6 ARC Upper Build: 16" Blackhole Weaponry Mid Length + CMT Billet Upper + Icon Defense Drivelock Rail

[WeR0206]

Working on another build....use case is a 16" 6 ARC SPR

Amazon list for tools/supplies mentioned on the channel:
3QMZQX5CVKWR2

Build list:

• Upper receiver: CMT Ultra Precision Billet Upper (# UPUR-1) ($200) (slight thermofit)
• BCG: CMC Enhanced 6 ARC BCG (# 81635) ($150)
• Gas tube: Luth AR mid-length stainless gas tube ($13)
• Gas block: SOLGW V2 (4150) Set Screw Gas Block (# GB750V2) ($35)
• Barrel: Blackhole Weaponry 16" Mid Length 1:7 416R Nitrided Custom 6mm AR-15 Barrel (3 groove polygonal) (standard profile) ($380)
• Handguard: Icon Defense 13” Drive Lock (# HGDL430BLKTI) ($288)
• Charging handle: Breek Arms Warhammer Mod2 Micro Latch FDE (# BRK555FDE) ($40)
• Muzzle device: Zev Tech 7.62 Flash Hider/Compensator (# ZMD-762) ($25)

Total cost: $1,131

Build videos:

1. AR-15 16” SPR Upper Build 6 ARC (1/5): Taking Barrel Measurements and Checking Headspace
   
2. AR-15 16" SPR Upper Build 6 ARC (2/5): Attaching Gas Tube To Gas Block & Installing Dust Cover
   
3. AR-15 16" SPR Upper Build 6 ARC (3/5): Torquing Barrel Nut and Muzzle Device
   
4. AR-15 16" SPR Upper Build 6 ARC (4/5): Installing Gas Block and Handguard
   

Barrel inspection notes:

• Weight: 36.5oz
• Gas system length: Mid-length
• Gas port size: 0.086”
• Gas block journal: .7505”
• Barrel Extension: 0.9985”
• Headspace gauge check (on fully stripped Radian bolt):
  • Go 1.1901”: closes
  • Field 1.201”: doesn’t close

Upper build tools video (1/2):

Upper build tools video (2/2):


Link to AR-15 upper build tools post:
https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkxl7ASgT3q4m5A1T9gGwWvzNZD85zbZXqC
Link to AR-15 upper build steps post:
https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx-OnosmRoszGgOf4Z-qEJY6IQqnokqAE3
Link to threadlockers and assembly grease post:
https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx4dIT6Ls9f7DohFWdi8EIEJ2y3Lztq8WY

 

[Redlion]

Looks nice. Out of curiosity, why did you choose the Blackhole Weaponry barrel?

 

[faylix]

Never heard of the barrel manufacturer, but the rest is cool. I used the same upper for my PVA build.

We should collaborate on one of these. Build something with the same set of parts and see how much accuracy varies by build style.

-F

 

[WeR0206]

Looks nice. Out of curiosity, why did you choose the Blackhole Weaponry barrel?

I wanted to try a polygonal rifled barrel and they were one of the few I found. I think they are the OEM for solgw SPR barrels but I could be wrong.

After inspecting the barrel and seeing that it has a larger gas port than expected (.086”) for mid length 16” barrel it will likely be over gassed but we will see. It also had a pretty rough looking crown.

Never heard of the barrel manufacturer, but the rest is cool. I used the same upper for my PVA build.

We should collaborate on one of these. Build something with the same set of parts and see how much accuracy varies by build style.

-F

Thanks! That sounds like a cool idea. Do you have any builds in the works? I think you just did a G$ cut rifled build right?

Im def going to sell one or two of my recent upper builds on the px or gunbroker in the near future so Id be down for another build soon. I realized I really enjoy putting them together. All These damn sales always prompt me build more haha.

The next buid after this one will be a 16” criterion blem medium/hybrid profile 416R nitrided that I found for like $270 which I couldn’t resist. Going to pair it with a bad attitude upper and bcm handguard. Going lightweight on this one.

 

[faylix]

I wanted to try a polygonal rifled barrel and they were one of the few I found. I think they are the OEM for solgw SPR barrels but I could be wrong.

After inspecting the barrel and seeing that it has a larger gas port than expected (.086”) for mid length 16” barrel it will likely be over gassed but we will see. It also had a pretty rough looking crown.

Thanks! That sounds like a cool idea. Do you have any builds in the works? I think you just did a G$ cut rifled build right?

Im def going to sell one or two of my recent upper builds on the px or gunbroker in the near future so Id be down for another build soon. I realized I really enjoy putting them together. All These damn sales always prompt me build more haha.

The next buid after this one will be a 16” criterion blem medium/hybrid profile 416R nitrided that I found for like $270 which I couldn’t resist. Going to pair it with a bad attitude upper and bcm handguard. Going lightweight on this one.

I got one of the G$ spr barrels! But I also have a 16" criterion hybrid I've only used briefly.

Have you checked out the uppers that d.wilson sells? They are like $100, good quality and thermo fit.

 

[WeR0206]

I got one of the G$ spr barrels! But I also have a 16" criterion hybrid I've only used briefly.

Have you checked out the uppers that d.wilson sells? They are like $100, good quality and thermo fit.

Nice....no I haven't checked them out but I'm always happy to find good value thermo fit uppers so I'll add them to my list.

How'd the hybrid barrel shoot in your limited use so far?

 

[Dogtown]

Never heard of the barrel manufacturer

Most barrel manufacturers use a variety of steel. I don't think there's a single company using neutronium steel; a super dense material formed when the atoms are compressed so tightly that it overcomes the Pauli Exclusion Principle and forces the electrons into the protons in the nucleus, thereby forming a super dense material of neutrons in a highly ordered lattice structure. Black Hole Weaponry must take it a step further and compress the material even further past the remaining neutron degeneracy pressure.

 

[faylix]

Nice....no I haven't checked them out but I'm always happy to find good value thermo fit uppers so I'll add them to my list.

How'd the hybrid barrel shoot in your limited use so far?

https://www.dwilsonmfg.com/Classified-Defense--Ultimate-M4-Upper-Receiver-_p_415.html - yall better not buy out my supply of cheap good uppers.

honestly the criterion barrel kinda shot like shit for a precision rifle barrel. I had shot out my larue stealth barrel and found this 16 hybrid on opticsplanet for like 265 after discounts. It did not make a good replacement. Its def better as a more accurate short range spray and pray. I think I was getting 1.5 - 3 moa - and I tried everything from 69 - 77gr smk's, bergers, gamekings, etc. That's why I pulled it. I replaced it with a Noveske DDF afghan barrel and I've been running that thing hard.




So I would suggest a G$ SPR build, classified defense upper, I have G$, BCM, and a CMT rail currently sitting - but we can make another thread.



Finally put my build table together - Ready to crank out some work.

 

[supercorndogs]

Is this a new BHW? I thought they changed their name, did they change it back?

I would not have chosen mid length gas for a 16" 6 arc. Both my 18 and 16 were rifle length gas.

I sold a 20" BHW ar15 barrel to another member here don't remeber who. It was a good shooter though. I also shot out a BHW remage barrel in 22-250 in about 700 rounds shooting the 80amax. Not a hot load but hot firing schedule.

 

[WeR0206]

https://www.dwilsonmfg.com/Classified-Defense--Ultimate-M4-Upper-Receiver-_p_415.html - yall better not buy out my supply of cheap good uppers.

honestly the criterion barrel kinda shot like shit for a precision rifle barrel. I had shot out my larue stealth barrel and found this 16 hybrid on opticsplanet for like 265 after discounts. It did not make a good replacement. Its def better as a more accurate short range spray and pray. I think I was getting 1.5 - 3 moa - and I tried everything from 69 - 77gr smk's, bergers, gamekings, etc. That's why I pulled it. I replaced it with a Noveske DDF afghan barrel and I've been running that thing hard.

View attachment 8784068


So I would suggest a G$ SPR build, classified defense upper, I have G$, BCM, and a CMT rail currently sitting - but we can make another thread.

View attachment 8784069

Finally put my build table together - Ready to crank out some work.

Nice looking build table. That's sucks re: the criterion hybrid, was your hybrid 416R chrome lined, Chrome Moly chrome lined, 416R nitrided? Or what were the specs?

Thanks for the link on the upper, it has all the specs I look for so I will probably get one, perhaps as a backup for 6 arc builds. I wish I knew about them ahead of time, it would be perfect for this blackhole 6 ARC upper build since they have enlarged ejection port, etc..

If the G$ cut rifled weren't currently sold out everywhere I'd def try and grab one.

Is this a new BHW? I thought they changed their name, did they change it back?

I would not have chosen mid length gas for a 16" 6 arc. Both my 18 and 16 were rifle length gas.

I sold a 20" BHW ar15 barrel to another member here don't remeber who. It was a good shooter though. I also shot out a BHW remage barrel in 22-250 in about 700 rounds shooting the 80amax. Not a hot load but hot firing schedule.

I didn't want a 16" mid-length for 6 arc (I prefer intermediate or rifle length gas on 16" barrels especially for 6 ARC) but that was the longest gas system length they had available for this 16" barrels on their website and I was really curious to check out their barrels. It will likely recoil really hard based on the gas port size I measured and the amount of dwell time it has. We'll see how it does. I will probably convert one of my lowers to use an A5 length buffer so that might tame it a bit.

 

[faylix]

The Hide Strikes again... now all my (formerly) secret uppers are out of stock.

You jerks.

 

[WeR0206]

View attachment 8784099

The Hide Strikes again... now all my (formerly) secret uppers are out of stock.

You jerks.

Damn! I didn't even have time to grab one yet. Seriously thinking of swapping out the San Tan Billet upper on my 18" PVA 6 ARC barrel with the Classified Defense one you linked. I noticed recently the ejection port size on the San Tan upper is slightly UNDER sized compared to mil spec so I wasn't happy to see that for a 6 ARC build. The one you linked me to has every feature I like (tight fit on barrel, has anti rotation hole, etc.) so I'm pretty bummed they are out of stock right now.

Edit: they are still in stock if you order direct from classified defense:

https://classified-defense.com/Classified-Defense--M4-Upper-Receiver--Ultimate--Enlarged-Ejection-Port--Scalloped-Rail_p_2366.html

 

[JS8588]

View attachment 8784099

The Hide Strikes again... now all my (formerly) secret uppers are out of stock.

You jerks.

That's okay

https://classified-defense.com/Classified-Defense--M4-Upper-Receiver--INVENTORY-BLOWOUT_p_2399.html

The owner is a Hide member. @albertosaldini

 

[faylix]

That's okay

https://classified-defense.com/Classified-Defense--M4-Upper-Receiver--INVENTORY-BLOWOUT_p_2399.html

The owner is a Hide member. @albertosaldini

I think the one d.wilson was selling was their "ultimate" "enlarged ejection port" - not the $60 one.

Just to be safe I got one of each.

Hey @albertosaldini - love your uppers

 

[supercorndogs]

I think all my 6 arcs are in BCM thermofit uppers. All my criterion barrels have been good shooters. I was very impressed with my chromelined criterion 223 barrel. It shoots sub MOA 5 shot groups with my 55g blaster ammo.

 

[WeR0206]

For the record, the Icon defense rails come with a titanium barrel nut. I didn't even notice until yesterday while I was handling it the nut seemed super light (I was expecting it to be similar to the SOLGW M89 rail that comes with a steel barrel nut).

When you consider this the Icon rails are a much better value.

Also this upper build is complete, I hope to go to the range within the next few days to test fire 2-3 different recently assembled uppers (18" PVA 6 ARC, 16" Rosco K9, and 16" Blackhole 6 ARC). I will likely load up some 107 smk's with AA 2520 in hornady brass to do barrel break in along with test firing with some factory 108 eldm's as a benchmark.