angled or canted inward enough to grab onto the magazine. I could pull magazines out with a slight wiggle. The solution was to dremel a 9mm mag catch (essentially the same as an AR catch and will still function with AR Mags) but it has a small bump by the post. I took off some that metal bump off the inside portion of it, making it lean inward enough. Works great now.
PS you can choose to go with a dedicated 9mm Bolt catch for a bolt hold open feature. I am fine without it holding open.
- Frank Castle
- Silent Operator
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 8:56 pm
Re: 9mm AR upper
Yes- a ramped bolt deletes the need for a rounded 9mm hammer but some enhanced triggers out there like a Giessle can be hit or miss with a ramped bolt. The POF drop in made by Timney works and comes with KNS trigger pins as a bonus. Forgot to mention that the non rotating hammer/trigger pins are recommended on this set up to lessen the chances of the trigger pin holes "egging out" turning oval and loose over time.
Re: 9mm AR upper
Thanks, looks like a plan for me to follow. Gonna check prices and availability.Frank Castle wrote:Yes- a ramped bolt deletes the need for a rounded 9mm hammer but some enhanced triggers out there like a Giessle can be hit or miss with a ramped bolt. The POF drop in made by Timney works and comes with KNS trigger pins as a bonus. Forgot to mention that the non rotating hammer/trigger pins are recommended on this set up to lessen the chances of the trigger pin holes "egging out" turning oval and loose over time.
-
- Silent Operator
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- Location: KS
Re: 9mm AR upper
Ok Frank I need to see pictures of this 9mm build or it never happened. Jk but I would like to see it if you don't mind.
- Frank Castle
- Silent Operator
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 8:56 pm
Re: 9mm AR upper
Last edited by Frank Castle on Wed Dec 16, 2015 9:16 pm, edited 3 times in total.
- T-Rex
- Silent But Deadly
- Posts: 1865
- Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2014 3:38 pm
- Location: CT - The AntiConstitution State
Re: 9mm AR upper
Look into DI uppers as well.
They can run quieter and cleaner than blowback.
Nice Frank!
They can run quieter and cleaner than blowback.
Nice Frank!
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Re: 9mm AR upper
T-Rex wrote:Look into DI uppers as well.
They can run quieter and cleaner than blowback.
Nice Frank!
T-Rex.....Why is there never anything in the body of your replies? It's just a sexy as hell woman and something yellow (at least I think so) past her......I seriously can't function after I see your replies. Sure hope I'm not missing any important info you have to contribute since I can't ever see any typing on your replies.
Jay
I've gotta stop this habit.
- T-Rex
- Silent But Deadly
- Posts: 1865
- Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2014 3:38 pm
- Location: CT - The AntiConstitution State
Re: 9mm AR upper
I have been told there is a car in there, but I've never found itOJB4 wrote:It's just a sexy as hell woman
Jay
Completed Builds www.silencertalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=79895
Burst Calculator www.engineersedge.com/calculators/pipe_bust_calc.htm
Silencer Porn www.instagram.com/explore/tags/silencerporn/
Burst Calculator www.engineersedge.com/calculators/pipe_bust_calc.htm
Silencer Porn www.instagram.com/explore/tags/silencerporn/
Re: 9mm AR upper
Must have been a woman that told you about the car....no man could possibly see such a thing.T-Rex wrote:I have been told there is a car in there, but I've never found itOJB4 wrote:It's just a sexy as hell woman
Jay
I've gotta stop this habit.