My Retro AR... Not S&W.

[wood714]

Got all the parts in a couple days ago for my retro upper, and put them together today. I bought a A1 grip, and 2 position aluminum stock for the lower. I even got the original style 6 hole hand guards.

The stock has some kinda rubber type coating on it. I've read the early originals were vinyl coated, but it wore off easy.

I'm on the fence with the flash hider, it reminds me of a pin and weld set up. I may go with a bird cage.

 

[dsf]

I went with a similar set up -



Can't recall where I got the two position aluminum stock, was kind of pricey and has clear finish. I like the FH. Looks alot better than most others.

Not sure why I went with the triangular forend. From what I recall carrying around a GUA several decades ago I don't think it is accurate to anything.

 

[wood714]

I went with a similar set up -

View attachment 655943

Can't recall where I got the two position aluminum stock, was kind of pricey and has clear finish. I like the FH. Looks alot better than most others.

Not sure why I went with the triangular forend. From what I recall carrying around a GUA several decades ago I don't think it is accurate to anything.

Read this on Wiki, the short triangle hand guards may have been the very first ones used.

"The triangular collapsible stock was replaced with a simpler two-position telescoping tubular aluminum buttstock, while the fragile improvised handguards of the Model 607 were replaced by reinforced round handguards. Each half of the round handguard is identical, simplifying logistics by not requiring a top/bottom or left/right pair. "

 

[Greyman50]

Was going to do the same but realized have way to much already and really don't care for 223/55.6. We had a few in our unit in RVN and the Sgt's that " had them" carried them when we went to an " unsettled area" for work. Remember seeing them shoot when several of us went to shoot. Would have rather gotten a M-3 out of the M-88…..

 

[wood714]

I'd forgotten how much fun it was getting that tiny roll pin started in the FSB. Had to sand the gas tube down before it would even go in the FSB.

Still looking for the little zip lock bag that has a few original straight trigger guards in it. I'm guessing I put them in the same place I put a bag of peel washers that I've yet to find! Got a bunch of crush washers, but would rather use a peel washer on this one.

Found this cool video about the very first shorty M16's.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajQhLYgohGM&t=39s[/ame]

 

[Valmet]

Love the retros. SBR'd a lower and am building a 10.5" XM177 with the feaux Moderator FH myself.

 

[ColbyBruce]

wood714 I have half a dozen or so straight trigger guards I will gladly send you a few.

 

[wood714]

wood714 I have half a dozen or so straight trigger guards I will gladly send you a few.

Thanks for the offer, but I'll find then after I stop looking for them!

 

[Kevin J.]

Look like the slick side GAU-5 I carried as an Air Force K-9 handler. Keep the flash suppressor as is IMO.

 

[WardenRoss]

Added some light to see the details better...

 

[S-W4EVER]

I love the slick-side AR15's. We had Colt 602's (IIRC) at USAMPS when I attended in early '73 (we only fired blanks out of them during convoy escort training). A beautiful design unencumbered by "improvements". Thanks for sharing.

 

[BB57]

I put together a couple semi retro builds for tactical rifle competition back in the day

I made an XM-177E2 esque clone but went with a 12" heavy barrel.

I also built a lightweight AR15 using a 16" pencil barrel and a slick side upper with a fixed entry stock and carbine length triangular handguards. It's 5.6 pounds with empty magazine and sling.

My other retro rifles:

 

[wood714]

I put together a couple semi retro builds for tactical rifle competition back in the day

I made an XM-177E2 esque clone but went with a 12" heavy barrel.

I've been searching for the correct sling to mount on mine. Seems there wasn't one. Everyone came up with what worked for them.

Found this, is it what you used?

"The sling is made from a General Purpose (a.k.a. "GP") Strap. They were standard issue with all two quart collapsible canteens from the late 1960s well into the 1980s (in both cotton duck & then, nylon variants)."

 

[wood714]

wood714 I have half a dozen or so straight trigger guards I will gladly send you a few.

Found them along with great multitudes of other parts I forgot about having!