Old school AR

[Stang51d]

My neighbor just put one together from a kit from sportsmanship guide. It was on sale, no lower and no barrel. He found a new barrel and used an Anderson lower. The parts were a little rough on finish but it shoots great. If the ones AK builder has look that good, I would go that rout. Barrel already there. Then get the old style lower from nodak and there ya go. The kits should have mostly all orig colt parts.

 

[dave29]

The complete uppers were a lot cheaper ten years ago ($200).

Colt M16A1 AR15 Parts Kit with 20" Barrel ( no lower receiver) $590

https://ak-builder.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=30665

Colt M16A1 Parts Kit Less Barrel and Lower Receiver $496

Colt M16A1 Parts Kit

Thanks for that!

 

[bigbaloo95]

Me wantee real bad! I saw the parts kits in sportsmans guide a while back (A1) but put it on the back burner but now the fire is lit.

 

[99zhuggerz99]

SG just sent out this e-mail:
Used U.S. Military Colt® M16A1 Parts Kit - 291711, Tactical Rifle Accessories at Sportsman's Guide

 

[gregkl]

SG just sent out this e-mail:
Used U.S. Military Colt® M16A1 Parts Kit - 291711, Tactical Rifle Accessories at Sportsman's Guide

Darn you! I may not be able to pass this up. I am going to try hard though. lol.

I have a lower though it's not period correct. All I would need is a barrel.

 

[Que]

I wonder if it is possible to find a barrel and period-correct lower at a gun show? I will give it a try and if not, I'll order from the sites provided.

 

[Stang51d]

I saw barrels like that at the 1500 last time, but they were higher then a new one. The only ways to get an old style lower is to find an old sp1 lower or get one from nodak spud. I think the nodak lowers are around $160 and have limited markings so you can have the original colt markings engraved on them.

 

[Stang51d]

ar15.com has a whole section on these but the easiest way is to go to http://www.retroblackrifle.com/ and research what you want to build. These kits that you see are an M-16A1. That is the easiest one to build. Once you know what you want, NoDak Spud Retro Lowers is where you get the correct style of lower.
The hard core retro guys will want to have just the right cut on the mag release, or the center holes in the take down pins, the drain hole in the butt stock screw on certain ones, etc....... I don't go quite that far.

 

[ol' Huff]

If a person wants to assemble real A1 style rifles he should consider going to Indiana Army Surplus in Bedford. I recently built one and was able to acquire actual period components for most of the rifle.

 

[Fordtough25]

I wonder if it is possible to find a barrel and period-correct lower at a gun show? I will give it a try and if not, I'll order from the sites provided.

I've seen several sets and parts at the large military gun shows yes, a good friend built an A1 that way.

 

[Stang51d]

+1 for Bedford. I know Troy quite well and have dealt with them for many years.

 

[gregkl]

If a person wants to assemble real A1 style rifles he should consider going to Indiana Army Surplus in Bedford. I recently built one and was able to acquire actual period components for most of the rifle.

Do you think you can build it through them for close to the package from Sportsman's Guide? I don't live far from Bedford.

 

[Stang51d]

You should be able to get a lot of it there. Traildust also has some mil parts as well

 

[BigMoose]

Replica 1/12 BBL
Shop Ellicott Depot

Other early parts USGI
Shop Ellicott Depot

 

[MrSmitty]

Dang I had no idea, there were as many people who love those!! Good to hear!!!

 

[ol' Huff]

Do you think you can build it through them for close to the package from Sportsman's Guide? I don't live far from Bedford.

Let me say this. I'm close with Troy and Kelly and they pretty much let me have the run of the place. That said, a standard Colt upper parts kit is $140. I paid $40 for all USGI parts from A1 rifles. My price might not be everyone's price, but if it was twice as much it would still be a steal. If you would like to choose the parts yourself they are cool with that as well. The last rifle I put together I was wanting a roughened look so I sorted through stuff and chose a dust cover, charging handle flash hider and bolt release that all had a good bit of finish removed. There were lots of parts available not as worked in as those, though.

Another et great thing about having access to so many USGI parts is that if you have a rifle that is getting finicky, you can swap in some older parts that loosen it a bit. I recently bought a couple new NiB bolts that had unrelenting springs on the ejector and extractor. I called down and Troy sent me two ancient springs with a lot more give. The bolt runs flawlessly after the swap.