built a M16A1 clone this winter

[micmacman]

furniture , handguard doughnut , 3 prong FH are all original , has Colt C marked BCG , went with a 1/7 twist pencil barrel instead of 1/12 , wanted a better range of ammo that it would like , colt gold buffer , charging handle is a repro triangular type correct for an A1 , has milspec trigger but i installed a JP spring kit , H&R lower and LUTH-AR A1 slick side upper , RRA sight parts

i painted the receivers because both were gray but were a huge difference in tone , and then they looked way too fresh for the USGI A1 furniture , so took a leap of faith and started going at it to make it look like a 60 year old war horse would/should look like

[Sapper740]

Very well done, my only comment would be that, if memory serves me correct, there were no full fence lower slick-sides made. The full fence lower was found on the model 603 which were the first of the M16A1's which were issued with forward assists and birdcage flash hiders.

[browningautorifle]

Looks pretty good. I'd like to wring it out a bit...

[eb in oregon]

It's been a long time, but when I went thru Basic Training in 1970 I was issued an XM16E1 made by General Motors Hydramatic. I seem to recall it had a lower receiver with the fence around the magazine release. It had a forward assist but no case deflector, that's for sure. And yes, it was an XM16E1 according to the receiver stampings. I've never forgotten that as my battle buddy's was as M16A1

[browningautorifle]

it was an M16E1 according to the receiver stampings. I've never forgotten that as my battle buddy's was as M16A1

I wonder if yours was just a rebuild that hadn't been changed over stamped...?

[BEAR]

When I went through basic training at Ft. Ord (early 70s), I was issued a Hydramatic XM16E1. It had a forward assist, bird cage, partial fence, and early stock without cleaning kit section. Never saw another one in my 20+ career.

BEAR

[micmacman]

Very well done, my only comment would be that, if memory serves me correct, there were no full fence lower slick-sides made. The full fence lower was found on the model 603 which were the first of the M16A1's which were issued with forward assists and birdcage flash hiders.

thank you , i dont doubt that about the lower, it took me 2 years to find the receivers i have , the clone stuff flys off the shelf , for two years that upper sat on a US Gov M4 lower ,, so when H&R released the M16A1 lower it was like the clouds parted for me and i was finally going to be able to get it done

i tell you what , i have a couple really nice Gucci AR's , have a Bushy DCM and a colt Match HBAR and this A1 is my favorite as far as style , i havnt even had a chance to even battle zero it yet , just ran 5 or 6 rounds test for function , man i love rifle length gas, im going to wait and do all at the same time , im Free Floating the Colt HBAR and im going to upgrade the sights on the DCM and the HBAR to NM hooded sights , the plan is to set both rifles up with the same gear , weights and all and pit the two against each other to see which is better , i cut some trees down last summer and leveled off a area to build a shoot shack , i can shoot from one mountain to the other and i still need to laser it but guessing it will be a 400 yard range

ran into a hiccup removing the barrel nut from the HBAR , it literally snapped 2 pins off my armorers wrench and when they let go it boogered up the nut , no big deal the FF tube has its own barrel nut , its a Rock River Arms NM A2 FF system , so im going to cut the D-ring off and touch a little heat to it and pipe wrench it off , dont ever buy a wheeler armorer wrench , i have a Real Avid on the way

they also released a H&R COTS M16A2 lower i finished this winter as well , have to get some pics of it , gun room is in disarray right now with other projects , and its snowing out , i will post some pics of it this weekend

[browningautorifle]

snapped 2 pins off my armorers wrench

Too bad, I've had about three steel old style wrenches here that I've been using forever. They've never let me down...

[micmacman]

Too bad, I've had about three steel old style wrenches here that I've been using forever. They've never let me down...

yea , that sorta ruined my day so i set it aside so i can start fresh after the angst goes away,lol , i couldnt believe it when it happened

[Sapper740]

micmacman, yes it's difficult to build a completely accurate M16A1. I built mine a long time ago when NoDak Spud was the only game in town for retro lowers. Fortunately, I grabbed a couple of the short lived Sportsman's Guide's M16A1 parts kits while they were available and built myself a very good replica of the rifle, no fun button, of course. I take it out now and then to Carbine matches at my club which brings a laugh from everyone since I usually bring one of my custom built full-race AR's.