Brownells Retro AR Rifles

[Centuriator]

Could we have a topic devoted strictly to the Brownells rifles?

Link to Brownells Web Site




Made with brand new, fully-modern materials, Brownells Retro Rifles are faithful copies of classic Eugene Stoner designs. Hold history in your hands. Get a Brownells Retro Rifle today.

Brownells Model: BRN-10A Rifle .308
1955-1960

The BRN-10™ by Brownells brings back to life the original Eugene Stoner, lightweight 308 battle rifle. The BRN-10A barrel features a heavy barrel with distinctive and functional fluting under the handguard.

Heavy contoured barrel with aggressive fluting underneath the handguard
3-Prong, Dutch style flash hider with nitride finish
Brown Retro furniture to mimic original fiberglass look
Weight: 9 lbs
Receivers designed by FM Products are machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum
Trigger style charging handle underneath the carry handle is retained by internal detent system
308 Winchester 20” QPQ 1-10 Rifle Length Barrel Assembly manufactured by Faxon
Brownells Retro Buttstock Assembly & Pistol Grip


Brownells Model: BRN-10B Rifle .308
1955-1960

The BRN-10™ by Brownells brings back to life the original Eugene Stoner, lightweight 308 battle rifle. The BRN-10B features a lightweight barrel, which allows for a quick handling package.

Lightweight barrel assembly
Closed prong, Portugese style flash hider with nitride finish
Black Retro furniture to mimic later production AR-10® rifles
Weight: 8 lbs
Receivers designed by FM Products are machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum
Trigger style charging handle underneath the carry handle is retained by internal detent system
308 Winchester 20” QPQ 1-10 Rifle Length Barrel Assembly manufactured by Faxon
Brownells Retro Buttstock Assembly & Pistol Grip


Brownells Model: BRN-601 Rifle 5.56mm
1959-1964

The Brownells Model BRN-601 Rifle recreates the classic design of the original AR-15 issued to the United States Military in the early 1960s.

Model 601 Style Lower Receiver with slab side
Slickside Upper Receiver
Matte gray anodizing (not painted)
20" 5.56x45mm NATO Barrel with 1-12 twist & chrome bore
Chrome, Duckbill 3 Prong Flash Hider
Green buttstock, pistol grip & handguard assembly
Includes 20rd Magazine, GI Operations Manual & Chamber Flag


Brownells Model: XBRN16E1 Rifle 5.56mm
1964-1967

The Brownells Model XBRN16E1 Rifle replicates the design of the first AR-15 to be issued in mass numbers to US Army on the ground in Vietnam.

XM16E1 Style Lower Receiver with partial "magazine fence"
XM16E1 Upper Receiver
Matte gray anodizing (not painted)
20" 5.56x45mm NATO Barrel with 1-12 twist & chrome bore
Chrome, Bolt Carrier Group with forward assist serrations
3 Prong Flash Hider
Black buttstock, pistol grip & handguard assembly
Includes 20rd Magazine, GI Operations Manual & Chamber Flag


Brownells Model: BRN-16A1 Rifle 5.56mm
1967-1982

The Brownells BRN-16A1 Rifle replicates the iconic M16A1 rifle issued to thousands of US Soldiers, Marines, Sailors & Airmen.

M16A1 Style Lower Receiver with full "magazine fence"
M16A1 Upper Receiver
Matte gray anodizing (not painted)
20" 5.56x45mm NATO Barrel with 1-12 twist & chrome bore
Mil-Spec Phosphate/Chrome Bolt Carrier Group
A1 Flash Hider
Black buttstock, pistol grip & handguard assembly
Includes 20rd Magazine, GI Operations Manual & Chamber Flag


Brownells Model: XM177E2 Rifle 5.56mm
1967-1982

The Brownells XBRN177E2 Carbine is an homage to the classic carbine used by US troops in Vietnam.

M16A1 Style Lower Receiver with full "magazine fence"
M16A1 Upper Receiver
Matte gray anodizing (not painted)
12.7" 5.56x45mm NATO Barrel with 1-12 twist & chrome bore
XM177 flash hider with grenade ring (pinned and welded to meet legal length)
Mil-Spec Phosphate/Chrome Bolt Carrier Group
Black CAR buttstock, pistol grip & handguard assembly
Includes 20rd Magazine, GI Operations Manual & Chamber Flag

 

[chicharrones]

They certainly have the retro looks.

At $1300 to $1600 each, I wonder how that compares to what people have spent to put together their own retro AR?

 

[saiga308]

Could we have a topic devoted strictly to the Brownells rifles?

Link to Brownells Web Site

the 308 ar 10 way to steep for me

$1,599.99 -

 

[Browning]

Pretty cool.

Looking at those prices though I wish I'd just bought an original A1 parts kit from CDNN for $299 and bought a No Dak receiver when I looked at them about 10 years ago.

Meant to go back and grab one.

 

[hq]

At $1300 to $1600 each

WHAT?! Pencil barrels, A1 furniture and uppers shouldn't be THAT expensive. I've thought about putting together a pair of vintage-style Colt R6001/R6420 clones (regular for myself, a Stag-based lefty for my son) and even with a selection of quality parts, we can have them both for that. A vintage-style AR10 may be a bit more elaborate and expensive because of some special parts, but still...

 

[saiga308]

Pretty cool.

Looking at those prices though I wish I'd just bought an original A1 parts kit from CDNN for $299 and bought a No Dak receiver when I looked at them about 10 years ago.

Meant to go back and grab one.

like psa has? http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...r-with-bcg-and-charging-handle-516445344.html

 

[bannockburn]

Nice looking retro rifles but a little pricey for my wallet. Will just have to be content with my Colt SP1 Sporter (yes I still have the triangular handguards), and my home built XM177E2.

 

[Tiro Finale]

Pretty slick, but those prices are something else.

 

[mshootnit]

Or you can buy the real civi one :
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=colt+sp1

 

[Bushpilot]

I like the retro AR's but Brownell's prices are way too high. I think I could build something close myself for a lot less. I've always found Brownell's prices for everything to be too high, especially their rate for consumers.

 

[Centuriator]

Hey, if you can build one for less, more power to you. Seriously, I wish I could.

I'm too lazy, mechanically incompetent and old enough and have enough money and don't-care-enough to just let Brownells give me a retro that is good enough for me.



MAGA

 

[hq]

Or you can buy the real civi one :

Really? At this rate my modest (ok, my wife calls me a hoarder) collection of vintage AR15/M16:s is quickly turning into a full-blown pension plan.

I'd imagine other manufacturers will follow suit providing that Brownell's guns sell and the competition will take care of the pricing of vintage repros. There's just something magical about the "say hello to my little friend!" -aspect of early models and A1:s...

 

[briansmithwins]

The most appealing one for me would be the lightweight .308 model.

Just not sure if $1600 for shooting more expensive ammo is appealing enough.

BSW

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I love the attention to detail on these rifles, but the price seems pretty steep.

I like the retro AR's but Brownell's prices are way too high. I think I could build something close myself for a lot less. I've always found Brownell's prices for everything to be too high, especially their rate for consumers.

Brownell's prices are pretty high, but they seem to have a free shipping or 10% off sale every other day. I think they mark things up to mark them back down. Personally, I always shop there because they've got some cool house-brand stuff (Oxpho Blue, 20rd straight AR mags, etc), and the quality is usually pretty good.

Building something myself is exactly what I'm doing. I bought a lower build kit and a retro furniture pack from Brownells, and if they ever get them back in stock, I'm getting an A2 pencil barrel upper from Del-Ton. It's not historically accurate, but the final price is nearly half of what these cost.

 

[Browning]

like psa has? http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...r-with-bcg-and-charging-handle-516445344.html

No, like this....



The old Vietnam era SP1 parts kits that were floating around all over the place in the early 2000's for just a few hundred bucks.

Add a No Dak Spud retro lower and boom, insta-Vietnam rifle.

 

[Reloadron]

Or you can buy the real civi one :
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=colt+sp1

I was surprised at what the Colt SP1 guns are going for. I have a few and several original 20 round Colt magazines. Never dreamed those guns would be selling for over $1500.00. While I have an older Armalite AR-10(T) I would not mind another .308 rifle. Yes, they are pricey but if they shoot well and function well I can see Brownell's turning a buck on them. Didn't we have a thread not long ago about these Brownell's offerings?

Ron

 

[saiga308]

Or you can buy the real civi one :
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=colt+sp1

i like this nickel plated one their on that page it has eye appeal [

 

[bannockburn]

Ron

I was surprised at what the Colt SP1 guns are going for. I have a few and several original 20 round Colt magazines. Never dreamed those guns would be selling for over $1500.00.

As was I. Don't think I would be buying either them if that's what they would be going for!

 

[Reloadron]

Ron



As was I. Don't think I would be buying either them if that's what they would be going for!

Yeah, when I go off to the big range in the sky my wife can live a month off each. I got the ones I have decades ago, I seldom shoot them so they just sit in the safe.

Ron

 

[mshootnit]

I was surprised at what the Colt SP1 guns are going for. I have a few and several original 20 round Colt magazines. Never dreamed those guns would be selling for over $1500.00. While I have an older Armalite AR-10(T) I would not mind another .308 rifle. Yes, they are pricey but if they shoot well and function well I can see Brownell's turning a buck on them. Didn't we have a thread not long ago about these Brownell's offerings?

Ron

We bought one at auction some 14 years ago. Complete package NIB from the 70's. Went for over 2300.00 and auction had around 2500 views.

 

[mshootnit]

Ron



As was I. Don't think I would be buying either them if that's what they would be going for!

They are worth it !

 

[Dr.Rob]

Hey, if you can build one for less, more power to you. Seriously, I wish I could.

A good barrel is the basis for any rifle. Tony's custom's makes a great retro XM-177 barrel with a modern 1/9 twist for under $200. It's a great starting point.

https://www.tonyscustomsllc.com/product/16-inch-xm-177-barrel-only/

 

[Dr.Rob]

Now those vintage AR-10's are something else entirely.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Now those vintage AR-10's are something else entirely.

That FAMAS-style cocking handle is just too cool.

 

[Speedo66]

Nice idea to bring out retro versions, I guess the market for regular AR's is too saturated for much in the way of sales growth.

My opinion on the price of the SP-1's is a new retro version will always be a copy, and probably not appreciate in value, while the originals will probably continue to do so. In a few years you may remark on how cheap they were "back then", meaning now. Look at what time has done for SKS's, Swedish Mausers, Swiss K-31's, and Mosins.