Looking for a Pre-Ban Colt AR15 - Questions

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BE4TNUT

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Hello All,

So I am looking for a Pre-Ban Colt AR15 and have been keeping my eyes peeled for the postings. I have been looking at the sites for my local shops, this forum and on gunbroker. You can note that this will be my first AR15. I am also debating on getting on from Spikes Tactical also but I do want to have a Pre-Ban at some point also.

Are there any other places you suggest that I should keep a look out for them?

Also does it matter whether they have a sear block or not? Did all Colt's come with a sear block or just some of them?

Thanks,
Chris
 
The place to look (and get all sorts of related info) is AR15.com. The Equipment Exchange there will list guns for sale. Lots of good info on pre-bans, etc. there as well.
 
BE4TNUT said:
Hello All,

So I am looking for a Pre-Ban Colt AR15 and have been keeping my eyes peeled for the postings. I have been looking at the sites for my local shops, this forum and on gunbroker. You can note that this will be my first AR15. I am also debating on getting on from Spikes Tactical also but I do want to have a Pre-Ban at some point also.

Are there any other places you suggest that I should keep a look out for them?

Also does it matter whether they have a sear block or not? Did all Colt's come with a sear block or just some of them?

Thanks,
Chris
Click to expand...

If you are somewhat close by go to Zero Hour Arms in Easton. They almost always have at leat one of those around somewhere. You can check their website too and see what they have in stock.

As far as the sear block I believe the older Colts did not come with them and the newer ones do. The only problem that I have heard of that people have ran in to with them is installing an aftermarket trigger sometimes the sear block gets in the way and needs to be removed which either yourself or a gunsmith can do. I have a Colt Sporter that has a sear block in it. So far I haven't ran in to any issues with it but I have debated removing it just because it's like Colt putting a middle finger in your receiver.
 
BE4TNUT said:
Also does it matter whether they have a sear block or not? Did all Colt's come with a sear block or just some of them?
Click to expand...
The sear block will prevent you from doing the following:

-Installing some after-market Bolt-Carriers.
-Installing some after-market triggers.
-Installing a registered lightning link or DIAS - converting your AR-15 into a full-auto M-16.

One classification used for colts is a color code -- green/blue etc... This is based off of the color of the sticker on the side of the factory box the firearm came in. Google a quick search and you'll find a table with years/colors etc. Blue Labels will always have a sear block unless someone removed it. Green labels and all prior will NOT have a sear block. There ARE a few very late green-labels with sear blocks but they're a rarity -- just ask the seller.
 
drumenigma said:
The only problem that I have heard of that people have ran in to with them is installing an aftermarket trigger sometimes the sear block gets in the way and needs to be removed which either yourself or a gunsmith can do. I have a Colt Sporter that has a sear block in it. So far I haven't ran in to any issues with it but I have debated removing it just because it's like Colt putting a middle finger in your receiver.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's not hard do with a rotary tool + Cutting wheel and a wrench. Just put some duct tape on the finish of the gun so you don't mar it by accident.

take the cutting wheel and make a deep cut through the sear block along the rifle wall through the obvious outside pin -- make sure not to actually remove this pin (Maybe -- read below for more details) -- it doesn't go deep.

(Optional for easier method) Make a second cut just barely at the bottom of the writing of COLT on the block parallel to your first cut. make it equally deep (You may need to first drill this top block off before this cut depending upon how large your cutting wheel is -- the cut needs to go below the main pin holding the firearm in. Take the wrench and whack out the piece between your two cuts (Wiggle it back and forth until it breaks off. Wiggle hard).

Grip the block with the wrench and crank the hell out of it back and forth. The blind pin will break and the sear block will be rotating along the outside pin freely -- you will definitely know when this happens.

You now have the option of either pushing that outside pin through the hole you made between your two cuts and putting it back in (This is the optional method -- I'm not sure of the legality of this -- one gunsmith told me it was illegal because you'd technically have a class-3 firearm when the pin isn't in the lower -- I don't understand how that's possible, but who knows? Since I'm not 100% due to him telling me this I'm not recommending you do this, it's just the easiest way to get the block out for sake of proof of concept) OR cut around the pin along the wall with your rotary tool+cutting wheel until the block is free. Both ways work
 
Last edited:
Sear block will only prevent you from using M16 (full auto) carriers and some after market triggers. The removal of sear block is completely legal. Adco firearms can perform the service for a fee.
There are a wide variety of Colt depending on the following features:
Full fence/Slab side
Small pin/Large pin/drilled for standard takedown pin
No sear block/with sear block
My personal preference is for small pin, full fence, while these rifles usually have sear block, it does not affect function.

I wouldn't pay more than a $1000 for a used preban complete Colt AR in good condition.
Gunbroker and AR15.com will usually have the best deals.
 
Chris,

I have a preban early 1970's Colt SP1 Carbine (collapsible stock-no sear block)) w/ original Colt 3x Scope in good condition that I am looking to sell - PM me if you are interested.

Regards,

Mike
 
drumenigma said:
If you are somewhat close by go to Zero Hour Arms in Easton. They almost always have at leat one of those around somewhere. You can check their website too and see what they have in stock.

As far as the sear block I believe the older Colts did not come with them and the newer ones do. The only problem that I have heard of that people have ran in to with them is installing an aftermarket trigger sometimes the sear block gets in the way and needs to be removed which either yourself or a gunsmith can do. I have a Colt Sporter that has a sear block in it. So far I haven't ran in to any issues with it but I have debated removing it just because it's like Colt putting a middle finger in your receiver.
Click to expand...

Just checked their website and they do have 3 or 4 pre-ban AR models available.
 
Go to Kittery Trading Post. They have a good selection of Ar15's you just have to call Colt with the serial number for confermation on a manufacture/sale date.
 
je25ff said:
Just checked their website and they do have 3 or 4 pre-ban AR models available.
Click to expand...

You can call them, but they don't keep their website up-to-date . . . much too busy a shop. I'd be surprised if they didn't have 6-12 pre-ban ARs at any one time.
 
Kittery will not sell a mass resident an AR. I went through this lasy year. They had a preban ar. I put it on hold,then got confirmation from Colt the gun was pre-ban. E-mail and Phone number name of Colt Rep) Kittery still refused to sell me the gun. I endu up buying the exact gun from Rileys in NH for substantially less money. I have heard that Magnum sports in Peabody or Danvers has a good slection of Pre-ban Ar
 
Thanks for all the information guys this has been great. I received a few people PM'ing me telling me that they have a rpe-ban AR15 they are looking to sell. Given prices, location and condition I am trying to get up to NH to take a look at one I am interested in.

Thanks again all!
 
I'm sure there's a dealer in MA that will sell you one for about $62,734.09. It's because of course "we can't find them". Well, if I can find them, they can find more of them...so there's your reason for the ridiculous $$.

IE: go out of state (maine and nh), look for a pre-ban, and transfer it. You'll get it cheaper than a brand new rifle down here, and maybe you can sell it to a dealer for $59,613.12....and they will buy it of course, because they can't find them....right?

(Okay before the technical tammys come out of the woodwork, I was kidding about the 5 digit figures) We all know how the prices get jacked up
 
MichaelJR said:
I'm sure there's a dealer in MA that will sell you one for about $62,734.09. It's because of course "we can't find them". Well, if I can find them, they can find more of them...so there's your reason for the ridiculous $$.

IE: go out of state (maine and nh), look for a pre-ban, and transfer it. You'll get it cheaper than a brand new rifle down here, and maybe you can sell it to a dealer for $59,613.12....and they will buy it of course, because they can't find them....right?

(Okay before the technical tammys come out of the woodwork, I was kidding about the 5 digit figures) We all know how the prices get jacked up
Click to expand...

Yeah while looking, I am mainly focusing on out of state purchase for the same reason that you have stated haha. I did call Zero Arms since they seem to have a bunch and they say they range from $1500 - $2000 for a Colt. Im assuming their $2000 was for a Government Model which is nice, but not $2000 nice in my book. Gunbroker.com is a mix of the real high prices and the reasonable prices.
 
BE4TNUT said:
Yeah while looking, I am mainly focusing on out of state purchase for the same reason that you have stated haha. I did call Zero Arms since they seem to have a bunch and they say they range from $1500 - $2000 for a Colt. Im assuming their $2000 was for a Government Model which is nice, but not $2000 nice in my book. Gunbroker.com is a mix of the real high prices and the reasonable prices.
Click to expand...

Some of the preban Colts even hold their value outside of Mass as you have guys that are in to doing things like retro builds and they like to find the older receivers and such when they put them together. It might not be worth quite as much as in Mass but it still holds a good portion of its value.
 
I too have asked questions, and researched here, and other sites thinking that I needed to go pre-ban. You really have to ask yourself what pre-ban feature is worth the extra expense, though. In the end, it all came down to a collapsible stock for me, because I couldn't care less about, or ever need a bayo lug anyway. After a lot of thought/research, I came to the conclusion that having to use 10 round mag capacity was what really bothered me the most about the evil feature ban, and that is easily rectified with just getting pre-ban mags, even on a new gun. I'm still not totally against building a pre-ban lower if I can find one for a fair price, but I will certainly not overpay, just to have features that I don't really care about either. Just another point of view to consider...
 
Terminator03 said:
I too have asked questions, and researched here, and other sites thinking that I needed to go pre-ban. You really have to ask yourself what pre-ban feature is worth the extra expense, though. In the end, it all came down to a collapsible stock for me, because I couldn't care less about, or ever need a bayo lug anyway. After a lot of thought/research, I came to the conclusion that having to use 10 round mag capacity was what really bothered me the most about the evil feature ban, and that is easily rectified with just getting pre-ban mags, even on a new gun. I'm still not totally against building a pre-ban lower if I can find one for a fair price, but I will certainly not overpay, just to have features that I don't really care about either. Just another point of view to consider...
Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying and do agree. Me personally though would just like to have one Pre-Ban Colt AR15 in my collection. This way I can build out that particular AR however I want, and I am sure that will change over time on how I have it set up while retaining all original parts so that I can put it back to stock also. I am sure in the future I will have post bans that see a lot more use than the pre-ban but I think it would be nice to have. I might have two pre-bans... one for collecting purposes and one for shooting purposes, but for now I want one that I can shoot. They way MA has been going these will just be harder to get in the future is my thinking on it.
 
I just found a preban pony for $21,497.12 before taxes. It has a tactical sling and cupholder. The dealer bought it for $310.25 out of state, but shhh they don't want you to know that.
 

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