20 Inch AR-which to select?
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To be real old school, a Colt SP1. Don't know who makes one currently but a pre-1994 style Colt would be a good modern-ish choice. Hard to mount all the tacti-cool doodads on one though 
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I recently purchased a Colt A4. Would never consider cluttering it up with gadgetry, most of which is of questionable worth anyway.
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Yeah, but a Colt is a Colt; why settle for less, particularly when the difference is only $100?
Engine49guy
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I have a Colt SP1 from 1979, a pre ban Colt Government Model (Green label) and an early Bushmaster A2,
All are fine firearms, IMO a Colt is a better long term investment.
The SP1 is pure nostalgia with the triangle shaped beavertail handguards and pencil barrel, no fwd assist , older rear site and no fence around the mag release but quite a bit lighter in the hand.
All are fine firearms, IMO a Colt is a better long term investment.
The SP1 is pure nostalgia with the triangle shaped beavertail handguards and pencil barrel, no fwd assist , older rear site and no fence around the mag release but quite a bit lighter in the hand.
These days FN sells as many or more rifles to the US Govt as Colt. There is some discussion if the civilian rifles are off the same line with the same parts but the FN is a quality rifle.
See if you can find a Colt model 6601 match target HBAR, 20 inch. I picked one up from Bud's this year for right around 900 bucks. Fixed handle, thin barrel, A1 stock......looks just like a throw back. I had thought the 6601 was not being made anymore and figured I was buying new old stock from Bud's. But, I called in the serial number to Colt and they verified a build/ship date of December 2015 and I acquired mine right around Spring 2016. Even the guy on the phone was shocked it was that new and mused that colt must have made a special run. I don't know if Bud's has anymore but I have seen some out there on gunbroker but with jacked up prices......I also have a 6920 and colt competition rifle and I love the uncluttered style of the 6601 and it will hang all day in accuracy with the the completion rifle. The 6601 is at the bottom of the picture, kind of hard to see.
Here is a much better picture......just got to love the simplicity.
And here is a bad picture of the competition rifle which was not in the first picture. The two other guns are a Palmetto on top followed by the colt 901 in .308.
Colt competition
Here is a much better picture......just got to love the simplicity.
And here is a bad picture of the competition rifle which was not in the first picture. The two other guns are a Palmetto on top followed by the colt 901 in .308.
Colt competition
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I'm putting together an A2. Anderson lower I bought at the LGS, Palmetto State A2 rifle kit. Just about done putting the lower together (first time, no big issues). Upper looks and feels high quality. Leapers UTG A2 carry handle in transit.
All told I will have about $640 into the rifle.
Edit: the upper has a rifle gas system.
All told I will have about $640 into the rifle.
Edit: the upper has a rifle gas system.
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Kadonny
Member
Not sure if they still make them, but Colt AR15A4-FDE.
Here is how min looks now.
Added the Troy Alpha free float rail and a RRA NM trigger and a PA 4x14 scope. Great shooting gun.
Here is how min looks now.
Added the Troy Alpha free float rail and a RRA NM trigger and a PA 4x14 scope. Great shooting gun.
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I am partial to my Rock River National Match.
I think the M16 look(what I consider the M16 look-Hbar 20inch, fixed stock) is making a major comeback. To me its like how my Dad views the Garand. By the way I need one of those too. The dealer I use had 4 20inch colts in last week for a grand total of 28mins before they were purchased online. I even had him email me as soon as he got them in and by the time I checked my email they were gone. I purchased the FN-15 20inch this morning. I am just going to have to buy a colt too when I can find one. I can't help myself.
Paid $984 before tax for the FN. Hard to buy from a non-American company but they make them in South Carolina. I am told they are made in the same plant as the military ones but on a different line.
Paid $984 before tax for the FN. Hard to buy from a non-American company but they make them in South Carolina. I am told they are made in the same plant as the military ones but on a different line.
Engine49guy
Member
Allthough a 9mm Colt carbine is probably somewhere in my future had a PWA (or was it PWH ?) 16" Carbine years ago but never fell in love with it as I also prefer a 20" upper rifle with a USGI full stock .
Was looking around for an M16a1 style rifle to fill the gap between the SP1 and HBAR that has an old style rear site upper with FA and fenced lower and no brass deflector, Found a Colt Government model last year NIB but it is actually the opposite of what I was looking for because it has an A2 HBAR upper mated to an SP1 non fenced SP1 lower... oh well...
Anyway while looking for a retro M16a1 I found DPMS and Olympic come very close with complete rifles that have the early lighter barrel and A1 rear site uppers although they both have brass deflectors (WHY !) , BTW both are in the $800 neighborhood pricewise.
While looking around found two posts from the Shotshow that indicated Colt is planning on making retro semi auto civilian market reproductions of the M16 , XM177 and M16a1 supposedly soon, checked Colts site but no info .
Was looking around for an M16a1 style rifle to fill the gap between the SP1 and HBAR that has an old style rear site upper with FA and fenced lower and no brass deflector, Found a Colt Government model last year NIB but it is actually the opposite of what I was looking for because it has an A2 HBAR upper mated to an SP1 non fenced SP1 lower... oh well...
Anyway while looking for a retro M16a1 I found DPMS and Olympic come very close with complete rifles that have the early lighter barrel and A1 rear site uppers although they both have brass deflectors (WHY !) , BTW both are in the $800 neighborhood pricewise.
While looking around found two posts from the Shotshow that indicated Colt is planning on making retro semi auto civilian market reproductions of the M16 , XM177 and M16a1 supposedly soon, checked Colts site but no info .
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sgtsandman
US Veteran
I think the easiest way to get what you are looking for is to get an old school Colt or Bushmaster and change out what you are looking for to insert the qualities of the M4 you like.
Personally, if I were to get a 20", rifle length gas tube rifle, I would probably stick with the M16 or M16A1 format. I like the old hand guard better that the ones they put on the later rifles as far as feel goes.
Personally, if I were to get a 20", rifle length gas tube rifle, I would probably stick with the M16 or M16A1 format. I like the old hand guard better that the ones they put on the later rifles as far as feel goes.
spad124
Member
Anyway while looking for a retro M16a1 I found DPMS and Olympic come very close with complete rifles that have the early lighter barrel and A1 rear site uppers although they both have brass deflectors (WHY !) , BTW both are in the $800 neighborhood pricewise.
That looks a lot like a Canadian C4. IMO the C4 is about the best 20" full stock configuration for an AR. It has the A1 fixed sights, heavy barrel and universal round fore end
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Engine49guy
Member
I honestly shoot better with the A1 rear site, wouldnt exactly call it "Fixed" as it is adjustable for windage (yardage adjusted on the front post).
IIRC the two position flip rear site was set by flipping up the L marked sight and zero at 25. which will put you on at 250 with the non L sight and 300 ish with the L marked sight...maybe Im wrong
IIRC the two position flip rear site was set by flipping up the L marked sight and zero at 25. which will put you on at 250 with the non L sight and 300 ish with the L marked sight...maybe Im wrong
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The Colt A4s are hard to find; doubt Colt makes very many simply because the demand is for the 6920. However, it might be worth the wait to hold out for the real thing.
Get is before they are gone. Colt AR15A4 Semi-Auto 20" Barrel Rifle for $975
Colt AR15A4 Semi-Auto 20" Barrel Rifle
Colt AR15A4 Semi-Auto 20" Barrel Rifle
KSDeputy
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I have an original Colt rifle and carbine when they were first released for civilian sale. I bought both new. The only change I made was to put a round handguard on the rifle, to match the carbine. I kept the triangular handguard. Both are mint condition, less than 3 boxes of ammo through each. My newest rifle is a Colt LE 6940.
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