Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: Retro Build II

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    2,156
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)

    Retro Build II

    So hot on the heels of my recent IDF mutt carbine, I've but together an A1 style rifle. The build process had some hiccups this time around, as is detailed in a thread in the technical discussion forum. Basically I had some problems getting the barrel nut aligned properly and the entire build ended up being delayed by about a week while I waited for some barrel shims to arrive. I was skeptical they would actually work, but lo and behold using two of them allowed me to correct the issue I was having and the rifle was successfully assembled yesterday evening.



    While it is assembled and functional, there are a few minor changes that still might occur.
    As soon as I can lay my hands on an A1 style lower I'll be swapping to one of those.
    In the meantime, the Type D stock may get replaced with a Type E and I'll probably try to clean out the DIY color filling from the selector markings.

    Upper receiver is NDS/Brownells with teardrop FA from Fulton Armory and rear sight kit from Windham Weaponry (With an A2 aperture substituted due to personal preference on my part.). Port door (Incorrect, I know.) and BCG and the weld spring and snap ring are from Bravo Company. Slip ring from Brownells. Handguards are surplus.

    Barrel is a 1:9 4150 chrome lined unit from AR15 Sport. I had been holding out for one of Brownell's 1:7 retro barrels, but got tired of the ever increasing wait times due to recalls and whatever else. I know very little of AR15 Sport but they seem to get good feedback on their barrels and the specs listed on the site seemed satisfactory. I also wasn't crazy about going with a 1:9 vs a 1:7 but honestly, 99.99% of the 5.56 I have is either 55 or 62grains so a 1:9 is really quite adequate for me. The odds of me suddenly stocking massive quantities of 77 grain 5.56 is pretty unlikely.

    Lower is a Stag, with a surplus Type D stock on it. As mentioned, I have a Type E that I may put on it instead.

    I function tested the rifle today. Only two mags fired today because my glasses kept fogging up, but it worked.

    You can kind of make out the smoke coming out of the top of the handguards.

    The "05" is a stand in for the rack number I may stencil on there. Looking at all the pics of old ARs over the years made me decide I wanted rack numbers on this one. Why did I pick "05"? It's my fifth AR. Seemed to make as much sense as anything else. My Type E stock actually came with a label maker rack number of "197" on it, but I sort of like the painted ones better from an aesthetic standpoint.

    Some additional thoughts, based on my limited range session, it shoots very nicely. I'm not sure what it is, perhaps the way a 20" pencil barrel + fixed stock balances, but when shouldering this gun it almost seems to "float" into place, VS my carbines which, while lighter in absolute terms, don't seem to balance in quite the same way, even if they are lighter overall. I have a 16" midlength with a gov't profile barrel and fixed A1 stock as well, which is a very well balanced rifle but shouldering it doesn't feel quite the same as this rifle with it's lightweight 20" barrel, the handling of the fixed stock middie isn't really "worse" per se, just "not the same".
    Also of note, this is my first 20" rifle, and after years of handling carbines I developed some level of general "awareness" of how much clearance I typically need around objects when maneuvering or carrying the weapon, so I need to get accustomed to doing that with a longer rifle now too.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Pensacola, FL
    Posts
    1,594
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)
    Well, you certainly have a firm grasp on what you need to do to get it to be more like a M16A1 clone. The A1 profile lower, E type stock, and A1 port door are certainly necessities to get it there. Looking good so far. I am working on two more M16A1 clones myself. I have the upper assembly already built for the '72-'73 era one (Colt CK marked upper) and it is using a Brownells/Ballistic Advantage 1/12 barrel. It shoots great. The other is going to be a early model (circa 1967). I have another Brownells/Ballistic Advantage 1/12 barrel on backorder for it. Waiting on the NDS-603 upper (no NDS forge code) and the two XM Gray A1 lowers. I already have all the other pieces I need. Maybe by June or July, both will be done.
    "A Bad Day At The Range Is Better Than A Great Day Working"

    USMC Force Recon 1978-1984
    US Air Force Res. 1995-2004 (Air Transportation)
    M16/AR15 shooter since 1978, gun collector and AR builder since 2004

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    317
    Feedback Score
    0
    personally that E stock looks too nice to number buy a surplus one because that furniture looks almost like new
    "Guns are tools; people are the real weapons!"
    - Anonymous
    "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
    - Albert Einstein
    “An armed society is a polite society.”
    - Robert Heinlein

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    2,156
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by ClassIIIGunsmith View Post
    personally that E stock looks too nice to number buy a surplus one because that furniture looks almost like new
    I can assure you it's a trick of the lighting as both the handguards and that D stock are very far from "like new" condition.

    I ended up putting my E stock on it and now think I like it a bit better. I still need the A1 lower and the proper port door but it looks pretty decent I think.
    Technically that buttstock sling mount needs to come off but there's a good chance that for anything other than photo ops I'm going to end up using a more modern sling than the simple black nylon one that I have on it (I put that same sling on my carbine just to facilitate carrying out to be test fired and find it sucks much less on the full length rifle.)
    Honestly the theme I was kinda going for with this was less "Military M16A1" and more "DRMO Police M16A1", as we had a local sheriff's department that used DRMO A1s until pretty recently, which I always thought was cool.


    A label with rack number 197 was already on the stock when I got it from Numrich a while back. I have no idea if this is the case or not, but using a label maker for the rack number seems like more of a police dept. thing to do than it does a military thing
    Note that I did in fact use an A2 aperture, personal preference.


    No that's not a chrome plated magazine it's just a really well worn Colt 20-rounder, it says ".223" on the floorplate instead of "5.56" which I guess means it was made prior to a certain date which I forget off the top of my head.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    317
    Feedback Score
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by Circle_10 View Post
    No that's not a chrome plated magazine it's just a really well worn Colt 20-rounder, it says ".223" on the floorplate instead of "5.56" which I guess means it was made prior to a certain date which I forget off the top of my head.
    Correct me if I'm wrong renegade04 but the .223 marked mags are '69 and earlier which makes these "disposable" mags almost all 50+ years old, so of course they look well worn. I have 3 pre '69's that still have most of the finish on them.
    Another note, the early 80's Sp1's and early A1 upper SP2's have A2 rears so that is still correct.
    "Guns are tools; people are the real weapons!"
    - Anonymous
    "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
    - Albert Einstein
    “An armed society is a polite society.”
    - Robert Heinlein

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    2,156
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    Yes I think you are correct, after some reading it seems that in 1969 the stamping on the floorplate was changed to 5.56.
    Additionally, it turns out I have a "UI" stamp on the mag body, which means the mag was made by contractor Universal Industries, because it has ".223" on it, it apparently might be an early USAF contract magazine.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Near the Arch
    Posts
    421
    Feedback Score
    0
    Very cool, somethin' to be proud of.
    * Just Your Average Jewish Redneck *
    Participant in Year-Long Gun Fighting Training Program
    Competition Shooter in NRA, CMP, IDPA
    Past part-time sales at national firearms retailer, Never came close to breaking even!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Pensacola, FL
    Posts
    1,594
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by ClassIIIGunsmith View Post
    Correct me if I'm wrong renegade04 but the .223 marked mags are '69 and earlier which makes these "disposable" mags almost all 50+ years old, so of course they look well worn. I have 3 pre '69's that still have most of the finish on them.
    Another note, the early 80's Sp1's and early A1 upper SP2's have A2 rears so that is still correct.
    Here is a good article on original Colt 20-round magazines.

    http://rawles.to/AR-15_M16_Magazine_FAQ.html
    "A Bad Day At The Range Is Better Than A Great Day Working"

    USMC Force Recon 1978-1984
    US Air Force Res. 1995-2004 (Air Transportation)
    M16/AR15 shooter since 1978, gun collector and AR builder since 2004

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    3,272
    Feedback Score
    8 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by Renegade04 View Post
    Here is a good article on original Colt 20-round magazines.

    http://rawles.to/AR-15_M16_Magazine_FAQ.html
    Funny that article does not mention that Simmonds and Adventureline also made 20's.
    Last edited by mack7.62; 03-30-17 at 23:17.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Gulf Coast Texas
    Posts
    423
    Feedback Score
    0
    Outstanding build. Looks very authentic and convincing indeed.

    Where did you get the hand guards that seem to fit so well? I've ordered a pair here and there but they don't fit so well. They are either mismatched. coming from different weapons and/or the used LH sides from any date / weapon are just too screwed up to ever fit right.

    I'm trying not to buy too many NOS items as I think those should be saved for the originals as opposed to retro(s). For that reason I'm currently working on modifying a set of airsoft hand guards which actually fit quite well, just needing some modification with the heat shields. The plastic appears to be the same thickness as the originals or at least close enough. Once I finish them I'm anxious to see how they perform and stand up at the range.

    Both stocks look fine. You did a good job. By all means have fun and shoot the hell out of it. I'd be proud to own it.
    Never forget every word you spoke when you took your oath of office.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •