Tribute to my dad

[Saddlebag Preacher]

I bought an M&P15 2 Sport a couple of years ago as my first AR. I have enjoyed it, and last year I built a coyote specific AR to hunt with. (Watched youtube to learn how.)

This year I wanted to get in on some sales and build a rifle that closely mimicked the rifle my dad used in his two tours of Vietnam. He received a purple heart each tour he went. He passed 13 years ago this Thanksgiving.

I know he used M16A2's, so I wanted to get as close as I can afford. So I bought a PSA rifle upper on sale, a PSA Premium BCG, and Anderson Lower, Bushmaster Milspec lower build kit, a UTG A2 stock kit, and 2 20 round aluminum mags from Brownells. I already had the UTG Pro Carry handle. The USGI M1 sling looks like the one in some of his pictures, so I bought one also in OD green.

Keeping watch on sales for the last couple of months I was able to complete the build for around $440.00 for everything.

Now I know it's not period correct, but it's close enough for the one purpose I have in mind. I have no kids, but my nephew comes to the farm a lot. He was 3 when his Grandpa died. He is 16 now and comes out here to hunt with me. When they come out at Thanksgiving this year, I want him to experience a rifle like his Grandpa used to save his life, no red dots, no scopes, no frills. I think he will enjoy it.

I myself have taken it out this week wringing it out and setting the sights. It shoots great, and reminds me of him every time I look at it.

I was privileged to be in JROTC in Augusta Georgia in school and he was a DI at Ft. Gordon. We went to the range on a class excursion at Gordon and he was on the range that day, showing us how to shoot the M16. We even got to do a burst before we left. I'll always remember that.

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

Very cool rifle and story. Congrats. Keep it clean.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Nice. A2s came after The Nam. Good guns. Shot one in basic.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Good job! Its kinda funny thinking of the AR/M16 being old school, but they have now been the US standard issue longer than ANY other rifle! (Yes, I know, excluding the 1903 and M14 sniper variants, but those arent standard infantry rifles).
I resisted the M4 bug for a loooooong time, but have finally seen the light. Now I kinda have a hankering for a good old fashioned '80 style M16 clone.....thanks for the inspiration!

 

[MachIVshooter]

Its kinda funny thinking of the AR/M16 being old school, but they have now been the US standard issue longer than ANY other rifle! (Yes, I know, excluding the 1903 and M14 sniper variants, but those arent standard infantry rifles).

The 03A4 was only in service for about 30 years; 1942 through Vietnam, although M1C/M1D, M21 and commercial Winchesters & Remingtons were also issued. DMR variants of the M14 have been around since 1969 (M21), also a shorter service life than the M16. I wouldn't consider the M21, M25 or Mk 14 to be M14 rifles any more than I would consider a heavy barreled varmint AR to be an M16. Some common parts, but not the same guns.

The only gun with a longer run in our military is the 1911

 

[Saddlebag Preacher]

Thanks. I may have been wrong on his being A2's. I'm pretty knowledgeable about old west guns, but not AR's. One tour was late 1960's, then next early 1970's.

 

[joed]

As pointed out during the Vietnam conflict the guns were the A1 and not the A2. I know, I was there and carried one for much of the time between 69-70. I believe the A2 came on the scene in the 1980s. I owned an A2 for a short while and thought it better then the A1 it replaced. Kept it until I saw my friend with an M4, sold it and went that route.

Cosmetically the only difference that I know of is the A1 had triangular shaped fore grips. The A1 was designed to shoot 55 gr bullets making the A2 more versatile.


All that said it is a nice tribute to your father regardless. I hope you think of him everytime you shoot it. Enjoy.

 

[MachIVshooter]

As pointed out during the Vietnam conflict the guns were the A1 and not the A2. I know, I was there and carried one for much of the time between 69-70. I believe the A2 came on the scene in the 1980s. I owned an A2 for a short while and thought it better then the A1 it replaced. Kept it until I saw my friend with an M4, sold it and went that route.

Cosmetically the only difference that I know of is the A1 had triangular shaped fore grips. The A1 was designed to shoot 55 gr bullets making the A2 more versatile.

A1 had skinnier barrel, different carry handle/rear sight, different grip & buttstock, different forward assist, and the 3 prong flash hider. As you sort of noted, the A1 had a slower twist as well.

The A2 was adopted by the USMC 1983 ('86 for Army)

 

[Armored farmer]

A very nice tribute.
We'll done.
Blow off some tannerite with it on thanksgiving day.

 

[kwg020]

I was at Ft. Gordon in 1973 for MP school.
kwg

 

[imashooter]

Definitely the thought that counts and of course the memories. My tour began Christmas Eve 68 for a year. Hand salute to you and your Dad.

 

[kBob]

Very nice rifle. During the VN war the standard rifle from 1967 on was the M-16A1. Some of the rifles Marked XM-16E1 floated around in arms rooms into the 1970s just to confuse folks , but that was what the M16A1 was called before it was standardized and had the same features if not the same markings.

It was about the winter of 74/75 in Europe that I finally got an M16A1 with a trap door stock rather than the rounded rubber butt. I honestly liked the Rubber butt plate better than the hard one with the trap door for the cleaning supplies and preferred carrying my cleaning gear in the belt pouch we had before the trap door butt.

There were NCOs in my unit with COBs from VN that had me swap out the "A1" bird cage suppressor with an old three prong as they used the three prong as a tool. For cutting steel packing bands on pallets and such and wire cutting.

I got interviewed in 1974 about possible improvements to the A1 and looking back it is funny but they adopted most of those wants. For some reason I did want round hand guards, though now I sort of wish I had triangular ones on my AR....but am to cheap to buy a set. Also we did ask for a longer butt stock.......we seldom wore body armor and the A1 stock was a bit short for about half of us. We got a real range adjustable rear sight, heavier barrel, heavier bullet and twist for it. Several guys thought a finger groove grip would be great but I liked the old style. Because it was fashionable I think (HK and FN were already doing it) several guys thought a three shot burst selector would be a good idea. I asked for a better lock out. The one available was made so the trooper could easily break it to have full auto if he "needed" it. I kind of felt like until we could get a SAW with a belt that one in four guys firing 18 or 27 round bursts with little effects but noise was more than enough and that most of us should have had semi auto only rifles. I was accused of being a troglodyte.

Did not even think of a case deflector as every one that went through basic with me was right handed......whether their brain said so or not..... or learned to always keep their collar buttoned. When the plastic deflectors that snapped into the carrying handle (that we were not allowed in training to use for such) they were popular on the range with the southpaws.

Honestly I would love an A1 style complete with pencil barrel like they all had. If I had not been so worried about the Hillderbeast back before the election I would have held out for pencil barrel on my CARbine. If I were rolling in extra cash I would not mind having an A1 build with an faux M203 and both sets of sights on it either, just to remember my 'ute.

Anyhow , again nice rifle.

-kBob

 

[kBob]

MachIV,

Nope the A1 had the bird cage. It was in the literature when the guns got to the troops as a difference. Rifles marked M16, and originally XM16E1 had the three prong, then the E1s had them replaced after the adoption of the A1 and bird cage. All it took was a cresent wrench and there were no crush washers as it did not matter how the bird cage or three prong were oriented. They had a split lock washer to keep them tight. The improved flash hider was one of the attributes of the A1. If you saw a three prong on an A1 it was because some trooper preferred the three prong and got one from some place. Besides a few NCOs having three prongers they showed up in parts drawers of arms rooms, I found one in an arms room as late as 1982. Also found a few of the grenade launcher rings one was supposed to add between the barrel and the lock washer when using the bird cage as a grenade launcher in 1982..... and the armorer and none of the Remfs in that HQ unit had any idea what they were. I carried one of those finger spring dealies around a week or so asking folks and not one knew what it was........of course I had not seen a grenade launching blank for an M-16A1 since about 1972 and it was not taught any more so I should not have been surprised. Breifly had a three prong on my A1, but while an E6 could get away with it a little E3 could not. I am pretty sure that the SP1 rifles without F/A but with fences had the birdcage as well when it came out about 69 or 70.

-kBob