My 'Vietnam' AR15

[beeker77]

A Colt SP1, no forward assist, no mag release 'fence', repro waffle magazine, and more. Maybe needs a nylon web sling?
Closest I have been able to get in my efforts to duplicate the M16 that hung on my bunk on "Herky Hill" at Cam Ranh Bay, 1971.
When we went to fly our alternate days missions, we exchanged our rifles for .38 revolvers!

 

[Robert]

Very cool build you have there!

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I really like the styling from that era.

Classic!

Nice build!

 

[tark]

I was in Nam May-68 to May-69 and and M-16A1s were being issued, with the forward assist, mag release fence and chromed bores and chambers. How did you manage to find that old of an M-16? From your post, I assume you were in the Air Force? Did it have a 1-14 twist, by any chance? Those were the real flesh-rippers that produced the really gruesome wounds because the bullet was barely stabilized. Tumbled and broke up when it hit anything.

I had a colt Sporter, AR-15 that I bought in 1967 that looked like yours. It had a 1-14 twist and those early sporters are highly sought after today. I remember paying the outrageous price of $199.95 for it!

 

[taliv]

cool build

(tark: you can order a custom barrel in any twist you want.)

 

[chicharrones]

That's a nice retro AR. Well done.

 

[ifit]

Always appreciate these Retro ARs, well done

 

[MaterDei]

Nice!

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Retro rocks!

Watch the shows for one of those early sorta grey pistol grips and early charging handle too.


Todd.

 

[Reloadron]

Sweet and I know the feeling of nostalgia. The foreground rifle is my Colt SP1 the background rifle, another Colt SP1 was my brothers. He borrowed money on it a year ago along with a Colt Python. It was a 6 month note. I think I now own two Colt SP1 rifles and two Colt Python revolvers.

For me it was Danang 72 USMC.

Ron

 

[Jackal]

I already have 6 AR's, now I want a retro... Thanks guys...:banghead:

 

[highpower]

I wish I could bring myself to spend the money for one of those waffle mags. I guess I need to just bweely up to the bar and put my money down.....

I went on a retro spree a while back after I managed to trade into a near perfect SP1. I still have one more to put together, but I have veered off on a tangent lately.

Current Retro's:
SP1



M16E1



M16A1



XM177E2

 

[beeker77]

Not a bad shooter, either

Resting fore-end on a sandbag on a bench, after first shooting five or so sighting rounds from a 20-round mag, I put about 13 rounds into this Shoot-n-See. 55gr PPU FMJ BT. When I tried heavier bullets, they key-holed consistently

 

[Reloadron]

I already have 6 AR's, now I want a retro... Thanks guys...:banghead:

I never had much interest in the things. Then I thought it might be nice to grab at least a nostalgic AR, why not since I had a M1A having trained with the M14. Then a friend had one he needed to sell and it was a good deal, Colt Sporter Target, then came another someone had for a great price and then there is the AR10 from years ago. A few weeks ago I actually said no to another AR which was a good deal. I actually did say no! Heck, then I went out and bought another S&W Model 17 revolver.

The retro guns do have a certain lure about them, especially for those of us who carried those early guns in Vietnam. I think every vet who is a shooter wants that special rifle or pistol of their era.

Ron

 

[figment]

Thanks to all Vets for your service!

 

[Reloadron]

Highpower, sweet stuff. I have been tempted on a M16. I have fired a few since my Marine Corps days and have several friends into the Class 3 stuff. I just can't justify it to myself but it seems as I get older I find myself saying what the hell and popping for things I normally wouldn't. Liking that M16.

Ron

 

[Coop45]

0311 USMC Vietnam 67/68. New issue in Staging battalion. Three prong suppressor, gold buffer, chrome chamber, fenced, awful bore. One of the few in my platoon that would actually rock and roll in 67. Had to beg the armorers' not to take it away from me. Every squad had an M14 to provide a base of fire while the jamomatics were cleared. After all the abuse (rain, sand, mud, no cleaning rod) it was still a better rifle than the Colt I bought in the 80's. RIP old friend.

 

[d2wing]

Nam 68 based in Cam Rahn bay also. I want update like a retro too. I have been thinking about building one.

 

[DPris]

Brings back memories.
The AF didn't know what a forward assist was till long after I did my time.
Denis

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

How do you pour the powder down the barrel of those things?


-- All kidding aside, those look very nice.

 

[Jackal]

Well, I missed the draft by about 34 years, but I still want a retro. It would look good amidst the gee-wiz, gadget festooned, fancy AR's I already have in the safe. Maybe I'll put one together....

 

[ECVMatt]

A Colt SP1, no forward assist, no mag release 'fence', repro waffle magazine, and more. Maybe needs a nylon web sling?
Closest I have been able to get in my efforts to duplicate the M16 that hung on my bunk on "Herky Hill" at Cam Ranh Bay, 1971.
When we went to fly our alternate days missions, we exchanged our rifles for .38 revolvers!

That looks awesome and thank you for your service!

 

[clang]

Those Vietnam era M16A1s lasted a long time in the army. I was in '82-'86 and was issued Harrington & Richardson M16s with both my combat engineer units. They were made 68-70 and still going strong.

There was an awful lot of play between the upper and lower on all our guns from that era, but they still fired reliably, even on full auto.

 

[Gottahaveone]

Dang, I feel old now. Highpower, that XM177 brings back a lot of memories. I was a K9 handler and that's exactly what I carried. It was listed on my weapons card as a GAU-5A. Never had an issue with it except that danged long flash hider would start to unscrew itself if you ran it to hard. Never could get the armorer to fix that.....

 

[moe.ron]

Those are some great looking rifles.

Thank you all for your service.