FAR-15 A1 Service Rifle* or Brownells AR-15-A1?

[Buncheong]

I would like a retro clone but am confused about which way to go.

Colt reissue A1: I have handled this at my LGS and love it but it’s priced in the range of an FN SCAR - ouch!

Brownell’s A1: looks great in pics but I keep hearing reports of canted FSB and flimsy furniture.

Colt SP1: my favorite option because it is slick but these have been around for so long, there’s no reliable way to know if they’ve been abused with mag dumps, steel cased import ammo, etc.

I am not a builder so that option is out.

I don’t have the answers...

[Renegade04]

I would like a retro clone but am confused about which way to go.

Colt reissue A1: I have handled this at my LGS and love it but it’s priced in the range of an FN SCAR - ouch!

Brownell’s A1: looks great in pics but I keep hearing reports of canted FSB and flimsy furniture.

Colt SP1: my favorite option because it is slick but these have been around for so long, there’s no reliable way to know if they’ve been abused with mag dumps, steel cased import ammo, etc.

I am not a builder so that option is out.

I don’t have the answers...

Your best bet, in my opinion, is finding a really nice SP1 Sporter. They can be found from anywhere between $1K-$2K for late 1970s models depending on condition. You can almost be guaranteed that a nice one has not been abused, nor subject to mag dumps or steel-cased ammo. The next option would be Brownells' BRN-16A1 (M16A1 clone) or BRN-16E1 (XM16E1 clone). For the money, they are a good value. Personally, I have not heard or read of any canted front sights or flimsy furniture. Granted, their furniture is reproduction, but it is made pretty well. Several guys have bought the furniture kits and seem to be satisfied with them. It is a shame that building one is not n the table. What-A-Country has M16A1 parts kits (https://whatacountry.com/colt-m16a1-parts-kit.aspx) available for a little over $700. You still would have to get a barrel assembly (https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...04-189740.aspx) and lower receiver (https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...rod107496.aspx). Since the kit comes with the parts needed to complete a barrel assembly, you could just buy the barrel (Green Mountain) and have the other parts installed by a competent individual (John Thomas of Retro Arms Works). He could also assemble the entire upper assembly for you. Assembling a lower receiver assembly is not hard at all. There are plenty of tutorials available to walk you through it. With the M16A1 parts kit, Green Mountain barrel (http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/gm-m15-...mm-1-12-twist/) at $177 or the Brownells barrel assembly at about $240, and the lower receiver at $150, you would be in at about $1040- $1130 before having the barrel work and upper receiver assembly done by John Thomas. That may seem to be a lot, but having a nice M16A1 clone made form a majority of original M16A1 parts is well worth it considering how hard original parts are to find and that they are not cheap. I can give you the contact info for John Thomas if you are interested in going that route.

[pipboy344]

Your best bet, in my opinion, is finding a really nice SP1 Sporter. They can be found from anywhere between $1K-$2K for late 1970s models depending on condition. You can almost be guaranteed that a nice one has not been abused, nor subject to mag dumps or steel-cased ammo. The next option would be Brownells' BRN-16A1 (M16A1 clone) or BRN-16E1 (XM16E1 clone). For the money, they are a good value. Personally, I have not heard or read of any canted front sights or flimsy furniture. Granted, their furniture is reproduction, but it is made pretty well. Several guys have bought the furniture kits and seem to be satisfied with them. It is a shame that building one is not n the table. What-A-Country has M16A1 parts kits (https://whatacountry.com/colt-m16a1-parts-kit.aspx) available for a little over $700. You still would have to get a barrel assembly (https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...04-189740.aspx) and lower receiver (https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...rod107496.aspx). Since the kit comes with the parts needed to complete a barrel assembly, you could just buy the barrel (Green Mountain) and have the other parts installed by a competent individual (John Thomas of Retro Arms Works). He could also assemble the entire upper assembly for you. Assembling a lower receiver assembly is not hard at all. There are plenty of tutorials available to walk you through it. With the M16A1 parts kit, Green Mountain barrel (http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/gm-m15-...mm-1-12-twist/) at $177 or the Brownells barrel assembly at about $240, and the lower receiver at $150, you would be in at about $1040- $1130 before having the barrel work and upper receiver assembly done by John Thomas. That may seem to be a lot, but having a nice M16A1 clone made form a majority of original M16A1 parts is well worth it considering how hard original parts are to find and that they are not cheap. I can give you the contact info for John Thomas if you are interested in going that route.

I’m looking to trade and/or pay for a pre-built rifle, preferably SP1/602 style but i’m up for any pre-A2 full-size rifle.

[Renegade04]

I’m looking to trade and/or pay for a pre-built rifle, preferably SP1/602 style but i’m up for any pre-A2 full-size rifle.

Brownells has their BRN-601. Although it comes with green furniture and the duckbill FH to be consistent with a Model 601, you could buy the black furniture kit and a 3-prong FH to upgrade it to look more like a Model 602.

https://www.brownells.com/firearms/r...rod113312.aspx

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...rod109340.aspx

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...rod113614.aspx

The other alternative is to find a nice original Colt SP1 Sporter for sale or trade on a website like GB, GunsAmerica, or others. The older and better condition a SP1 Sporter is, the more expensive they will be. You will be looking between $1000 for a late model that may be well used up to $5000 for a really early model in excellent condition.

[pipboy344]

Brownells has their BRN-601. Although it comes with green furniture and the duckbill FH to be consistent with a Model 601, you could buy the black furniture kit and a 3-prong FH to upgrade it to look more like a Model 602.

https://www.brownells.com/firearms/r...rod113312.aspx

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...rod109340.aspx

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...rod113614.aspx

The other alternative is to find a nice original Colt SP1 Sporter for sale or trade on a website like GB, GunsAmerica, or others. The older and better condition a SP1 Sporter is, the more expensive they will be. You will be looking between $1000 for a late model that may be well used up to $5000 for a really early model in excellent condition.

I’m not interested in a new rifle, I’d like a worn shooter or clone, and Brownells are Multigenerational frankenguns. See the modern selector?

[Tokarev]

Brownells are Multigenerational frankenguns. See the modern selector?

I thought they had sourced some more period correct parts and had changed the dust cover and selector?


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[pipboy344]

I thought they had sourced some more period correct parts and had changed the dust cover and selector?


Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

They haven’t changed the pictures and people who’ve bought them recently have told me they’re still there.

[Renegade04]

I’m not interested in a new rifle, I’d like a worn shooter or clone, and Brownells are Multigenerational frankenguns. See the modern selector?

Good luck on your quest.

[pipboy344]

Good luck on your quest.

Thanks. I guess I WOULD take a Brownells if it was offered to me second-hand, just not new.

[pipboy344]

Got an SP1, you should too. D61DB74A-8B1C-4B8E-BACA-D82A258A4234.jpg