Retro AR-15s

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nero45acp

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A few years ago I stumbled onto a website of a company that was making semi-auto versions of Vietnam era looking M16s, and recently I've been toying with the idea of getting one. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the company that was making them. They seemed to be a fairly big and established outfit as they had a number of other AR (and I believe semi-auto M14 lookalike) rifles available. I'd appreciate it if anyone can provide a link to this company, or any other one that makes a good quality Vietnam era looking AR15. Thanks.


nero
 
Well I know of a Colt AR-15 (M16A1 style) it has the old triangular handguard and no forward assist plunger. That is really retro. I do not know of the website you refer to, but look at many of the big AR companies (Colt, CMMG/Bushmaster/Stag, DPMS, RRA) You might be able to find something.
 
Look aournd the gun shows for an OLD SP1 Upper & then build the lower.

You can find the correct stock & Pistol Grip on the Net. Also make sure you get a 3 prong flash hider an no forward assist.
 
Build your own! I did! Just finishined my Colt Model 604 USAF clone so its not in the pic...
Used nodakspud.com lowers and misc. surplus parts gathered over the various websites...

stuff023sy2.jpg
 
Yup. You want an SP1 which was the original AR15 made for the civilian market.

Only difference I think in appearance with the Vietnam era M16 is the 16 had the 3-prong flash hider. I like the looks of the SP1 "basket" style flash hider better but you could probably find the pronged one and swap it if you want.

I bought the one below around 1979 brand new. Came with a 20 round magazine and a 5 round magazine. Think I paid $340 for it if I recall correctly. I think these sell for around a grand these days. I have never needed the forward assist device and the rifle is sleeker and more compact without it in my opinion.


standard.jpg
 
DPMS makes one, they have one for sale at my local shop. I would have bought it if it wasn't such a short barrel.
 
I'd appreciate it if anyone can provide a link to this company, or any other one that makes a good quality Vietnam era looking AR15. Thanks.
Click to expand...

It was indeed Fulton Armory, but they stopped making them.

NoDak is the only company I know making slabside uppers and no fence lowers, but no experience with their product.

http://www.nodakspud.com/AR%20Lowers.htm


I've been thinking about it for a while too.
 
Interesting. I've gone back to the M16A1 stock for my rifle. Like it better than the 16A2 or the M4 collapsible stocks.

Every AR has a forward assist - it's the dished out place on the bolt. :) Just reach your hand around and use the depression to ensure the bolt's forward.
 
hey, i just read a whole article in the 2008 shotgun news treasury mag that covere this exact question. i cant seem to find the article on the net, but i can give you a website to vist.

nodakspud.com

these guys are in the buisness of making uppers and lowers to the same demensions of the first eugene stoner rifle concept. they even have whats called the NDS-32 upper which has the charging handle underneath the carry handle. they also reproduce the old three prong duck bill style flash hider. i hope this helps, and if you can find the mag, it has a reall good article about the retro ar-15's.
 
Every AR has a forward assist - it's the dished out place on the bolt. Just reach your hand around and use the depression to ensure the bolt's forward.
Click to expand...

i won't debate the wisdom of pushing the bolt/carrier closed when it doesn't want to go here... but i will speculate that the gas moving past the other side of that scallop will keep it a wee bit warmer than you'll want to touch.
 
Thanks to all for the helpful/informative replies.

It was indeed Fulton Armory. Too bad they stopped making them. I now wish I had bought one a few years ago. :(

It looks like a Colt SP1 would be a very good solution. Though a brief search on GB indicates it may be closer to $1500-$2000 for a minty/LNIB one. If I do go the SP1 route, is there anything in particular I should know about this rifle? Does the absence of a forward assist present any problems? Will it shoot current product 5.56 ammo OK? Can you shoot .223 Remington ammo with it? Does it take current product AR mags? Do these rifles have chrome lined barrels?

OR... Can I buy a current production AR such as this Armalite, and just put a retro hand guard on it just to give it a cursory retro look? Will the old triangular hand guard fit on a current production Armalite AR? Also, what do you'll think of Armalite ARs in general, and this one rifle in particular?

http://www.armalite.com/ItemForm.as...Category=8e8e5de6-5022-483e-812b-822e58014822

Again, thanks.


nero
 
If I do go the SP1 route, is there anything in particular I should know about this rifle? Does the absence of a forward assist present any problems? Will it shoot current product 5.56 ammo OK? Can you shoot .223 Remington ammo with it? Does it take current product AR mags? Do these rifles have chrome lined barrels?
Click to expand...

Not having forward assist isn't a big deal to me. I've always thought that banging on FA was a good way to take a gun from lightly jammed to totally jammed.

Yes they shoot modern 5.56 and .223 ammo OK. Be aware the twist rate was quite a bit different then. They were 1-12" and designed for bullets in the 40-55gr weight.

Magazines work fine.

From "The Black Rifle":

The chrome plated chamber was adopted on May 26, 1967, and the late-style M16A1 barrel with chrome plated bore and chamber was in production by 1971 or 1972. In lieu of the earlier "CC" or "CB" prefixes, Colt began to mark their barrels (ahead of an initial proprietary "C" for Colt) and the "MP" (Magnafluxed and Proofed), with an additional "C" to indicate the that the barrel had a chrome chamber only, or "CHROME BORE" or "B" to indicate chrome bore and chamber.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the SP1 used M16A1 barrels but I'm not 100% sure.
 
Yep. The old, triangular handguards fit on the current, standard-length uppers. And you can put an A-1 buttstock on, as well, if you get the right length buffer tube. That's what I did.

They don't call 'em Barbie guns 'cause they're plastic toys. They call 'em that 'cause you can dress 'em any way you want.
 
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Rifle buffer tubes are the same length for A1/A2/A4s...A2/A4s have a spacer in the buttstock that makes up for the extra length.

SP1s could have any kind of barrel from the "12" marked or the CMP C or B or CHROME BORE...just depends on when the SP1 was made.
 
A slight hijack: My ar has a colt upper and pwa lower. On the barrel (heavy) it is marked C MP 5.56 NATO 1/7. The upper A2 with FA, deflector is marked with a CM in front of the rear sight. Does anyone have any idea of its general year of production or if the barrel (and or chamber) is chromed? Thanks. To the op's question the triangle hand guards will fit on an a2.
 
Now the good news/bad news:

I saw an actual pre-1964 Colt AR-15 in a pawn shop here in WV today - thing was in great shape, etc.

It was also $2,500.00.

I guess building you own is an excellent idea after all!
 
these all look great. I wish i had known about NoDak when I finally bought My AR. I'd have gone this route.
 
Thanks all for your helpful replies/info.

From a cost perspective it looks like the best way to go is buy a current production AR and just change out the hand guard and butt stock with the older, retro looking furniture. This will give my AR a (somewhat) retro look, but save a decent amount of money.

One last question though; what is your opinion(s) on this particular Armalite AR. How do the Armalite ARs stack up against other AR manufacturers? Thanks.


nero
 
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