My first "black rifle" range toy..it's a hoot to shoot

[cmansguns]

When I left the Army in 1968 my outfit had not been issued any M16's. We still had M14's so I never really experienced the M16. For years and years me and my buddies didn't really want, or cared for anything like these plastic things. One of my co-workers was a survivor of the IA Drang Valley with Col Hal Moore, and always had not much good to say about them, miserable to keep clean, ammo was pure junk, best you could do was hang around the snipers and hope to get one of their M14's.

Anyway...like said I never really had any interest until a couple weeks ago my son found one locally and asked me to go look. I did and it was basically fired very, very little if at all. 100% made in USA, 1:12 twist, chambered for the 5.56 x 45 NATO round (tad more better than 223 Remington or so I've heard). Disassembles pretty easy (quicker than my M1 Garand).

Sights take some getting used to, (big ole hole in that rear "peep" vs my .062 NM rear on the Garand) and the Delta Ring spring is really, really stiff if you want to pull the handguards.

Don't get me wrong....I still love walnut furniture along with parkerized steel....but for less than $600 (came with 50 rounds Federal Cartridge 223 - 55 grain FMJ) the rifle is really fun to shoot. Seemed to me to be "zeroed" right at 100 yards.

Anyhow............enjoy the pics.....these things are fun but not adicitve like S&W handguns and NO...I'm not even thinking about adding any "tacticool" "c%$&)

 

[mckenney99]

Be careful they can become addictive. Now is the time to stock up on 55gr bulk ammo. I don't believe you will see it drop much lower and God forbid what happens if the election doesn't go in our favor. I really expect to see prices start to climb as the election rhetoric starts to ramp up into high gear.

 

[S-W4EVER]

The first centerfire riifle was an M16A1 on BCT back in early 1973. I really enjoyed thosecold & wet days at the range at Ft. Leonard Wood. I now have a few in various configurations. The design has been perfected.

Funny, I went fot years having no desire for an M1 Rifle until a buddy sold me one at a very fair price. I couldn’t believe how accurate that rifle is (and its not going anywhere).

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

At a 1:12 twist, you are golden on the 55 grain ammo. don't expect too much accuracy with the 62, 69, & 77 grain without adding a 1:10 or 1:9 barreled upper.

I'm up to 3. A 1996 Bushmaster 1:9 in 223, a parts gun in 300 Blackout, and a 308 AR-10 style. The 300 with subsonic ammo and a can is worthwhile, I don't think much of it in the supersonic configuration. The 308 is a 308, I took awhile to find an ammo it liked but Hornady makes a 155 grain A-Max round it likes.

If you reload, you might look into a 50 grain polymer tipped bullet over H-332, H-322, WW-748. Those are all Ball powders that Stoner designed the system around. My Bushmaster gets 1/8" 5 shot group (center to Center) with the 50 grain V-Max & Blitzking. It gets 3/8" groups with a load I did in the 1980's using WW-748, Win 55 gr FMJ w/cannelure, and a CCI Sm. Rifle Mag primer that is no longer made. Rem 7 1/2 primers are almost as accurate!. If using a cannelured bullet crimp in the notch, if not use a factory round to determine overall length. (The loading manuals give you max length not what works best!) I use the RCBS AR die set now. (Black Box) with a taper crimp die, so you don't have to be as picky about trimming the cases. Have fun!

Ivan

Edit to add: I use a 4.5-14x40 mm Adjustable Objective scope.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Enjoy it

What brand is that? Lots of folks buy an AR and swap out parts immediately. Shoot it some, determine what you like or don’t, and proceed to tune it to suit you.

 

[AlHunt]

When I left the Army in 1968 my outfit had not been issued any M16's. We still had M14's so I never really experienced the M16. For years and years me and my buddies didn't really want, or cared for anything like these plastic things. One of my co-workers was a survivor of the IA Drang Valley with Col Hal Moore, and always had not much good to say about them, miserable to keep clean, ammo was pure junk, best you could do was hang around the snipers and hope to get one of their M14's.

Anyway...like said I never really had any interest until a couple weeks ago my son found one locally and asked me to go look. I did and it was basically fired very, very little if at all. 100% made in USA, 1:12 twist, chambered for the 5.56 x 45 NATO round (tad more better than 223 Remington or so I've heard). Disassembles pretty easy (quicker than my M1 Garand).

Sights take some getting used to, (big ole hole in that rear "peep" vs my .062 NM rear on the Garand) and the Delta Ring spring is really, really stiff if you want to pull the handguards.

Don't get me wrong....I still love walnut furniture along with parkerized steel....but for less than $600 (came with 50 rounds Federal Cartridge 223 - 55 grain FMJ) the rifle is really fun to shoot. Seemed to me to be "zeroed" right at 100 yards.

Anyhow............enjoy the pics.....these things are fun but not adicitve like S&W handguns and NO...I'm not even thinking about adding any "tacticool" "c%$&)

Nah, you're screwed - the last pic clearly says "tactical" right on it. Might as well order up that cool optic, also one of those 45 degree optics that hang off the side, a blender and fax machine for it.

A little bi-pod might be cool.

Have fun with it!

 

[Eric300]

Welcome to the party! Better late than never.

 

[Narragansett]

I have never had much of a desire for one of these till lately. That is until after I shot my son's. Trouble is, I know nothing about them, and there are a lot of choices out there

 

[Liftrat]

Congratulations on a fun rifle. They are easier on the shoulder than the M1/M1A, and a bit cheaper to shoot. By coincidence, i just finished re-reading "We Were Soldiers, Once ...and Young"; quite the book.

 

[RE0]

Have fun! congratulations...

 

[chiefdave]

My first introduction to the M16 was in 1967 at a small arms fam course. The early rifles we were shooting didn't have the shell deflector and I shoot left handed. Not a match made in heaven. Almost 50 years later I bought a left eject version and now have 2. I shoot them on occasion but still not my favorites.

 

[Oldsalt66]

Nice looking AR, good luck with it.

 

[dsf]

FWIW, I think adding a carry handle scope on the rifle would be an OK addition and not at all qualify as "tacticool".

 

[jmwyro]

I will admit it. I was unaware there were 1-10 and 1-12 twist available. I have 3, two 1-7 and one 1-8 twist. I gotta start paying attention.

 

[JohnRippert]

If you reload try some 52gr projectiles in it. My older A1 uppers with 1-12 twist really like those.

 

[Rock185]

cmansguns, I can relate. I entered the Army (ours) in early '68. We qualified with the M-14, then the M-16. I shot expert with both, but it was easier with the M-14. I liked the M-14 a lot, but was not really interested in the M-16, and was issued a M48A3 instead of an M-16 in RVN anyway.

Much later, I did acquire an AR or two, was issued an M-16 in LE, became a Colt armorer for the M-16s, etc. I guess I have grudgingly come to appreciate the AR type rifles. The modern ones seem very accurate, and just seem to work. I'm still not a true aficionado, they have not become additive, I don't intend to do any "builds", etc., but admit the AR is an effective tool..

 

[BB57]

FWIW, I think adding a carry handle scope on the rifle would be an OK addition and not at all qualify as "tacticool".

Agreed. I like the old 3x and 4x Colt scopes as well as the very similar Blue Ring scopes that were made for awhile.

The Blue Ring scope. The adjustment knobs are on the “wrong” end, but the quality was very good, like the Colt scopes. My understanding is that both were made by the same company.

 

[mtgianni]

It was interesting to see several thousand Viet-Nam era uppers for sale at Knob Creek in 2007.My nephew bought one and built a 60's era gun out of it. Enjoy your new rifle.

 

[cmansguns]

My new toy-seems very nice quality

Thanks for all the comments about my newly acquired AR 15 (clone of M-16). The rifle was 100% manufactured in USA by Stag Arms, formerly of New Britian CT, then shut down by the BATF because they had a bunch of un-serialized receivers laying around. They were bought out by White Wolf and moved everything to Cheyenne Wyoming. I called them last week to get some info on this "discontinued" rifle and was very pleasantly surprised in that a real person answered, was very friendly, answered all my questions.

Evidently this rifle sold for $1349.00 retail when offered some years ago as Stag Arms, STAG 15 Retro. which is why I grabbed it for less than half and in its condition with 50 rounds ammo and a extra 30 round mag...really couldn't complain.

I realize there are many brands on the market but we (son and I) were not really looking or reviewing, just watching for a period Colt Sporter or one that looked period correct but had to be American made. The Colt Sporters seem all to be in the $2,000 and up bracket if and when you find them.

This one has the A2 buttstock with trap door buttplate, the A3 carry handle, F front sight, and the round, fat M4 style two piece handguard with heat shields. The 30 round mag is probably not legal anymore in lots of States, but no problem here in Virginia.

I agree with stocking up now on ammo. CMP has some real decent deals on Federal bulk, as well as my local LGS so I'm guessing this is almost as popular as 9 mm these days, which keeps the price "reasonable" (lots of supply, competition, etc.).

Sure wish it were the same for 32-20 WCF!

Anyway...I like the A2 "solid" buttstock, retro style. I remember bayonet and hand-to-hand training in the Army, and a walnut M1, or walnut stocked M-14, would surely crack the jaw/skull of anyone receiving a butt-stroke. Don't know how it works with a A2 plastic if you had to do it, but for sure those collapsible stocks that they peddle today look flimsy and I guess "cheek-weld" doesn't mean anything anymore so "spray and pray"?

Thanks again for all the comments....they are fun at the range!

 

[KalamazooKid]

You need to add some accessories!