Starting a 605 build

[Renegade04]

Well guys, I have not even finished up on my XM16E1 and M16A1 builds and I am already starting on getting parts together for a 605 build. I ordered the partial-fence lower from Harlan (Nodak Spud) the other day as well as some more parts from Slim at Indiana Army Surplus. Here is the stuff I ordered from him.

D stock
Receiver extension
Buttplate screw
Buffer
Buffer spring
Triangular handguards
Bolt catch
Magazine release, spring, and button
XM Grey trigger guard
Teardrop forward assist, spring, and roll pin
Takedown pin
Gas tube (current)

I also just won an auction on GB for a Colt 604 upper receiver for this build. I have also contacted one of my sources and scored an original chrome slickside M16 bolt carrier and bolt for the build. I still have a few months before I have the NDS XM lower, so I have time to source a barrel and get it done by John Thomas at Retro Arms Works.

For those not familiar with a 605, here is a picture.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Retro%20ARs/Retro%20parts%20and%20accessories/Model%20605_zpsqnmpsgx9.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Retro%20ARs/Retro%20parts%20and%20accessories/Model%20605_zpsqnmpsgx9.jpg.html)

[Renegade04]

Here is a little update on the progress. I received all of the stuff I ordered from Indiana Army Surplus a few days ago. The Colt 604 upper is on its way. It will be here Monday. I have a chrome slickside bolt carrier with a chrome bolt that is scheduled to be here Monday as well. I ordered another set of handguards, a couple M16 selectors and a couple takedown pins from Indiana Army Surplus and they will be here Monday too. When I got the first set of handguards, the left side was the newer matte black finish and the right side was the older shiny mottled finish. The handguards I have coming will have a left side with the shiny mottled finish and the right side with the matte black finish. Next, to get a barrel and 3-prong FH ordered.

[H Wyman]

Didn't the 605A/B have a 14.5 inch barrel?

[Renegade04]

Didn't the 605A/B have a 14.5 inch barrel?

15"

I think I am going to buy the Brownells M16A1 pencil barrel as it is a 1/12 twist. I am going to have John Tomas (Retro Arms Works) cut down the barrel to 15" and pin and weld the 3-prong FH on. It will also have the gas port opened up to .110" and the forge flashing will be removed from the FSB to mimic a cast FSB.

[H Wyman]

I asked because the barrel in the photo you posted looks like a 20" cut to 16". I didn't think you get a 15" barrel out of a rifle length gas system.

[Renegade04]

I asked because the barrel in the photo you posted looks like a 20" cut to 16". I didn't think you get a 15" barrel out of a rifle length gas system.

The 605s were more or less an experiment in developing a carbine. That is why they never made too many of them. They could not get them to work very well. The gas cycling was the big issue. Fortunately today, we know the cure to the gas cycling problem.

[Renegade04]

I just had a message from a member on AR15.COM telling me about a Colt USGI NOS barrel he already had done for a 605 he was going to do, but has decided not to. He gave me a good price on it. Looks like I have the barrel issue solved. All I will have to do to this barrel is have the 3-prong FH pinned and welded.

[Renegade04]

I got my Colt 604 upper this afternoon. It looks great. When I bought it, the seller told me that the port door spring was broken. Well, I fixed that in less than a minute. It works great and I still have an original spring. http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_big.gif I also got in the chrome 601 carrier and bolt from boywonder777.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/017_zps6ajxhwyg.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/017_zps6ajxhwyg.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/018_zpsnww61tdy.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/018_zpsnww61tdy.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/019_zpsgyepxplt.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/019_zpsgyepxplt.jpg.html)

[Renegade04]

I managed to get a barrel already done from a fellow ARFCOM member. It came in yesterday. Here is a mock up of the upper assembly (minus CH and gas tube). I still have to have the FH pinned and welded to bring the barrel to legal non-NFA length. Next week, I should have the charging handle and gas tube for it.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/001_zps62nhqc8v.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/001_zps62nhqc8v.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/002_zpsxd6o8hqs.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/002_zpsxd6o8hqs.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/003_zpswt8nr5bk.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/003_zpswt8nr5bk.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/004_zpsnff99g2q.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Model%20605/004_zpsnff99g2q.jpg.html)

[Junkie]

I like your build. I'm planning on building something loosely based on a 605 before too long, but probably a 16" barrel and nitrided. Might also go for a shorter stock. What's a reasonable price for an upper? I want no FA or deflector, just like yours.

I know what you mean about handguards... I bought a furniture set and the two sides don't match very well, they're even significantly different weight.

[Renegade04]

I like your build. I'm planning on building something loosely based on a 605 before too long, but probably a 16" barrel and nitrided. Might also go for a shorter stock. What's a reasonable price for an upper? I want no FA or deflector, just like yours.

I know what you mean about handguards... I bought a furniture set and the two sides don't match very well, they're even significantly different weight.

If you were to find an original Colt 604 upper like I have, expect to pay $200-$300. Fulton Armory has stripped slickside uppers (black finish) for $149.94. These are fine if you are not doing a correct retro build. The original slickside uppers were done in a color similar to XM gray. Nodak Spud will be doing another run on their stripped 604 uppers (in XM gray) soon. They are priced at $180 (shipped) and they are taking pre-orders right now.

http://nodakspud.com/AR%20Lowers.htm

In regard to the handguards, like I said, the original set I bought was mismatched. I had a shiny mottled ride side and a matte finish left side. I called an ordered another set with a shiny mottled left side and a matte finish right side. Now, I have a complete set of shiny mottled handguards (on the 605) and a spare set of matte finish handguards. For $19.95 a set, it was worth having a spare set.

[bm176]

Nice project, finally just finished up my xm16e1 build. Inspired now by the 605

[Renegade04]

As you guys know, a couple months ago, I started gathering parts for a Model 605 clone build. Yesterday morning, I finally got everything finished on the upper and installed it on my XM16E1 lower for now until I get the NDS lower I have ordered for the 605. At least, this way I can go ahead and shoot it to make sure it functions fine and can zero the sights. Hopefully, I will have the new lower within the next couple months.

[Junkie]

Very nice. Let us know how it shoots... I would have considered either working out bugs (gas port size) with a pistol lower or taking the gas block shoulder off the barrel after taper pinning, so you had some access to the gas port in case you need to play with it.

[Renegade04]

Very nice. Let us know how it shoots... I would have considered either working out bugs (gas port size) with a pistol lower or taking the gas block shoulder off the barrel after taper pinning, so you had some access to the gas port in case you need to play with it.

With the 605s using a rifle length gas system, it is already known that the gas port has to be opened up to .110" in order to function properly. My barrel has already had the work done by a guy who has done many of them over the years. There is no doubt that this should function just fine.

[Renegade04]

I took the mocked up 605 to the range this morning (along with my TAVOR) to see how well it functioned. In one word, OUTSTANDING. JT does some really good work on these barrel assemblies. It cycled great and was dead on at 50 yards. I was even hitting some small sticks at 100 yards with it. I did not even have to adjust the sights. That is pretty impressive when you can marry a barrel assembly to an upper and not have to adjust the sights. I am really going to love this carbine. I will be happier when the lower for it arrives and I can get it 100% completed.

BTW, the TAVOR is a lot of fun too.

[Renegade04]

After a 5 month wait on the lower, I finally have my 605 officially finished. I picked up the lower last night and got it assembled this morning.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Retro%20ARs/Model%20605/006_zpsrusipbku.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Retro%20ARs/Model%20605/006_zpsrusipbku.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Retro%20ARs/Model%20605/005_zpsnmrxvwqx.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Retro%20ARs/Model%20605/005_zpsnmrxvwqx.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Retro%20ARs/Model%20605/003_zpshcfndmbh.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Retro%20ARs/Model%20605/003_zpshcfndmbh.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/Retro%20ARs/Model%20605/008_zpsnmtbpfko.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/Retro%20ARs/Model%20605/008_zpsnmtbpfko.jpg.html)

Now, onto my next modern build.

[ClassIIIGunsmith]

Pinned flashhider?

[Renegade04]

Pinned flashhider?

Yes. Had to do that to keep it a non-NFA item.

[ClassIIIGunsmith]

Ok then what is the OAL of your 605 then?

[Renegade04]

Ok then what is the OAL of your 605 then?

34" OAL

[ClassIIIGunsmith]

Nice I would have to do a collapsable stock to make it a little more viable to me. If I find the Image of my uncle in Nam, he took a xm177 lower and a 601 upper with lopped off barrel as a combined rifle, so it would be cool to replicate his gun I will do that myself.