I put a new stock on the carbine, and added a light.

[benEzra]

My 2002 SAR-1 has been slowly evolving away from the traditional AKM look. I added a Kobra optic a few years back, and a year or so ago became interested in upgrading to more modern furniture so I could mount a light.

I took my time picking out the light as I wanted something very bright, but with good battery life. And although the little 7.62x39mm isn't a hard recoiling caliber at all, I still felt it needed to be something designed for the g-loads it would experience as a firearm mounted light.

I eventually settled on a Surefire G3 LED, which is very lightweight, remarkably bright for an LED (80 lumens, brighter than the original 6P incandescent) and offers >60 lumens for 6 hours and fainter light for another 3. The tailcap switch allows both momentary-on and twist-on, like most Surefires.

I installed a Tapco Galil style forestock with a single Picatinny rail on the left side. A little fitting of the stock to the action was required, as they make it a little oversize to ensure it's not loose. The light is mounted to the rail with a quick-detach ring from GG&G. I also installed a vintage Romanian sidefolding stock that I had lying around, to make it a little easier to carry slung without banging the stock into things; it also simplifies storage somewhat, and it matches the new forend.

The new stock and forend did require re-zeroing the optic---the different recoil dynamic seems to have pulled the POI a little to the left---but it shoots well. I've shot one IPSC style match with the new stock and it worked well. I wouldn't want to use it with a gun that recoils much, though, as the butt is narrow and would put a hurting on one's shoulder.

Here's the end result:




Closeup of the light and mount on the left side; note that the lens of the light is positioned forward of the gas vents to avoid excessive carbon fouling of the lens.




With the stock folded for storage:




And the old stock, for comparison:




I do sometimes miss the 1950's wood aesthetic (I don't generally like wooden stocked rifles, but I thought the wood did look good on this carbine), but I wanted to be able to use a light, and I did NOT want to mess up the nice wood by drilling holes in it for a Picatinny rail. The polymer is a lot less slippery on humid summer days at the range, too.

[benEzra]

1. Oops, here's the photo that didn't work:

[virginia mountainman]

2. Very Nice..

But I like mine with plain wood! But yours looks really nice!

[benEzra]

7. I do like the classic look of the wooden furniture...

but the polymer furniture is more practical. I did keep the wooden furniture just in case I decide to go back to it.

[krispos42]

3. How do you use the light in a tactical situation?

Doctrine says to use the light in brief bursts rather than leave it on continously in a tactical situation. Looks like it would be difficult to maintain a firing grip on the rifle and work the light at the same time.

[benEzra]

6. The light runs off a momentary-on push switch on the tailcap.

Touch the tailcap with your thumb, the light is on; remove your thumb, the light is off. Very easy to use. Sensitivity of the push switch can be adjusted by rotating the tailcap, so it doesn't light every time you accidentally bump it. This light was designed with firearms applications in mind.

The tailcap also incorporates a rotary switch to lock the light in the "on" position, but I don't use that with the light mounted, only when it's off the rifle.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[benEzra]

5. Keep pretending that others view guns as sexually as you do

if it makes you feel better about yourself. Personally, I don't view guns, cars, or other machines as "sexy", but to each his own, I suppose.

What I do not understand is your pseudo-Freudian sexual obsession with modern-looking rifles, when the gun violence that seems to have affected your views the most involved your own beloved wood-stocked deer rifles that you profess such affection for.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x35121

Nor do I see how mere distaste for the modern aesthetic would prompt you to flout the DU rules against flamebait, threadjack, and personal attacks. But hate is never reasonable that way, is it?

[Paladin]

8. Guess Our Honeymoon Is Over, Huh?

I put that smiley face there for a reason, Ben. Try lightening up a little. Either that, or refer the matter to the moderators. Either way, you're making me look good.....

[benEzra]

9. Hmmm.

Sexual slurs are not made friendly by the addition of smiley faces, particularly given the number of times you've tried to wield that one. But whatever floats your boat.

With regard to the rifle, it's a 20-shot .30-30 that's more reliable and durable than a Winchester 1894, with an optic and a light, for roughly the MSRP of a barebones Ruger Mini Thirty. I'm pleased with it, and I'd put it up against an M1 carbine in a USPSA match anyday.

I'll probably hit the range again this afternoon if the weather clears up, BTW. I'll try to post a range report if I do.

[Paladin]

10. It's a .30-30? For Real?

How interesting that such a venerable cartridge is being used in such a modern package. Do the rimmed cartridges feed without a problem? Nothing wrong with learning something counterintuitive, I guess......

[benEzra]

11. Ballistically, yes. The bullet doesn't care about the shape of the case.

With the 124- and 154-grain loads, it's the .30-30's ballistic twin. x39 can't match the 170-grain .30-30 loads due to its shorter case length, but with the light to middleweight bullets, it's a pretty close match, without the worries that accompany tubular magazines. (And yes, I know you're playing obtuse.)

I'm looking forward to Hornady's new 125-grain VMAX load for the x39, but it hasn't hit the market yet.