AlexanderA
Member
NoDak Spud was famous for retro lowers. I wasn't aware that they did uppers. The interesting product that they came up with was a machined (not stamped) AR-180 lower.
Considering a M16 A2 clone build
- Thread starter kje54
- Start date
H&R is producing uppers and lowers in small quantities. Everything goes out of stock as soon as they are listed as in stock on the PSA website. It usually only takes an hour or less for uppers and lowers to be sold out.
Part of the problem is scalpers buying all they can and then reselling on Gun Broker for outrageous prices. This has been talked about in the several H&R threads on ARFCOM.
Part of the problem is scalpers buying all they can and then reselling on Gun Broker for outrageous prices. This has been talked about in the several H&R threads on ARFCOM.
Charlie98
Member
FEB87 to OCT89. 704th MSB.
Long after we were there (military brat). It was late 69 - 71, my parents bought a house in Widefield when it was first being built and they ultimately retired there.
Charlie98
Member
I'd live there now... if I could make a living out there. And then there is all that snow...
All this retro talk makes me want to put an M4 together with iron sites and sight tower.
The only reason I haven't built an A1 clone is that I never liked getting hit with hot brass due to shooting left handed. Otherwise I would have an A1 clone. I do have an A2 clone along with a M4 clone.
I was issued the A1 when I first enlisted and did not get issued an A2 until January 1992. I got out right before I was suppose to get issued a M4. For me the M4 was to replace the M3A1 that I was issued. We had to turn the M3A1s along with our 1911s at eh end of 1992 or beginning of 1993.
Looks like mine's not going to be a true A2 clone due to the scarcity of A2 uppers, it'll be a flat top with a detachable handle. Also debating whether to use an A2 stock or an adjustable stock, depends on the A2 buttstock LOP. Anything over 13" and I'm starting to stretch to reach the trigger.
Nothing wrong with a good A4 clone either. My 6.8 SPC is a A4 clone.
The length of pull for a true A2/A4 stock is 13 1/2". If you want a tradition rifle stock that is shorter then you can go with one of the available A1 stocks available. The A1 stock is about 5/8" shorter than the A2 stock. The A4 originally had the A2 stock but the military started installing M4 stocks on them for smaller statured troops.
I just find them weird looking with a 20" barrel and carbine stock. But either stock will work for a A4 clone.
I didn't know that about the A1 stock, thanks.
Been searching A1 buttstocks, didn't realize they were so expensive. More than double the cost of an A2 buttstock..........
Brownells sells their Retro AR stock for $39.99. The downside is it is the D model without a trap door. And you would still have to purchase the buffer and buffer tube.
https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...avs|Make_3=AR-15&avs|Manufacturer_1=brownells
And you are correct that authentic military A1 stocks are expensive. They haven't been made in quite some time.
https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...avs|Make_3=AR-15&avs|Manufacturer_1=brownells
And you are correct that authentic military A1 stocks are expensive. They haven't been made in quite some time.
George Dickel
Member
Check with some gunsmiths that do a lot of work on AR rifles. I asked a friend, who is a gunsmith, to build an A2 clone for me. He said he had a couple A2 receivers laying around if I didn't mind a used one. In the past he had converted some A2 rifles to flat tops at the owner's request and they didn't want the used parts back. Also had a bunch of other parts. With the money I saved on the used parts I had him install a heavy profile Kreiger barrel on it. Functions perfectly, looks great and the accuracy is excellent even with my old eyes.
So far it looks like I'll be using the A2 buttstock, it's a little longer than I prefer but I can still reach it.
Close enough to satisfy me. I never carried one in the service, I was a Navy DT/Corpsman Asst., 1972 - 74.
NuclearMeltdown
Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2006
- Messages
- 228
Check out a C7 upper. It's an A1 with a brass deflector. I have one that came on an Olympic Arms years ago. Here's an image from Fulton's website:
army_eod
Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
- Messages
- 875
Not going to fit your price point, but.....
https://www.fulton-armory.com/fariflecal556mmupruniversalprecisionrifle-3-2-2-7-3.aspx
https://www.fulton-armory.com/fariflecal556mmupruniversalprecisionrifle-3-2-2-7-3.aspx
halfmoonclip
Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2011
- Messages
- 2,805
Well, hell. Sorry to hear about NoDak; got one of their lowers for an A1 build. I thought they had some connection with Brownells?
My lower is spot on for an A1, though their 16" carbine upper might have been a little creative. But I like the rifle length sights.
Brownells was marketing some other retro stuff, so you still might check with them.
Moon
ETA- for the OP, how big a feller are you? I'm not very, and the A1 stock is just right for me. I did see current production A1s/A2s at a local gun show for $35.
Seem to recall the A2 came courtesy of the MCMT for service rifle.
I do have a couple 3 original A1 buttstocks in my stash.
M
My lower is spot on for an A1, though their 16" carbine upper might have been a little creative. But I like the rifle length sights.
Brownells was marketing some other retro stuff, so you still might check with them.
Moon
ETA- for the OP, how big a feller are you? I'm not very, and the A1 stock is just right for me. I did see current production A1s/A2s at a local gun show for $35.
Seem to recall the A2 came courtesy of the MCMT for service rifle.
I do have a couple 3 original A1 buttstocks in my stash.
M
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Thanks everyone for your input, it's greatly appreciated but the more I think about it the more I'm leaning towards another M4 build. Mostly because I really do like the look of the M4 over the M16, I like the adjustable buttstock and carbine length much more than a fixed stock.
"I do have a couple 3 original A1 buttstocks in my stash."
Was that an offer to sell one?
I'm a lot bigger than I should be.........
"I do have a couple 3 original A1 buttstocks in my stash."
Was that an offer to sell one?
Charlie98
Member
Good LORD!!!
Were it not for the desire for longer sight radius for target use, I would have gotten an M4 pattern instead of the 20” A4 pattern. That longer sight radius helps for my purposes though. It’s the only rifle I’ve used where I stand a chance at 1 MOA with standard sights.
The furthest I've tried was 200 yards. My local range stops there. The sight radius sure helped when setting up the elevation drum for my preferred load on a 6" target at 150 yards (3" high at 150; set for center hits using a 6 o'clock hold). I wonder if the shorter radius on an M4 would actually be that much of a hindrance. For an M4 style with irons, I'd just set it up to stay on an 8" target as far as possible with no hold over, though I'd sure try to make it a target rifle for at least one range trip.
