GunLab (KnownHost) » AR-10

More on the Sudanese AR-10

Chuck — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:25:45 +0000

With the last test model machined I started putting the lower together and a number of issues were noted. The receiver dimension is correct for the holes, magazine release, magazine well and overall length and width. the magazine button and release lever are not deep enough.

These are the noted problems.

The first one is a very slight radius issue on the rear of the receiver just prior to the buffer tube

The second issue concerns the magazine release lever. this needs to be cut deeper to allow proper fit.

The third issue deals with the hole for the selector. There is a slight inset in the receiver to all the selector to set properly and this needs to be cut in. This is how it looks on the original.

And you can see it is missing on my test receiver.

The last issue is raised portion of the receiver around the magazine release. On my receiver it extends to far over and does not line up with the upper receiver properly.

With some minor changes to the machining program I hope to correct these issues.

Why it is necessary to run a test part after changes to the program

Chuck — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:15:29 +0000

A number of changes were made to the Sudanese AR-10 lower receiver. Selector stops were added and a new profiling program was used to allow for a better finish around a few areas of the receiver. Then a second lower was machined out of 6061 to verify the changes. During the process of machining a few issues were notes. The first is that with the new tool path it left on a thin section of metal.

The magazine release button also changed from an inside cut to and outside cut.

The other issue that was found was that the selector stops were located in the wrong spot.

All the issues have been corrected and checked. Next is to design a logo and write the printing program then start making Sudanese lower semi receivers.

Machining the Sudanese lower receiver op.2 and op3

Chuck — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:49:38 +0000

With op 1 completed it is now time to work on op 2 and 3. First a fixture needed to be machined to hold the machined receiver to all finishing the other side.

The machined op1 piece was set in the fixture and tighten down

All the holes were drilled in op1 so now the bottom was milled off and the receiver was contoured.

When the second side was complete receiver was removed and debured and parts were checked for proper fit,

The magazine release was checked for proper fit.

Op 3 was conducted, out of house, This is where the magazine housing was edm. it was then checked with a number of magazines to verify proper fit.

Next post will be about op4

machining the Sudanese lower

Chuck — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 19:22:49 +0000

Now that I am back into the shop it is time to get back to projects that was started years ago. The first project on the list was the Sudanese lower receiver. It had been drawn up in a solid model years back when the modeling program that was used in the shop was Solis Works, however due to the cost I shifted modeling programs and we now use Fusion 360. The model was moved from solid works to fusion 360 but you do not get any of the steps or even a drawing. All you transfer is the solid model. Some changes can be made to the solid model but it is not an easy task.

The first step was to write a cam program. With a friends help this was accomplished.

With the program written it was time to set up the HAAS machining center. All the tools were loaded and touched off and the program loaded.the first op was ready to go.

This is a test run and this receiver will be destroyed due to the material is the wrong material. The actual receiver will be made out of 7075 aluminum and the test piece is being made from 6061 aluminum. 6061 is about 1/3 the cost of 7075.

This photo shows the completion of op1. To deal with all the surfaces on the receiver there was a lot of fine detailed machining, generally referred to as surfacing, here are a few pictures that shows some of the finer details.

The radius on the front of the receiver magazine housing.

The detail around the magazine release.

A view of the tool paths.

The next post will be about op 2

Back on line

Chuck — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:55:03 +0000

It is hard to believe that I have been shut down or at least stop posting for over 5 years. Life just got in the way and something needed to be set aside. I will start with what is new here. I finally retired, sort of, I still work for the company that bought me out. However, I work a lot less hours and not have time for the shop and making things.

The first thing I did was to start repairing broken equipment and actually get the shops back in some kind of order, still have more to do in that respect and I don’t think that will ever stop.

The major projects that I am currently working on is first and foremost getting up to speed learning the new solid modeling program that we currently use. In the past I used Solid Works but the cost got to be prohibitive and I have shifted to Fusion 360. I started in earnest about 3 months ago. To allow me to learn Fusion 360 I bought a number of books with engineered drawings and finished every drawing at the same time I checked out ever Fusion site that I found and followed them along on how they did certain tasks then I watched the game show on youtube dealing with a contests between individuals using there preferred solid modeling program. After about 2 months and 800 drawings completed I started working on drawings that I had to make them into solid models. I have to admit that actual engineered drawings are a lot harder then anything in the books or on youtube. However, I was able to start working my way through the drawings then it was onto reverse engineering parts using what ever information I could find and pictures to trace over. this leads me to where I am at now.

A number of the projects that was worked on previously had to be re-modeled. I started with the AR-10 Sudanese lower receiver. With the drawing complete I was able to program the solid model for manufacture, I did have some help with this. The next post will be about making the lower receiver, spoil alert it turn out perfect for the first 4 ops still a couple of ops to complete. My plan is to make 10 receivers and then go on to the next project.

I still need to finish the drawings on the Portuguese receiver but I will finish this project before I remove all the tooling and start on something new. I have no desire to make any more receivers then a limited supply as I have other things I want to do.

It is good to be back in the shop and having fun. There are still a number of projects around the property that need my attention and money so unfortunately not all my time will be in the shop.

Dealer Showroom deals

Chuck — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 08:00:33 +0000

Here are a few of the interesting items that I found at Dealer Showroom.

The first and really exciting item is a brand new AR-10 Sudanese hand guard.

There are still 2 of them left.

I am working on a couple of Enfield projects and was able to pick up a few items toward completing them.

I also found a missing piece to my Mk7 Enfield.

The missing magazine.

I also came across some 15 rd Hotchkiss feed strips.

And a 22lr Enfield barrel.

This as well as some very interesting books and rifles. That will be in later posts.

AR-10 handguard

Chuck — Tue, 17 May 2016 08:00:57 +0000

Eric, a friend of Gun Lab, let me borrow his AR-10 hand guards collection to photograph and measure up.

The first set of pictures is of a very early hand guard that has not been completed. The information I obtain from this single piece is worth volumes in trying to determine how and what material they were made from. This hand guard has none of the hole drilled into it and has neither of the end caps installed.

Looking at the front end of the hand guard you can see the thickness of the sheet metal liner and the density of the foam and fiberglass outer housing.

Here you can see the seam on the hand guard when it was put together.

This view of the rear of the hand guard you can see the forming of the sheet metal for the gas tube as well as a good view of the type of foam material used.

He sent the end caps as well. This allow for a detailed examination of both pieces. Drawings were made of both of them.

The front end cap, front view.

The front end cap, rear view.

The type of material has not been accurately determined yet, still working on it.

The rear end cap has a great deal more detail to it.

The second hand guard that Eric sent is an unused Sudanese type. You can easily see the hole pattern on the hand guard.

This close up shows the fit up of the rear end cap and the grove and hole alignment.

You can see the difference between an early and the later rear end cap.

A good view of the gas tube slot in the rear hand guard.

A close up of the front end cap.

This Sudanese hand guard is from a friends parts kit.

The rear end cap design was changed between the first model and the Sudanese model

The grove for the gas tube has been increased in depth as well.

The hand guards and stock are easily damaged

Because of the damage and I now need U.S. 922r parts for my build everything on the front hand guards has been drawn up and as in the case of the rear end cap has been test run on the machines.

I started on a set of molds to make new ones in the future. Unfortunately, the first set that I made did not work correctly. A second set has been designed and programed and when time allows will be made. Projects are based upon time and if parts are available for me to complete the project.

I have to give special thanks to Eric for letting me borrow these rare components.

Just one last look of all of the hand guards in a single picture.

Answers to the post of 11-29

Chuck — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 14:14:35 +0000

The first question that would needed to be answered is what do all these parts have in common. That answer would be up coming projects at Gun Lab.

The Cetme, H&K, 05 , G-41 G-43 and 03 pictures is for the 05 project we are working on. The fire control group is changing to be a copy of the 03 rifle. The safety will be going back to a G-41/G-43/03 type. The magazine will be more in line with The G-43 /03 type. There is a great deal of design work that needs to go on to make the rifle.

The AR-10 bolt is for the AR-16 rifle that is next on the list of rifles that we will be building.

I like single shot rifles and with a friend on mine (Orin) we are working on making usable drawings of a number of them.

I have a Scottie rifle that someone sporterized the stock. Ian from forgotten weapons let me borrow his parts so I could make the correct ones for my rifle.

The destroyer and AR-70 parts are for my rifles and needed to be repaired and measured.

Last but not least is the EM-2 bolt which is being reversed engineered to try and correct a few problems with the rifle design.

On to the pictures.

Gun Lab update

Chuck — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 02:15:58 +0000

This is an answer to a friends question about a particular project.

It is good to always keep checking with me. Things can get a little hectic around here. This is the status of the projects here.

1) the MP-44 trunnions test pieces have been completed and sent to the buyer. A few changes need to be made and we are correcting the drawings now.A post coming up about that next.

2) I hope to have the parts to fix the wire edm in this week and have it back up and getting it operational, this is for the mag wells on the AR-10.

3) we are finishing the tooling for the VG1-5 project so spot welding can go on in mass next week. While on the subject of the VG1-5 a new trigger guard stamping die has to be made, to look more like the original one. Still waiting for the heat treated parts to come back. The parkerizing set up is ready to start parking parts.

4) The cetme receiver has been solid modeled and the stamping dies are currently modeled as well, need to finish up the final oddities.

6) The AR-10 lower receiver has been modeled and half of it has been programmed to machine.; The work on the AR-10 lower will start again as soon as I can get the VG1-5 off of the HAAS machining center, need to change all the tooling out to aluminum cutters.

7) The AR-180b upper receiver stamping dies are 98% complete and hope to have them finished tomorrow. We are still waiting for the parts to come back from heat treat for this as well. Then we will start parkerizing them also.

So far That is about it. I am still working on the cnc router, made a new panel this weekend.

A quick Gun Lab update

Chuck — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 19:53:40 +0000

I have to say that I am sorry about the lack of posts. In my defense I must say that my full time business and what actually supports me and Gun Lab has been hectic and very busy. It has been so busy that this is my first lunch break in two weeks. Starting my day at 4:30 am to get out the door and not getting home until 8 or 9 at night has made it tough to write any posts.

Here are a list of up coming posts that I have been working on but not finished:

The range report from the test on the No.1MK3 410 single shot shotgun

The update on the fluting press with pictures

The VG1-5 firing pin and problems associated with making it.

An article on the Haenel single shot 22lr rifle.

The next installment on the bushmaster pistol.

A photo essay on the Holek rifle.

A write up on the Walther 22 semi auto 22lr rifle

A couple of video’s that still need to be edited.

All this and still more like the Winchester self loading rifle, the week end update, Portuguese AR-10 and a few more single shot rifles as well as the Cetme L project and the Gardner gun build by Joe.

I will be taking off next weekend to take a quick trip to work.