Colt to produce a throwback M16A1

[sigp220.45]

Semi-auto of course, but with an AUTO marking.



I know it doesn't make sense, but I really like this idea. I'm sure a guy could put one together for less than the $2499 MSRP, but that prancing pony means something to a lot of us.



I hope the street price is less.

Good for Colt for finally waking up and putting some cool stuff on the market.

First Impression: Colt's new Retro M16A1 Reissue - Guns & Tech

[fyimo]

I think that's a great idea and a lot of Vietnam veterans would buy one at a price point that they didn't think was to high to add to their collection. I think the $2499 MSRP is too high for this Vietnam Veteran to buy one as I probably wouldn't want to shoot it too much if at all.

[MCorps0311]

Originally Posted by sigp220.45

Semi-auto of course, but with an AUTO marking.



I know it doesn't make sense, but I really like this idea. I'm sure a guy could put one together for less than the $2499 MSRP, but that prancing pony means something to a lot of us.



I hope the street price is less.

Good for Colt for finally waking up and putting some cool stuff on the market.

First Impression: Colt's new Retro M16A1 Reissue - Guns & Tech

This one looks just like the one I humped in RVN. Her name was " Willie Mae."

[DWalt]

I'll let someone else buy mine. I have never been much of a fan of the AR - and certainly not at that price or anything close to it, even with the Prancing Pony.

[MCorps0311]

Originally Posted by DWalt

I'll let someone else buy mine. I have never been much of a fan of the AR - and certainly not at that price or anything close to it, even with the Prancing Pony.

I see your point at this price tag cost, $2499.I won't be buying one myself! My Willie Mae,brought me home,all I had to do for her was keep her clean daily.

[rwsmith]

They seem to want to sell guns to civilians now and they are bringing back the sure sellers. Maybe any company that throws it's customers under the bus should go into bankruptcy and learn something.

[CptCurl]

I do like ARs, but that price is ridiculous. I bought a brand new Colt M4 semi-auto just about a year ago for about $800. So this one is worth over three times as much?

I'll be happy with my $800 Colt. If I want it retro I'll put on an M16A1 top, an A1 butt, A1 triangular handguards, and an A1 grip. It will look close enough for me.

Then if I really want to feel retro, I'll get out my full auto M16A1 and parade around the shooting range. Unfortunately, it was a little more than $2499, but it's the real deal.

Curl

[mojave30cal]

Troy Industries has two "retro" Air Force carbines they are
selling for $1200.00.

The parts necessary to put together a "retro" Vietnam style
M16 rifle and variants is getting harder to do because the parts
are getting scarce and pricey. I remember 10 years ago you
could go to gun shows and pick up barrels, uppers, and other
parts and build your retro rifle. There were also lots of parts
available on the internet. Not so much now.

The retro Vietnam rifle building craze has really caught on, and
companies are producing parts to help builders complete builds.
Brownell's sells Vietnam era 20 inch and 16 inch 1X12 twist
barrel assemblies at reasonable prices for retro builds. Nodak
Spud makes the A1 lower, and they are backordered at least
6 months.

Below is a retro Colt M16A1 late 1970's semi-auto rifle I put
together. The upper is a Colt factory M16A1 that came out of
a military arsenal, the lower is all Colt except for the Nodak
Spud A1 semi-auto lower.

[66snub]

$2499 for this rifle is like buying a ford escort with an attached price meant for a mustang. This rifle is the "commuter car" of the AR15 world, no options.

[cgt4570]

I've got a 1974 vintage (my birth year) Colt SP1 and every Vietnam vet that's seen it has tried to talk me out of it, especially the one that was in the Air Police (I think that's what they were called).

[apollo99]

I see the attraction as a retro piece, but to me it has all the undesirable traits they replaced and now we have the M-4 , Collapsible stock, easy to put optics on, shorter 1:7 barrel, but I do get the attraction for some Vietnam vets with a pile of cash.

[CptCurl]

Originally Posted by mojave30cal

Below is a retro Colt M16A1 late 1970's semi-auto rifle I put
together. The upper is a Colt factory M16A1 that came out of
a military arsenal, the lower is all Colt except for the No Dak
Spud A1 lower.

I really need to turn my M16A1 back to what it was. Right now it's wearing a carbine stock and gets shot most often with a Commando 11.5" upper. I also shoot it as a 9mm with the 10.5" 9mm SMG upper. Then there's the 12.5" AAC Blackout upper. . . .

Curl

[CptCurl]

Ok, mojave30cal, so I have a question. These retro lowers look like the real deal, but they only are semi? Does the selector rotate around to "Auto"? I've not seen this before, but I claim no knowledge of ARs in general.



Nice AR for sure, man.

Curl

[vonn]

Have one I made out of a pre ban Colt lower and M16A1 upper back in the days before the ban expired. Was offered more than the price of the new one by serious buyers even back then. Carried mine in RVN and I will keep this copy until I am gone,she is still a really good shooter!

[TeaDub]

Very cool. The price, not so much. That Troy could be interesting. I still carried an A1 when I was in active during the mid 80s.

[jframejoey]

$2499 MSRP...........Im no expert by this must be from the Custom Shop. Dont see many getting sold.

[mojave30cal]

Cptcurl: The Nodak Spud A1 lowers are semi-auto only. Some
guys buy the lowers in the white, then send them to an en-
graver for the Colt markings. When that's finished, they send
the lower to US Anodizing for the anodized finish. The fire
control selector does not rotate to the "auto" position.

[CptCurl]

Originally Posted by mojave30cal

I get a lot of double takes at the range.

I bet you do! I had also wondered how the Colt logo and markings got there, but you answered that.

You guys are making me want to get my AR out for a good shoot. Maybe tomorrow!

The truth is, an M16 really doesn't do much on full auto. I think it is a more effective weapon in semi-auto with aimed shots. I've never carried one in combat, though.

I think the most effective SMG I have is the Thompson. It shoots where you aim and gets a lot of lead on target quickly. Heavy as **** and rock steady.

Curl

[glenwolde]

As Winchester discovered with it's exhausting line of commemorative editions, you can sell 10,000 of anything that shoots if it's got a "hook". That would be $25 million at retail.

[Mexican Kerry]

Nodak leaves a blank area for engraving, and I believe they may even offer to have it done for the customer (could be wrong on that).

People will buy this Colt, even with the price tag. The buzz I've heard is limited run, and releasing one or two different retro models over the next few years.

I'll have to get by with my SP1 and my cobbled together XM177 ish clone.

[DWalt]

All this makes me wonder. Somewhere, I have an original style M-16 black buttstock and triangular forend. Are those worth anything these days?

[Mexican Kerry]

Originally Posted by DWalt

All this makes me wonder. Somewhere, I have an original style M-16 black buttstock and triangular forend. Are those worth anything these days?

Some people think they are. Two days ago a guy on another forum posted a set of just handguards for 250 bucks and they sold.

[Steve912]

OP--is that the official Colt pic, of the M16A1 reissue?

Might be the angle, or my eyes, but the fencing around mag well and mag release doesn't look A1-ish.

The three-prong flash suppressor was replaced by birdcage, on A1...and the front sling swivel is weird--sling opening is way too deep, top to bottom.

[okiegtrider]

I like the idea of this rifle. Its good seeing some of the old stuff from Colt coming back to the market.

At that price, I'll have to be content to enjoy all the new M16A1's you guys buy and show off here in the forum.

[inspcalahan]

I'd drop $1000 for one just for fun, but that msrp is way way way beyond reality....

[Sportsdad60]

Interesting!

What will the twist rate be?
Original Armalite twist (1/14, Unstable bullet flight, wounded more enemy) or 1/12 or modern 1/9....or 1/7 (sucks for 55 gr bullets)

[Warren Sear]

My two Colt SP1 rifles, both from about 1980:

[mojave30cal]

I picked up this 1966 Colt SP1 last month at my LGS. It has a
four digit serial number. It is all original and came out of an
estate in California. I paid $1K for it.

[Mike, SC Hunter]

I have an original SP-1.......Don't this at that price....

[LVSteve]

That price tag makes the Colt Kool-Aid taste even more rancid than usual.

[shocker]

What's depressing is that for an authorized agency the list price of a full auto M4 is like $1200. Sigh. I put together an A2 from a stripped receiver and rifle kit. Fun project and as close as I will get to the original.

[Glashaus]

Nice but way overpriced!!!

[Skeptic 9c]

In 1972 the replacement cost of an M16-A1 in the US Army was $106...
Geoff
Who wished he could buy one at that price at that time...the gunshop price for a new Colt semi-auto was "bring in your car as a trade in..." level.

[Warren Sear]

Originally Posted by LVSteve

That price tag makes the Colt Kool-Aid taste even more rancid than usual.

As they say, "There's a sucker born every minute"!

Look at the foolish prices that are being paid for Pythons, too!

[Wyo]

I like the retro guns but that price is just way out of line. Was at a gunshow in Cheyenne today and saw a Colt SP1 new in the box for $500 less than one of the new retro rifles.

[BB57]

I agree they are badly over priced.

I built a semi-auto M16 clone using an SP1 upper and an M16A1 clone using an M16A1 upper. Both uppers were police takeoffs sold then the department upgraded to M4 configuration carbines.

I put them on NDS lower receivers. Total cost was about $600 for each of them.

Part of the appeal was replicating the M16A1 I had been issued in the mid 1980s. Given the interest in retro configuration AR-15s, and the number of vets at a point in their lives where they may have the discretionary income, I suspect Colt could sell a boat load of them - if they sold it as a regular cataloged item at a competitive price.

As it is, selling it for 2.5x-3x the going rate will in the end probably cost them profits compared to what they'd have made selling several times more of them at a more reasonable $800-$1000.

[amazingflapjack]

Noooooooo Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, if they made a Vietnam era M-14 clone.......

[HARDWARE]

It's a limited edition.

[Mexican Kerry]

Originally Posted by BB57

I agree they are badly over priced.

I built a semi-auto M16 clone using an SP1 upper and an M16A1 clone using an M16A1 upper. Both uppers were police takeoffs sold then the department upgraded to M4 configuration carbines.

I put them on NDS lower receivers. Total cost was about $600 for each of them.

Part of the appeal was replicating the M16A1 I had been issued in the mid 1980s. Given the interest in retro configuration AR-15s, and the number of vets at a point in their lives where they may have the discretionary income, I suspect Colt could sell a boat load of them - if they sold it as a regular cataloged item at a competitive price.

As it is, selling it for 2.5x-3x the going rate will in the end probably cost them profits compared to what they'd have made selling several times more of them at a more reasonable $800-$1000.

So you're part of the reason I can't get Nodak to take my order!

They recently told me they aren't even processing orders from Canada right now because of the demand at home. I need a partial fence lower BAD.

[JohnRippert]

They are aimed at a specific demographic and many of those guys have disposable income these days. I expect them to sell quite well.

I bought a surplus M16A1 upper, minus BCG and CH, from CDNN back in the day. It came with a NOS A1 buttstock assy and a NOS A1 grip assy. I found a Colt M16 BCG online and purchased a RRA lower and CH at the funshow. Sent the lower and CH to Norrels to get it finished in Colt gray. The texture is different but the color spot on. It is one of my favorite shooters with old Israeli surplus 55gr.

A few years later I came upon someone selling their SP1 minus the receiver on another forum. I think it was something around $400. I snapped that up and built a "truck gun" using a cheap lower. About 4 months ago I put in a order through Nodak Spud for the appropriate lower for the slick-side SP1 parts I have. In a few months it should be here.

I expect some interest at the range when I take them both to shoot.


A1 Clone





SP1 parts

[Hair Trigger]

Originally Posted by JohnRippert

They are aimed at a specific demographic and many of those guys have disposable income these days. I expect them to sell quite well.

Having the auto selector on what is a semi-only rifle is similar to the M-14 fans who have the notched stock and faux selector on their M1A's. I like the look on both, but would rather it really did rock'n'roll if so equipped.

[Big Cholla]

Re: The Price! IMHO, Colt, Inc. is desperate. Everything they produce is being sold with Marketing hoping to 'hit a bases loaded home run'. IMHO, Not likely to happen. There are hundreds of thousands of Colt made AR-16s stored in warehouses around the world under the ownership of whomever we gave them. Under the new president, I wouldn't be surprised that entrepreneurs will lobby and get the new president's nod to import those A1s back to the USA to be converted to semi only and then sold on the open market. So, Colt, what are you going to do about that?

[-db-]

The great thing about putting your own A1 clone together is that you can install/attach better/modern parts that don't detract at all from the retro look, getting the best of both worlds. Think pencil barrel but with modern faster twist, better bolt and carrier, improved A2 flash hider and sight parts, etc. That's how I set mine up.




And then there's the price difference everyone else has pointed out, $750-1000 vs. $2500, which is pretty much a no-brainer.

[BB57]

Originally Posted by Mexican Kerry

So you're part of the reason I can't get Nodak to take my order!

They recently told me they aren't even processing orders from Canada right now because of the demand at home. I need a partial fence lower BAD.

Probably not...I jumped on board with the first production batch several years ago.

[Steve912]

Originally Posted by Big Cholla

There are hundreds of thousands of Colt made AR-16s stored in warehouses around the world under the ownership of whomever we gave them. Under the new president, I wouldn't be surprised that entrepreneurs will lobby and get the new president's nod to import those A1s

They've been doing that for years. I got a re-import A1 kit five years (or more?) ago. They were pretty common at the time, I think even Sportsman's Guide had some. The kits had the barrels, one or more parts of the select-fire control system, and lower receiver removed. All the other original Colt parts where there. Some kits were re-barreled, some not; some with FSB & gas tube, etc mounted, some not, depending on which re-importers you looked at.

[Toyman]

I bought one of the originals in 1975 LEO price $196 as I remember.
I also seem to remember that the forearm and stock had a greenish cast to them.

[Mexican Kerry]

Originally Posted by BB57

Probably not...I jumped on board with the first production batch several years ago.

Fair enough, I wasn't holding it against you (just jealous).

[SLT223]

Those are a bit pricey for what they are, but pretty darn cool. If I could have one in CT, I would get one. I love the A1...much prefer it to A2 though I'm not using either in combat. I understand the upgrades of later generations. Being in CT I had to actually get a transferable M16A1 to get a Colt A1 because the Colt SP1's were banned. How's that for backwards?

[apollo99]

SLT223 how times have changed, Grannicks gun shop on Greenwich Avenue, in Greenwich Connecticut had the original Vietnam era M-16 for sale, at the time in 1979-1980 they were an outrageous price of $800, add the $200 tax stamp and you were into a jammin' jennie for about $1000. Same gun now is 15 to 20 times the price. Connecticut used to be a gun friendly state.

[Spartan 2]

I worked Colts Security back in the 70s. Back then we could buy them at employee costs, that went for Pythons as well. I did not purchase either, silly me but did buy a new Ruger Security Six Instead. Now being in CT. we cannot buy one of these or any other type of AR 15 thanks to the knee jerk ban by Malloy and his fellow liberals in 2013 and yes the ban is still in effect.