+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 29

Thread: Retro XM177E2/CAR15 Finished!!

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member imarangemaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    09-19-2023 @ 12:24 AM
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    3,308
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM

    Talking Retro XM177E2/CAR15 Finished!!

    Well, I finished my retro XM177E2 / CAR15 lightweight Carbine! Talk about a nice, lightweight weapon!!! With the standard M16A1 birdcage FH on the 16" barrel, it weighed in at 5.7 lbs. empty on the postal scale. My heavier "reverse" slip over XM177 flash Hider needs the rear blast washer re-attached before I mount it. Preliminary photos tomorrow when I can take them in the daylight.

    -S&W M&P 15 Lower, receiver treated with dark gray Rustoleum primer to match upper
    -M16A1 Colt upper with tear drop forward assist
    -COLT/USGI early non-tapered slip ring to retain handguards
    -ER Shaw (Model 1 Sales) 16" pencil CAR15 barrel 1/9 twist
    -DPMS lower parts kit
    -DPMS M16 bolt carrier group (I like the additional mass for feeding)
    -DPMS charging handle
    -DPMS CAR buffer
    -DPMS CAR gas tube
    -USGI M16A1 pistol Grip (NOS)
    -USGI M4 buffer spring
    -Rock River Arms CAR-15 handguards w/heatshields
    -4 position fiberlite CAR stock (unk. maker) with USGI castle nut and receiver plate
    -Either faux XM177E2 slip over flash hider or M16A1 FH: depending if I am going like the XM177E2 I carried as a LEO or a GAU-5/P as Air Force Security Police (reserves).
    -USGI 20 and/or 30 round aluminum magazines

    I have a Vietnam era M14icon/M16 OD nylon sling en-route.
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
    Last edited by imarangemaster; 08-19-2010 at 11:22 PM.

  2. Thank You to imarangemaster For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Advisory Panel

    jmoore's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    06-09-2023 @ 04:20 AM
    Location
    US of A
    Posts
    7,066
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:09 AM
    Don't forget a range report!

  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #3
    Legacy Member imarangemaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    09-19-2023 @ 12:24 AM
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    3,308
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    Thread Starter
    Promising pics, that I have to wait to take! Weapon at property in Illinois and camera in Mississippi with me. All three of us won't be in the same place until Sunday... Argh.

  7. #4
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    cda97's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Last On
    04-08-2011 @ 02:01 AM
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    18
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    I'm looking forward to the pics. I recently completed a Retro Colt 653 clone.




  8. #5
    Legacy Member imarangemaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    09-19-2023 @ 12:24 AM
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    3,308
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    Thread Starter
    Very sweet! Is that an original Colt aluminum 4 position? I would love to pick one up. Mine is fiberite, not plastic, and you can se the fibers in the polymer. I believe mine is an 80s vintage Colt fiberite. I will eventually pick up a Nodak Spud receiver to replace the M&P 15 one. The real XM177 I had was like yours, with no magazine button fence.

  9. #6
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    cda97's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Last On
    04-08-2011 @ 02:01 AM
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    18
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    I fooled you with the stock

    It's actually a commercial stock that I painted with Krylon Fusion gloss black. Original Colt aluminum stocks are not easy to come buy and demand a premium price. The lower is a Nodak Spud XM partial fence.

    ---------- Post added at 07:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 PM ----------

    Also, check out the Retro forum on ar15.com and retroblackrifle.com

  10. #7
    Legacy Member Griff Murphey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    05-28-2020 @ 12:07 PM
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    282
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    About 30 round magazines during the Vietnam War... I had some for my AR-180 (AR-15's got real hard to find about then) in those days as a college boy '67-'71, and it puzzled me why the men fighting in Vietnam did not have them. I asked one of my ROTC instructors, an Arty Captain, about that, and he said there were a few in-country, generally used with the CAR-15s, and he said the few 30's (Maybe one or two to a gun) were kind of passed down with the CARs to new owners as people rotated in and out. So I am thinking you COULD use a 30 in it but your display should include 20 rd. mags and pouches.

    I think I can tell you exactly when the 3rd Mar Div quit using 20's. I was assigned to the third Marine Division on Okinawa in 1975 and checked out a bunch of 20 rd. magazines (the only type they had) for a rifle team, in February, for a Match in March. I tried turning them back in after the match and they did not want them as all the 20's were gone and they had switched fully to the 30's. Incidentally... about that time they were cleaning out warehouses and there was a huge dumpster of ARVN jungle boots and everybody dug out pairs of them to send back to kid brothers etc. for hunting.

  11. #8
    Legacy Member imarangemaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    09-19-2023 @ 12:24 AM
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    3,308
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    Thread Starter
    In basic in 1974, we used 20s, as well as when I was permanent party at Fort Ord. Saw some 30s about 76. WHen I was an SP in Air Guard/AF Reserve 79-81, we used 30s in M16s, GAU5/A/A's or GAU-5/P's.

  12. #9
    Legacy Member imarangemaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    09-19-2023 @ 12:24 AM
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    3,308
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    Thread Starter

    Red face

    Here is a lousy low-light flash picture. Just wanted to prove I really did it! My digital camera SUCKS on low light. If I can ever get time for me before the sun is too low in the sky, I will do a series of shots that better show color. I forgot to mention the M16A1 pistol grip is NOS still in the wrapper from Bill Rica. "C" marked inside. The comic book cleaning manual is an original I grabbed in the early 70s when I was in the service.


  13. The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to imarangemaster For This Useful Post:


  14. #10
    Legacy Member imarangemaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    09-19-2023 @ 12:24 AM
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    3,308
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    Thread Starter

    Better pictures show color

    Here are a couple better daylight pics of the XM177E2 wearing a Colt 4X scope clone with BDC for M193 ammo. The upper is the original, later medium-dark gray pakerized and the S&W lower is coated with Rustoleum dark gray automotive primer. The picture shows that it is a pretty darn close match.



+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. BOTH re-finished..RIGHT?
    By AKA Hugh Uno in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 06-03-2009, 07:56 PM
  2. My Latest Retro
    By Orlando in forum M16A2/AR15A2 Rifles
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 03-10-2009, 11:06 AM
  3. My retro AR
    By texfed in forum The Watering Hole OT (Off Topic) Forum
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 03-07-2009, 11:25 PM
  4. Finished a P-14
    By louthepou in forum The Restorer's Corner
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 01-16-2009, 04:49 AM
  5. XM15 retro
    By sdh1911 in forum The Watering Hole OT (Off Topic) Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-25-2008, 09:38 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks