AM15 by Tactical Innovations?
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HKjay223
UZI Talk Supporter
OK.tried out my feed ramp polish job and its a huge improvement.No more shells getting stuck on the feed ramp.BUT I do get a few that get pushed under the spring loaded feed arms and sort of double feeds.No idea there except for winder spring pressure?? This happens when I try drum bumps, so I backed off the number of winds by one turn. Doing bursts it runs pretty reliably with an ocasional bad round that fails to fire(REM goldem bullets) CCI minimags run best. Also broke the feed chute off my drum. It continued to feed until the broken piece had jammed the last layer of rounds.
Vegas SMG
UZI Talk Life Member,
Thanks for all your advise. I'll use my existing hammer spring when I install the FCG this weekend. Anything else I should look for/know?
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If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free! -P.J. O'Rourke
__________________
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free! -P.J. O'Rourke
Vegas SMG
UZI Talk Life Member,
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so a video must be worth considerably more. Unfortunately my computer died shortly after I uploaded the video from the AM-15's first outing yesterday with Mike Duke behind the trigger, so you'll have to wait several days until I can sort things out as the wife isn't too keen on me using her machine.
The upper runs and runs well. It took a few drums to figure out I needed to add one extra wind, and that seemed to be the magic number. It's favorite ammo seems to be Federal bulk pack if you can believe that. One OOB using Remmington Golden and we suffered a few failures while using this ammo. DynaPoint was also a great performer as was CCI Blazer. I encountered feeding related jams using CCI MiniMag. As most of us know, each .22 conversion kit behaves differently with each host weapon and ammo.
Your results may vary.
I think I'm 'gonna be happy...REAL happy!
The upper runs and runs well. It took a few drums to figure out I needed to add one extra wind, and that seemed to be the magic number. It's favorite ammo seems to be Federal bulk pack if you can believe that. One OOB using Remmington Golden and we suffered a few failures while using this ammo. DynaPoint was also a great performer as was CCI Blazer. I encountered feeding related jams using CCI MiniMag. As most of us know, each .22 conversion kit behaves differently with each host weapon and ammo.
Your results may vary.
I think I'm 'gonna be happy...REAL happy!
HKjay223
UZI Talk Supporter
Tried mine out again today with the new aluminum drum bottom plate. 100% operation. Bursts to drum dumps.I was using Minimags exclusively today. Now to score ALOT more 22 ammo.Good to hear Dynapoint works well. Now I have a base point, I can try other brands.
Vegas SMG
UZI Talk Life Member,
An extra wind and like most .22 conversion kits, they usually have one or two types of ammo they like. I'd try several types of ammo, loading one layer at a time to see what works best for him.
Val at E&L will quickly offer his expert opinion on ammo and his suggestion is to use Federal or CCI. After two plus decades of American 180 experiece, I tend to listen to his advise.
Val at E&L will quickly offer his expert opinion on ammo and his suggestion is to use Federal or CCI. After two plus decades of American 180 experiece, I tend to listen to his advise.
Vegas SMG
UZI Talk Life Member,
Well... al least four of us in town have received our AM-15s, and so far mine seems to run the best of the bunch right out of the box. I'm due for some measure of luck after all the misery I've suffered over the years with .22 products beginning with the Akins Accelerator.
I spent some time with Godfather today so he could examine and compare our feed blocks as he was having the same failure to feed malfunctions as HKjay223. His feed block, like Jay's, seems to be a little thicker at the bottom of the polished ramp, (actually the top of the ramp as the rounds feed from the top) than mine. It seems like the ramps are hand polished and profiled prior to shipping, and the angle, plus the amount of material that's removed, (or not removed in this case), may part of the problem. I don't know how or why adding the aluminum plate to the drums would cause a change in the feed angle but anything's possible.
*Note, we used both original 177 round metal drums as well as the Lexan 165 round drums today without much difference. Swapping feed ramps seemed and then polishing Godfather's ramp to match my block's profile seemed to help, but it still wasn't 100%. During testing today, Godfather's TI supplied winder failed. Mine wouldn't lock right out of the box. When did they start using plastic on the bottoms of these?!
I'll test fire mine again Saturday and make a final determination on whether or not to use it Sunday. I'm sure tempted and I'd have a great excuse if it didn't run correctly... as you know, the 180 isn't fast or easy to clear, and this upper is very much like an American 180 including leaving a hot round in the block after the drum is empty.
_________________
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free! -P.J. O'Rourke
I spent some time with Godfather today so he could examine and compare our feed blocks as he was having the same failure to feed malfunctions as HKjay223. His feed block, like Jay's, seems to be a little thicker at the bottom of the polished ramp, (actually the top of the ramp as the rounds feed from the top) than mine. It seems like the ramps are hand polished and profiled prior to shipping, and the angle, plus the amount of material that's removed, (or not removed in this case), may part of the problem. I don't know how or why adding the aluminum plate to the drums would cause a change in the feed angle but anything's possible.
*Note, we used both original 177 round metal drums as well as the Lexan 165 round drums today without much difference. Swapping feed ramps seemed and then polishing Godfather's ramp to match my block's profile seemed to help, but it still wasn't 100%. During testing today, Godfather's TI supplied winder failed. Mine wouldn't lock right out of the box. When did they start using plastic on the bottoms of these?!
I'll test fire mine again Saturday and make a final determination on whether or not to use it Sunday. I'm sure tempted and I'd have a great excuse if it didn't run correctly... as you know, the 180 isn't fast or easy to clear, and this upper is very much like an American 180 including leaving a hot round in the block after the drum is empty.
_________________
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free! -P.J. O'Rourke
So, is some enterprising person going to make the needed open bolt sear part and modified bolt carrier to use the TI trigger components on our 223 uppers? Sounds like a great project for a couple of the regulars around here!
Vegas SMG
UZI Talk Life Member,
I agree!tonytdmd said:
A couple of words about the AM-15 upper...
I like it a LOT!
The assembly instructions SUCK!
You may want to buy a metal bottom plate to have on hand for your drum in case you run into a problem using the Lexan drums.
Go to WalMart and hope and pray they have the Federal 550 round bulk pack ammo in stock.
There are four of these uppers in town that I'm aware of, but unfortunately, mine was the only one that ran correctly out of the box.
The problem with two of them seems to be drum flex when using the Lexan drums. This flex allows the bullet to dive nose first straight into the feed block. Using a metal drum turned one jam-o-matic AM-15 into a perfectly running gun. Swapping out the feed block with a tighter fitting one cured the other AM-15.
They seemed to love Federal 550 round bulk pack ammo Sunday. I've tried seven different .22 flavors and this Federal runs WAY, WAY better than anything else I've tried. Over five hundred rounds Sunday with a single failure to fire. (dud round?)
If you decide to try other ammo, watch where you hold you support arm and make sure you wear safety glasses. I've learned not to load an entire drum to test new ammo. Load one layer and go from there. It take's a long time to load these drums only to have to unload them by hand when the ammo won't run.
I had this OOB using Federal match in the 325 round value packs from WalMart. BAD STUFF that's not the same ammo as the 550 round packs! The OOB detonation cracked the feed "scoop" on my 220 round drum ending it's use until I get a new bottom plate.
Just saying and HTH.
__________________
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free! -P.J. O'Rourke
Vegas SMG
UZI Talk Life Member,
One more AM-15 suggestion; consider buying an extra winder.
Of the four AM-15 uppers in town, two have suffered defective winders. Mine wouldn't lock right out of the box, and the other one broke the first day and no longer functions. The winders T.I. is shipping with the AM-15 uppers have a plastic bottom. Val told me he produced a plastic bottom plate some years ago. He has an extensive back ground in plastics and it was a trial that convinced him to switch back to an all steel winder.
Maybe it's just our bad luck, but based on the 50% failure rate I've personally seen with these winders, having a spare on hand may be worth considering. Multiple winders offer no real benefit IMHO, but if you suffer a winder failure, you're done shooting for the day. 'Kinda spendy at $75.00 each, but I know I won't return home with unfired drums because my winder broke.
__________________
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free! -P.J. O'Rourke
Of the four AM-15 uppers in town, two have suffered defective winders. Mine wouldn't lock right out of the box, and the other one broke the first day and no longer functions. The winders T.I. is shipping with the AM-15 uppers have a plastic bottom. Val told me he produced a plastic bottom plate some years ago. He has an extensive back ground in plastics and it was a trial that convinced him to switch back to an all steel winder.
Maybe it's just our bad luck, but based on the 50% failure rate I've personally seen with these winders, having a spare on hand may be worth considering. Multiple winders offer no real benefit IMHO, but if you suffer a winder failure, you're done shooting for the day. 'Kinda spendy at $75.00 each, but I know I won't return home with unfired drums because my winder broke.
__________________
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free! -P.J. O'Rourke
I have 3 winders, and each have let go at one time or another. PIA. On another note, I was thinking it would be interesting to machine up an open bolt ceiner type kit since we have the trigger components. Spring rate could be higher because it doesn't have to cock the hammer. Just a thought.
best thing ever...thanks craig
the AM-15 is by FAR the funnest gun i have! it works, puts a huge smile on your face, and is cheap to run. if you want to see my 9 yo boy shooting it, go to youtube and look up "thecanuckdoc" ive got some other goodies on there too.
the AM-15 is by FAR the funnest gun i have! it works, puts a huge smile on your face, and is cheap to run. if you want to see my 9 yo boy shooting it, go to youtube and look up "thecanuckdoc" ive got some other goodies on there too.
Vegas SMG
UZI Talk Life Member,
You kid is having WAY too much fun. FWIW, it puts the same big smiles on adults faces too.mdmba said:
Here's your two AM-15 videos...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwBKc_Jvq-U&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSYGtaAEgSc&feature=related
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