Its been 42 years since I’ve seen an M16A1 with the exact serial number and Colt Rollmarks like the one I was issued in Cold War era West Germany.
I’m fortunate enough to have a friend whom is a Class III Dealer with local access to a fantastic Engraver.
This project sprang from a simple conversation about a Replicated Colt Model 723 Carbine Full Auto Dealer Sample he’d shown me. A minute later we were shaking hands on a deal to replicate the Lower of my old Cold War friend.
We discussed costs and then he said we could also Trade Out to settle up. Seems my friend needed WWII era British Sten Gun Magazines for his own project. I just happened to know of some that I’d ID’d for a local shop a year prior.
I actually ended up buying from two shops to get the quantity he required. The luck was getting them at a price that worked to satisfy our agreement…Done.
I’ve been holding on to an M16A1 1 in 12 Twist Barrel Assembly in hopes of building a 2nd H&R Rifle. My patience with obtaining things from H&R was already paper thin , so a better more meaningful option presented itself without even seeking it.
This project might take awhile as A1 Upper Recievers arent exactly cheap or falling from the sky these days, yet I’m weighing options on bridging that obstacle.
Stay Frosty gang…you never know when Opportunity might come knocking?
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This Rifle will be Cerakoted in Colt Sniper Grey to produce the era correct look on the Receivers and Extension ( Buffer Tube)
I have purchased the Few available items H&R is offering in Grey Anodized to keep dealing with small parts at a minimum.
Parts I couldn’t get from PSA came from Brownell’s and more are coming from Fulton Armory.
Fulton had the needed Tear Drop Forward Assist. NM Gas Tube and Individual FCG pieces the way I prefer to buy them.
True story. I ordered a "Daily Deal " Bolt Carrier Group and an H&R Charging Handle last week from PSA…6 Days later…Not even a Shipping Detail in sight.
Within 10 minutes of placing the order with PSA , I was ordering from Brownell’s for a Retro A1 Trap Door Series E Buttstock, A1 Pistol Grip and 2ea. Drain Hole ButtStock Screws. …None of which were Promotional Sale items. I had Fed Ex Shipping Details in 48 Hours and Delivery within 5 Days. I paid for the most Basic of shipping.
Brownell’s is 1,011.7 Miles away from me…PSA is about 90.0 miles Door to Door, I’ve been there a time or two.
As much As I’d love to give all my Retro AR purchases to PSA , I can’t. They are still too short on Availability and can’t buy a clue on Shipping and Delivery.
TNTE is now entering the market with Billet A1 Recievers , to include 9mm . These will be in the $250 range once available. Now…the Cheerleaders here will retort that the H&R Receiver is Only $160.
Yes…$160 to the very lucky few… and $400 on Gun Broker when the lucky few re-sell them. Surplus M16A1 Receivers are getting $600 for scratched up stuff on GB
No Availability Vs.$250 sounds like a bargain when you really want to complete something.
Bottom Line…Shop!!! Don’t be a Lemming. Vote with Your Wallet, its the Only thing Politicians and Businessmen seem to understand.
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The Harrington and Richardson pieces arrived today. Seems PSA has taken New direction on UPS Shipments.
Previously you recieved a Shipping Notification with a Tracking Link that sat in Limbo …then days later a Notification of it being Intransit with Estimated Arrival Date and Time.
Two days in a Row I have recieved shipments without any Notification of the order being filled or shipped. Out of Nowhere you get Text saying delivery by this time today…then a Text saying Delivered.
Is this the New way on shipping information now?. If so? It hardly qualifies as Shipping Details.
The parts look Ok…but the Grey Anodized sure looks blacker than any Grey I’ve encountered in the past. I think the Formula needs tweaking.
It is a new way of information regarding shipping. PSA was waiting on UPS to do their job and it was making people mad when PSA couldn’t speed UPS up. For future reference you can ask the virtual assistant on the webpage for a status update and using your order number it will be provided for you.
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Everything Except a Stripped A1 Upper Reciever is Now here.
Amazing how everything else was a Thumb Click away…but One item gums up the works.
This is what happens when the Industry becomes Gun Shy about the abundance of Surplus Parts Kits
floating about and simply gave up on producing A1 and A2 Uppers. The sale of Surplus , sometimes near junk , showed a demand was there all along.
Meanwhile every company on earth sells M4 Style Flat Tops to the point you trip over them and prices range from Bargain to what only NASA can afford.
.
The once Affordable M16 Surplus Kits are now bringing prices greater than many new complete rifles do…and the Industry never reacted to fill the void with reasonably priced options , all the while producing everything else but the Reciever.
I’m glad H&R is attempting to correct this problem. I just wish they’d pick up the pace.
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I finally policed up all the Parts and placed them in it’s own Project Bin while waiting for the stripped Upper.
A good friend of mine attended the Friday PSA Shooting event in S.C. and tried to gain some Intel on the H&R parts situation. He got a tight lipped " We’re Working on It" reply while speaking to Noteable PSA hierarchy.
My buddy did get to shoot the H&R Model 723 Clone. He liked it a lot, even though the Red Dot was not the era correct Model used by Delta in Panama in 1989. I was lucky enough to score the correct Aimpoint two years ago.
Next…He shoots the M16A1 Clone. He said it was all right but Clunky. The he felt a hammering thud. Minutes passed, then he regained his consciousness. He said while he was out a voice said onto him " Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of any M16 variant." !
He spoke highly of the event…got to fire 20 Rounds from an FN M-249 SAW which was a treat for a Civilian gun enthusiast. He did say the Barrett shooting was by a Waiting List…and it was Loooong.
His only big disappointment was Colt/Cz not being represented at this event.
A pretty Un-Remarkable Pic if I do say so myself.
Billet A1 Stripped Upper placed on Advanced Purchase Order with TNTE.
I recieved an email tonight from TNTE saying they’d make these available via Advance Purchase. They have an estimated Ship Date of 28 April.
This is an expensive alternative compared to the H&R Forged example…It is a guaranteed alternative to what has become a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey the way H&R is electing to release items with No Back in Stock alerts or Pre-Purchase agreements in place. This is something they might want to consider?
