Poor Mans M4 Clone

[@easonridge5961]

This isn’t anything like a military issue rifle. Drag it down a dirt road behind your truck, then it’ll be more accurate.

[@CalebDowning]

Haha, I hear ya 😂

[@green2blue309]

I built an M4 clone much like yours, because I wanted a rifle that was as close to the M4 that I carried as an Army 11B. It's a Del-Ton 14.5 upper on an Anderson lower, UTG rail, Knights rail covers, and a Holosun CCO clone. I've got an Aero Precision M16A4 lower with "SAFE SEMI BURST" markings, that I want to drop an Echo Trigger into, but I don't really have the time or the money anymore.

[@CalebDowning]

That's sweet man. It's fun enough to build these guns but when you are making on as a clone of one you hade a connection with, that makes it sooo much better.

[@green2blue309]

Caleb Downing Definitely, man. I've had Colts, PSA's, a Noveske at one time, but my home-brewed M4 is by far my favorite rifle. I'll have that until I'm 90 and on my deathbed, and then it's going in the ground with me lol.

[@green2blue309]

What years were you in? I was active from 2004-2009. 5-20 Infantry Rgt, 2ID.

[@CalebDowning]

I enlisted in the Marine Reserves back in 2011 and I am just about to get out. I'm an 0325 but have been attached to an amphibious assault unit for most of my time in.

[@rbm6184]

Green2Blue 30 I have a Del-Ton 20 inch HBar chrome lined upper rifle kit with stock kit and lower parts kit using an Anderson stripped lower. Nice tight fit. Great quality affordable mil spec rifle. Basically an AR15A3. $600 total. www.dropshots.com/RBM/date/2017-07-14/17:52:15 Have a Leapers UTG carry handle with a thru rail mount and a 3-9x32mm tactical scope. storage04.dropshots.com/photos6000/photos/949785/20170714/b_175253.jpg Like it so much I am doing a Del-Ton 16 inch HBar mid length upper rifle kit on another Anderson stripped lower. $440 total. Will set it up almost the same. I run USGI C-Products and ACS mags both steel and aluminum in 30 and 20 rounders. I do have one 20 round steel USGI Colt mag. It will not hold a full 20 rounds. Only about 18 rounds.

[@radradR0bot]

That's pretty genius to leave the original threads

[@CalebDowning]

😎👍

[@DavidSmith-vz2xt]

Looks sick! I'll put that on my next build list. Thanks for the video 👍🏻

[@CalebDowning]

Glad you liked it 👍👍

[@lapina5161]

I know this is an old video, tomorrow I’ll check out the more recent ones to see how’s it’s going

[@CalebDowning]

👍

[@Magag4u]

I have one of those acog nock offs haven’t shot it with it on it yet I ended up putting a Romeo 5 red dot on it but I’m thinking of doing an m4 build with maybe the acog nock off or carry handle how well does the nock off hold zero ?

[@CalebDowning]

It held for a while but finally bit the dust.

[@fireemblemistrash75]

These damn KAC rails are impossible to find anymore. UTG Pro definitely the best alternative! Im broke enough that I swap the charging handle and Bcg from my other upper into my psa 16 inch upper like yours haha

[@CalebDowning]

UTG isn’t anything to scoff at 🤷‍♂️I’ve been happy with the performance I’ve gotten from them. If you troll the Equipment Exchange over on ar15 . com then your likely to find a set of KAC rails before long 😉

[@fireemblemistrash75]

@@CalebDowning oh trust me Im already hunting for one haha. It’s what makes the difference in a build. I love psa for making budget uppers. And most definitely show they can take a beating

[@Senator-Wary]

Homeless veteran M4 clone

[@CalebDowning]

Haha, I like it 😂

[@chrisg9602]

What's a good base rifle for m4 clone

[@CalebDowning]

Either a Colt or an FN. If you want a cheaper “inspired” clone then getting a PSA M4 Lower would be a good option.

[@Gorlami90]

How did you thread the barrel to re attach the muzzle device

[@CalebDowning]

I just used a 1/2x28 die. I think I ended up filing down the outer diameter of the barrel at the end and used the existing threads as a guide so my threads would stay concentric to the bore. Then I just chopped off the end of the barrel with a hack saw. I used a tool like this: www.amazon.com/Professional-Wrench-Handle-Tool-38x10/dp/B016YHP3WC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1504626948&sr=8-2&keywords=1%2F2x28+die+set Be sure to get a thread alignment tool as well: www.amazon.com/Threading-Alignment-Tool-Starter-223/dp/B00JLDXJKU/ref=pd_bxgy_469_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00JLDXJKU&pd_rd_r=F0KPK36BXZ4M7YFVJEC6&pd_rd_w=QyJFV&pd_rd_wg=UTW4e&psc=1&refRID=F0KPK36BXZ4M7YFVJEC6 These are not the exact ones I used, just examples.

[@davidlane07]

how did you pin and weld the flash suppressor?

[@CalebDowning]

I’ll be making a video in that.

[@sinjin6219]

@@davidlane07 I did the same thing as Caleb, but used an extended A2 flash hider kit, which came pre-drilled and with a .250" steel pin. Then I found a local shop that was able to TIG weld the pin for me for $30. I'm fortunate in that I have access to a small manual lathe. :) I cut it to 14.7" but still used the extended flash hider, which makes the total finished length about 16.3", the extra being there to make absolutely sure that no matter how you measure it, the length is still over the 16" minimum. Hope this helps!

[@JavonLennon]

I just wanted to let u knw I really liked ur m4 clone.. I’m a great fan of ur work ... soo if u cn keep it cumin.., I will Surely watch it

[@CalebDowning]

Well thanks man, I’m glad you enjoy them 👍

[@martinandrews8496]

Have u ever drilled and pined a fsb

[@CalebDowning]

I did that once using a vice grip and a hand drill. It can be don’t but you only get one shot so it’s pretty risky. I don’t have a video on it but I’ve seen several on it floating around in KZbin.

[@jamesrussell3452]

I hope you and your family are doing well! Did you have trouble with the clips on your knights rail covers snapping onto the knock off quad rail?

[@CalebDowning]

Thanks James. Yes, the knockoff rail didn’t have the shutouts for the clips. Mildly annoying but it’s all good.

[@702arlo]

Is that optic holding up at all? Holding zero?

[@CalebDowning]

So far the optic is working fine. It is definitely not a true 4x magnification but it does seem to be holding its zero. I will continue to test it and compare it to it's real big brother(Trijicon ACOG). I'll also be doing a video about it when I have enough rounds through it and am comfortable giving a Caleb Downing "approval/disapproval" stamp. Thanks for the question.

[@CalebDowning]

So far the optic is working fine. It is definitely not a true 4x magnification but it does seem to be holding its zero. I will continue to test it and compare it to it's real big brother(Trijicon ACOG). I'll also be doing a video about it when I have enough rounds through it and am comfortable giving a Caleb Downing "approval/disapproval" stamp. Thanks for the question.

[@702arlo]

Caleb Downing thanks for the reply man.

[@dangelini1137]

Did you welded and pinned the flash hider?

[@CalebDowning]

Pin and weld job, yes. More of a pin and silver solder job but yes. I plan on doing a simple video on it here before too long.

[@dangelini1137]

Caleb Downing please do. I also tried to mimic my issued weapon, i got a 14.5 upper with a pinned and welded muzzle break. Im waiting for the parts to arrive

[@hdbagger4266]

I have 3 colt 6920 0ems in box new ,got a good package deal on them and i want to try to get one of them as close as i can to an m4 as possible,but as far as being close as possible to the barrel length I think im going to just keep the barrel at 16 ,just seems like a lot of trouble for 1 1/2" unless I find a good deal on a 14.5 pinned and welded barrel, Good video

[@CalebDowning]

It is a lot of trouble for 1.5” haha 😆That’s the clone game though. But I don’t blame you for keeping it 16”. Thanks for the support man 👍 and have fun building out that M4!

[@sbox197]

Love these vids! Keep me coming!

[@CalebDowning]

Thanks man!

[@GeneralRamstein]

Cool rifle.. I just finished my M4 Clone. Now all I need is some GI mags and Ill be set.

[@CalebDowning]

Nice 👍

[@Garrick1983]

Local gun shows.I've found some old 20 round colt.They usually run 20$+

[@michaelbenjmitchell1]

@@Garrick1983 I got a couple of 20's at a flea market for $15 each one Colt and the other a Simmonds.

[@kanaancross317]

I can say that the average m4 clone is equal to a USMC m4, the one I build runs better than the ones I used

[@runitsablackgun9097]

wish i had those colt mags for my m4 colt 😔

[@CalebDowning]

Keep an eye on internet sights, I picked these up for about $5 a piece on ArmsList.

[@iannesby]

na son Okay mags are where its at

[@donalddineen3118]

Buy them, they are in the system.

[@michaelbenjmitchell1]

@@iannesby 90% of my metal mags are OKAY. And alot of my Polymer ones are either PMAGS or Israeli made magazines.

[@iannesby]

@michaelbenjmitchell1 4 years have passed. Okay mags are still my mags.

[@63DIRTY]

Looks nice. Just a note.. The step you cut off will stand out to an experienced buyer. There are shops that could preform the service needed to make it correct, but it would probably blow the poor mans part out of the picture. Anyway,sweet AR

[@SaginawGS]

Fitst thing i noticed

[@POPJack1717]

@@SaginawGS which is what?

[@SaginawGS]

@@POPJack1717 i have no idea i posted it 3 years ago lol

[@luischavez1701]

Beautiful gun

[@CalebDowning]

Thanks 👍

[@chillnick1865]

Good video bro

[@georgie9735]

Really hope you pin and welded that flash supressor on by now

[@CalebDowning]

It’s been pinned, and welded, and chopped off, and rethreaded... it’s a 12.5” these days 😁

[@johncoleman7308]

Lol I was thinking the same thing. Pretty ballsy to film yourself with a stock on it before being pinned and welded. Then posting to the internet

[@diligentone-six2688]

*Bugdorf: POOR OLD MAN!*

[@carlosdanger4648]

My ar-10 is almost done

[@runitsablackgun9097]

great looking build man looks good besides that fake acog fix that brother great job on the build

[@CalebDowning]

Thanks man, I still haven't been able to get out and shoot this thing but I'm hoping to soon. I agree with the clone acog being kind of off putting. However, this build concept was to keep everything as cheep and possible. I have a real one being repaired for my actual Colt M4. Once that comes in Ill try and push a video out one that.

[@skywalker844]

Guns are guns

[@garandping6690]

If you didn’t pin and weld that flash hider that’s an illegal SBR bud…

[@darktrojan00]

so you built a gun to sell it ??? hmmmmm hmmm XDXDXDXD

[@CalebDowning]

Not that one. But I do have an FFL 😉

[@CalebDowning]

It’s all good man. I don’t talk about it all that often, but every now and then someone comments something about how what I’m doing is gonna get me thrown in jail 🤦‍♂️

[@darktrojan00]

it aint the Tube if there aint ppl saying that hahaha

[@donrather8908]

hope you put in for the sbr tax stamp before cutting it if not thats a felony

[@coolbreezeGP]

Who cares screw the ATF

[@michaelduong1037]

“I built it to sell it” that sir would be a felony without an FFL/SOT

[@CalebDowning]

An 07FFL, not an SOT.

[@johnhfish79]

If it was built on a 100% lower, it’s legal.

[@donalddineen3118]

You can sell personal firearms without a license most places.

[@kaibowman4803]

Building firearms out to sell is 100% legal without an FFL, as long as you're building them on a 100% lower.

[@newdefsys]

Sir, it is enough that you say you cut down the barrel. Taking 4 minutes to explain the minutia of it all is too much.

[@carlosdanger4648]

Mk 12 sop mod

[@carlosdanger4648]

That shits not pinned hope you got your sbr tax stamp

[@donalddineen3118]

Don't be so cheap, either hire the work done, or buy it. Kitchen table gunsmithing produces guns with issues.

[@CalebDowning]

True to a point 👍