Considering a M16 A2 clone build

[kje54]

I'll start off with I'm currently just researching it and it can be done over time. Also it would have to be done "on the cheap" so I'm not interested in the super duper high end parts. Having never done a complete upper build I need a list of parts and while some are obvious, upper receiver, BCG, rifle length gas tube some I know nothing about.
It will be a 20" barrel chambered in 5.56 and the upper receiver will be a fixed handle. Oh and I have the tools I need to build it. If I can keep the build under $600 that would be great.

 

[12Bravo20]

The hard part is going to be finding the A2 fixed handle upper receiver, most places have been out of stock for quite a while now. Everything else will be a whole lot easier to find.

When you do find an A2 upper, make sure to check if it has M4 feed ramps or not so you can match your barrel to it. I have seen A2 uppers with and without M4 feed ramps. For a true clone you do not want feed ramps.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I lucked out and found an M16a1 parts kit minus the receiver and full-auto-specific parts at my LGS.
I was able to complete it for under $400.
Edit: I confused this build with build #3.
Build #3 was an M16a2 clone - mostly. Some mixed parts... .

 

[kje54]

The hard part is going to be finding the A2 fixed handle upper receiver, most places have been out of stock for quite a while now. Everything else will be a whole lot easier to find.

When you do find an A2 upper, make sure to check if it has M4 feed ramps or not so you can match your barrel to it. I have seen A2 uppers with and without M4 feed ramps. For a true clone you do not want feed ramps.

Not that concerned with making it a complete clone and yes the uppers are indeed hard to find. Haven't found one yet that isn't sold out, super expensive or listed on a scam site.

 

[kje54]

BCA has the upper I want but the carry handle isn't fixed and I really kinda wanted to build one myself. The complete BCA 20" upper would be around $400 shipped.

 

[12Bravo20]

I would go with a Palmetto State Armory upper before I would use a BCA upper. PSA has one on sale for $320. All you need is a carry handle

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...1-7-upper-with-bcg-and-charging-handle-1.html

 

[gotboostvr]

I would go with a Palmetto State Armory upper before I would use a BCA upper. PSA has one on sale for $320. All you need is a carry handle

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...1-7-upper-with-bcg-and-charging-handle-1.html

Which would be a M16A4 clone, but until PSA/H&R get to cranking out carry handle uppers, that's as close as you're gonna get.

 

[ColoradoMinuteMan]

I'd contact PSA and see when their H&R Retro AR15s are expected to be in stock. h-r-arms-co.html

 

[12Bravo20]

Which would be a M16A4 clone, but until PSA/H&R get to cranking out carry handle uppers, that's as close as you're gonna get.

Yes I am well aware of that fact. I posted the link to the PSA upper since he mentioned a similar A4 upper from BCA.

And who knows if or when PSA/H&R will have A2 uppers available. They can't even keep the A1 uppers in stock.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I would go with a Palmetto State Armory upper before I would use a BCA upper. PSA has one on sale for $320. All you need is a carry handle

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...1-7-upper-with-bcg-and-charging-handle-1.html

I’ve got one of these on a pseudo A2. The lower is a DPMS with an ALG trigger, and a A2 Butt stock. It was/is my practice rifle for CMP service rifle competition.
It has a FN 1/7” barrel and is darn near as accurate as my Rock Island National Match.
Unless you’re trying for a Vietnamese Nam era AR15 I would just go with the removable carry handle. Get a decent carry handle. There is some junk out there!!! A cheap one will not repeat sight settings or hold zero.

 

[kje54]

Since an A2 might or might not be an option depending on upper availability in the future I might go with an A4. That said I really want to build my own so with that in mind what type of low cost barrel do I need? Low cost front sight? Good low cost carry handle? Are all Delta rings created equal? Adjustable gas block or not? Etc.

 

[12Bravo20]

Windham Weaponry makes good barrels and their A2 handguards are the same as Colt and FN handguards. I used a Windham barrel and handguards along with a DPMS A2 upper for my A2 clone build.

Windham lists their A2 barrel and kit as backorder able right now. And $295 is a pretty good price. https://shop.windhamweaponry.com/product/kit-ba20gvt-7/

My WIndham barrel is way more accurate even with surplus M855 ammo than it should be. Outside of that look at the PSA barrels. Though I would still go with the Windham handguards. The PSA A2 handguards are fat and oversized.

 

[AlexanderA]

the upper receiver will be a fixed handle

If your upper receiver is a fixed handle, you don't want an "F" marked front sight tower. Those are for flat-topped receivers. Unfortunately, barrels with "F" marked front sight towers are about all that are available these days.

 

[12Bravo20]

Yes a F marked front sight base is taller but at worse you can get a shorter front sight post to use it with an A2 upper receiver. And if you have a barrel with a standard front sight base and a flat top upper then you can use a longer front sight post if needed.

The Windham barrel I linked comes with a standard front sight base. At the most you will need a taller sight post when using a flat top upper. But I would try it as is first. You might find that a taller front sight post is not needed.

 

[d2wing]

Lewis Machine and tool has stripped uppers with carry handles for $78. DPMS has complete uppers, not sure if A2. Del-Ton has them on back order. Others may have them as well.

 

[12Bravo20]

Lewis Machine and tool has stripped uppers with carry handles for $78. DPMS has complete uppers, not sure if A2. Del-Ton has them on back order. Others may have them as well.

Can you post a link to that upper?

I looked and cannot find it on the LMT website.

 

[d2wing]

Can you post a link to that upper?

I looked and cannot find it on the LMT website.

Yeah, I searched for AR Upper with carry handle. I tried for you now I can't find it either. Sorry. Ok found it, Outdoor deals but link not good. Must be old link.
Sorry. The ones I found are old links. Out of stock or discontinued. Guess I will keep the one I have.

 

[12Bravo20]

Yeah, I searched for AR Upper with carry handle. I tried for you now I can't find it either. Sorry.

Thanks for trying.

I definitely would have bout one at that price if in stock.

And I have not seen a DPMS A2 upper in stock for quite some time. I bought a Complete DPMS A2 upper receiver from Midway USA back in 2017 and I haven't seen complete or stripped lowers available since then.

 

[gotboostvr]

Since an A2 might or might not be an option depending on upper availability in the future I might go with an A4. That said I really want to build my own so with that in mind what type of low cost barrel do I need? Low cost front sight? Good low cost carry handle? Are all Delta rings created equal? Adjustable gas block or not? Etc.

Just grab a PSA freedom upper all set up ready to go.

If you want something a little nicer you can snag PSA's with nice FN-made, cold hammer forged, chrome lined barrels. That's one of the best values going.

 

[Bwana John]

I found a NOS USGI A1 to A2 upgrade kit still in the vapor bag, it was very reasonably priced at the time. Complete upper and BCG, did not come with A2 grip or stock.

 

[DMW1116]

If you’re willing to settle for the PSA 20” and a removable carry handle I can vouch for the FN CHF upper they sell. I didn’t want to build my upper so I didn’t look to see if they sell the parts/barrels alone. Do you have a way to drill and pin a front sight block?

 

[kje54]

If you’re willing to settle for the PSA 20” and a removable carry handle I can vouch for the FN CHF upper they sell. I didn’t want to build my upper so I didn’t look to see if they sell the parts/barrels alone. Do you have a way to drill and pin a front sight block?

Yup.

 

[Charlie98]

Since an A2 might or might not be an option depending on upper availability in the future I might go with an A4.

If you are kind of in a hurry, and want something to shoot, put something together and then change the parts as they come available. Obviously, the upper is the big sticking point right now... I'm looking for an A1 upper meself. As I cobble the parts together, I may just substitute one of my stripped flattop uppers in temporarily, to get it set up... and swap the parts over to an A1 upper (assuming I ever find one.) I"m not in a hurry, however, I have 4 other AR's to keep me busy.

FWIW... and I understand wanting to build it up yourself... but if you picked up one of those PSA 20" uppers, there is nothing saying you can't disassemble it yourself, and then reassemble it your way. I just got a 16" Freedom upper kit from PSA, but I still tore it down so I could check the barrel fit and barrel nut torque (having previously found the barrel nut on my DPMS upper hand tight from the factory.)

If you are looking for cheap parts... I would post a WTB in the classifieds. There are a LOT of people that upgraded their AR's and now have common parts (delta rings, A2 handguards, or even stuff like charging handles and such) setting around, and many folks are decent and generous... you never know.

 

[d2wing]

I was interested in building a copy of the one I carried in Nam a few years ago. Then parts were available including ex-GI. No longer an option I guess. There was a company making replica receivers, Dakota Arms I think. Covid and buy-outs must have dried everything up.
Update, the company was NoDak arms. They were bought out by Palmetto, rebranded as H&R and production moved. Everything is backordered and I assumed not in current production.

 

[kje54]

If you are kind of in a hurry, and want something to shoot, put something together and then change the parts as they come available. Obviously, the upper is the big sticking point right now... I'm looking for an A1 upper meself. As I cobble the parts together, I may just substitute one of my stripped flattop uppers in temporarily, to get it set up... and swap the parts over to an A1 upper (assuming I ever find one.) I"m not in a hurry, however, I have 4 other AR's to keep me busy.

FWIW... and I understand wanting to build it up yourself... but if you picked up one of those PSA 20" uppers, there is nothing saying you can't disassemble it yourself, and then reassemble it your way. I just got a 16" Freedom upper kit from PSA, but I still tore it down so I could check the barrel fit and barrel nut torque (having previously found the barrel nut on my DPMS upper hand tight from the factory.)

If you are looking for cheap parts... I would post a WTB in the classifieds. There are a LOT of people that upgraded their AR's and now have common parts (delta rings, A2 handguards, or even stuff like charging handles and such) setting around, and many folks are decent and generous... you never know.

Not in a hurry and currently I have an M4 build I did last year. PSA has a Freedom 16" upper for under $200, tempting but right now even $200 is stretching it as I just plunked down almost $2k for 3 different C&R milsurps. BCA has a removable carry handle for $40, technically I could buy that and put it on my current M4 build, just pull the red dot scope off and attach the handle.



BTW, when were you at Carson?