Does anyone make a quality M16A2 clone?

[SteyrAUG]

Hmmmm - I actually have a Colt A2 barrel that I put into an A4 receiver. I use it to practice work with iron sights.

Didn't the A4 already have a government profile barrel or are they all Hbars now?

[MUFC]

SeriousStudent are you thinking of Josh at Allegheny Arms?

[Eurodriver]

Buy an A2 upper and switch it out?

I use the A4 as an A4 lol

[Eurodriver]

John Thomas of Retro Arms Works. Does excellent work and I've never read a bad review. Good price and timely service.....like VERY timely.



Just thinking about it.....if you bought a Colt HBAR "M16A2" I guarantee you the cost of having the HBAR turned down (and re-parked) would be less than buying a new government-profile barrel. Now if you insist on authenticity (I can relate!) then use the proper barrel. Hey, spend while you can 'cause they can't bury you with it!

Nah I’m not worried about authenticity. I am however worried if someone can match the color after turning the barrel down. But if it’s solely under the handguards I’m sure a phosphate grey Cerakote would work fine.

Didn't the A4 already have a government profile barrel or are they all Hbars now?

The A4 has always had a government barrel.

[utahjeepr]

OK school me if I'm wrong, but the only difference between an A2 and an A4 barrel is the F front sight base on the A4 right? The RAS, Matech sight, etc. were an upgrade package to the base A4. The F base is the correct base for use with the detachable "carry handle"/rear sight. So technically "not correct" and I don't see what one would be gaining over just using the A4 barrel it came with. Just asking.

ETA: In regard to swapping an A2 barrel into the A4 reciever.

I'm guessing the OP wants an A2 fixed carry handle upper receiver with the correct gov profile barrel. Most likely because that was his first taste of the M16. It's a thing that I understand. A simple, open sight rifle that you'd like to have "just cuz".

[Eurodriver]

OK school me if I'm wrong, but the only difference between an A2 and an A4 barrel is the F front sight base on the A4 right? Yes

The RAS, Matech sight, etc. were an upgrade package to the base A4. yes

The F base is the correct base for use with the detachable "carry handle"/rear sight. So technically "not correct" and I don't see what one would be gaining over just using the A4 barrel it came with. Just asking.

You can still use an A4 w/ F post and an A2 receiver, you'd just have to do some tweaking to the front and rear sights because of the height difference. Not really a big deal. It wouldn't be "Clone correct" but swapping an A4 barrel on to an A2 rifle would be fine. The real issue is that the Colt "A2" clones, mostly, have the HBAR barrel which if you've ever held an A2 HBAR and A2 Govt rifle side by side you'd see there's a HUGE difference in "feel", which, to your point below is what I'm trying to mimic

ETA: In regard to swapping an A2 barrel into the A4 reciever.

I'm guessing the OP wants an A2 fixed carry handle upper receiver with the correct gov profile barrel. Most likely because that was his first taste of the M16. It's a thing that I understand. A simple, open sight rifle that you'd like to have "just cuz".

Yes..

[docsherm]

Why do you want one?

Why not just get a Colt clown so you can be Clown Correct?

https://retrorifles.com/colt-m16a2/

[556Cliff]

I'm currently going the assemble it yourself way for an A2 clone. Not sure if Eurodriver wants to go that route, but it's an option.

Windham Weaponry barrel (has correct A2 FSB) and RRA A2 upper. Not a perfect clone due to the M4 feed ramps, but that doesn't bother me.

Now good luck finding NOS A2 aluminum trap doors for your A2 stock, that's not an easy thing to find anymore.

[czgunner]

I'm currently going the assemble it yourself way for an A2 clone. Not sure if Eurodriver wants to go that route, but it's an option.

Windham Weaponry barrel (has correct A2 FSB) and RRA A2 upper. Not a perfect clone due to the M4 feed ramps, but that doesn't bother me.

Now good luck finding NOS A2 aluminum trap doors for your A2 stock, that's not an easy thing to find anymore.

Try ar15sport.com for the aluminum trap door.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[556Cliff]

Try ar15sport.com for the aluminum trap door.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

They have one listed, but it's out of stock. The picture shows an A1 trap door though.

I'm blessed that I was clued in on to someone selling a bunch of new in the wrap aluminum A2 trap doors over on TOS. I bought a few to see if they were the real deal and sure enough they were, so I bought every one he had. I had been keeping my eyes open for them for quite a while up to that point and it was very slim pickings and mostly incorrectly advertised A1 trap doors listed as A2 trap doors.

Also, just something to be aware of... There are at least 3 types of A2 butt plates out there and 3 types of A2 trap doors. Not all of them are cross compatible with each other. There's actually more than that, but I'm not counting the really low quality knockoffs.

And for reference: Aluminum A2 trap doors on the left and a single aluminum A1 trap door on the far right.