Want to build GM Hydramatic m16 clone. Help!

[Btl1994]

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!

Information

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[browningautorifle]

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...

[Btl1994]

I guess thata the route I'd have to go as most 80% receivers o find are of the A2 variant

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Nodak-Spud makes some very nice A-1 lowers finished and 80% and I believe they list third parties who can do the engraving.

[Btl1994]

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.

[old tanker]

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

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

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."

They have gotten hard to find. I was lucky enough to find a couple to add to my XM177A1 AND M16A1 clones.

[old tanker]

They have gotten hard to find. I was lucky enough to find a couple to add to my XM177A1 AND M16A1 clones.

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.

[browningautorifle]

plastic brass deflector that snapped into the hole in the charging handle

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.

[mrclark303]

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

That's new to me, you learn something new every day!

I have to ask, what the difference in manufacturing between M16A1 contractors that allowed a different ejection pattern, different extractor profile perhaps?