Switched Horses (Colts!)

[browningautorifle]

Sounds like we run about parallel. I didn't get to using ARs until a bit later, about '76 I think.

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[imarangemaster]

Were you guys using L1A1s before the ARs?

[browningautorifle]

L1A1s

Well, FN C1A1s, close enough parts changed around. Just the markings and some small parts differed. Our original ARs were all Colt manufactured A2s except the lower was unmarked and unfinished. We had the fixed rear sight. All parts had a standard grey park except the lowers, they were purple anodized. We had to roll mark them before finish and doing an aluminum lower is the same as doing a trophy at the shop. My first issue was 85AA00105, which made it the #105th C7 off the line. These were consumed sooner rather than later and when they started going for rebuild they came back with a darker parkerizing all over and much higher numbers. That was during Gulf War One... By then our production was "Up and running"... Soon the C7A1s showed up with the C79 Elcan marvel and that solved all the worlds problems. It was kind of neat to be in on the ground floor watching the development of a service rifle in use. All the growing pains and hiccups. Being Infantry meant I was holding their trophy and could tell them it's exact faults.

[imarangemaster]

I got it out of 10 day DROS jail yesterday, and took it to the range today. I was shooting IMI 77 grain. OTM MK262 MOD1. Using the carry handle iron sights. first I was breaking clay pigeons on the 100 yard berm, then I was smashing the pieces of clay pigeons with subsequent shots. With the factory H buffer, the MK262 did not seem to have any harder recoil impulse than M193 55 grain.

It was absolutely dead nuts on. Of the 6 weapons I took to the range today, it was the absolute "Show Pony" of the bunch. This is from a time when Colt meant quality, and everything in it is Colt made.