How close can I get to an M16A4...

[marksman13]

Without a $200 tax stamp and a multi-thousand dollar price tag? What I mean to ask is, what is the closest AR-15 to an M16A4? A Colt HBAR (not Elite)? I want to add one to my collection just for nostalgia purposes. I want a rifle similar to what I had in Basic Training other than the fact that I would like it to be an A4 instead of an A2. Pretty sure our rifles did not have detachable carry handles (Fort Sill, Oklahoma 2002).

I just took a week end job that pays in cash or guns. I'm going to take guns, because if it's cash my wife will want it. I think a Colt HBAR or Bushmaster HBAR is going to be pretty close. Pretty sure the M16s have fairly heavy contour barrels. Not really sure how that compares to the barrel of an HBAR. I may be way off base, but I have no doubt some one here can help.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Onmilo]

M16A4 has a light profile barrel

& a flat top receiver, no M4 feed ramps either.
The barrel is a Bushmaster.

 

[Armed 24/7]

I would look into the Rock River A4 rifle. I saw one in Cabelas that I think fits your desires. BTW I too want an A4 style rifle, and do not want an M4

 

[Z-Michigan]

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-M16-A4-AR15-Bravo-Company-carbine-rifle-s/146.htm

Functionally identical except for the full-auto switch, and the BCM comes with a superior charging handle. Apart from that it is the same design and same quality. (Current M16s are made by FN, I believe.)

There are a decent number of other options that are not quite as close, with Palmetto State Armory having some uppers that are very close, but the BCM above is pretty much it, minus the fun switch.

 

[marksman13]

I really could not remember if our rifles were heavier profile or not. I thought they might have been just for the fact that they had burst fire capability. Made sense in my mind that full auto+heavy barrel=good idea. You would think as many times as I cleaned the danged thing I would remember. I own a few other ARs. I've got a carbine like the M4 I carried in Iraq and an LR-308T that I hunt with. Just been feeling the itch to own all of the guns I used in the military. Beretta 92 and M21 are next.

Thanks for the help.

 

[marksman13]

Out of curiosity, Z, how much will that Bravo Company rifle cost me as opposed to a similar model from Colt or Bushmaster?

 

[Z-Michigan]

I don't see a price listed but I would guess in the range of $1000-1200. Maybe a bit less. You can buy the upper for that for $399 + bolt group, handguards and charging handle:

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-M16-Government-20-Upper-Receiver-Group-p/bcm-urg-gov-20.htm

Quality is essentially the same as Colt.

 

[henschman]

Yeah, all the military M-16s have a light profile barrel. The HBARs are significantly more front-heavy. Also, the military rifles all have chrome lined barrels, and the rifling is a 1/7 twist.

the best deal I've seen on these is from Palmetto State Armory. They even sell a model that has an FN-marked barrel (which is the exact kind the military uses).

 

[gotigers]

I built an AR15-A4 a couple of months back for just under $800.

PSA lower, PSA LPK, Spikes upper receiver, Mod 1 sales A2 stock kit, PSA premium bolt, PSA charging handle, Fulton Armory 20" HBAR (SS, wylde chamber, 1:8), used Colt carry handle from AR15.com EE, Aramalite FSB, the rest was from midway or PSA.

 

[kfgk14]

BCM A4. Built just as well (to the same spec) except it isn't burst-fire, and ships with the excellent gunfighter charging handle.

 

[68wj]

I thought the M16A4 had a heavier barrel than the A2. Not sure where I picked that up.

 

[henschman]

You may have been thinking of how the A2 has a heavier barrel than the A1 did.

Also there was an M-16 HBAR squad auto version that was fielded by the Marines back in the 70s and 80s, before they got ahold of the M249.

But an HBAR is really too heavy for a standard issue infantry rifle. It negates any of the weight advantage over the older battle rifles like the M-14, and makes the rifle really unbalanced and front-heavy. I personally don't like them. Really their only point is to give you a heavier barrel and still have the same external dimensions as an M-16 service rifle, thereby satisfying the NRA High Power rules. If you want an AR for target, varmint, or long range precision, I would just go with a stainless bull barrel. Other than satisfying NRA rules, there really isn't much reason to have the barrel be heavy under the handguards and then necked down to GI-profile after the gas block, like a HBAR.

For a rifle that you actually are going to be carrying in the field, I greatly prefer a nice gov't profile barrel like what PSA, BCM, and CMMG sells.

 

[Krogen]

I swapped out the issued HBAR in my Bushmaster AR for a standard weight barrel. The rifle handles (to my way of thinking) the way it was designed to. I do not care much for the muzzle heaviness of the HBAR. I do appreciate heavy barrels on pure target or varmint rifles, but not the AR platform.

My cousin now has the HBAR and likes it. He likes Lutefisk too, so what can I say?

 

[gatesbox]

I remember sportsmansguide was selling these a few months ago, if they were not sold out I think you would have a good start on an M16A1 minus the fire control and lower receiver.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/first-edition-m16-parts-kit.aspx?a=244549

 

[Onmilo]

I had to root around to find a picture of my "A4" rifle
I built mine using parts from a number of sources and have since turned it into a more correct version with a fixed A2 stock and standard A2 grip.
I also added an RCO ACOG and Matech back up rear sight.
Mine has a 1/7 Bushmaster Government profile barrel same as my A2.
Good barrels, don't let anyone tell you different.