How retro should I go on this M16A1-style AR-15?

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MatthewVanitas

MatthewVanitas

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Momentarily setting aside actual functionality, anyone have any suggestions as to how I should set up this AR?

I bought the ACE stock for a different project, but tossed it onto this for kicks. Thinking I might sell the ACE and use the money to buy a full M16A1 furniture set ($20 from Northridge), and run it with that.

Functionally speaking, the ACE is pretty cool for a really tight "entry" posture, but bascially requires you to do the ol' "nose-to-the-charging-handle" at all times.

Then again, I could get a "Stubby" stock (A2 stock as short as fully-collapsed M4 stock), which would have the same feel as the ACE but wouldn't look quite as weird aesthetically.

So, what thinks?
 
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I run an A1 where I use a fixed stock. You might look at the Sully stock. It is between the A1 and the stock length you have now and looks a bit more traditional.
 
Thinking I might sell the ACE and use the money to buy a full M16A1 furniture set ($20 from Northridge),
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if you get it from northridge be prepared to wait for it, they are NOT fast.

took them over a month to send me my set.
 
You can't go too far, being that it has the ram for forcing the action to close. I honestly don't know what that button is called.
 
I honestly don't know what that button is called.
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Forward assist.

I have been thinking the same thing.
I'm planning on buying the A1 stock set even thogh I don't have an AR yet
 
I prefer an A1 stock over just about anything else. However, for my 16" deer/hog rifle (7.62x39 Shaw barrel, DPMS upper + lower) I used a Bushy entry stock, put a 1" extension in front of it and put the SPR adjustable buttplate on the back of it.

The adjustable buttplate gives me the drop that I need, and I've currently got it adjusted out to be about 3/4" shorter than an A1 It's not retro-looking, but it's quite functional. OAL of the rifle is right at 33" as she sits....

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MrTuffPaws said:
You can't go too far, being that it has the ram for forcing the action to close. I honestly don't know what that button is called.
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Actually, the A1 had the forward assist.
 
.45Guy said:
Actually, the A1 had the forward assist.
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yes, the one thing that mathew's upper (disregarding barrel config) has that a true A1 does not is the shell deflector bump.
i beleive the only way to get an upper with the forward assist A1 sights and no deflector is to buy a surplused semi-complete (lacks the bolt and carrier usually) M16A1 upper from someone like CDNN. currently the only NEW uppers i've found (been working on an A1 clone for my wife) with A1 sights are either M-16(no suffix) style "Slickside" units, or uppers made to the specs of a Canadian C7 which is basicly an A1 upper with a intergal brass deflector.
 
Fate intervened

Went to the SAXET gunshow today, and a dealer gave me $90 for my ACE Shorty stock, for which I'd paid $68 OTD.

It was kinda nifty, but absoultely required a nose-to-CH hold, and my taller friends couldn't use it very easily.

I tried out the A1-length stock on an SP1 at the show, and found it to be great, in that I could use it for nose-to-CH "CQB" posture, as well as bladed target posture. So now I need to go track down one of those CavArms A1-length stocks.

Good SAXET show overall; plenty of .38 S&W Spl revos for under $200, several H&R .22s in the mid $100s. Was tempted to buy a Helwan for $190, but decided that an Egyptian copy of a Beretta wasn't as cool as it sounded. RIA 1911s for $339 (.45 and .38 Super!), Hi-Points for $129, etc.

Now I just need to get this rifle back up and running. With an A1 stock, it should be a pretty close match to the Colt 605 used by some units in Vietnam.

(Pic below from www.ar15.com, will find and attribute the poster soon)
 
I put A1 stocks on all my AR's. I usually get them as a complete set from Northridge. (I've never had to wait more than a week for delivery for my stuff from them and they are on the left coast)

What you get may vary somewhat, but they are definitely all serviceable. Some will have some scuffs or a slightly rough finish on them. I repaint mine using Brownell's Aluma Hyde II. They come out looking new and you can also match other colors, like Armalite's OD.

If you do go the A1 route, make sure you get an A1 stock screw. The A2 is longer and when used with the A1 stock will drive you crazy with malfunctions. You can cut the A2 screw down if you cant find an A1. I think Fulton Armory has them though.

One of my Armalite's with an A1 stock from them in OD

f4c8daae.jpg



Bushy Dissapator with a full set done in German Flecktarn

fcaf5493.jpg
 
My pre-A1 style AR is getting pretty close. It has the old buttstock, old style pistol grip, slick side upper with the "set and forget" rear sights,the barrel is a 1:12 20" USGI barrel and the handguards are a set I got from DRMO that are not only triangular, but green painted brown bakalite material and the flash suppressor is the very early type 1 3-prong suppressor (looks more like a duck bill prong rather than the thicker conical shape of the later type 2 3-prong suppressors. Had I thought about it sooner, I would have traded that 1:12 barrel for one of the 1:14 barrels we found when I got the handguards and flash suppressor. :( RIght now the only thing that stands out as not being period correct (other than the lack of go-fast parts) is the bolt is a black bolt carrier with the forward assist serations. I'd like to find myself a slick chrome bolt carrier to replace my current bolt carrier but for now, it's about as pre-M-16 as you can get. :)
 
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