[fingolfen]

So here’s a project I’ve been working on for a while, and I finally got all of the “stuff” together at the gun show today. Meet my “old school” AR-15. It’s built on a Superior Arms lower with a Olympic lower parts kit. The pistol grip and buttstock are M16 GI. I assembled the lower myself. The upper is an old A1 upper with a Colt barrel I came across at the show today. The bolt and carrier assembly are a chrome Young bolt and carrier. Now all I need is a 60’s vintage sling and I’m ready to rock and roll!

 

[SfcRet]

looks real nice. For a sling, use a M14 one, either canvas or nylon. That is what was used all the up till the 80s. then they went to the black webbing with 2 keepers.

The A1 I was issued in Germany in 75, had XM15E1, the E1 was hand punch on, the thing was a piece of junk, the upper and lower was so loose, that you could push the upper to one side, and there would be a 1/4inch gap between the receivers. never was able to zero the thing, barrel was shot out piece of junk. Luckily we use a German firing range, and they use the large 200 meter bulleyes target, so if it hit anywhere in that target it was counted as a hit.

 

[mawkie]

Love old school ARs! Can't stand the M4s with all the gee-gaws hanging off of them. You did good!
Below is my old SP-1 that I bought second hand back in the late '70s for $300 with the original Colt 3X20 scope (a Howa). Came with the old style olive drab cotton sling. Not as accurate as my brother's A2 but still serious fun at the range.

 

[Cali2Maine]

The flash suppressor is different, but it reminds me of my A1 from Basic. It was an old Harrington & Richardson that shot like a dream although the upper and lower rattled a bit. Much better trigger too than the later FN A2s.

 

[SfcRet]

Mawkie, not to be picky, well maybe a little . But, that sling on yours is backwards. the "clip" portion should be attached to the buttstock

 

[fugi]

Nice, I like the three-prong on it. was looking at an old slab-side SP1 the other day, $1500 was tempting.

 

[mawkie]

Mawkie, not to be picky, well maybe a little . But, that sling on yours is backwards. the "clip" portion should be attached to the buttstock

Umm, uh, I knew that. Yeah, I meant to install the sling backwards! Now excuse me while I pull my SP-1 from the safe. Time to clean and reinstall the sling (it's been installed backwards the entire time I've had it, from day1 almost 30 yrs ago)...

 

[Mongo4567]

Great looking rifle!

I'm going to build one like this for a dedicated .22 LR conversion. With the 1/12 rifling they do really well at stabilizing the bullet.

 

[fingolfen]

Thanks guys - I've thought about getting a .22 conversion for my AR's - would be interesting to compare the various ones I have...

 

[gunluvver]

Here's one of my 2 Retros. Colt uppers on Oly lowers. I need a smooth carrier to finish out 1 of them. I built this one as an Air Force 604. The scope is an NC Star Colt copy. My other upper is gray, so I want to get a slabside lower from NDS for it and make it a 602 clone.

The sling is a nylon M1/M14 sling. Wideners had bunches of them a couple of years ago. I picked up enough to cover all my needs.

 

[William B Vogel]

Retro AR

I've got one almost like I put togrether back in the early 90s. Only mine doesn't have the forward asist on it. It is built on a early E.A. lower with a Colt upper, bbl. bolt&carrier. I call it my Viet-man era AR. I like the short buttstock, but after handing later type handguards. The old style do feel slick now. I didn't notice that earlier. Bill

 

[RMTactical]

I've been tempted to build an old school AR15 for some time. I think I would go with the A1 birdcage flash hider though. Just a personal choice.

 

[Gator Monroe]

Be sure and get lotsa USGI 1960's aluminium 20 round mags made by Simmonds, Adventureline,parsons, & Colt !

 

[jeff barnes]

Here's mine...OOW Colt upper, DoubleStar lower. Great shooter, I can pick off clay pigeons with the irons at 100yds. Scope is a Hakko. In the picture of the rifle on the bipod, it still has the A2 buttstock. It now wears an A1 stock, which fits me better.
I built this on whim, when I saw the Ohio Ordinance Colt uppers cheap. The M16A1 was the first centerfire rifle I ever fired, at the Small Arms Firing School at Camp Perry. Thats me, circa 1980.

 

[A square 10]

let me add my congrats , ive only got two coments , neather is a criticism

first thats a second style flash supressor , while a great catch its probably 65 vintage and your teardrop forward assist upper is 67-69 vintage , it would have had a bird cage type FS , not a big deal as there were a lot of deviations and so on ,

sacond , i think that butstock has the fixed sling swivel , early one would have been the no buttrap with the knob and swivel type , if im wrong on yours please forgive ,

these are a lot of fun and there are so many options available , you have a truely nice looking retro , do find a nice nylon sling in green , try moores


i did a 67-69 vintage - i stuck a temp scope on it for fun - looking for a vintage one , and im running a ceinar 22cal conversion in mine , it works wonderfull

 

[manygunsmike]

Great job on the build !! The Superior Arms Lower is what I used on my build !
Here is my Retro AR15 -M16

manygunsmike

 

[Ol Duke In Memoriam]

I'm building one, too. A dealer was at the local show and had a whole bunch of old Colt uppers that did not have the forward assist on them. I figure they are pre-1970 uppers and several of us bought them for $40 each. I won a very nice complete chrome bore Colt barrel that dates about 1973 for $160 and bought a set of triangle handguards, A1 Buttstock and pistol grip from Northridge. I started to buy a slabside lower from NoDak Spuds, but was able to get a Stag stripped lower and lower parts set very reasonably, so, I'm just going to have to live with the fences on the lower. Oh, well.

 

[Orlando]

Heres one I just finished reciently. A late USAF 604 on a Nodak A1 lower

 

[jmouk]

My SP1 is in the 28--- range if I am not mistaken. It was from approx. 1973; the year I got out of high school. I just missed Viet Nam. It shoots great and was a "gift" from an old friend at $300. Shoots like a house a fire....

 

[Orlando]

I'm building one, too. A dealer was at the local show and had a whole bunch of old Colt uppers that did not have the forward assist on them. I figure they are pre-1970 uppers and several of us bought them for $40 each. I won a very nice complete chrome bore Colt barrel that dates about 1973 for $160 and bought a set of triangle handguards, A1 Buttstock and pistol grip from Northridge. I started to buy a slabside lower from NoDak Spuds, but was able to get a Stag stripped lower and lower parts set very reasonably, so, I'm just going to have to live with the fences on the lower. Oh, well.

Your upper is more than likely a USAF 604 upper. The Slabside would not be correct for it . The late 604 would have a full fence lower, the early 604 from mid 1960's would have a partial fence. So a Stag full fence would actually work with your build. It wont be a A1 lower or the right color