Old style AR's

[highpower]

The recent posts regarding triangle handguards and AR15-A4 rifles kind of warms my heart as I have become something of a retro AR fan.

Now, I have had a Colt HBAR A2 for many years and back in the early 90's I used to shoot NRA service rifle matches with it. A year ago I traded into a very nice Colt SP1 and that sparked my interest in the early AR service rifles. At the time M16 kits were relatively inexpensive and I bought a few to see if I could put together a reasonable facsimile of a mid to late sixties M16 clone.

Then the sickness crept in. All of a sudden I was scouring the internet looking for the correct sling for a particular era M16. I think I have it under control now as I have achieved putting together most of the models I was interested in.

But you never know.......

What started the madness, Colt SP1



Then I was talking to a fellow I know and he mentioned that he had a NDS receiver that he was willing to sell, all of a sudden I was building a M16E1 clone.



By now I was truly ill and I decided that I needed to have the "correct" engraving on my clones and so was born the M16A1.



Along with the 'A1 I wanted a XM177E2 CAR so I started this build. This is on a 80% receiver that I had engraved and reprofiled to 'A1 specs. It isn't done yet as it has the wrong moderator and I need to SBR it before I can put the right one on. But you can get an idea of what it is going to look like when done.

And before the net nannys get started, It is legal to engrave the Colt logo (I checked) as long as I am not building these for sale. The serial number is from a block of numbers that wasn't used back in the 60's and I have engraved my name as the maker inside of the mag well.



Last is the old Colt HBAR that I bought so many years ago. Currently it is set up in it's original configuration as a A2 style rifle. This has always been a tack driver and back when I was younger, I was rated as expert using it.



I do however, have another one that I am considering building. currently it is just mocked up with a fake barrel and the wrong stock and lower.

 

[eldon519]

Awesome, I'd love to have an old SP1

 

[DeepSouth]

I've sold every AR I've owned, I just don't care for them. Then I watch the A-Team and start wanting a SP1. I really think I'd keep it, maybe just so I pretend to be Mr. T. One day I'll pro buy one.

 

[bannockburn]

high-power

We share very similar interests as far as vintage AR15s go, as well as the XM177E2 you put together. Can't post any photos right now but will as soon as I can get on my laptop at home.

 

[1911 guy]

Classic example of the sickness. Late onset of symptoms, rapid progression and most likely incurable!

Nice collection. I've got a couple, but have built them to suit specific needs/wants. Pretty cool to see some with "correct" configuration. I've sometimes thought about building an A2 just for kicks and old times.

 

[RainDodger]

Even us old guys can become addicts. For years I swore that I'd only own blued steel and fine wood... then I found a 1970's vintage A2 that was too cheap to pass up. I put it in my safe and an amazing thing happened... sort of like the immaculate conception. It multiplied.

 

[Reloadron]

Real nice collection there. I was also sucked in by the lure of the SP1.



Never thought I would but the nostalgia thing got me. In addition to the pictured rifles another SP1 found its way to me. My brother needed money so I loaned him money against his SP1 and a Colt Python 6". The Double Star was also a result of someone needing money. Surprising how well the Double Star shoots with the 24" barrel.

Just that nostalgic attraction to the SP1 guns.

Ron

Ron

 

[sawdeanz]

Not quite as old, but now that I have picked up a 70's/80's era colt commando kit (as in the model from "Heat") I am too digging the old ARs, well I always have to be honest. Just the other day I spied a shooter at the range with his M16A1! Boy that was cool.

AR15.com has a good retro section, however I avoid that forum otherwise.

 

[loose noose]

Had a chance to build one for a friend about a year ago, he had a M-16 upper, and the original stock, however he had a Spikes Tactical lower, and a 16" M-4 barrel, couldn't talk him into getting a 20" barrel for the triangular fore piece he had, so ended up getting a quad rail for it and completing the otherwise nice gun complete, which could have been an exceptionally nice AR-15 to all but the lower being a Spikes.

 

[Thermactor]

Dang. Fun switch and all. I tip my hat to you, sir. Lovely collection. I must acquire similar!

 

[Malamute]

I like the older, simpler ones, though the triangle handguards dont do much for me after the round ones came out. I like A-2's and A-4's. The A-2 getting preference if its going to be carried much. I cant get my thumb through the flat top's carry handle the same as a true carry handle upper.

AR15.com has a good retro section, however I avoid that forum otherwise.

It only took a couple exploratory visits to decide I didnt want to be involved with that site. M4Carbine has some very good info, including a retro section, and with far less juvenile behavior.

 

[highpower]

I might have to check out M4carbine.net. Last time I went there I was looking for info on a carbine I was building and there were far too many operators and snobs posting to make me want to go back.

Unfortunately, there are snobs everywhere that just can't seem to keep their opinions to themselves and that is true for ARF.com also. The retro forums don't seem to attract as many though.

 

[Malamute]

True enough.

Some of the operators may in fact be operators though.

I understand some of the snob thing. People have been frustrated with things that dont work as well, if thats the part you mean. Like anywhere, theres good and bad. Just seems like a higher signal to noise ratio there.

 

[PJSprog]

I've never really been a fan of the AR platform. Nothing wrong with it, just not my thing (I'm an AK guy). However, should I stumble across a great deal on an A1, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to pass it up. I do love that look.

 

[bannockburn]

highpower

My SP1, though I swapped out the original triangular handguards for the round ones once I tried my brother's A2 version. With small hands the round handguards just feel so much better and much more comfortable to use. Still have them though in case I ever have the need to go retro.

My other AR is my version of an XM177E2 that I built from parts I had accumulated over the years. The lower is an Olympic Arms, the upper from Bushmaster, the folding stock is an aluminum model from Colt as are most of the internal parts.

 

[agtman]

Highpower: very nice old-school builds you have there. Thanks for sharing.

 

[joem1945]

I put one together years ago. Mine has the bird cage comp but i may get the three prong installed one of these days.

 

[ifit]

Yep there's that addiction on retro style ar type, and very nice ones shown on this thread. Built a few, my latest build DOE 9mm pistol

 

[dogmush]

I love that you engraved the sear pin on that 80%.

 

[horsemen61]

Hipower what is the very bottom picture's barrel length?

 

[highpower]

Thanks for all the nice comments!

Reloadron and bannockburn, nice rifles there.

horsemen61, That is a fake barrel, but the real one is going to be the same length, 10".

 

[JO JO]

I am a sucker for the A2 myself

 

[telescopes]

The AR 15/M16 is the greatest battlefield rifle ever!

I am building my 5th AR15 - a M16A1 replica. And to be honest, because I can build it with simple tools and little mechanical experience - this is why I believe it is the greatest rifle ever.

Can I do the same as easily with an AK 47. Nope. Could I build one? Yes. Would it be as easy and would it be as proficient in its build - nope.

The genus of the AR 15 is that the A! build I am building can use the same parts as the 4 M4s I built previously.

My 6th build is a slick side AR and again, almost all parts are interchangeable. How many rifles can you say that about.

And as for reliability. I have never, ever had a jam. I have good friends who were Marines in Afgan and Iraq and they never had problems with the rifle as well. It seems to me, that if you hate it, it is because you hate it. For whatever reason. By history is what it is and the M16 is a legend.

 

[highpower]

Funny you should mention jams. I was at a local range a few weeks ago shooting my SP1 and was thinking of just how light and handy it was. That rifle has never jammed, ever.

 

[kBob]

This past weekend I ran into a faux 177 flash suppressor that I had not seen in a while. It was the type that is hollowed out enough for the barrel to slide to right behind the suppressor slots to allow an actual 16 inch barrel to be used and not look silly or have to cut the barrel back and permanently attach the darn thing.

As I currently want ( but can not afford) a 16 inch carbine LW barrel kit it was very tempting to blow a few bucks on the flash suppressor. I may have to check all the couch and chair cushions for change today and go back and see if they still have it after seeing this thread.

-kBob