Aim Surplus LEO Trade 6520's

[HKGuns]

I just did some research on a bit of a unique magazine that came with this rifle. Not sure how it ended up in my rifle as it is from back when I was just a kid.

I had never seen one with this floor plate or follower, so looked them up. Kind of interesting.

As far as I can tell, Simmons Precision had a .Gov contract and only produced these 20 round magazines between '67-'71. If anyone knows different, chime in, I am certainly not an expert.

[SteyrAUG]

I just did some research on a bit of a unique magazine that came with this rifle. Not sure how it ended up in my rifle as it is from back when I was just a kid.

I had never seen one with this floor plate or follower, so looked them up. Kind of interesting.

As far as I can tell, Simmons Precision had a .Gov contract and only produced these 20 round magazines between '67-'71. If anyone knows different, chime in, I am certainly not an expert.

Simmons is one of a handful of USGI's but I'm almost positive they made them well into the 1980s. I know I've got a few dozen. That metal floorplate example might be early 70s though.

[Uncas47]

I have some NOS Simmons I picked up from Fulton a few years ago. Twenty rounders with metal follower are my absolute favorite magazines, the one that came with your gun looks barely fired. The carrier will wear a little spot on the follower after much use which doesn't affect anything. I've got some probably older than you LOL.

[DoubleW]

I saw the Magpul end plate and said hell no. I bought one of the 6721’s with one of those and mine was an easy fix. But, other guys bought guns with comm extensions. I’m done messing with ****ed up LE trade in guns.

[SteyrAUG]

I saw the Magpul end plate and said hell no. I bought one of the 6721’s with one of those and mine was an easy fix. But, other guys bought guns with comm extensions. I’m done messing with ****ed up LE trade in guns.

Once you have to remove the castle nut, replacing with a correct Colt buffer tube isn't a big deal. The 6721s were like $699.00 which is the best deal I've seen on used Colts in a long time.

[HKGuns]

I guess I got lucky on both.

Literally 5 minutes and a $3 part to get rid of Mr. Clinky and toss him in the trash.

Neither of mine had commercial RE's but even if they did, it still isn't an expensive, time consuming or complex replacement process. I imagine the hardest part would be actually finding a real Colt RE in stock somewhere.

[Uncas47]

Colt Parts shows them in stock.

[markm]

Twenty rounders with metal follower are my absolute favorite magazines

Yeah. You don't see them very often anymore. I remember getting them from Botach many years back. I have a cool one with Colt & Armalite markings on the base plate.

[HKGuns]

Took this one to the range today, as well, to confirm function and zero with my usual 77gr SMK's. It was obviously zeroed for PD bullets, but just a couple clicks and it was fine.

Ejection was weak and at 1:00 however. I knew the gas tube flange that mates to the carrier key was marginal, this simply confirms it needs replacing.

Shot very smoothly otherwise and still locked back every time.

SAUG you were 100% correct on this one, the balance on this rifle is VERY light and comfortable.

[SteyrAUG]

Took this one to the range today, as well, to confirm function and zero with my usual 77gr SMK's. It was obviously zeroed for PD bullets, but just a couple clicks and it was fine.

Ejection was weak and at 1:00 however. I knew the gas tube flange that mates to the carrier key was marginal, this simply confirms it needs replacing.

Shot very smoothly otherwise and still locked back every time.

SAUG you were 100% correct on this one, the balance on this rifle is VERY light and comfortable.

Until I got into SBRs like the 6933, the 6520 has always been my favorite AR carbine.

I think I got my Colt SP1 around 1981, it's an old A1 with a 1:12 twist but handled .55 grain which was everywhere through the late 90s. Was actually a 1MOA rifle if the person on the trigger did their job.

In 2004 a month after the ban I finally grabbed a 6520 A2 which is essentially the same rifle but with a waffle M4 stock, 1/7 twist and A2 sights and updates. Remained my primary AR carbine and when I got one for my Dad, you'd have thought I bought him a new Cadillac.