built a M16A1 clone this winter

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

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010001-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010003-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010004-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010005-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010006-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010007-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010010-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010011-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010012-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010014-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010021-1.jpg

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.

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

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

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Originally Posted by eb in oregon

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

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

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

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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

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Originally Posted by micmacman

snapped 2 pins off my armorers wrench

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

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

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

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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

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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yup , i always meant to grab one of NoDaks top cocker uppers ,put it off for too long , when i went to go and grab it they were out ,and as you know they just stopped the retro line all together , are they even still in business?

---------- Post added at 07:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 AM ----------

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

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

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i am seriously doubting Colt used any anti seize or nut butter , once i get the D ring cut off i will score the barrel nut on opposite sides and touch some heat , and the pipe wrench will do the rest , scoring the sides is a trick i figured out removing neutered Mak90 front sight bases ,it allows the metal to flex just enough that when you apply pressure it relieves its grip it has enough to allow it to free up

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Originally Posted by micmacman

i painted the receivers

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I built an A2 clone (loosely defined) from an original colt upper I found. The upper had original dark grey, slightly green tinged, finish. I wasn't able to find a clean, non-billboard lower with actual words on the safety selector, so I went with a "Property Of" repop lower from palmetto state when they became available. The black anodizing, and not very good prep underneath (markings had a faded halo around them) bugged me to no end. After a lot of reading, I went with Norrel's molycoat and a cheap harbor freight airbrush kit. BANG. so easy. it adheres wonderful over the original anodizing (after degreasing). Went with the "Colt Gray". Ended up being a small touch lighter than the upper, but it passes the 20ft stare test. I then bought a bottle of his Socom black, and did a test piece of aluminum bar. I think If I blend the two 50/50 it will be the perfect match to the late 90's, early 2000's A2's.
I highly recommend Norrell's molycoat for these things. Stay away from the rattle can's.

i will definetly give that Molycoat a go , once i button up al the pokers i have in the fire currently im doing a A2 dissipater , A2 upper , carbine length barrel with rifle gas , rifle length A2 HG's , A2 2 position stock

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Originally Posted by micmacman

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 I'm going to cut the D-ring off and touch a little heat to it and pipe wrench it off, don't ever buy a wheeler armorer wrench

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Wheeler has a "Basic" with three pins, and a "Professional" with pins around the full half-circumference. Which was it? I use a 2-pin wrench for faster spinning the part on or off, but I use a full engagement of half-circumference wrench for full torque to install or remove.

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Originally Posted by MAC702

Wheeler has a "Basic" with three pins, and a "Professional" with pins around the full half-circumference. Which was it? I use a 2-pin wrench for faster spinning the part on or off, but I use a full engagement of half-circumference wrench for full torque to install or remove.

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the one i had it had the 3 pin on one side and the multiple on the other , which for what ever reason did not mesh upas well as the 3 pin so i was using the 3 pin , the Real Avid i have due tomorrow doesnt rely on pins

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4/02/OIP-1.jpg

Very fancy... I use a strong arm on my little steel wrench and it didn't hurt me either. Just so they're aware.

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Originally Posted by MAC702

Wheeler has a "Basic" with three pins, and a "Professional" with pins around the full half-circumference.

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if I recall, the wheeler one you have to remove the front post to get at the nut. There is a very high quality and $cheap$ one I found on eBay that a guy makes himself which is a crescent, just wide enough to slip around heavy barrel. If you grind the ends a bit more open, it slips over a free float tube to get at its nut as well. Searched for it just now and don't think he's making them anymore. I think my wheeler wrench is kicked under a toolbox...somewhere.

Real Avid makes some great tools. I never go to the range on AR day without this:

Real Avid Gun Tool Pro, AR15 Multi-Tool | Up to 21% Off 4.3 Star Rating w/ Free Shipping

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Originally Posted by Sapper740

Real Avid makes some great tools. I never go to the range on AR day without this:

Real Avid Gun Tool Pro, AR15 Multi-Tool | Up to 21% Off 4.3 Star Rating w/ Free Shipping

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they do , the wheeler was a $40 wrench the Real Avid is a $80 with not a single bad review , i iike the handle because your not grabbing sharp edges , is an actual edges not just the other end of a multi toll , i bought the wheeler because at the time i was outfitting with all the tools and served me well untill i put it on that bear of a barrel nut

Nice work on the distressing of the finish. Looks "been there done that"