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[A. F Medic]

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[A square 10]

A2 lower with an A1 upper ...

[A. F Medic]

Is that something normal in civilian production? What does the "upper' consist of? Barrel and forearm? Thanks!!

[Stevo]

"Upper" can refer to the whole assembly or to just the upper receiver.

[A. F Medic]

Do they assemble ARs like Arisakas etc? Like, "Well. we are making complete A2s now but since we have an A1 upper laying around, let's mate them!"

[Stevo]

That would depend on the maker, I suppose. Someone familiar with Colt's could answer that question.

[Bill Hollinger]

I have seen more than a few of this combination and have had questions as well. At least one of them I suspect was originally built that way by Colt. Back in the late 80s, early 90s when the Roberti Roos assault weapons ban went into effect there was all kinds of strangeness going on.

[HILLBILLY-06]

Notice it say's CAL.223 on the lower unit also, not 5.56X45mm. I know, people alway's scream at me and tell me there's no difference, but there's a reason the rifles have the two different stamped caliber identification. One shouldn't run out and buy 1,000 rounds of surplus M855 or the M193 ball ammo for a rifle chambered in .223Rem. There is a difference, so look into it and ask a lot of questions before you do something like that.
"Just playing it safe"... not trying to get in trouble.... HILLBILLY-06.

[Roscoe Snyder]

There's no difference. Not with Colt product, anyway. AR-15A2 Sporters came with the exact same barrel Colt was putting on M16A2s at the time. The barrel is marked C MP 5.56 NATO 1/7 so there's no doubt about its chamber. Apparently the .223 marking on the mag well has to do with export regulations somehow.

What's harder to understand is why the Sporter II series always had the old rear sight, especially as during this same period Colt offered the AR-15A2 HBAR Sporter which had a proper M16A2 style upper receiver. Only thing I can think of is that they must have had a warehouseful of upper receiver billets with the A1 sight (Colt called it the "field sight) and had to use them up somehow before they could introduce the A2 Government Model.

[A. F Medic]

Not to beat my question to death but one can safely assume the caliber is .223? 5.56 Nato is hard to find but I have not looked that hard either Double thanks!!