You Too Can Build a Pimphand Rifle Of Your Very Own

Back during the good ol’ days when we first launched Student of the Gun Radio, I gained a bit of a reputation for “saying what needs to be said,” not necessarily what people wanted to hear. During a telephone conversation with a good friend, he commented that I was behaving like the “pimphand of America” and giving folks a slap via the airwaves. Well, that gave me a good laugh and ever since I have been fond of stating that it’s not a job that I was looking for, but was one that I humbly accepted. 

Fast forward a few years and I was again on the telephone, this time with Joe Meaux, owner/founder of Aklys Defense in Baton Rouge. In addition to all of the other topics that gun guys discuss, Joe mentioned the premium-quality AR-pattern, lower receivers that he was producing. Well, one thing led to another and we decided to do a limited edition run of one hundred SOTG pimphand lower receivers for the standard AR configuration. 

The specs for the lowers would be a premium quality lower made of 7075 aluminum, with Type 111 hand anodizing. Features include a dedicated Student of the Gun “SOTG” serial number featuring the logo and the title “The Pimphand” proudly displayed on the side.

Selector lever verbiage: Safe = “Quiet Time,” Fire = “Listen Louder,” Position 3 = “Sweet Buddha!” While that verbiage might not mean much to those unfamiliar with Student of the Gun Radio, that wasn’t for whom they were designed.

During the promotion and launch timeframe, I found myself dealing with el cancer, so my oldest son, Jarrad, took over that task. Fear not, the cancer didn’t get me. Once I was back in the pink, I had the serial number “SOTG-001” lower receiver waiting for me to turn into a functioning gun.  

The Build

One of my favorite AR models of all time is the XM177E2. My plan was to build out the Pimphand rifle in such a way that it closely resembled the classic Colt. 

I ordered a 10.5 inch upper receiver with standard black plastic handguards, an A2 front sight housing and a flat-top Picatinny rail upper receiver. In the A2 sight housing I inserted a tritium AR front sight post from Night Fision.

The milspec flash hider would be replaced by an XM177E2 flash hider from Brownells. Atop the receiver I would install an A2 style carrying handle courtesy of my dearly departed gunsmith friend, Zach Hall. The rear sight remained in an unaltered configuration with the dual aperture small/large peep.

Another friend sent me a customized AR dust cover with “SOTG” laser engraved on one side and “Fighting Solves Everything”, my motto for fighting cancer, on the other side. I watched a Youtube video to help me install that piece as I had never previously done so. 

As for the lower, I would install a Fostech “Echo” binary trigger that would allow me to use all three selector lever positions (This was before the widespread availability of the current FRTs). For a pistol grip I selected an MOE black polymer version. The buffer tube assembly was standard M4 configuration. The buffer tube assembly and the “Shockwave” stabilizing brace came from KAK Industry. 

At the buffer tube/receiver junction under the castle nut, I attached a universal sling mount plate from www.IKickHippies.com. The mounting plate is genius in its simplicity and I love the company. 

With all of the pieces and parts assembled, I decided to apply a Duracoat “Slightly Darker Black” finish paired with a subdued gray color. I chose their skull template pattern to commemorate my recent successful battle against the grim reaper. He tried to get me, but missed the mark. The Slightly Darker Black color came about as an intellectual collaboration between SOTG and Duracoat.

Why Now?

As I built the Pimphand rifle a few years ago, why bring it out now to talk about it? Well, other than the obvious reason of just wanting to take a gun to the range that holds a good amount of sentimental value, I had one more motive. 

Having successfully circumnavigated the sun once again, I received a birthday gift in the form of a few customized magazines that had been laser engraved with the Student of the Gun logo on both sides. As for which gun I’d use these magazines in first, the answer seemed all too obvious. They had to be paired with the SOTG Pimphand rifle.

Range Time

With the May snow finally melted, I packed up and headed to the range with an OD green ammo can about half-full of loose .223/5.56mm. I should mention that the chamber on the Pimphand gun was cut for genuine 5.56mm NATO. With the sun shining brightly, I ran the gun, first slowfire then I flipped the switch over to “Sweet Buddha!” and let it rip. 

I’m fortunate to have a range out in the mountains that’s completely bereft of red hat-wearing range nazis, cucks, simps…take your pick.  There was no one around to complain that I was shooting too fast. 

Naturally, this was far from my first range session. I wanted to run the special SOTG magazines as much as the gun. This particular range session was about having some fun and it was.

While the official SOTG Pimphand lowers sold out a long time ago, all of the other pieces and parts are available to residents of free America. With our national 250th anniversary coming up, now might be the perfect time to put together a special gun of your own.     

 

Paul G. Markel is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran. He is also the founder of Student the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades.