COLT and Quality

[scottryan]

Okay, they are not perfect and they make stupid decisions.

Are their parts still quality? Would you still take a Colt MP bolt over "randomly checked" bolt from another manufacturer? Would you still trust their barrels, receivers, and components to be made from the proper materials to the proper heat treating, anodizing, and machining specs versus another brand that is "guessing" at the TDP?

I think these questions are the bottom line.

I can't even prove they are Colt parts when they are not marked with a C, so the rest of your question is moot.

[scottryan]

Out of curiosity, what was botched about the AR15A4? Just the fact it was brought to the market like a decade later than it should have been? Or quirks with the product itself like the Non-F height FSBs they had on them?

No F marked FSB
M4 feedramps
Blued handgaurd caps
Plastic buttplate door

Was suppose to be marked

AR-15A4
Government Rifle

Instead they used the same rollmarking die as the 6720 carbine and just removed the "Lightweight LE Carbine" script while still using the CAR prefix serial numbers.

[Doc Safari]

Instead they used the same rollmarking die as the 6720 carbine and just removed the "Lightweight LE Carbine" script while still using the CAR prefix serial numbers.

I wondered about this myself. Google AR15A4 and you get pics of the full 20" rifle. My AR6720 very clearly says AR15A4 and "Lightweight LE Carbine". Usually Colt designates different variants with different numbers (my AR15A3 has the HBAR, for example).

So, what's the dealio? Did they plan all the AR15A4 receivers to be full 20" rifles and lack of sales caused them to redo them as carbines?

[scottryan]

I wondered about this myself. Google AR15A4 and you get pics of the full 20" rifle. My AR6720 very clearly says AR15A4 and "Lightweight LE Carbine". Usually Colt designates different variants with different numbers (my AR15A3 has the HBAR, for example).

So, what's the dealio? Did they plan all the AR15A4 receivers to be full 20" rifles and lack of sales caused them to redo them as carbines?

They wanted to be lazy and cheap, so they used something that was close enough.

They also should have released the 20" rifle in 2004-2005 timeframe during the middle of the war in Iraq, when these things were on TV and everyone wanted one.

Instead they released them 10 years too late in 2014.

[Slater]

Reading the feedback over on the Bud's Gun Shop website, one guy ordered one of the new 2018 SOCOM's but says that the gun he received was missing the "PROPERTY OF US GOVT" markings and the barrel was dated 3/17. Sounds like one of the 2017 (?) models. He says that he's happy with it "as is" and is not going to send it back.

[Iraqgunz]

Almost everything you have stated is pretty much spot on. In addition, releasing a midlength after numerous companies had already been doing it, in the middle of a market slump was pretty misguided as well.

They wanted to be lazy and cheap, so they used something that was close enough.

They also should have released the 20" rifle in 2004-2005 timeframe during the middle of the war in Iraq, when these things were on TV and everyone wanted one.

Instead they released them 10 years too late in 2014.

[FredL]

Aren't the M4 feedramps an improvement on the AR design?

[magister]

Aren't the M4 feedramps an improvement on the AR design?

The M4 feedramps are on the M4. They are not present on the M16A4. I believe Scottyran’s point in mentioning feedramps is that Colt launched an A4 clone that deviated from A4 specs.

[Iraqgunz]

Companies were doing it before Colt. It simplifies manufacturing, and there is no downside to it. Current Colt 20" uppers are in fact doing this as I have one made in 06/18. Of course this is a commercial upper not military. The word I got is that Colt will be doing this in the future.

The M4 feedramps are on the M4. They are not present on the M16A4. I believe Scottyran’s point in mentioning feedramps is that Colt launched an A4 clone that deviated from A4 specs.

[Doc Safari]

I'm curious as to whether only certain models got BCG's that are not C-marked. I bought a 6720 within the last two weeks and it's good to go on all markings.