Picked up an odd Franken-AR this morning...

[marksman13]

Bought a bit of an odd duck this morning on a whim. It’s a retro A2 upper of unknown brand sitting on a BCP lower with a Magpul UBR stock. Quite an odd amalgamation of parts dumped into one rifle. Mostly wanted the lower, but the price was too good to pass up. Question now is, do I find a retro lower and finish out a retro M-16 A2 clone or throw this ugly duckling in the truck to live forever?

 

[wally]

I'd go for finishing the retro build.

 

[Browning]

UBR stocks are kind of expensive, so I’d probably pull that off of an AR meant as a truck gun.

What are the markings on the upper?

 

[chicharrones]

Looks like an A1 upper. I'd go retro, but that probably means you're going to turn that 1 rifle into 2 rifles.

 

[wally]

Looks like an A1 upper. I'd go retro, but that probably means you're going to turn that 1 rifle into 2 rifles.

And the problem with that is?

 

[12Bravo20]

And the problem with that is?

I don't see any problems there.

Yes that is an A1 upper. If it was me, I would put an A1 stock on it even if the lower is not correct for an A1 retro. I would also put some A1 triangle handguards on it.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Looks like an A1 upper. I'd go retro, but that probably means you're going to turn that 1 rifle into 2 rifles.

What he said.

 

[marksman13]

UBR stocks are kind of expensive, so I’d probably pull that off of an AR meant as a truck gun.

What are the markings on the upper?

Only markings I see on the upper are right at the front of the carry handle.

 

[marksman13]

Now, that’s more like it.

 

[briansmithwins]

Looks like an A1 upper. I'd go retro, but that probably means you're going to turn that 1 rifle into 2 rifles.

They’re like bacteria. One becomes two, two becomes four.

BSW

 

[marksman13]

Barrel only has one set of markings and based on my light research, I believe this is a Colt Barrel, and maybe a Colt upper. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will chime in.

 

[WestKentucky]

If you don’t like the upper, a stripped a2 brings solid money these days. Last one I bought was $75 and I thought I got a great deal.

 

[WestKentucky]

And a C MP marked barrel does supposedly track back to Colt. What little bit I just now read on them makes it seems like a somewhat rare setup. You may have a highly desirable old school upper on your hands.

 

[12Bravo20]

If you don’t like the upper, a stripped a2 brings solid money these days. Last one I bought was $75 and I thought I got a great deal.

The upper that the OP has is an A1 upper. You can tell by the sights and lack of a brass deflector.

 

[12Bravo20]

Now, that’s more like it. View attachment 908102

Looking good. Now if you want to finish the A1, get some triangle handguards for the rifle

 

[Browning]

That does look like a Colt upper.

I’d personally turn it into two. Be kinda cool. A modern and a retro.

 

[12Bravo20]

It all depends on how correct he wants to make a clone. On the cheap/minimum I would replace the round handguards with some A1 triangle handguards and call it good.

 

[chicharrones]

It all depends on how correct he wants to make a clone. On the cheap/minimum I would replace the round handguards with some A1 triangle handguards and call it good.

That's one of my first thoughts, too.

But I wonder about the round handguards on @marksman13 's rifle? The ribs are further apart that what I'm used to seeing on A2s, and they don't appear to be tapered.

I wonder if that means those handguards are an early "pre-A2" or a late experimental "A1"? Or some commercial version of an A2?

Someone around here ought to know if those handguards are special or not.

 

[12Bravo20]

Yes if they are special, then worth keeping on the rifle. Though they could easily be some form of commercial variant.

 

[marksman13]

That's one of my first thoughts, too.

But I wonder about the round handguards on @marksman13 's rifle? The ribs are further apart that what I'm used to seeing on A2s, and they don't appear to be tapered.

I wonder if that means those handguards are an early "pre-A2" or a late experimental "A1"? Or some commercial version of an A2?

Someone around here ought to know if those handguards are special or not.

The hand guards are different than any I’ve seen. No clue if they are special, or really cheap. Either way, I’m going to leave it like it is for right now and Form 1 the lower it came with and turn it into a 300 BLK SBR. Ordered everything for the SBR and I’ll stick it on a pistol lower until my stamp comes back.