CAR 15 Build
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ECVMatt
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- Jan 7, 2004
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I have been going back and forth over the 16" barrel versus the 14.5. I finally found a good deal on a factory Colt PW SOCOM barrel in 14.5 And bought it. I threw it on an A2 upper I had and made a simple carbine, similar to a Colt 727.
I really love it, but I am still able to use iron sites very effectively even at 54. I feel lucky in that regard. I tried the 36 yard zero for the 1st time and it worked quite well. I was able to shoot out a 300 yards on steel silhouettes with very little adjustment.
The rifle does feel a bit more handy than the 16" barrel and out to 300 yards I can't see a big difference.
Somehow I ended up with another 14.5" PW SOCOM barrel and I am sure you guys know how this will end....
I would say you are fine either way, but if you have a choice, go with the 14.5".
Keep us updated!
I really love it, but I am still able to use iron sites very effectively even at 54. I feel lucky in that regard. I tried the 36 yard zero for the 1st time and it worked quite well. I was able to shoot out a 300 yards on steel silhouettes with very little adjustment.
The rifle does feel a bit more handy than the 16" barrel and out to 300 yards I can't see a big difference.
Somehow I ended up with another 14.5" PW SOCOM barrel and I am sure you guys know how this will end....
I would say you are fine either way, but if you have a choice, go with the 14.5".
Keep us updated!
AlexanderA
Member
This is my CAR 15 clone. It's built on a full-auto registered lower, milled out of aluminum bar stock by SGW and converted to auto by RIA.
The sliding stock is vinyl-clad aluminum, original Colt. The magazine is a steel 40-rounder by Sterling. (This will work in either an AR-15 or an AR-18.) The grip is a Stowaway II by Lone Star Ordnance.
The barrel is actually a full 16 inches. It's disguised by using a slip-over flash hider. Since it's a full auto, I could have used any length barrel, but I chose 16 inches.
Unlike an original CAR, this will mount a bayonet.
The sliding stock is vinyl-clad aluminum, original Colt. The magazine is a steel 40-rounder by Sterling. (This will work in either an AR-15 or an AR-18.) The grip is a Stowaway II by Lone Star Ordnance.
The barrel is actually a full 16 inches. It's disguised by using a slip-over flash hider. Since it's a full auto, I could have used any length barrel, but I chose 16 inches.
Unlike an original CAR, this will mount a bayonet.
CapnMac
Member
You mean this episode, yes:
Well, that's not exactly a CAR-15 as it's meant to recreate a Colt 723/727, which became the XM-4. I think that one is 16" overall with a fixed flash suppressor.
But, I could be wrong, and it's a 14.3
Now, there have been, over the decades several models out there sold as CAR-15, and their features were all over the place. In the mid 90s, it just meant "shorter than 20" barrel and "with adjustable stock" (before fashion required all stocks to be adjustable).
Henry is also an incredible shot, too--Your Mileage May Vary.
Well, that's not exactly a CAR-15 as it's meant to recreate a Colt 723/727, which became the XM-4. I think that one is 16" overall with a fixed flash suppressor.
But, I could be wrong, and it's a 14.3
Now, there have been, over the decades several models out there sold as CAR-15, and their features were all over the place. In the mid 90s, it just meant "shorter than 20" barrel and "with adjustable stock" (before fashion required all stocks to be adjustable).
Henry is also an incredible shot, too--Your Mileage May Vary.
gotboostvr
Member
A buddy recently used a 16" barrel that has an integral flash hider, and is thin enough that a gas block will slip over it. Essentially a P&W barrel.
From Faxon, and avalible as pencil profile or their "Gunner" profile (thicker at the chamber, but tapers down to the muzzle) it might be a good option. Definitely cheaper than buying a barrel, and then having it pinned. I've seen some butchered welds lately as well.
It'll let you play with different gas blocks or handguards too, which might not be easily done with a P&W.
From Faxon, and avalible as pencil profile or their "Gunner" profile (thicker at the chamber, but tapers down to the muzzle) it might be a good option. Definitely cheaper than buying a barrel, and then having it pinned. I've seen some butchered welds lately as well.
It'll let you play with different gas blocks or handguards too, which might not be easily done with a P&W.
I have an A4 copy with detachable handle sight that I really like shooting. The idea of an M4 clone is that matches is nice. I already have a lower built but I could still do a CAR 15 inspired build. If I could find a 14.5 barrel with all the stuff on it that would be an option.
AlexanderA
Member
The CAR (XM-177) is an iconic Vietnam-era gun. Some of its features later went mainstream, but I wouldn't call any contemporary gun a "CAR."
gotboostvr
Member
I don't worry too much about "clone correctness" but I will keep a "theme"
This one, is just "GWOT-era" themed:
Jokingly call it "Fifty shades of FDE"
I'd just build the rifle that's in your mind's eye, and not sweat if it's not exactly a Colt 7xx model.
Besides, vintage Colt AR's, much like Smith and Wesson revolvers had alot of variation within the same model.
That looks almost exactly like where I was headed already. The change/challenge would be finding a mid-length 16” barrel with an F marked sight post or a 14.5” barrel P&W. I really like the PSA branded carry handle on my A4, so that would be the rear sight option.
lysanderxiii
Member
Terminology note:
Colt Automatic Rifle, or CAR-15 was a family of weapons introduced around 1964, loosely comparable to the Stoner 63 weapon system family. The CAR-15 family consisted of:
CAR-15 Rifle (AR-15, or M16) - Model 603 or 604 (the Model 604 has the forward assist, the 603 does not)
CAR-15 Squad Automatic Rifle - M1 - a heavy barrel version of the rifle with a detachable bipod, and fed from a 30-round magazine.
CAR-15 Squad Automatic Rifle - M2 - a heavy barrel version of the rifle with a detachable bipod, and fed from a belt.
CAR-15 Carbine (Model 605A) - A Model 604 with the barrel shorten so the flash hider was just in front of the front sight, the Model 605B was the same but based on the 603.
CAR-15 Submachine Gun (Model 607) - This is the model most people associate with "CAR-15", it had the 10.0 inch barrel with a shortened ("carbine-length") gas system with shortened triangular hand guards and a collapsible stock (the short plastic type). This is what would evolve into the Army's XM177E1.
XM177E1 - (Colt Commando) - An improved 607 featuring round handguards, aluminum (coated) two position stock, improved hand guard slip ring, and sound suppressor (aka "moderator).
XM177E2 - (Colt Commando) - same as above but with an 11.5 inch barrel to allow the mounting of an XM148 40mm grenade launcher. By the 1980's the Army had removed all the moderators, due to their ineffectiveness.
NOTE: The carbine and submachine gun versions' barrel configuration did not allow for the mounting of a bayonet, therefore did not have a bayonet lug on the bottom of the front sight.
NOTE: The "M177" was reserved for the submachine gun without the forward assist, but that was never actually used, the USAF going with their own designation, "GAU-5/A", therefor all XM177E2shad the forward assist.
Colt Automatic Rifle, or CAR-15 was a family of weapons introduced around 1964, loosely comparable to the Stoner 63 weapon system family. The CAR-15 family consisted of:
CAR-15 Rifle (AR-15, or M16) - Model 603 or 604 (the Model 604 has the forward assist, the 603 does not)
CAR-15 Squad Automatic Rifle - M1 - a heavy barrel version of the rifle with a detachable bipod, and fed from a 30-round magazine.
CAR-15 Squad Automatic Rifle - M2 - a heavy barrel version of the rifle with a detachable bipod, and fed from a belt.
CAR-15 Carbine (Model 605A) - A Model 604 with the barrel shorten so the flash hider was just in front of the front sight, the Model 605B was the same but based on the 603.
CAR-15 Submachine Gun (Model 607) - This is the model most people associate with "CAR-15", it had the 10.0 inch barrel with a shortened ("carbine-length") gas system with shortened triangular hand guards and a collapsible stock (the short plastic type). This is what would evolve into the Army's XM177E1.
XM177E1 - (Colt Commando) - An improved 607 featuring round handguards, aluminum (coated) two position stock, improved hand guard slip ring, and sound suppressor (aka "moderator).
XM177E2 - (Colt Commando) - same as above but with an 11.5 inch barrel to allow the mounting of an XM148 40mm grenade launcher. By the 1980's the Army had removed all the moderators, due to their ineffectiveness.
NOTE: The carbine and submachine gun versions' barrel configuration did not allow for the mounting of a bayonet, therefore did not have a bayonet lug on the bottom of the front sight.
NOTE: The "M177" was reserved for the submachine gun without the forward assist, but that was never actually used, the USAF going with their own designation, "GAU-5/A", therefor all XM177E2shad the forward assist.
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lysanderxiii
Member
Try DSA for a 14.5 w/ front sight.
gotboostvr
Member
Yeah, due to the nature of taper pinned FSB's it's not the easiest arrangement to whip up yourself.
halfmoonclip
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- Joined
- Feb 4, 2011
- Messages
- 2,764
What are yinz doing about having a 14.5" barrel? An inch and a half hardly seems worth $200.
Are you going with a pinned flash hider, or the longer moderator?
I have the Brownells sorta-clone 16", with full length rifle sights, triangle rifle handguards, and a short nub of a barrel. The rifle length gas system can be a challenge; mine will run on a Colt BCG, but not on others.
I really like the rifle length sights/dissipator style setup.
I do have a Law Enforcement pencil barrel AR, and had it cut and pinned; it's almost 14.5" w/o the flash hider. Esthetically, it does look better.
Moon
Are you going with a pinned flash hider, or the longer moderator?
I have the Brownells sorta-clone 16", with full length rifle sights, triangle rifle handguards, and a short nub of a barrel. The rifle length gas system can be a challenge; mine will run on a Colt BCG, but not on others.
I really like the rifle length sights/dissipator style setup.
I do have a Law Enforcement pencil barrel AR, and had it cut and pinned; it's almost 14.5" w/o the flash hider. Esthetically, it does look better.
Moon
earlthegoat2
Member
I have built a CAR inspired rifle.
It is more of a Colt SP-1 Sporter inspired clone really though with the light profile barrel. It has repro A1 grip and 2 position stock. Original Colt 6 hole handguards.
Where it deviates from a true clone is a PSA plain lower with very little adornment and the upper is a C7 that works better for me being a lefty. Barrel is also 1:7.
It is more of a Colt SP-1 Sporter inspired clone really though with the light profile barrel. It has repro A1 grip and 2 position stock. Original Colt 6 hole handguards.
Where it deviates from a true clone is a PSA plain lower with very little adornment and the upper is a C7 that works better for me being a lefty. Barrel is also 1:7.
gotboostvr
Member
That's an integral carry handle, and it looks to be a 16" to my eye.
Looks to be a very nice carbine.
earlthegoat2
Member
Yes. Fixed A1 style carry handle and a 16” barrel.
It is very light also. Under 6lbs unloaded.
AlexanderA
Member
All you need is a slip-over flash hider to have it look like a real "shorty." No complications like pinning and welding a flash hider, plus you get the ballistic benefits of the longer barrel.
CapnMac
Member
The Colt 732 Carbine had the "plain" front end with A1 sights; 14.3" barrel
The Colt 727 carbine had the "military profile" and A2 sights; 14.3" barrel
Which Colt called "Delta" for a while. During the process of becoming the XM-4, the fixed carry handle was dropped for the A3 style "flat top" upper.
That info might help persons wanting to "clone" one of these.
YMMV
The Colt 727 carbine had the "military profile" and A2 sights; 14.3" barrel
Which Colt called "Delta" for a while. During the process of becoming the XM-4, the fixed carry handle was dropped for the A3 style "flat top" upper.
That info might help persons wanting to "clone" one of these.
YMMV
earlthegoat2
Member
I have one of the slip over flash hiders that I bought specifically for that rifle but I guess I just prefer the SP-1 Sporter look.
I also think that because it is a pencil barrel there would be a significant gap around where the flash hider goes over the barrel. Not sure though. It is an actual Colt Govt Carbine barrel.
25-20 WCF
Member
I bought my Colt 16” Sporter I in 1982. I installed a slip-on flash hider right away and have used it a lot since then. (It shoots better with that heavy flash hider than it does with an A1.) Shot a handful of deer on Kodiak Island with it, but mostly target shooting and plinking in the desert. Completely trouble-free all those years. BTW it has a bayonet lug on the front sight base, and I much prefer the lack of the FA.
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