u/SinoSentry

A while back, I posted about upgrading my 2013 S&W M&P15 MOE Mid Magpul Spec Series (811053), my very first AR, and asked for opinions on optics and whether upgrading the factory receiver extension hardware was worthwhile.

Well, I finally finished everything! Here’s the original rifle compared with the finished setup.

Factory Parts Retained:

1). S&W forged 7075-T6 upper and lower receivers
Original 16” 4150 CMV Melonite barrel, 1:8 twist, 5R rifling
2). Original mid-length gas system
3). Original fixed A2 front sight base

Final Upgrades:

1). SIG SAUER ROMEO8T
2). BCM BCG (MPI/Auto)
3). Radian Raptor charging handle
4). Geissele SSA-E two-stage trigger
5). Radian Talon 45/90 ambidextrous safety
6). Geissele Super 42 spring + H1 buffer
7). BCM 7075-T6 mil-spec receiver extension
8). Forward Controls Design CNF 4140 steel castle nut (nitride)
9). Forward Controls Design ESF-H end plate (DLC)
10). Midwest Industries MI-18M two-piece drop-in M-LOK handguard
11). TangoDown BG-18 pistol grip
12). B5 Systems Bravo stock
13). Magpul MBUS Pro steel rear sight
14). Spike’s Tactical A2 flash hider
15). Magpul MVG M-LOK vertical foregrip
16). Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X Pro (88126), 1,000 lumens / 50,000 candela
17). Blue Force Gear Vickers two-point sling
18). BCM BCMGUNFIGHTER heavy-duty QD sling swivels (BCM-QDSS-2)

A Few Updates Since My Previous Post:

I ended up choosing the SIG ROMEO8T over the Aimpoint PRO and EOTech EXPS2-0.

I also went ahead with the receiver extension upgrade, replacing the original buffer tube, castle nut, and end plate with BCM and Forward Controls Design components.

The Feyachi WL65 is gone, replaced by the Streamlight HL-X Pro. I also managed to remove the overtightened mounting screws that gave me trouble earlier.

My goal from the beginning was to modernize my first AR with quality components without losing what made the original S&W/Magpul rifle special to me. That’s why I kept the original receivers, barrel, gas system, and fixed front sight.

After more than a decade of ownership, I’m happy with where it ended up. No more upgrades planned!

What do you guys think of the finished setup?

Got my S&W 686 Mountain Gun back from Mr. Nelson Ford today and wanted to share my experience.

The gun was brand new and had never been fired by me. Pretty much as soon as I got it, I took it straight to Mr. Ford for an action job. He also polished the trigger face and adjusted the grip for me.

When he gave me the quote, he recommended replacing the firing pin as well and included the price. He explained the reason to me, although I’ll admit most of the technical explanation went over my head. All I really took away from it was that the replacement firing pin is longer. I trusted his judgment and went with his recommendation.

The action job is fantastic. The trigger is now right there with my Colt Python, and honestly, it may even be better. Everything feels incredibly smooth and refined. I’m very impressed with how the revolver turned out.

When the work was finished, Mr. Ford texted me to let me know it was ready. He also test-fired it with .38 Special and texted me a picture of the target.

The work definitely wasn’t cheap. I paid about $1,200 for the gun, and Mr. Ford’s work came to $414—so the work was roughly a third of the gun’s purchase price. That’s a substantial investment in a brand-new revolver, but after feeling the finished action, I think it was worth it.

Mr. Ford was also a pleasure to deal with. He’s very friendly, and talking with him feels more like talking with an old friend than dealing with a gunsmith.

When I dropped the gun off, he actually came all the way out of his shop before I left to give me an old-school S&W Military & Police revolver cutaway diagram. Unfortunately, I managed to wrinkle it afterward 😅, but I thought it was a really thoughtful gesture and I’m definitely keeping it.

He also went out of his way to accommodate my schedule when it was time for pickup. His shop was closed, but he still made arrangements for me to come by and get the gun. He even gave me two bottles of water while I was there. Little things like that made the whole experience feel much more personal.

The only thing I wish had been communicated beforehand was the 3% credit-card fee. It was added on top of the quoted amount, and I wasn’t aware of it beforehand. I actually found out when my bank sent me an alert showing the amount that had been charged. I don’t have a problem with a business charging a credit-card fee, but I would have appreciated a heads-up before the card was run.

Overall, I’m very happy with the result. Mr. Ford clearly knows his S&W revolvers, treated me very well, and the quality of his work justified the cost for me. The action on my 686 is now on par with my Colt Python, if not better.

Highly recommended. If you’re paying by credit card, just be aware of the additional fee.

Now I finally need to go shoot it myself. 😄

Are my backup iron sights too high?

I think I like it