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I want to build an a s close to spec replica GM Hydramatic m16a1. I've seen 80% lowers engraved online but I've been told they're of the A2 profile. So one, are there proper a1 lower blanks available? And two where could I find non colt marked parts? Thanks in advance!
If you know of a machine shop that has CNC, he could make one to spec for you, in the white. It would even be engraved correctly...add the serial number from BATF and go...
I guess thata the route I'd have to go as most 80% receivers o find are of the A2 variant
Nodak-Spud makes some very nice A-1 lowers finished and 80% and I believe they list third parties who can do the engraving.
Thanks for the tip! I guess a want to buy add would be best for the other parts. I'm mostly concerned with the upper, barrel, and bolt carrier group.
When I was a drill sergeant at Fort Campbell in 1971-1972. Our company had M16A1 rifles from all three manufacturers, Colt, H&R and GM-Hydramatic, with most being GM. When issuing the rifles to each incoming cycle of trainees we made a concerted effort to ensure all the left handed shooters were issued Colts. Our observation then was that the Colts tended to eject brass pretty much straight out the side. The H&R seemed to have no discernible tendency while the Hydramatics very much toward the rear. On the ranges we always put all the left handed shooters together on the left end of the firing line. A trainee with hot brass down his shirt and a loaded rifle in his hands could generate more excitement than you wanted. Along about this time PS MAGAZINE, the Army's Preventative Maintenance "comic book" actually "advertised" a plastic brass deflector that snapped into the hole in the charging handle and advised "southpaws" how to get one through the Training Aids Support Office or "TASO" or by the Training Audiovisual Service Center or "TASC."
You can see in the picture that it is plainly marked "TASO-FJSC," having been produced by the Training Aids Support Office, Fort Jackson, South Carolina
They have gotten hard to find. I was lucky enough to find a couple to add to my XM177A1 AND M16A1 clones.Quote:
Originally Posted by old tanker
They were pretty hard to find back then. The TASO and TASC, like many of the support activities on Army posts were often the purview of Department of the Army (DA) civilians. Generally if you wanted to "grease the wheels" to get them to do their job and actually issue you something you were supposed to have, show up, at a minimum, with a 3 pound can of mess hall coffee. Otherwise, if you waited on the "request' to makes its way through "channels" it would be even money you would PCS first.Quote:
Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY
A neat collector's piece and I would have grabbed one too. That's the sort of thing that's gone now and just remains in story for the most part.Quote:
Originally Posted by old tanker
That's new to me, you learn something new every day!Quote:
Originally Posted by old tanker
I have to ask, what the difference in manufacturing between M16A1 contractors that allowed a different ejection pattern, different extractor profile perhaps?
I do not know. That is what the unit was doing when I got there. Who made the initial correlation is likewise a mystery to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrclark303
Back in 89 i had an H&R A1 in basic. We had the plastic snap in brass deflectors. A few years ago i was in a surplus store on I44 in Missouri when i encountered a bucket of beand new ones. I spent $8 and got me one. I have never used it as my personal A1 has a C7 upper with Brunton bump.
Likely a slightly stiffer extractor spring, or ejector spring...Or lighter....
I have looked at this question myself and found that, a lot of different factors contribute to the patterns of extraction and ejection. I found that most of the patterns are associated with the ejector spring and its wore and care. In production between the three contractors each obtains there ejector springs from different sources thus the tension on the springs are different as long as it ejects the fired case from the rifle. Now pair that up with the build up of crud over time (generally the ejectors are not removed from the bolt for cleaning) ejection patterns will change over time.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrclark303
when dealing with the M16 in period.... sensible soldiers didn't care HOW it ejected, simply that it fed, fired, extracted, and ejected WITHOUT failing every shot, or leave bits of case in the chamber.
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And just ask any servicemen who had to deal with explosives.. how they felt about having to deal with explosives provided by the cheapest bidder.....
Yes, you must keep them clean. I always liked the old SP1, M16, M16A1 because when I was young and used to handload for my Colt SP1 and home built Rock Island Armory M15A1, rounds were so consistent that the empties would all land in a pile less than a couple feet in diameter to the right rear. Policing brass was/is quick and easy. The built in brass deflector on the C7 on down the list took that away big time! One of my favorite shooters is an old SGW/Olympic Arms lower with an excellent, complete Colt M16A1 upper assembly I bought at Knob Creek many years ago. Light and handy with zero bells and whistles. I like to keep my hand in shooting the MR31 center with the service rifle of my time and iron sights. It'll still do some impressive groups if I do my part.