[Skunkabilly]

How are Colts, are they still getting contracts from LAPD and US?

Colt's website is about as information-packed as the World Factbook on East African Democracies.

Are they still made well or do they suffer from CQ issues? What the heck is up with Colt today, anyway?

[Nero Steptoe]

They're just cheap Bushmaster knock-off's. Oddly-sized pins; block over safety; non-chrome barrel. Non-existent customer support/service.

[another48hrs]

I think in the 80's Colt lost the contract to make m16s to FNH, but I don't know if FNH still has the contract, anybody?

[Duke of Lawnchair]

I'm not sure about any gov't or police contracts, but the Colt AR15s that I have toyed with are really no different than most any other AR15 out on the market. The only exception, non-milspec trigger & hammer pins and sear block.

All the postban Colts that I examined during the SB23/Y2K "crisis" seemed to be manufactured well. The only reason why I chose Bushmaster is the chrome lined bore and chamber AND more importantly, lower price on an item that seemed to be manufactured equally as well if not better. Newer Colts have chrome chambers, but unchromed bores, FWIW.

All the preban Colts that I played with were all well made, including my brother's and friend's.

Personally, I'd hunt around for a preban Colt for the sake of having a preban. I also wouldn't mind owning a postban Colt, now that I have a job. Back in '99 I was an intern. Now, I wouldn't mind purchasing a postban Colt, just because I can!

Jim

[curt]

I haven't heard of any problems with QC. Some may have non-GI Pivot pins and firecontrol pins. Not really that big of a problem as just about everyone stocks colt sizes. The sear block isn't that big a deal either although i have heard that some match triggers might be a problem. I have an accuracy speaks single stage in my preban colt and it was not a problem at all. Postban colts do seem to be a bit higher priced than bushies although they seem to be very competitive in the preban models.

Bottom line if you want a colt, or a bushmaster, or a dpms or a rock river, or a armalite get one. There will always be colt/bushmaster FAL/M1A, GLock/1911 and GM/Ford wars and the absence of a clear win ought to be a big clue.

[Duke of Lawnchair]

...the absence of a clear win ought to be a big clue

Absolutely, without a doubt the best paraphrase of the AR15 manufacturer wars that I have EVER read.

Extremely well said. :)

[444]

http://groups.msn.com/TheMarylandAR15ShootersSite/ar15brands

Here is a link that gives you a run down of the features of various brands of AR15s.

I think Colt makes a fine AR15. I personally wouldn't buy a new one but that is not because they don't make a good rifle. Most of what I am about to say is stuff I have heard and read from other shooters, some of it may be untrue (Although I do own two preban Colt AR15s, and once owned a third).
Colt uses non standard front pivot pins. This isn't a big deal if you want to keep the gun stock. If you would ever decide to buy additional upper receivers to change the configuration of the rifle, you have several choices. You can buy a Colt upper. Or you can buy an adapter pin that adapts the Colt lower to another brands' upper. Everyone else but Colt uses the same size front pivot pin.
Colt usually costs a little more than Bushmaster. If money were the only issue, the difference isn't great but in my opinion, you arn't getting anything for your money; the gun is no better and costs more.
Colt does not make a mil spec gun for civilian sale. I have heard that their M4 is mil spec, but I don't know. Again, this probably isn't a big deal but I would prefer to have mil spec if I can get it in a clone of a military rifle.
IMO Colt is a PC company. From various things I have heard and read, it seems to me that Colt is primarily concerned with government contracts and civilian sales take a back seat. They offered PC rifles before the 1994 ban such as sear blocks and no bayonet lugs.

[Redlg155]

Colt does make a nice rifle, but they aren't worth the extra cost unless you just like the brand name of Colt.

The searblock can also be a pain if you get a replacement bolt carrier or go to a pistol caliber conversion. The sear block forces you to use a Colt type carrier or modify an existing AR carrier.

Colt models can also be quite confusing with all the different label colors and types.

I'd personally go with a company like Bushmaster where you know you can get service.

Good Shooting
Red

[Gewehr98]

Matter of fact, I kinda got a giggle when a LEO reminded me that the sear block would prevent an over-zealous ATF agent from converting my rifle to go full auto in an effort to sway the jury. Not that I ever plan to have the gun confiscated or end up in court with a potential illegal rifle, but the fact the LEO told me about it...

Now that I think about it, my pre '94 Colt Sporter II Competition HBAR has a chrome-lined barrel, too.

http://www.mauser98.com/hbarsmall.jpg

[Wildalaska]

For what its worth, when the Alaska State Troopers decided to issue AR 15s to their Troopers they chose...

Colts....so far about 120 of them....

And trust me it wasnt because Colts were cheaper than Bushmasters..

That says nothing against the quality of any of the other major AR 15 makers out there...

Colts have chrome line bores.

The cvilian Colts are the EXACT duplicate of the LE rifles except for the nasty flashiders and stuff...

BTW, other than a three extractors breaking (and Colt has now gone to tool steel extractors) and one badly cut slide I have seen almost no problems with Colts over the past three years. In that time period, however, I have seen numerous Kimber and Springfield QC problems..

Colt service turned the bad cut slide around in two weeks, including a repark.

BTW, I sent three Model 70 Winchesters back for service last week..all with crooked sights...

WildqcisgoodAlaska

Wild

[Skunkabilly]

So if I got an AR it wouldn't be far from factory.

It would probably be a flat top with a flip up rear, a dedicated Surefire fore-end, with a red dot (not sure which make yet, we'll see about the Tri-Power) and a tac sling...that's about it.

I don't see much need in all that accurizing stuff considering how gawd-awful I am at shooting a rifle.

A second AR-15 probably as a backup, maybe with a fixed carry handle, or a flattop with mounted carry handle, so I don't dump too much money into the second, but all the parts switch over seamlessly.

Probably have to be the same make and model.

The Colt brandname does have a certain appeal to it, I have to admit. Does Colt make a rifle that matches my criteria?

[444]

"Chrome Lined Barrels & Chambers: All current manufacture 5.56 rifles have chromed chambers, only M4 & A2 barrels have chrome bores (older barrels do have both chrome lined bores & chambers)"

[Nero Steptoe]

"Colts have chrome line bores...."


Wrong. Incorrect. Fallacious. Prevarication.

[HeadCleaver]

How are Colts, are they still getting contracts from LAPD and US?

As far as I know Colt still has a contract to manufacture the M4 for the U.S. Gov.

[Wildalaska]

Wrong. Incorrect. Fallacious. Prevarication.

And your basis for saying that is?

WildwonderingAlaska

[444]

Note that when I said ""Chrome Lined Barrels & Chambers: All current manufacture 5.56 rifles have chromed chambers, only M4 & A2 barrels have chrome bores (older barrels do have both chrome lined bores & chambers)" that we are talking about Colt rifles here. And of course I can't verify this, this was just what it said at that link I provided at the top of this thread.

[BigG]

I've owned several pre-ban Colts and still own two or three. Whatever anybody else says, when they describe their black rifle the first thing they say is, "It's not a Colt, but... "

Colt will always be the standard AR15, just like it is for the 45 Automatic Pistol and Single Action Army. Twenty years from now the preebie Colts will have increased in value while the other prebans will not have kept up. The post bans will not be near as desireable unless they are discontinued or outlawed also. JMHO

[modifiedbrowning]

I thought that Bushmaster now had a contract to manufacture the M4 for the Army Thought I read that somewhere.

[Skunkabilly]

Didn't Armalite make the M-16 at one time for the USG?? :confused:

[BigG]

No, Skunk. Armalite was the company that developed the AR15. They couldn't sell it to anyone so they sold it to Colt for $250,000 in 1959 and Colt marketed it until 1964 when the gommit decided to go with it.

[Jeff White]

Armalite developed the AR15 (the original was full auto). They sold the design to Colt. Colt built the M16 and semi-auto only AR15, to increase production Harrington and Richardson and GM Turbo-Hydromatic Division produced M16A1s for the government. In the early 1980s the aftermarket industry was borne. The early aftermarket lower receivers were different enough to avoid Colt taking court action for patent infringment. A comapny called Rock Island Armory (not the current one or the military arsenal) marketed an AR15 clone in about 83 but it was apparently too close to Colt's and they kept it off the market.

Bushmaster built some M4s for the government around the time of the first Gulf war. Colt produced all of the M16A2s for the government until FN won the contract. Now Colt builds the M4 (they have a patent on a couple of the design features that are specified in the current contract) and FN builds the M16A2.

Of all the current manufacturers for the civilian market, I would recommend Colt, Bushmaster, Armalite and Rock River Arms. I'd avoid Olympic Arms and weapons put together from gunshow table parts.

HTH

Jeff

[Nero Steptoe]

http://www.ar15.com/forums/announcement.html?b=3&f=118&id=172

Check out footnote regarding Colt HBAR's. This is the best info that I've come up with. Can't attest to the chart's accuracy.

[Skunkabilly]

And I take it we can't get the FNs here, right?

[Poodleshooter]

I don't believe that FN's are available here due to the import bans. I've heard of receivers popping up, but I'm unsure if that's legal, as presumably FN only made M16A2 FA receivers, and those would be a no-no.
Colt is building the M4, and presumably converting existing M4's to the newer configurations.
Colt has made postbans with chrome bores. I have one-an MT6601 HBAR. Colt's front pivot pins are standard size on most post bans. Mine is standard size, and will interchange uppers. The fire control pins are NOT standard on mine, or pretty much any Colt made since the early '90's. The blocks are annoying, and are found rather sporadically and in several different annoying designs. My Colt is an excellent example of an AR-15, with a nice finish, good functioning and fine accuracy. It didn't even cost that much ($750 including 720rds of surplus .223 in the mid '90's). It's no better than the Bushies, Armalites, Olympics, etc that are out there.
Get whatever AR you find a decent deal on, provided that it has the options that you want. Just avoid part's guns and manufacturers with bad reputations.

[Jeff White]

No, FN produces only for the military. They don't sell parts either. It's common for a less then reputable dealer to try to pass off any no-name AR as FN.

Jeff

[444]

J&T Parts offers some FN parts. They have a very good reputation in the AR community so I doubt they are selling phoney stuff, but you never know I guess.

http://www.jtdistributing.com/

[Jeff White]

I've done business with J&T before and found they had good service and quality parts. However FN is forbidden by their contract from selling parts on the commercial market. Any parts you see marked FNMI are either stolen or rejects.

The actual manufacturers don't produce many parts themselves. There is a lot of subcontracting going on. It's possible that J&T is buying parts from FN's subcontractors.

For instance Alcoa Forge makes receives for Colt. I have heard that Ruger produces some parts also.

Jeff

[thumbtack]

Nero,

Colt AR's with the marking CB on the barrel has a Chromed Bore.

http://www.biggerhammer.net/ar15/barrelsbolts/

[david_reeves]

Being an unfortunate owner on an Oly Arms, I'd stay far away from olymic. The hand guards suck, the finish sucks, and I've had to ship mine back to the factory due to mounting hole in the carry handle being drilled "somewhat out of spec" (3/4"). When I got the rifle back, you could see where the person who did the work on the rifle actually clamped the reciever into a vice with no blocks, and the left protective ear on the front sight base was actually bent out 1/4" further than the right. Casting marks all over the weapon, It hurts to continue, but I will never buy another Olympic Product again.

Dave

[Kahr carrier]

Bushmaster.:)