An H-Bar -A2 AR - where do I find a really good one?

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I have a Colt HBar A2. I see that this has been replaced by the A4. That model seems to have all the stated requirements.
 
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Windham weaponry is the best bet for a complete upper or rifle. Shark arms has new colt barrels, bolts, and receivers if you want to build. Brownells or Windham have the proper hand guards.
 
I too am looking to add a 20 inch A2 or A4 to the collection.

There were rumors going around that the quality of Bushmaster went down when it was purchased by Remington / Freedom Group.
Windham (Bushmaster's original owner) it supposed to be better quality. Windham wants a lot of $ for their 20 inch rifle.

I have a 16 inch chrome lined Windham that shoots really nicely. I believe they sighted in the A4 removable carry handle sights at the factory as I didn't need to make any sight adjustments on mine. It's a nice gun but I paid around $900+ for it 6 years ago.

I can assemble a PSA 20 incher for significantly less $.

$279.99 A4 upper minus carry handle:
https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...1-7-upper-with-bcg-and-charging-handle-1.html

$199.99 complete A2 lower:
https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-pa15-complete-classic-ept-a2-lower-receiver.html

$479.98 before shipping and transfer.
I'd then need to find a surplus carry handle = $50 to $100.

Still debating...

Was looking at Colts on Gunbroker yesterday. I'd rather have both a Bushmaster & a PSA for the price of a Colt.
 
This would be my first choice https://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=1838 followed by the Windham. When Freedom Group acquired Bushmaster they did so for the name alone; leaving behind the production facility and its skilled labor force.

Those same two components came together to form Windham and though I have no first-hand experience shooting their rifles, I have examined several over the years and look to be what Bushmaster was. IIRC Freedom Group jettisoned Bushmaster after Sandy Hook and what they produce at present (quality wise) I cannot say.
 
If you don't mind an A4, the Colt AR-15A4 checks all the boxes except barrel profile. It has a government profile rather than the HBar profile. Government profile is what they issued.
 
Garandimal said:
Happen to know the LOP of the A1 and A2 stocks?
Click to expand...
LOP of the A1 stock is 13". The A2 stock is 5/8" longer. This may not seem like much, but it can really make a difference if you're of small stature, or are wearing heavy clothing or bulky gear.

IMO the A2 stock was a huge mistake. Of course that's moot now since most "modern" AR's have adjustable telescoping stocks. But I've never liked the telescoping stock since it was originally a kludge for the Vietnam-era XM177 carbine. It seemed like a forced improvisation at the time.

Both the A1 and A2 stocks use the same rifle-length buffer tube. The A2 stock uses a 5/8" spacer for the buffer tube, a longer buffer tube screw, and a shorter sling swivel screw. (The sling swivel, for some strange reason, is closer to the buttplate on the A2 stock.)
 
Garandimal said:
They have this one... but it always seems to be OOS.

PSA PA-15 20” Nitride A2 Rifle-Length 5.56 NATO Classic AR-15 Rifle, Black

GR
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FWIW ...

... I like PSA but I find it annoying for them to advertise an A3-rcvrd rifle as an A2. It just strikes me as a bit dodgy.

I actually emailed them about this months ago when I first received a Sale email from them containing this inaccurately-advertised product.

Apparently, they do not care and it has caused me to dial-down my previously-all-good impressions of them and view future PSA offerings with a somewhat jaundiced eye. <shrug>

That said, I certainly have not lost any sleep over it ... :)
 
LGS had a Colt, no box, very clean.............about 3 weeks ago.
Think consignment at around a K.
It did not last very long.
Have no idea if that was a good price or not,
 
After 1980 or so (when there was finally significant competition from the aftermarket clones), Colt AR's were less mil-spec than their competitors. Colt went overboard to mollify the antigunners, exceeding the ATF requirements. I would not consider the Colt name to be a selling point in the aftermarket era. I don't collect Colts -- I collect U.S.military small arms.
 
I would just get a real mil surplus A2 upper. Here’s one for $430 with free shipping. They are new in military wrap.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/820068143

These were made by Capco for converting A1 rifles to A2 for some branch of the military in the late 90s I believe.

The A2 was the ultimate refinement of the platform as far as I’m concerned. They have great sights, get full velocity from the 20” barrel, run cool with the rifle length grass system, no different buffer weights to mess with. I’m 6’4” so I even like the long buttstock.

Dan
 
Dan Forrester said:
The A2 was the ultimate refinement of the platform as far as I’m concerned.
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AAAAAAAA-MEN! I wholeheartedly agree. Although, the A1 is noticeably lighter to carry. IMO, the A2 sights make it king of the hill. (And I'm not even a fan of the AR, in general. As Garandimal says: "I'm basically a Garand guy.")
 
D.B. Cooper said:
That looks totally awesome. However, I see red flags because the seller states no return/refunds and only accepts money order and certified check. No credit card nor pay pal. That mean zero protection or recourse for the buyer if things aren't as they appear.
Click to expand...

That's where you check his feedback. Figure he's a private seller that doesn't want to deal with credit cards or a wishy washy buyer.
 
Garandimal said:
Not a Collector.

Just lookin' for a good rifle to acquire.

If - A4 feed ramp works better? Great!

M193/WG is all I'll probably ever shoot. 1:9 twist rate is fine.


The A2 is an old friend.

Liked the feel/fit/function of it.

The only AR that ever really qualified for my rack.




GR
Click to expand...

I have a Colt A2 H-bar sporter I bought in 1992, in recent years I also have a Colt A4 and FN A4 and they are all equal in accuracy. With the A4 you have a choice of removing the carry handle for optics. Of course IF you want you can add a optic to the A2 handle also.

That said my Bushmaster M4 carbine made in the early 2000's is as accurate as the 20 inch ones, at least at 100 yds.

All of mine shoot better with 55gr compared to 62 gr.

A2 /A4 rear sights are the best iron adjustable sights I have ever used.
 
I mentioned earlier in this thread that I am trying to put together an A2 style rifle at the current time. This is proving to be much harder than I expected. I went to a large gun show this weekend (the Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia), and all the complete uppers -- and even stripped upper receivers -- that were for sale were of the flat top variety. Brownells has a stripped A2 upper (DPMS), but the only suitable barrel assembly that they carry (without the M4 ramps) has the "F" marked front sight base. (The "F" marked base is slightly taller, so that it co-witnesses with a clamp-on carrying handle on a flat top receiver.) Not only that, but this barrel has the "government profile" with the thinner section under the handguards. And these components are not cheap, by the time you add them all up.
 
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