canoeguy
US Veteran
I have long been a fan of A-1 sighted, fixed carry handle AR-15's going back to the 1980's when I had a real deal Colt SP-1. Simple, rugged rifles that are fun to shoot. Recent discussion on this forum and other places had me determined to, at some point in the future, build or have someone build for me a 20" barrel, A-1 sighted AR-15 with triangular hand guards.
Low and behold, what greeted me at the pawn shop the other day but this rifle:
This is a recent build, it has an Anderson lower, I think a Delton barrel, don't know where the upper came from. Pawn shop dude knew little about it, but had it priced to move at $500. Thought about it a day and went back and got it. Shot it yesterday, discovered that whoever had it before must not have shot it at all as it wasn't zeroed, first rounds way low at 25 yards. Ten clicks of elevation on the front sight had me on target, hitting soda cans at 100 yards from the prone position. Another hint it hadn't been shot was there were no marks on the shell deflector before I started shooting, 40 rounds later there were some marks. The rifle does shoot good, accurate and reliable (so far), enthusiastic ejection. Trigger fair only, could be better as far as feel.
To be more authentic as an A-1 rifle, I will need to replace the buttstock with an A-1 version, but it does shoot good with the longer pull of the A-2 stock. I think the hand guards coul be authentic, but may be reproductions.
This will be my fourth A-1 sighted AR, the first Colt SP-1 I bought in 1985 ($440 as I remember), another Colt SP-1 I bought around 1995 that was a police trade in from Reno, Nevada P.D., and an Olympic lower with a G.I. Surplus upper I bought around 2010. All of the prior A-1 rifles I owned are long since sold, but I think I will hang on to this one.
Some pics of my previous A-1's, me hunting jackrabbits in the California desert (Barstow area) with my Colt SP-1, 1985 or so:
My then 13 year old shooting buddy (now 21 and grown) with the Olympic rifle with surplus upper:
Low and behold, what greeted me at the pawn shop the other day but this rifle:
This is a recent build, it has an Anderson lower, I think a Delton barrel, don't know where the upper came from. Pawn shop dude knew little about it, but had it priced to move at $500. Thought about it a day and went back and got it. Shot it yesterday, discovered that whoever had it before must not have shot it at all as it wasn't zeroed, first rounds way low at 25 yards. Ten clicks of elevation on the front sight had me on target, hitting soda cans at 100 yards from the prone position. Another hint it hadn't been shot was there were no marks on the shell deflector before I started shooting, 40 rounds later there were some marks. The rifle does shoot good, accurate and reliable (so far), enthusiastic ejection. Trigger fair only, could be better as far as feel.
To be more authentic as an A-1 rifle, I will need to replace the buttstock with an A-1 version, but it does shoot good with the longer pull of the A-2 stock. I think the hand guards coul be authentic, but may be reproductions.
This will be my fourth A-1 sighted AR, the first Colt SP-1 I bought in 1985 ($440 as I remember), another Colt SP-1 I bought around 1995 that was a police trade in from Reno, Nevada P.D., and an Olympic lower with a G.I. Surplus upper I bought around 2010. All of the prior A-1 rifles I owned are long since sold, but I think I will hang on to this one.
Some pics of my previous A-1's, me hunting jackrabbits in the California desert (Barstow area) with my Colt SP-1, 1985 or so:
My then 13 year old shooting buddy (now 21 and grown) with the Olympic rifle with surplus upper:
