Quentin
Member
Has anyone looked at the new budget Colt Expanse? The MSRP is $699 so it's positioned to compete with the S&W M&P-15 Sport II and Ruger AR-556. I saw my first one yesterday and it's not bad at all. Nothing like that cheap "Colt" 6900 they tried to foist off on the public a couple years ago.
I've read the Expanse has a non-chrome lined barrel, no dust cover, no forward assist and no rear sight which was true of the one I handled. However the upper receiver will accept a dust cover and forward assist if you buy the parts.
I've also read it doesn't have M4 feed ramps, bayonet lug, front sling swivel, F-marked FSB, M16 bolt carrier, MPI bolt and milspec diameter buffer tube but the Expanse I handled had all of these desired features. The lower was a standard LE6920/M4 lower, this one with a Cerro Forge mark. Even the castle nut was staked properly. The only thing different about the lower, it had a standard weight carbine buffer instead of an H or H2 which is better with carbine length gas. I read the first Expanses have the standard LE6920 lower but newer ones will have a CE lower, whatever that is.
Nowhere does "Expanse" appear on the rifle, the barrel is marked Colt 5.56 NATO 1/7 twist and the lower is rollmarked M4 Carbine, CAL. 5.56MM
I'm going to read more on this new Colt. Got a feeling I'm going back today. I have a dust cover! And an H2 buffer...
I've read the Expanse has a non-chrome lined barrel, no dust cover, no forward assist and no rear sight which was true of the one I handled. However the upper receiver will accept a dust cover and forward assist if you buy the parts.
I've also read it doesn't have M4 feed ramps, bayonet lug, front sling swivel, F-marked FSB, M16 bolt carrier, MPI bolt and milspec diameter buffer tube but the Expanse I handled had all of these desired features. The lower was a standard LE6920/M4 lower, this one with a Cerro Forge mark. Even the castle nut was staked properly. The only thing different about the lower, it had a standard weight carbine buffer instead of an H or H2 which is better with carbine length gas. I read the first Expanses have the standard LE6920 lower but newer ones will have a CE lower, whatever that is.
Nowhere does "Expanse" appear on the rifle, the barrel is marked Colt 5.56 NATO 1/7 twist and the lower is rollmarked M4 Carbine, CAL. 5.56MM
I'm going to read more on this new Colt. Got a feeling I'm going back today. I have a dust cover! And an H2 buffer...