Retro AR15 Reference For Future Builds

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  • Squid556

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    Feb 26, 2022
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    Wabash Co.
    I wanted to share a little honey hole of the internet that I have found. If any of you are like me and enjoy cool stuff and history, this website ……


    provides a LOT of quality information on early AR rifles and the civilian / variants there of up until the 80s. This is especially useful for the growing number of retro builders out there. They have detailed lists of military and civilian rifles/ carbines as well as the specific attributes of each model.

    Also some good historical photos to provide some context of the various models and where they ended up
    1D70D75D-437D-4BAF-958C-E2E581D9A4C5.jpeg
    7D2D31AB-C398-499D-AB2E-332EEA3AA23C.jpeg
    I learned a lot about the prototype colts in here too. Really cool stuff.
    F668FE7D-C681-4A30-B4DE-DF110A638ED2.jpeg
    I’ll quit blabbering now. Enjoy the learnin
     
    Last edited:

    DadSmith

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    Oct 21, 2018
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    Ripley County
    I wanted to share a little honey hole of the internet that I have found. If any of you are like me and enjoy cool stuff and history, this website ……


    provides a LOT of quality information on early AR rifles and the civilian / variants there of up until the 80s. This is especially useful for the growing number of retro builders out there. They have detailed lists of military and civilian rifles/ carbines as well as the specific attributes of each model.

    Also some good historical photos to provide some context of the various models and where they ended up
    View attachment 206176
    View attachment 206177
    I learned a lot about the prototype colts in here too. Really cool stuff.
    View attachment 206178
    I’ll quit blabbering now. Enjoy the learnin
    The only one I'd be interested in building would be the Dissipator. I believe the original was called the Colt 605a. I've wanted one since I was about 10 years old.
    1655437809918.png


    1655437847777.png
     

    BigMoose

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    Apr 14, 2012
    5,102
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    Indianapolis
    Sadly the window to do these builds with original parts has passed, the parts kits and loose parts have dried up.

    Here is my A1. I originally built this in 2014 before the retro craze was really beginning. The stock furniture is all authentic. The butt stock even has a rack number on it, not with paint, but with one of those 80s office punch label makers. You know the ones that you had to turn the dial to select each letter/digit... then you peeled and stuck it. Its on the comb of the stock just under the charging handle. The upper is an authentic M16A1 upper, that had taken a tour through Israel and been painted black. Barrel is from A15sports. The lower is the second lower, this was originally built on an Anderson lower, but later when brownells had some BLEMS, I changed it over to an XM16 type partial fence lower. BCG is a nickel colored one from PSA to approximate the old chrome BCGs. It's got a replica three prong weed catcher flash hider on it, but I have in a baggie an M16A1 birdcage too.... dated 2005, why was uncle sugar buying A1 birdcages then? Who knows.


    The surplus store in Bedford, had the last local large stash of M16A1 parts I knew of, I went down there in 2015 and discovered the motherload. Uppers, all manner of parts, chrome bolt carriers, furniture, etc. I made a post on AR15.com and it all sold within a couple weeks.
     

    Squid556

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    11   0   0
    Feb 26, 2022
    973
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    Wabash Co.
    The only one I'd be interested in building would be the Dissipator. I believe the original was called the Colt 605a. I've wanted one since I was about 10 years old.
    View attachment 206347


    View attachment 206348
    Funny you mention that model. I’m working on sort of a modern variant of that. Most of the parts are in. You should be seeing a post about it in a couple weeks.
     

    DadSmith

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    Funny you mention that model. I’m working on sort of a modern variant of that. Most of the parts are in. You should be seeing a post about it in a couple weeks.
    So you found a rifle length gas system set up on a 16" barrel? If so who makes that type of barrel? IIRC that is what Colt did.
     

    Squid556

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    Feb 26, 2022
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    Wabash Co.
    So you found a rifle length gas system set up on a 16" barrel? If so who makes that type of barrel?
    No not exactly…Nobody to my knowledge makes one. I don’t think there is enough dwell time to run right.

    What it’s gonna be is a twin gas block set up. One low profile carbine length gas system hiding under rifle length hand guards with a set screw FSB up front to hold it all together. Basically low profile carbine at heart, dissipator on the outside.

    Sounds kinda confusing but when you see it, should make more sense.
     
    Last edited:

    DadSmith

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    Oct 21, 2018
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    Ripley County
    No not exactly…Nobody to my knowledge makes one. I don’t think there is enough dwell time to run right.

    What it’s gonna be is a twin gas block set up. One low profile mid length gas system hiding under rifle length hand guards with a set screw FSB up front to hold it all together. Basically low profile middy at heart, dissipator on the outside.

    Sounds kinda confusing but when you see it, should make more sense.
    Definitely want to see it, and a few range reports.
     

    analogwars

    ANALOGWARS
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Sep 18, 2012
    25
    3
    somewhere in time
    I wanted to share a little honey hole of the internet that I have found. If any of you are like me and enjoy cool stuff and history, this website ……


    provides a LOT of quality information on early AR rifles and the civilian / variants there of up until the 80s. This is especially useful for the growing number of retro builders out there. They have detailed lists of military and civilian rifles/ carbines as well as the specific attributes of each model.

    Also some good historical photos to provide some context of the various models and where they ended up
    View attachment 206176
    View attachment 206177
    I learned a lot about the prototype colts in here too. Really cool stuff.
    View attachment 206178
    I’ll quit blabbering now. Enjoy the learnin
    COOL! Thanks I am partial to the old school rifles!!! This is very helpful!
     

    BigMoose

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    Apr 14, 2012
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    Indianapolis
    The 9MM ....

    Is that a CAR looking stock that is supposed to actually be a brace?

    20230117_084447-660x371.jpg
     

    Squid556

    Expert
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    11   0   0
    Feb 26, 2022
    973
    93
    Wabash Co.
    The 9MM ....

    Is that a CAR looking stock that is supposed to actually be a brace?

    20230117_084447-660x371.jpg
    I don’t think so. Pretty sure that’s an SBR. Looks like the old aluminum two position CAR stocks.

    Believe it or not they were still some floating around on a few Navy Crane M4 rebuilds we had on the ship in 2016. Guess they must have been fairly durable. I never liked how small and slick they were though.
     
    Last edited:

    Squid556

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    Feb 26, 2022
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    Wabash Co.
    I have been wanting to convert my sbr into the old triangle (A1) or XM handguards. Not sure who makes those?
    The two that come to mind are
    Luth AR

    And Brownells.
     

    yotehunt

    Marksman
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    Feb 2, 2021
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    Not Iraq
    The two that come to mind are
    Luth AR

    And Brownells.
    Nice. Luth has the carbine version. Forgot about them.
     

    BigMoose

    Grandmaster
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    Apr 14, 2012
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    Indianapolis
    I don’t think so. Pretty sure that’s an SBR. Looks identical to the old aluminum two position CAR stocks.

    Believe it or not they were still some floating around on a few Navy Crane M4 rebuilds we had on the ship in 2016. Guess they must have been fairly durable. I never liked how small and slick they were though.
    its missing the plate that goes against your shoulder. I dunno if that was to make it a brace? At least before this current ATF sillyness.
     
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