Colt AR 15 SP1

Been wanting one for as long as I can remember, something about all the movies involving the original M16, the unmistakable shape, triangular hand guard etc..

And I missed quite a few

Didn’t buy this 1977 one in 2013, too expensive at 2 grands and weirdly tricked out with accessories I had no use for



In 2015 I didn’t buy this one, twice. First saw it at a gun shop that was closing down, for 1200. A bit later a private seller was advertising it. The SP1 marking was re-stamped as 001, and that bothered me.



Earlier this year I saw this 1976 SP1 at the local gun range that has a gun shop too. The scope is a Chinese copy 4X magnification. Asking price was $ 1350. Condition ok but not great. Coincidentally I already saw this gun for sale at a bankruptcy forced auction back in 1999 (I bought a Beretta 93 r then).









They allowed me to test fire it (5 shots only). Funny how light this old thing is. I felt it wiggling at every shot. Accuracy was not affected however. This is 5 shots offhand at 50 m.



I thought I needed to think it over, sleep over it.

And there was another nice one coming up at an auction a few weeks later. Probably in better condition, I’ve bought several guns from this auction house and was never disappointed.

When I returned to the range / shop, the gun had just been sold and was being packed.

Well the auction gun then. A 1972 model with original Colt 3X scope and sling. Starting price $ 850.





I was really keen to acquire this one, and set a limit to myself at $ 1700 (I always set a limit price before hand, otherwise things get out of hand for me).

I was bidding online, but someone wanted it more than me, it went for $ 2050.

Yesterday I was back at the gun range where I had tested the 1976 one. They had just brought in another one, 1975 made.









Some tool marks









Mag is an old Adventure Line

Sticker price is 1490

I ended my quest for an SP1. Not sure how many I can miss. So I put it on layaway.

Colt SP1's get under your skin. I am sure there are a lot better AR-15's out there, but none like the SP1. I have owned a couple through the years, wish I had kept them. I will probably scratch the SP1 itch again shortly, but this time with a reproduction, can't spend the scratch on an original any more.

The only pic I have of my first AR purchase, an SP1 bought in 1985 for $440 brand new. Hunting jackrabbits near Barstow, California:

I bought one of each, rifle and carbine, when they first came out. I still have them, they look like new. I took the triangle forend off of the rifle and put a matching round one on it, but kept the original. Last year I bought a civilian copy of our current battle rifle. I love it as it will shoot the heavier bullet as well. There is just something about Colt rifles I love.

I bought one of each, too. I still have them.

canoeguy said:

Colt SP1's get under your skin. I am sure there are a lot better AR-15's out there, but none like the SP1. I have owned a couple through the years, wish I had kept them. I will probably scratch the SP1 itch again shortly, but this time with a reproduction, can't spend the scratch on an original any more.



The only pic I have of my first AR purchase, an SP1 bought in 1985 for $440 brand new. Hunting jackrabbits near Barstow, California:

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Nice pic, thanks

KSDeputy said:

I bought one of each, rifle and carbine, when they first came out. I still have them, they look like new. I took the triangle forend off of the rifle and put a matching round one on it, but kept the original. Last year I bought a civilian copy of our current battle rifle. I love it as it will shoot the heavier bullet as well. “There is just something about Colt rifles I love.”

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Same here, that’ll be my fourth one (1989 A2 Delta Elite, 1988 A2 GC, 1995 9 mm carbine with 10.5’’ barrel).

That looks like the same Barstow where I had to wrap my handkerchief around the mailbox handle to mail a postcard, it was that hot. I'd recognize that background anywhere!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. Or was it Needles?

Warren Sear said:

I bought one of each, too. I still have them.

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Nice pair

My A2 pair

kaaskop49, if you could inhale; it was Barstow.

I see now that you not only like Delta Elite 10 mm's but, the Delta AR as well. Nice grouping of AR's and off hand shots!

My SP1 is my favorite gun, period. It reminds me of my GI Joe growing up. Other prebans just are not as cool. Even my suppressed SBR is not as cool. But Cow Cat is more cool.

I lucked into a 1974 birth year SP1 about 10 years ago. Love it!

Triathloncoach said:

My SP1 is my favorite gun, period. It reminds me of my GI Joe growing up. Other prebans just are not as cool. Even my suppressed SBR is not as cool. But Cow Cat is more cool.

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Haha Cow Cat, I like that, I’ve got Cow Dog

Pawn shop rescue, 1978 (?). Came with original Colt 3x scope. Sorry about the dark pic.

Having served in the US Army (including Vietnam) during the transition from M14 to M16 I have always tended to compare everything to the M14 that I trained with. The original M16 rifles were generally unreliable, maintenance intensive, and not what I would call accurate. The later M16A1 rifles were somewhat more reliable, but remained maintenance intensive, and not notably accurate. In combat situations the lack of penetration by 5.56mm was obvious, with wildly deflected bullets in even light vegetation.

About the only positive things I can say about the M16 series is that the rifle was much lighter and easier to carry in the field, the ammunition was certainly much lighter than the 7.62NATO, and recoil was negligible in comparison to the M14.

Short version: I never really felt very confident with the M16 rifles (even though I regularly qualified as 'expert' on the range).

Fast forward to the mid-1980's, I received a Colt SP1 in a trade deal. Tried very hard to like it, but it just did not work out for me. Accuracy from the bench with sandbag rest was no better than 4" groups at 100 yards. These rifles were still maintenance intensive, requiring everything to be very clean (particularly bolt, bolt carrier, locking lugs) and precisely lubricated which, with a gas-operated semi-auto rifle is always a challenge as powder residue collects in the lubricant and has a negative effect on functioning after firing as little as a couple of magazines-full. Those without the forward assist mechanism (such as the SP1) were, and are, handicapped in that regard.

Since that time I have owned a couple of others (DPMS A-2 series, Colt M16A2--contract overrun for a law enforcement agency, with transfer tax, etc). Never really warmed up to those either. In my opinion, the AR15's are not particularly suitable for most sporting purposes, and not as useful for self-defense as a number of other alternatives.

The M16/M4/SPR series has had a solid half-century of military use, probably in service longer than any standard-issue US military rifle in history. That is commendable, but the Army and USMC are now looking for a replacement, probably larger caliber with heavier bullets, capable of greater accuracy and penetration at extended ranges. The rifles now in inventory will probably remain in service with some support units as well as reserve and national guard units for years to come. None will ever be released to the public or collectors (NFA restrictions, not to mention political pressures), and what remains in common circulation will always be nothing but copies made to fill civilian demand (as opposed to actual military collectibles).

For those that like them I say go for it and enjoy them. Just not my thing.

I keep hearing about the reliability problems with the AR platform but none of mine have ever given me a problem. I know they had issues early on when a change was made to the powder in the rounds.