recent kit deals..

[dragonbat13]

Gonna get to the nitty of the gritty,

I keep watching vietnam footage on netflix recently, and for some reason have a desire to build a retro vietnam (or as close as possible) rifle to go with my surplus rifle collection.

While I am working on building a small shop in the near future, I have been buying kits for when I can set up to build. I have plenty of AK type kits, and an FAL Imbel kit. I need something more than the modern two AR-15 rifles that I have. Something that will go well with the iron curtian rifles and the right arm of the free world.

I need a starting point. I am not looking for something super rare, just something that will be a good addition to my surplus collection.

I saw gunthings.com had a kit and E-sarco had a kit. Both M16A1. I also saw that E-Sarco had a barrel option.

These are not totally unreasonable prices for me.

I would like to build a rifle that could actually have been issued during the vietnam war.

Are the two kits I listed good kits? All the research I can find on them is from a few years back, although both companies seem to still have them in stock.

If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

Some links would be great, and I need to do more research on the rifle, of course. But these days time is of the utmost factor when buying kits, so I dont want to get caught with my pants down and miss out on a last chance.

I appreciate any help.

[Renegade04]

These kits are just fine, but as with any kit containing USGI M16A1 parts, there is going to be some likely issues with finishes and fitments. Additional, you will need to make sure you have the semi-auto fire control parts to install. Also, for a correct type of A1 clone build, you will want to use the Nodak Spud NDS-16A1 lower receiver. These are available in XM Grey or black finishes. The XM Grey would be correct for a Vietnam era M16A1. My first retro was a M16A1 clone that I did about six or seven years ago. I have done several since then.



Left to right: XM607, XM177E2, 653, 723 (early), 723 (late), 727, 602, 603/M16A1, and a 1977 Colt SP1.


Here are some pics of the A1 clone by itself. The upper assembly is from an actual USGI M16A1.