Switched Horses (Colts!)

[imarangemaster]

I recently obtained a late CR6920 "Colt Carbine", but it was really just a Colt "assembled gun" with laser engraved lower instead of roll marked. It was made up of sub-contracted parts: a Rosco barrel, Schmidt LPK ( [S] marked ), and some handguards that were not nearly as robust as the Colt handguards of 20 years ago, and even an unmarked BCG. I always felt like it was a "sort of" Colt.

Well, working part time at a local gun shop I grabbed a Colt 6400C. Match Target M4 Carbine. Date by serial number (and from the owner who sold it) is about 2002.

The 6400C has a Fixed lower receiver extension and pinned M4 stock, that I replaced with a Colt 4 position tube and M4 stock with Colt cage code, It has a stock block and Sparrow Dynamics non-pistol grip to make it Commiefornia legal. I also replaced the "horseshoe" BGG with a Colt M16 BCG.

I'm OK the large pin FCG and with the pinned muzzle brake. The factory side sling swivel is cool, it has Diemaco and splintered A Anchor Harvey upper forge codes, and Keyhole - 4 (Cerro Forge) carry handle forge codes. It is also roll-marked "Colt Defense" which is neat.

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[browningautorifle]

Nice, I had to look a long time to find a side swivel mount. I too changed out any open back bolt groups with solid FA groups. It's the way they were originally designed.

[imarangemaster]

With the exception of some early models, butt stocks have always been a sub-contracted part for Colt. The double heat shield handguards on the 6400C are much beefier material than post 2010 ones, and have a reputation for being indestructible. It even has the heat shields epoxied in, instead of pressed in.

It's just a feeling, and probably my imagination, but the 6400C feels more robust that the current 6920s. IMHO, the roll stamping is much more esthetically pleasing than the current laser engraving they do. I had a Colt SP1 AR15 carbine from about 1986 to 2000, and only sold it when I was forced out on a medical retirement. I have always missed that one. The 6400C has the same honest feel to it as the SP1 did.

[imarangemaster]

Nice, I had to look a long time to find a side swivel mount. I too changed out any open back bolt groups with solid FA groups. It's the way they were originally designed.

That sling swivel is a factory installation on the 6400C. The full auto profile tends to be more reliable than the horseshoe ones. Significantly more mass moving forward to feed better.

[browningautorifle]

The full auto profile tends to be more reliable

Yes, that was the conclusion arrived at here also. It was one of the few FA parts we were allowed to have on our pieces here.

[imarangemaster]

I have been shooting the AR15 platform since 1974, starting in Army and then Air Force Reserve. I bought my first AR in 1986, a Colt SP1 carbine (which I had to sell in 2000). Starting in about 1988, I also began building ARs with PWA, SGW, Nesard, and a few others now gone, lower receivers and mostly surplus parts. More recently, I have built them on dozens of different lowers, and lots of different configurations. I have them awhile, then move on, never quite satisfied. Since 2000, I have missed the Colt. This has the same vibe for me as my old SP1. All the others are just copies and clones.

[browningautorifle]

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

[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.