Opinions on FN15 (Military Collector) M4

[Joe W]

I am mainly a collector of the M1 Garand, specifically National Match rifles. I know very little of the M4. When I served in the military the M1 Garand was still the service rifle. I have looked at a few AR15 Type rifles but the FN15 looks as close to the M4 that I have seen. Only problem I see is price. Anything else I should be aware of. Thanks.

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[Brian Dick]

The only companies that have ever landed M4 contracts with the U.S. Government are the original Bushmaster which is owned by Remington now and has big time quality control problems, Colt and FNMI so if you want authentic M4 builders that's it. You'll pay a lot extra for the name with both Colt and FNMI. I'd be hesitant to say the quality is any better than Windham Weaponry who evolved from the old Bushmaster Company or many other builders now. My semi-auto M4 SBR is a mixture of old pre Remington ownership Bushmaster, Colt and LMT with all of the most recent SOCOM mods for reliability as assembled by myself. It's a flawless weapon with more ammo through it than I care to count. It's never missed a lick and is consistently accurate.

[Joe W]

Thanks Brian. As a collector, more so than a shooter at this stage of my life, I was looking towards the "authentic M4 builders", but don't know if I am willing to spend close to double the price to get it. Thanks again for your input.

[Bill Hollinger]

Joe, here is a list of manufacturers of the M4 carbine from Wikipedia:

United States: Manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company.
United States: Manufactured by Lewis Machine and Tool Company in Milan, Illinois, USA.
United States: Manufactured by Bushmaster Firearms International.
United States: Manufactured by U.S. Ordnance.
United States: Manufactured by Remington Arms Company.
United States: Manufactured by THOR Global Defense Group.
United States: Manufactured by Daniel Defense Black Creek, Georgia, USA.
Belgium: Manufactured under license by FN Herstal.
Malaysia: Manufactured under license by SME Ordnance
Turkey: Manufactured under license by Sarsılmaz

As stated quality is and has been an issue with them. There are a lot of wannabe copies also.

[Joe W]

Thanks Bill. What I was looking for was an M4 manufactured by a company that built for the Government. Seems that my only choice would be Colt or FN.
As Brian Dick has said, "The only companies that have ever landed M4 contracts with the U.S. Government are the original Bushmaster which is owned by Remington now and has big time quality control problems, Colt and FNMI so if you want authentic M4 builders that's it. You'll pay a lot extra for the name with both Colt and FNMI."

[browningautorifle]

I'd assemble my own M4 at a much reduced price...

[cipherk98]

They are a top notch gun. However, the US market for ARs has imploded. It was saturated before, everyone was over producing, and then demand fell off a cliff. My advice is be patient and wait for prices to drop on the specific gun you want or build. Building may seem like a tall challenge but it's really not, though you'd be hard pressed right now to build one for as cheap as you could buy one if you wait for the right deal - I've seen entry level guns for $400-500, with some mid tier guns coming down to around $650-800. The Colt LE6920 I've handled seems like a good gun, went back and forth on buying it but went a different direction.

If you build, the hardest part of a build is installing the front sight post/block - it's a job that requires a jig and imo a mill for best results. Depending on where you source your barrel from this will may come installed. Then all you need is a vise block for the upper and barrel wrench to put it on the upper if you don't buy the upper with the barrel already installed, and those tools are probably less than $60. Otherwise it's easy enough to get the pieces.

[browningautorifle]

If you build, the hardest part of a build is installing the front sight post/block

I'd buy a ready assembled barrel.

the US market for ARs has imploded

Yes it has.

[cipherk98]

I bet if you look you can get a Colt LE6920 that is marked "M4 Carbine" for $800-850 used, around $900-950 new. I'm sure some may be moving on speculation Colt will implode and they will be collector's items, but they made a ton. Don't get the Expanse M4 Carbine which is built by a third party (though can't that be said about all Colts now?) and is a lower price.

[MikieG]

I was very excited about the FN AR15s. Then i read about having to build a new building to make them in to satisfy Colt and their TDP agreement. That in itself told me that this is NOT the FN i was issued.
Then the final draw was, the recievers do not bare the FNH rollmark. No sir. They are laser etched like a cheap chineese winchester pocket knife. At that point i dont care to ever see one. I even have my doubts as to who made the parts and who assembled them.