Brownells BRN-180 Build: Part 17 The Fanale!

 

After working for many months on my custom Brownells BRN-180 project, I finally finished and amassed all of the parts I needed to complete the final build. While the custom wood furniture took quite a bit of time to complete, I did not anticipate the finishing process to take as long as it did. After each application of the boiled linseed oil, I would have to wait three to ten days in between coats. And considering I applied a minimum of seven to ten coats per wood part, it increased the overall timeframe exponentially. So after applying the final coats of oil and then finally some Renaissance wax, I was really excited to put it all together. 

I had already fully assembled the lower receiver a few months back; but I had made a decision to keep the muzzle brake gray, and with the gray color of the Rise Armament RA-535 trigger I thought adding a gray safety selector would really tie it all together well. 

I was fortunate enough to be invited to Guncon at Brownells in Iowa. While I was there, I was able to meet and get to know some of the key people at many major companies, and one of them was Radian. They are not only an amazing company, but their representatives are such good people and their products are top shelf. I had already experienced their Talon safety selector on my Radian Model 1 build and it is by far the best safety selector design on the market. I was so stoked when they gave me a few more of their Talon safety selectors including this gray one which I knew would be perfect on this build. 

As you know, in order to install the new safety selector, I needed to remove the grip and in this case the drop in trigger. 

After getting all the lower parts put back and the new safety selector installed, I was really stoked with how the gray looked with the RA-535 trigger, and the functionality of the Talon safety selector was superb as always. 

I moved next to the upper receiver and more specifically to the custom handguard cover. I realized after the fact I had designed the word handguard cover in such a way which would require me to remove the handguard from the upper receiver in order to attach the handguard cover. There was just not enough space between the handguard cover and the barrel to maneuver the M-lock bolts into place. 

Once the handguard was removed, installing the handguard cover was rather easy. Four M-lock nuts and screws secured the walnut to the m-lock slots in the handguard. 

The fitment of the handguard cover was superb and everything lined up perfectly. 

After I had the handguard cover in place I reattached the handguard to the upper receiver with the eight screws. 

I decided I wanted a real AR18 look and after scouring the Internet for images of the AR18s, I found the shorter “S” had this trumpet style muzzle device. I ended up finding a person who still made these devices as well as many other replica parts for the AR18. When I received it, I noticed it was a parkerized gray color. My original plan was to have the muzzle device Cerakoted the same shade of black as the upper receiver. But the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea of adding a touch of gray to the front of the pistol; especially with the gray safety selector and trigger. 

I started the process of removing the stock flash hider, but I had no idea it would be as difficult as it was to remove. There were two major issues; the first was I did not know there was a jam nut installed, and the second was these brakes are incredibly over torqued. After trying to no avail to even budge the flash hider, I called my gunsmith friend who works for Brownells, he told me Primary Weapons Systems who manufactures the BRN-180 uppers attaches the flash hiders to some obscene torque spec. He told me it was the number one complaint of the BRN-180 owners. He advised me to apply heat and to wrench the heck out of it. 

After applying heat, using a giant Crescent wrench, and sticking a flat head screwdriver in between the prongs of the flash hider, I was finally, after much effort, able to break the flash hider lose. My advice to anyone who attempts to do this, just know going into it you will likely damage the flash hider and you need to loosen it from the front to the back because of the jam nut. 

After applying a drop or two of rocketset to the barrel threads, I tightened on the new trumpet style muzzle device using a paper towel roll to protect the finish. 

The overall look with the ridiculous and awesome trumpet, alongside the wood handguard cover was so rad! 

I opted to keep the pistol very classic looking and decided on these all steel H&K flip up sights. 

I had already drilled and tapped my midwest industries receiver extension, so I was ready to complete the lower receiver. 

I started by mounting the Gearhead Works tailhook brace on the receiver extension. 

I then mounted the receiver extension to the lower receiver. 

The last part to install was my custom cheek riser. It bolted on without issue. And I was then able to attach the upper to the lower and she WAS FINALLY COMPLETE! 

When I started this project I never anticipated it being this difficult or this rewarding. I literally put my blood in sweat into this build and I would not change a single thing about it. It is beautiful from every angle and I am absolutely in love. It is something I am very proud of as I built it with my own two hands. I know this is a gun which my kids will all want when I am gone because it now has a part of me with it. If you have any woodworking ability whatsoever I encourage you to try and make a part or two for one of your guns; it will change your perspective completely and you will grow to love that gun more than any of your others. 

You can find the BRN-180 and associated parts at the following link to Brownells;

Brownells.com/Brn180