Colt Ar-15 HBar Match Target "What to do"

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Izzydog

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Hi fellas
Way back in 1997-1998 I purchased a Colt Ar-15 Heavy Barrel Match Target "full length" with the removable carry handle. I've had this thing for 20 years, and have only shot it 4-5 times. I equipped it with a Turner Saddles leather adjustable match sling. I purchased it with the intention of trying my hand at service rifle competitions, However work, money, and the fact that no one, seems to do that in this part of the country, kept that dream from happening. Because it was purchased during Clintons assault weapons ban it has no flash suppressor or bayonet lug, So the black rifle crowd seems to look down there noses at it.
My question is, should I keep it and convert it into something more practical, Sell it and buy an M4 type rifle, sell it and buy more S&W's, sell it and bank the cash, or keep the damned thing for another 20 years and hope that my now infant son would take an interest in precision rifles?
I'm just looking for opinions, so no answer is wrong. Also what is a rifle of this quality worth in todays market? I'm pretty sure that I'll take a beating if I sell it around here.:confused:
 
My wife says "keep it, or sell it, but don't waste any more money on it". She's an accountant so, money management is of paramount importance to her.
 
If it's reliable, shoots well and accurately, then I say "Keep it.".

Of course this advice is made in the absence of any knowledge of what else is in your battery. But unless you have a lot of other rifles, I think I would still offer that advice.
 
About 15 years ago I quit shooting high power and long range.( I was using an AR for service rifle). Then, an article appeared in Accurate Shooter magazine entitled "what's it good for". I realized I could change the sights but, they were still only suitable for KD ranges. I sold all of them and never looked back. It also gave me the money to start buying Smiths.
 
I'm in the same boat as I have the same rifle bought about same time. I've shot it little and have got some other ARs since the ban with the evil features.
I've noticed too on the used gun rack those guns don't seem to be nearly as expensive as the post ban guns. Right now it seems as if all ARs are down in price and I don't see that changing anytime soon either.
For me I've decided to keep the Colt and maybe put a better trigger on it some day. Same thing with my other ARs unless the prices on them did rise quite a bit.
It is taking up room in my safe but I figure maybe I'll use it for a varmint gun some day or just shoot it every ten years or so. It is scary accurate though and glad I own it.
 
Well, most people on the service rifle line are not using flash suppressors anyway and you won't have any use for the bayonet lug either, so the lack of those two features is not a negative at all. If it does not have a free float hand-guard, that would be a major problem and would limit the potential uses and resale value of the rifle.

You could still sell the upper and buy a new upper that better suits your shooting needs. I believe the Colt uses a large forward pivot pin so you have to get some kind of an adapter for it to work with the common small pin uppers.
 
I have basically the same rifle by Bushmaster. I never intended to shoot matches with mine. I took of the carry handle and put x-tall rings and a 4.5-14x40mm scope on it, then as I got old I replaced that with a 6.5-20x40mm scope. I use this for recreational target and varmint shooting. I worked up a load that is about 1/4 MOA, so I am good to 600-650 yards for these sports. When going with x-tall rings or any type of riser block, spend the few extra dollars and get good quality steel! In the long run it keeps the frustration factor down. If you have a need to play infantryman you can also buy a M-4 type upper and have two toys for the price of 1.5 or even less (should keep the finance manager happy! Ivan
 
I certainly would not sell it in todays market.... as others have said ARs are low low right now....

That gun is modular though, buy you a new barreled upper and stock/tube/buffer and about $50 worth of tools (you dont need any, but they make things easier) and build your own M4.... two guns, 1 receiver, < 15 minutes to swap em around.... you can have your cake and eat it too Sir!

Try Bravo Company USA for parts/tools/etc...... great folks and great stuff!
 
Keep it and enjoy it. And be glad that you can have it unlike here in CT.
 
The HBMTs got lots of good press way back when they were first
introduced. I bought one with the 20" barrel and fixed carry handle
back in the late 80s I think, can't remember exactly. After a few trips
to a shooting range I really came to dislike the weight and wasn't
shooting in matches like I thought I would. What to do? I think the
year was 91 during the ban. I took it to a gun show and traded it for
a new Colt 16" Lightweight Sporter with no flash hider or lug and
$200.00 cash to go with it. I was happy with the deal and never looked
back. I still have the lightweight and shoot it occasionally. It's good
enough for what I want it for. You could sell it, sell the upper or just
keep it and buy another upper. Bottom line is you will never be happy
with it as is. You could put a good scope on it and use it for varmints
and buy a 16" upper for every thing else.
 
It is a Colt, don't sell now at a loss. I personally am not impressed with Colt AR15's but that is just me.

If it is accurate, mount a scope and use it on varmints, coyotes, ground hogs. Prairie dog shooting becomes a disease that consumes surprising quantities of gasoline and ammo.
 
I would not change a thing. I owned one of these. If any mods are made, a better trigger, which can easily be returned to stock. Don't forget this era had different pin diameters than many AR.
 
As nice as the guns tend to be, neither the uppers or complete rifles tend to sell well, due to the sear block, trigger pin diameters, random sized receiver pins, unthreaded barrel, and commercial style bolt carrier with the bottom cut out.

Sometime in the early 2k's mine got chopped.

20141229_155944 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

A few years ago it got that fancy furniture and scope. It still has the same set screw muzzle brake after all these years.

That said, they are best left as is or sold as a complete 100% stock rifle.
 
I have a 16" H Bar from the AWB era that I had the barrel threaded as soon as the ban sunsetted. Shipped it off to a gunsmith in OH. This was 10 years ago. Still no bayonet lug, but what the heck are you going to use it for anyway.
 
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