Poor Man's AR-refinish Shorty re-furb project.

Seeing all of John Thomas on the AR15.com retro forum's awesome work had me looking askance at my franken-carbine GAU-5A/A. The top is a very dark Colt SP1 slickside upper, that was well ude and has scrapes and scuffs of silver showing through. The lower is a very BLACK JD Machine lower that was a present from my son. He got us both lowers so I could build us each a shorty on them, so replacing it is not an option. The barrel is an ER Shaw light weight that is more accurate than my Colt 20". While it looks cool with the slip over faux-moderator with the grenade ring, it adds weight that the muzzle doesn't need. The stock is a Model Ones Sales 4 position that is configured like the Gen II Colt Aluminum. AR makeover commenced.

Here is the before:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...011/07/A-1.jpg

I can't afford to send off the upper and lower to Victor at US anodizing, so I decided to use some gray Rustoleum Automotive primer on them. I have used it before to match black A2 lowers to M16A1 uppers that were fairly dark gray. It works great, and is very tough finish, especially if sprayed over hardcoat anodizing. I cleaned and de-greased the parts, rinsed with hot water, and put out in the Mississippi sun to warm up. Two coats on each, allowing it to dry in between. Pics below. Shown is the UPC label.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7/Pstart-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ayprimer-1.jpg

I am replacing the muzzle heavy faux moderator, and changing it from a GAU-5A/A (which I sometimes carried) to a Model 654/ GAU-5P (Which I also sometimes carried). I'll keep the full 16" for velocity, as this is a "working carbine" I'll use for Personal Defense.
Since I can't afford a Colt OEM aluminum, stock (or even an Essential Arms one), I have coated the Model One stock with several coats of gloss black Krylon. Actually looks pretty good.


Everything is curing now, so I will post pics of the finished product tomorrow when I re-assemble it.

I couldn't wait. I carefully put it back together and took a picture. Included are my 1967 vintage AF survival knife that I bought in 1968 from a surplus store in down town Chicago. I had to fabricate a repair to the sheath when I burned it on a camping trip in the 70s. Also included a Colt 30 round mag with part number stamped in body and a hard. dark green plastic follower with part number in white ink. Also are included xerox of the GAU-5 manual and a draft of the 1967 XM177 manual. I made copies when I was in the USAF SP arms room in 79-81. The sun was way to bright, so I will replace it when I get softer daylight.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...11/07/Pa-1.jpg

After it cures several days, I will wipe it down with an oily rag.

I swear that was the way the gun was meant to be and be carried. All this heavy crap that's on them now defeats the purpose of it being a light weight low maintenance jungle carbine. Mind you I also like my M-4gery.

Jim, I agree. My 601 and GAU are both between 6 and 6.5 pounds. When I started building ARs in the late 80s to early 90s, I built retros because that was just about all we had. I tried a M16A2 lone, but it was noticeably heavier. Kalifornia's law got in the way, and I gave up ARs by 2000. In 2007 when I left the state, I started ARs again. Then new stuff was all you could easily get. Even at that I used the light weight ERR Shaw 16" barrels with flat top uppers. Just for grins, one time, I built a full up M4gery with rails, Aimpoint M65, forward grip, Surefire, singlepoint sling, etc. It was so d@mn heavy, I hated it! Two years ago I gravitated back to retros. There is something "familiar" and "Right" about the light little carbine and 20" with triangular handguards. The 601 does less than 2 MOA with iron sights and its early CMP C barrel, and the 16 will do just above 1 MOA!

This one's mine. Note the cute little mag, that's the biggest we're allowed in Canada. I only put the Reed Knight front end on for the grip, but I like the idea of being able to put a light on if I wanted. The barrel is thin under so it's not too heavy. The full bulls are unreal. I had another front with your type of handguards and it was a full pound lighter.

Nice carbine. I tried an M4gery but found it was too heavy with everything on it. How do you like the Aimpoint? That was one thing I did like!

The aimpoint is mandatory for an old guy like me. The eyes aren't what they used to be and the EOTECH is employed on my Beretta Storm. This takes all the guess work out of it. It's not as heavy as if I had a pile of toys on it. It shoots fine like this too.