Originally Posted by
3ACR_Scout
Having done a bit of research on building a regular M4 clone recently, in my opinion, the best way to build a true clone would be to start with a LE6920 SOCOM model and replace the barrel with a pinned 14.5" barrel (Colt or your preferred brand), then part out the handguard and barrel that came with it to recoup some of your initial cost. That would give you the Colt M4A1 roll mark, which I think should be included in a true clone, and I think it would be cheaper in the long run than trying to find individual Colt components. Colt lowers seem to be getting more expensive lately; using GB as an example, regular 6920 complete lowers have gone up from around $400 to $500 or higher, and the SOCOM lowers are always more expensive. Colt lowers generally come from complete rifles that were parted out, so the sellers try to make more than the original price of the rifle by breaking it up. As IG said though, it all depends on how close of a clone you want. I may try to put together an M4A1 clone someday, and that's how I'd approach it.
Dave