Who makes a good M16 clone
- Thread starter Trygve
- Start date
- Status
I hate too say it, but barfcom has a decent retro forum.
You will probably need to make a friend in your area to help build it.
For a true clone it will be costly. Nodak Spud has repro no fence lowers in grey.
Numrich will have surplus A1 stocks and hand guards.
Brownells normally has A1 uppers with no shell deflector, but they are black and match their A1 lowers.
Tear drop FA and three prong FH are easy to find. As are Colt 20rd mags and crappy nylon slings.
If historical correctness does not matter, buy a Windham A2 and put the Numrich stock and triangle hand guards on it. Relatively cheap and easy.
You will probably need to make a friend in your area to help build it.
For a true clone it will be costly. Nodak Spud has repro no fence lowers in grey.
Numrich will have surplus A1 stocks and hand guards.
Brownells normally has A1 uppers with no shell deflector, but they are black and match their A1 lowers.
Tear drop FA and three prong FH are easy to find. As are Colt 20rd mags and crappy nylon slings.
If historical correctness does not matter, buy a Windham A2 and put the Numrich stock and triangle hand guards on it. Relatively cheap and easy.
A slicksided M16 lookalike is really the only AR that interest me, and I'm pretty amazed with the plethora of companies making AR15's, Fulton Armory is the only place I've been able to find a complete retro rifle for sale(haven't check auction sites, not really my thing).
WestKentucky
Member
A 'nam gun is on my build list. I don't give a rip about historical accuracy, I just really like the look. Maybe next year...
As for building a rifle, there's truly nothing to it. The hardest thing is putting the hammer in and that's just because your holding a small part that's under spring tension. Doesn't take a whole lot of muscle, just a bit of patience to try it a few times until you get the holes lined up to jab the pin through.
As for building a rifle, there's truly nothing to it. The hardest thing is putting the hammer in and that's just because your holding a small part that's under spring tension. Doesn't take a whole lot of muscle, just a bit of patience to try it a few times until you get the holes lined up to jab the pin through.
ColoradoMinuteMan
Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2015
- Messages
- 702
You may be able to a Colt manufactured replica soon. http://soldiersystems.net/2016/05/21/nra-colt-classic/
MagnumWill
Member
Troy is also making an honest XM177 clone these days, but it was kind of off-putting with price (like $1500 for essentially a basic carbine). But it does look pretty good.
I have built a few retro rifles as well as having an original Colt SP1. If you look around you can find SP1's for around $1500 +or-. The retro builds wound up costing me less than that, but I built them when M16 kits were under $350 and all you had to do was come up with a lower and a barrel. Unfortunately for my bank account, I am a stickler for detail and I spent the money for NDS receivers as well as making sure they were in the correct Colt grey. I think a Vietnam clone looks wrong with a late type lower. Still, I think the most expensive one I put together (about $1000) was my M16A1 clone because I sent the receiver out for engraving.
No matter how you slice it, you are not going to buy or build one that looks good for cheap. I am a "buy once, cry once" type of guy so I will spend the money to it right the first time.
Time for a little retro rifle porn:
Early SP1,
Mid sixties XM16E1,
Late sixties through mid eighties M61A1,
Something of a loose interpretation of a sixties era 607,
Nearly finished XM177E2, just waiting on my new barrel and moderator,
No matter how you slice it, you are not going to buy or build one that looks good for cheap. I am a "buy once, cry once" type of guy so I will spend the money to it right the first time.
Time for a little retro rifle porn:
Early SP1,
Mid sixties XM16E1,
Late sixties through mid eighties M61A1,
Something of a loose interpretation of a sixties era 607,
Nearly finished XM177E2, just waiting on my new barrel and moderator,
- Status
