Colt AR-15 OEM

[Thompson9494]

Colt recently released their bare-bones edition of the AR-15 which got me somewhat interested in picking up an AR-15 here in the near future. I’ve already got a Steyr AUG A3 that I’ve been enjoying thus far but I still want an AR-15 for….well, I just want one.

I've just got a few questions first as I've never attempted an AR-15 build of any kind before.

Just looking at the picture on the Colt website, it looks as though I would need to get a stock, handguard, sights and a trigger guard as a start. Is there anything else I would absolutely need to get the carbine fully operational?

 

[chris in va]

Just by looking at the 'OEM' picture, I think that's about it really. Just lets you pick your own stock hardware.

Honestly though I'd just get a complete 6920 from WalMart etc for $900.

 

[Thompson9494]

That is a valid point but I would prefer to cut down on the amount of discarded parts I have lying around if possible.

Oh and does the 6920 have the mil-spec or commercial buffer tube??

Thanks.

 

[herrwalther]

I am interested in the Colt OEM up until I see what the street price will be. If it ends up being too high you will still save more money by buying a stock AR and selling off the parts that get replaced. Looks like the MSRP is right at $800 with the estimate of real price being 700. Hopefully it will dip lower.

 

[Jackal]

They should come to market in the $600 region. Now when they release a barebones 6720, I'll take note...

 

[Zach S]

Thompson, unless Colt started cheaping out, the buffertube is milspec, and held in place with a properly staked castle nut.

 

[NWcityguy2]

It'll have a mil-spec tube. I honestly can't remember seeing something less exciting than the OEM models. It's like saying hold the mayo on a hamburger. It's a no brainer to include a trigger guard too, as literally everyone would be happy with an MOE extended guard. Why they left out a part so cheap is beyond me.

Pre-shipping online prices are $750ish.

 

[Thompson9494]

Thanks for the replies so far!

Are there any particularly good accessories I need to be aware of or need to avoid?

My first plan is to buy the first four items I've already listed and then look into an optic, aftermarket trigger, charging handle, pistol grip, fore grip and finally a sling.

Is there any set day for when these rifles are gonna start selling on the open market?

 

[guyfromohio]

My guy had one last week. I think he was selling in the low $700s.

 

[Inebriated]

Are there any particularly good accessories I need to be aware of or need to avoid?

My first plan is to buy the first four items I've already listed and then look into an optic, aftermarket trigger, charging handle, pistol grip, fore grip and finally a sling.

Unless you're planning on a free-float rail/handguard, or have a setup already in mind, you'll be fine just buying a complete 6920 with Magpul furniture. Will come with the MOE handguard, VFG, stock, grip, and trigger guard.

If you do want a free-float setup, you need to decide;
1) Do you want the FSB, or a rail-mounted front sight [meaning you buy OEM1 or OEM2]
2) Do you want a handguard with a proprietary barrel nut, or one that utilizes the factory barrel nut
3) Do you want a quad rail, KeyMod, M-LOK, or a proprietary modular rail?

The accessories you add will really just depend on what you're doing with it, and unless you're sure of what you want, a complete 6920 will give you the opportunity to shoot the rifle as-is, and change parts as you feel necessary.

I honestly can't remember seeing something less exciting than the OEM models.

A Colt that accommodates an extended handguard out of the box with a taper-pinned low profile gas block... Yeah, how boring.

 

[NWcityguy2]

When several other companies already offer that, in your choice of carbine or mid-length, 14.5" or 16", pencil, government or SOCOM profile, and giving you the option of them installing the rail, or buying only the barreled upper instead of a complete rifle, yeah seeing a single 16" model is pretty boring.

Welcome to 2015, Colt and Inebriated.

 

[Fishbed77]

A Colt that accommodates an extended handguard out of the box with a taper-pinned low profile gas block... Yeah, how boring.

Indeed - the OEM2 is a great idea. It's the perfect starting point for an easy quality semi-custom carbine build.

 

[Inebriated]

When several other companies already offer that, in your choice of carbine or mid-length, 14.5" or 16", pencil, government or SOCOM profile, and giving you the option of them installing the rail, or buying only the barreled upper instead of a complete rifle, yeah seeing a single 16" model is pretty boring.

Welcome to 2015, Colt and Inebriated.

And how many of those companies installs a gas block the way it's supposed to be installed, which is taper-pinned?

 

[NWcityguy2]

Low profile gas blocks, covered by a rail, don't need to be taper pinned. That's never they way they were supposed to be installed, as evidenced by the companies who make them not adding the pin holes.

 

[Thompson9494]

Indeed - the OEM2 is a great idea. It's the perfect starting point for an easy quality semi-custom carbine build.

This is the way I'm looking at it. I want my AR to be as custom as possible without having to buy a completely stripped lower receiver. Even if I only save a couple of bucks by going for the OEM vs. a regular 6920 I'll be happy and yes, I've already got a preliminary setup in mind but it does not include free floating the barrel, it's pretty basic actually.

After I'm done buying the stock, fore end, trigger guard and iron sights I'm gonna move on to things like optics, a new pistol grip, sling, Magpul AFG and then I might look at getting a new trigger and charging handle.

 

[NWcityguy2]

If you are going to attach a sling, get a stock with a QD port. That way when you clean it, the upper and lower won't be stuck together by the sling.

 

[masakari]

The Colt OEM 2 looks like a winner to me, but either would be great with a Centurion rail as they would simply drop on.

 

[Thompson9494]

After market trigger options

Do any of y'all have anything to say, positive or negative about aftermarket triggers such as those made by Geissele or Wilson Combat?

Thanks!

 

[Inebriated]

Geissele makes fantastic triggers. Never used a Wilson myself.

 

[agtman]

They should come to market in the $600 region. Now when they release a barebones 6720, I'll take note...

Sort of agree. But even the modular parts have gotten price-competitive, as everybody and their brothers are making foreends (railed & non-railed), grips, stocks, and BUIS. Prices have dropped on those too.

On the bare-bones Colt, I was thinking $650-ish for a reasonable street price. It is wearing the Pony after all ...

Plus, I've already got a large stash of not-currently-being-used parts to dress one out, so no additional outlay of cash would be needed, other than for an optic.

 

[Thompson9494]

Does anyone have anything positive or negative to say about the SureFire M73 rail or the VLTOR IMOD stock?

 

[Fishbed77]

Does anyone have anything positive or negative to say about the SureFire M73 rail or the VLTOR IMOD stock?

Not really. The IMOD is an overpriced beard-grabber, so I'd rather go with something like the B5 SOPMOD or Magpul MOE SL or ACS-L.

I don't know as much about the Surefire M73. Surefire typically makes good stuff, but Troy, DD, and KAC make similar drop-in rails worth looking at as well.

 

[Zach S]

I had an M73 for a short time.

At the time, free float rails that weighed about the same, could be had for about the same price, for example Midwest Industries.

It was a quality piece that mounted up pretty solid though.

Its not something I would buy new, there were more affordable high quality options then, and I'm sure there are more now.

 

[masakari]

The IMOD is a good stock, but I too much prefer the B5 SOPMOD and SOPMOD bravo stocks.
as far as rails, surefire rails are heavy and outdated. Check out Daniel Defense. But remember that Centurion rails use the stock barrel nut, so in your case they would simply drop in. Huge advantage.

 

[Inebriated]

Ever since getting. BCM Mod 0 stock, it's ruined all others for me. Light, stable, comfy, and tough.