Definitely tempted by the A2 upper:
https://www.brownells.com/new-brn-re...umberOfReviews
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Definitely tempted by the A2 upper:
https://www.brownells.com/new-brn-re...umberOfReviews
I started a thread on this a few days ago, but no one wanted to discuss these things.:(
I guess "retro" is for the older, "retro" crowd :D
It's depressing that the A4 is retro now.
I have a A2 dilemma, years ago I built up a upper with a FN receiver, only one I had without M4 cuts, and a Colt barrel, then couple of years later I traded for a like new A2 with Colt receiver and FN barrel. Every time I think about it I get the urge to strip em down and swap parts but it really makes no sense because they are both good shooters. Woe is me!!!
I am excited that the A1 birdcage is available. I did have to put in a notification request, but I do want a few of those.
I'd suggest these. > https://ar15sport.com/product/a1-bir...der-arpart-70/
I believe the ones Brownells is selling are possibly made by Innovative Industries and those have a black oxide finish instead of phosphate like the ones from AR15Sport.
The ones from AR15Sport are made by L.W. Schneider in IL.
Bushmaster is selling out of their older grey A2 stocks, I just ordered one. Will do a side by side with a Colt A2 that I just swapped out. The new Colt AR15A4 rifles do not have the yeee old greyish stock color of yore... Hoping the BM does and is of sufficient quality.
https://www.bushmaster.com/shop/snak...-discontinued/
Was not aware that the newer Colt A4 stocks were not in grey anymore. Last ones I got from Brownells a couple years ago were.
But anyways, that grey/silver color is actually a finish or dry film lube of some sort. It's not actually the color of the polymer that the stock body is made of. I ordered a couple A2 stocks from Fulton that were uncoated and as black as Zytel normally looks. The Fulton A2 stocks were obviously made by the same place that was making the Colt stocks I got around the same time based on the marks left by the molds. The only difference is that the Colt stocks were grey/silver finished.
I noticed that the grey/silver look was a finish on the Colt stocks when the toothbrush I was using to clean them along with warm soapy water was darkening from scrubbing the stock down.
The current/modern A2 stocks suck in that the off white yellow foam fill they use is much softer than the hard darker yellow foam fill of the older A2 stocks.
Something about the old hard foam being regulated out of use by the EPA according to Mike of NoDak Spud (H&R/PSA).
Brownells and another place I don't recall. Might have been JSE Surplus, not sure, they seem to be the same.
The Shark has original Colt A2 full furniture kits....He's kind of slow to ship, but you just accept that aspect and move on. Similar to Botach, never had an issue with anything from him and it is always exactly as described, usually at a fairly reasonable price.
I wouldn’t do business with that shithead if he had the last AR part on earth. I bought three Colt surplus bolts what he said were in very good condition and they were worn slam out. He said they would outlast any new production bolts. [emoji23]
I gave him a pass because he refunded my money. Then I ordered a new Colt BCG which he emailed me saying he didn’t actually have in stock so he could ship an FN BCG. I got the FN and it had very visible wear with probably at least 200-500 rounds.
I saw similar posts from others on TOS. Fool me once, twice, etc.
Not sure exactly when they made the change, but it seemed like the older hard yellow foam was being used in all the early 2000s A2 stocks... At least up through 2003.
By the time the Colt AR15A4 came around the internal foam on the A2 stocks coming on those was the softer off white/yellow foam.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...20&height=1440
Bushmaster on bottom/Colt on top
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...20&height=1440
Bushmaster on left/Colt on right
Bushmaster is definitely more of the grey color of yore, texture completely different between the two. Both feel solid and chonk.
That Colt stock is definitely different and it's more than just the external finish. It looks like they came out of molds from different manufacturers... My examples of the Colt stocks from a couple years back look like the BCM stock in your pictures.
Not a fan of change.
The Bushmaster stock has kind of a film or treatment on it--I remember that from my older colts. The new Colt did not have that.
Bushmaster used to mention in their manuals (decades ago, IIRC) that their rifles were finished with some sort of clearcoat. Possibly similar?
I think it's similar to cosmoline, not a permanent solution but maybe helps keep things pristine in storage. Was easy to clean up and didn't make a mess/didn't stink.
Do it
PRI A2 In FDE arrived today, will post side by sides tomorrow. Feels heavier, will weigh.
Does anyone know if they will be doing and H & R 601 rifle or upper assembly? I noticed they offer a 601 lower in gray but it appears you would have to use the 604 upper they sell for the 601 upper.