Picked up a Post-Ban Colt HBAR this morning...

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marksman13

marksman13

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I guess more appropriately this rifle should be called an AWB era rifle. Got it for a song. Pays to be a good customer I suppose. This rifle is one of those weird Colts built during the ban years with the Colt only cut out in the lower receiver and the screw in pivot pin and non-threaded barrel. I think it lived most of its life in a closet and doesn’t appear to have been fired much. Previous owner did screw up the butt stock by installing a screw in cheek rest, but I’ve got a couple A2 stocks at the house. All in all, ANY AR-15 would have been a buy at the price I paid, but this one was especially worth it. I’ll post the obligatory pictures once I get home with it. Definitely a cool find.
 
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I have one of those, mine came with a 16” non-flash hider barrel. :thumbup: Back when the “AR-15” was banned by name only in Ca, Colt got around it by calling their product the “Match Target.” It only lasted a short period of time before the overlords banned them by their name and by their parts.

I gave the original upper to my Dad and put on a BCM 14.5” with a pinned Phantom.

Cool find, it should shoot very well for you (mine did...and still does.) :)

Stay safe.
 
I would be somewhat torn if I came into one of these. One the one hand, it's a collectible as is, exemplifying a certain era. On the other hand, I would be sorely tempted to rebarrel it, substituting a barrel assembly with a threaded muzzle and a bayonet lug. At least externally, then, it would resemble a standard A2.

Back in the day (during the ban era), these emasculated Colt guns were not very attractive to buyers. By that time, there were plenty of aftermarket receivers and other parts, out of which people were assembling their own without regard to the "ban" restrictions. The "ban" wasn't very enforceable.
 
The Colt Match Target was the first complete AR I ever bought, it was a fine shooter and it was cheap because it was "neutered" as we used to say.

"Looking" like an A2 isn't as important to me as it used to be ... back then the AWB was like a fresh wound ... it hurt and required striking back in defiance, just like swapping out the "Bush-hole" stock on your AK!

These days I would just leave it as is.
As a Match or Target gun it doesn't need a flash hider and most don't have them ... as for the bayonet lug, how often do you see a bayonet on any rifle anymore?

Of course, your money, your decision ... but I'd hope you don't make any permanent modifications, and keep the original parts ... barrels are cheap and its future value may surprise you.
 
kimberkid said:
The Colt Match Target was the first complete AR I ever bought, it was a fine shooter and it was cheap because it was "neutered" as we used to say.

"Looking" like an A2 isn't as important to me as it used to be ... back then the AWB was like a fresh wound ... it hurt and required striking back in defiance, just like swapping out the "Bush-hole" stock on your AK!

These days I would just leave it as is.
As a Match or Target gun it doesn't need a flash hider and most don't have them ... as for the bayonet lug, how often do you see a bayonet on any rifle anymore?

Of course, your money, your decision ... but I'd hope you don't make any permanent modifications, and keep the original parts ... barrels are cheap and its future value may surprise you.
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I don’t intend to change anything other than swapping the stock since the previous owner decided to screw this one up. Probably gonna turn around and sell it at some point though. I’ve got so many ARs that I don’t really need this one and would rather have another Ruger No. 1.
 
marksman13 said:
I don’t intend to change anything other than swapping the stock since the previous owner decided to screw this one up.
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Most of the A2 stocks available these days are cheapies made in China.

It seems to me that patching the holes in your existing stock, and refinishing (a coat of flat-black paint), would be preferable to putting on a stock of unknown origin.
 
AlexanderA said:
Most of the A2 stocks available these days are cheapies made in China.

It seems to me that patching the holes in your existing stock, and refinishing (a coat of flat-black paint), would be preferable to putting on a stock of unknown origin.
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Are there any markings on the stock that differentiate a aftermarket or even Chinese made stock from a Colt stock?

On the other hand, I know of several classic car guys that say, "every dent, ding & scratched was earned, and its only original once", meaning they would rather have an "original" than a repaint, and that is important to some people ... so even if you do replace it, it may be good to hang on to the original ... your gun, your money!
 
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I’ve got a couple A2 stocks laying around. No reason to throw away the old one. If a potential buyer wants the original, they could have it and one of the others and I’m not really out any money.
 
Nice looking rifle! I bought one just like it 20 years ago as my first AR. Had a lot of fun with it, but eventually moved on to other things. There was never any issues with that one, but I like some of my builds much better. FWIW, I'd leave the stock alone and include one of your others in the sale. He can change it if he wants.
 
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