I shipped the barrel for the "Texas Jungle" carbine off to Tulsa, Oklahoma on the 2nd of July
for a chop, thread and crown job. Above is a pic I got in email from Jim of
PCS Inc.
Judging from that pic (and pics below), they did an OUTSTANDING job for me. Notice that the
cut-off portion still has the original muzzle device attached. I requested Jim send that portion
back to me so I can take my frustrations out on it for not coming off before it was shipped to
them for this service. A lack of $$$ to purchase the tools to do it properly may keep me from
tackling the cut, thread and crown tasks, but I refuse to let a decade or two of caked on grease
and/or corrosion from removing a pesky muzzle thingy. The ONLY reason it wasn't removed beforehand,
was because I was afraid of damaging the barrel or gasblock.
Jim also sent me the pics above to get a glimpse of the process the barrel went through. The image above
left shows the barrel after being cut to 16.25" and threaded 9/16"X24 LH. A thread guide that Jim manufactures
in house out of brass to save wear and tear on the threading die and barrel's bore, is still attached in that
image. The guide is sized a few thousandths smaller than the diameter of the barrel and a tight fit so that
the threading die has no choice but to start on the barrel straight. Image at top right shows my US made
muzzle brake screwed onto the barrel while still chucked up in the lathe to ensure everything was kosher before
crowning. Bottom left image shows the barrel ready to be crowned after the muzzle end was trued square with the
bore. An 11° crown was cut then lapped (bottom right image) with clover grinding compound. The barrel was shipped
back to me on the 10th of July and arrived here on the 12th.
Above is a pic of the barrel that is now back in my possession. Note the smooth muzzle face and
well defined crown. Threads are sharp and even, enabling the muzzle device to screw onto the
barrel effortlessly and index pretty damn close to the end of it's threads. I'm TOTALLY
satisfied with the workmanship and attention to detail. Total turnaround time (including
shipping to and fro) was 10 days!!! Talk about first rate service,
PCS
Inc. has got it!! I HIGHLY recommend them. Thanks Jim!!
Parts & Tools Inventory
Pic above is of 20 dummy rounds that I received on the 26th of June from a fellow FAL Filer...
Pa. Patriot constructed these using Portugese and South African surplus brass w/spent primers
that were resized and loaded (sans powder) to 7.62 spec using pulled surplus M80 147gr FMJ
bullets followed by a heavy Lee factory crimp. All Pa. Patriot wanted for his time, effort and
components was the cost of shipping!! I'll be marking these with a permanent marker (Sharpie) so
that these rounds won't be mistaken as "live" rounds. I can't thank you enough Rich!!!
My Imbel "Gear Logo" upper receiver arrived at my FFL dealer from The Dealer Warehouse on
the 8th of July. They have no website at this time, but do advertise in the thrice-monthly
published Shotgun
News. They are located at 4813 Enterprise Way Unit K. - Modesto, California 95356 -
Phone: (209)545-2800 - Fax: (209)545-2528. As promised, the pics above were taken soon
after it was picked up and in my greedy hands. =) Only minor touchup in photoshop was done
to the serial# area to hide it's identity.
A few of the parts and tools that were ordered for the "Texas Jungle" Carbine project on the
2nd of July, started trickling in on the 6th and 9th of July. Starting from top left going
clockwise: A FN/FAL upper receiver wrench from HellsEngineer and Clymer go/no-go gages - Fusion
silver solder paste from Brownells (Top Right) arrived on the 6th. A used (looks new) Steyr buttstock
w/buttpad - Steyr combo wrench - extractor tool and broken shell extractor (bottom) from
DSA arrived on the 9th.
Most of the remaining parts (Except for the "Para Type" rear sight) for the "Texas Jungle"
Carbine project came in on the 12th of July. Above is a pic of the 7 US parts that will be
used to comply with the applicable laws governing semi-auto conversions of imported select
fire parts kits. First Son Enterprise's (FSE) hammer/trigger/sear, gas piston and folding
cocking handle were acquired from Moses, taking advantage of his recent "group buy" deal. The
final two parts (muzzle device and pistol grip) were acquired from
Dan's Sporting
Goods in the same shipment as the Imbel parts kit way back in the beginning of the project.
Inset pic shows the "USA" marking found on all of the FSE parts. I have enough parts on hand
now to resume building. First on the list is to "Assemble the Lower Receiver".
Shoot Safe!!!
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I shipped the barrel for the "Texas Jungle" carbine off to Tulsa, Oklahoma on the 2nd of July for a chop, thread and crown job. Above is a pic I got in email from Jim of PCS Inc. Judging from that pic (and pics below), they did an OUTSTANDING job for me. Notice that the cut-off portion still has the original muzzle device attached. I requested Jim send that portion back to me so I can take my frustrations out on it for not coming off before it was shipped to them for this service. A lack of $$$ to purchase the tools to do it properly may keep me from tackling the cut, thread and crown tasks, but I refuse to let a decade or two of caked on grease and/or corrosion from removing a pesky muzzle thingy. The ONLY reason it wasn't removed beforehand, was because I was afraid of damaging the barrel or gasblock.
