Retro/Fixed Carry Handle AR15s Pictures and discussion thread

[paul73]

I'll just cordially point out that, for some of us,
and
are somewhat mutually exclusive.

when it gets to guns i am an emotionless machine, as i only keeps those that i presume will be most efficient for what they are made for.
if i coulda woulda was allowed to keep all the full auto specimens - i would have a very different set.
for now all i care is simplicity, accuracy, repairability and the common parts bin among them all. something that in a worst case i will be able to bury into the ground and use whenever future need may arise.

 

[mac1911]

Fair point, but I don't look at Direct Impingement as "progress." If it was, more manufacturers would have copied Stoner instead of going to pistons. All the newer systems are piston-operated.

Stoners is a piston design, it just happens the piston is the BCG and pukes excess gasses into the receiver , lol

 

[paul73]

Stoners is a piston design, it just happens the piston is the BCG and pukes excess gasses into the receiver , lol

and unfixed tavor/sar with a piston pukes it straight into your nose/eyes.

 

[NHCraigT]

For those of you in Free States:

HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON 654 SLICK SLIDE 14.7" CARBINE 1/7 RIFLE, BLACK
$1,199.99 ($1,099.99 for blemished)​

https://palmettostatearmory.com/brands/h-r-arms-co.html

https://palmettostatearmory.com/harrington-richardson-blem-654-slick-slide-14-7-carbine-1-7-rifle-black.html

FEATURES​

Post Vietnam 70's style 654 Slick Side carbine. Export Model. Lightweight, K.I.S.S., and old school cool. Use as a base for your clone builds, or simply run it as is. H&R marked M16A1 lower, with an H&R Slick Side upper. Uses all A1 Style Components.

PRODUCT DETAILS​

DETAILS​

Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Barrel Length: 14.7” P/W to 16” OAL
Barrel Profile: Pencil
Barrel Steel: 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium
Barrel Finish: Parkerized
Chrome Lining: Yes
Muzzle Thread Pattern: 1/2" x 28
Twist Rate: 1 in 7"
Barrel Extension: M4
Gas System Length: Carbine
Diameter at Gas Block: .625"
Gas Block Type: Rifle Height Front Sight Base
Muzzle Device: A2 -style
Receiver Material: Forged 7075-T6
Lower Receiver Type: M16A1
Upper Receiver Type: Slick Side w/o feed ramps
Handguard Type: Carbine, 7 hole, with heat shields
Bolt Material: Carpenter 158 Steel
Bolt Carrier Profile: Full Auto
Fire Control Group: Standard Mil-Spec Trigger Group
Grip: A1-style
Stock: CAR-style
Buffer Tube Length: Carbine, 6 Position
Buffer Tube Diameter: Mil-spec
Overall Length: 32 inches
Weight (as configured): 6 lbs

 

[NHCraigT]

More Free State Retro Goodies:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/harrington-richardson-retro-ar-15-5-56-223-waffle-magazine-20rd.html

This retro and rugged USGI style waffle mag is made from carbon steel and will give your retro build the "battlefield ready" the complete look and feel. These M16 replica magazines are stamped with the distinct waffle pattern and hand assembled in our very own maunfacturing plant in the USA....

 

[Cap'n Mike]

That 654 is a damn fine looking gun.

 

[NHCraigT]

That 654 is a damn fine looking gun.

I'm waiting for the gray anodized version of it.

 

[Cap'n Mike]

I'm waiting for the gray anodized version of it.

Wise move.
Black anodized carry handle guns just look wrong to me.

 

[gruby254]

Enjoy! Colt SP1 from 1972 and pre-ban colt lower with 14.5 socom upper (pinned and welded to 16)

 

[NHCraigT]

Wise move.
Black anodized carry handle guns just look wrong to me.

Unfortunately, for now, black anodized is all I can get my grubby fingers on.


BTW: PSA has these gvt marked stripped lowers on sale (note the "auto" & "burst" authentic selector markings):

$49.99 https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...y_deals&utm_campaign=20230310&utm_term=mornin

$59.99

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-m4a1-stripped-lower-receiver.html

I picked-up 2 of the PSA m41a1 stripped lowers, and a complete XM177 upper from another site (I am just into the look of the "shorty triangular handguard", and I already have a CAR15 looking AR.).
It also has the tear drop forward assist.
I've got everything else to build this (I am going to install an A1 pistol grip and that should be here next week).

CLICK PICTURE BELOW FOR FULL IMAGE:

 

[Cap'n Mike]

Enjoy! Colt SP1 from 1972 and pre-ban colt lower with 14.5 socom upper (pinned and welded to 16)

Beautiful Rifles.
I would love to get my grubby little fingers on a complete Colt SOCOM gun.
I have a 14.5 inch SOCOM barrel that Im saving for an early M4A1 Project.

 

[Cap'n Mike]

Unfortunately, for now, black anodized is all I can get my grubby fingers on.


BTW: PSA has these gvt marked stripped lowers on sale (not the "auto" & "burst" authentic selector markings):

$49.99 https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...y_deals&utm_campaign=20230310&utm_term=mornin

$59.99

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-m4a1-stripped-lower-receiver.html

I picked-up 2 of the PSA m41a1 stripped lowers, and a complete XM177 upper from another site (I am just into the look of the "shorty triangular handguard", and I already have a CAR15 looking AR.)
I've got everything else to build this (I am going to install an A1 pistol grip and that should be here next week).

CLICK PICTURE BELOW FOR FULL IMAGE:

That looks great.
Im probably lucky PSA wont ship to Mass, or I would be broker than I am.

 

[dw617]

View: https://imgur.com/FStU2Ll



View: https://imgur.com/SZNfcYh


SP1 and SP2.

The SP1 dates from '72, so it's over 50 years old. I swapped in a Geissele NM trigger and shoot this rifle every so often at CMP Events. It's a royal pain in the ass to make sight adjustments on these A1 rifles.

The SP2 was my old CMP Games rifle until they changed the rules.

 

[chris_1001]

Unfortunately, for now, black anodized is all I can get my grubby fingers on.


BTW: PSA has these gvt marked stripped lowers on sale (note the "auto" & "burst" authentic selector markings):

$49.99 https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...y_deals&utm_campaign=20230310&utm_term=mornin

$59.99

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-m4a1-stripped-lower-receiver.html

I picked-up 2 of the PSA m41a1 stripped lowers, and a complete XM177 upper from another site (I am just into the look of the "shorty triangular handguard", and I already have a CAR15 looking AR.).
It also has the tear drop forward assist.
I've got everything else to build this (I am going to install an A1 pistol grip and that should be here next week).

CLICK PICTURE BELOW FOR FULL IMAGE:

It’s missing a hole…

 

[Picton]

It’s missing a hole…

So... many... puns...

 

[chris_1001]

So... many... puns...

Three holes, no waiting…

 

[Cap'n Mike]

View: https://imgur.com/FStU2Ll



View: https://imgur.com/SZNfcYh


SP1 and SP2.

The SP1 dates from '72, so it's over 50 years old. I swapped in a Geissele NM trigger and shoot this rifle every so often at CMP Events. It's a royal pain in the ass to make sight adjustments on these A1 rifles.

The SP2 was my old CMP Games rifle until they changed the rules.

You can always tell the preban Colts from there slickside lowers

 

[Cap'n Mike]

More details of my clone of Billy’s Rifle/Shotgun from Predator.
For anyone who hasn’t seen the film, it’s a must watch.
I of cours had to watch the movie a dozen times or so to get the details correct.
I also got a lot of info from the Internet Firearm Movie DataBase.
It’s a fantastic resource for anyone attempting to clone a movie gun, and is just a great place to waste a lot of time if you are a gun nerd/movie buff.

Predator (1987) - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games

www.imfdb.org

I had an old Colt SP1 already, as well as old beat up Mossberg 500.
I just had to find a set of Lone Star Ordanance Handguards And figure out how to mount it.
Apparently the films armorers were trying to make The rifle look like an M16A2, but in 1986 when the movie was made, The new round Colt A2 Handguards must have been tough to find and the LSOs were sourced as a stand in.

Once I sourced a set of Lone Star Hanguards, I had to figure out how to mount the Shotgun to it.
I noticed 4 threaded scope mount Holes in the top of the Mossberg receiver, and figured I would just use some machine screws that I got from the hardware store.
I started out with 2 screws that lined up with the holes in the bottom LSO hand guard, as I was hesitant to drill holes in the plastic.

It was really solid so I drilled the other two holes And it’s now held on with 4 Screws.
It fit like a glove.






The Mossberg weighs about the same as the SP1, and is therefore very unbalanced and muzzle end heavy.
Sonny Landham must have got a real workout lugging that behemoth through the Jungle.

Not being able to reach the tang safety, I decided to swap out the trigger pack for one from a Mossberg Maverick 88 with its trigger guard mounted cross bolt safety

I was nervous the first time I slid some 12 Guage shells into the tube and sent half a dozen rounds down range.
The recoil was really not that bad, probably because the whole thing weighs north of 12 pounds.
Aiming it and shooting it from the shoulder is very uncomfortable and shooting from the hip seemed the best method.

 

[NHCraigT]

Finished-up my "retro-looking" build yesterday.

I did install some "non-authentic" parts (ambi-safety, PSA enhanced FCG, anti-rotational trigger pins, JP-upgraded trigger springs, battle-arms mag catch).

I did some test-shooting with it on my backyard range.
It functions well and the iron sights were dead-on with no adjustments needed.
The trigger pull right now is about 5.5 pounds.

(Although, our chickens were not too happy about all the noise)

 

[dw617]

Dayuum @Cap'n Mike that build is awesome. I've seen Predator a million times (we all have, right?) but never paid full attention to this rifle.

So, have you actually shot the shotgun in this config?

Also, "The new round Colt A2 Handguards must have been tough to find and the LSOs were sourced as a stand in."

I believe there was a transition period at Colt where they mixed and matched parts, between the Sp1 and Sp2 era. This may have been factory.

 

[Cap'n Mike]

Dayuum @Cap'n Mike that build is awesome. I've seen Predator a million times (we all have, right?) but never paid full attention to this rifle.

So, have you actually shot the shotgun in this config?

Also, "The new round Colt A2 Handguards must have been tough to find and the LSOs were sourced as a stand in."

I believe there was a transition period at Colt where they mixed and matched parts, between the Sp1 and Sp2 era. This may have been factory.

Dayuum @Cap'n Mike that build is awesome. I've seen Predator a million times (we all have, right?) but never paid full attention to this rifle.

So, have you actually shot the shotgun in this config?

Also, "The new round Colt A2 Handguards must have been tough to find and the LSOs were sourced as a stand in."

I believe there was a transition period at Colt where they mixed and matched parts, between the Sp1 and Sp2 era. This may have been factory

Dayuum @Cap'n Mike that build is awesome. I've seen Predator a million times (we all have, right?) but never paid full attention to this rifle.

So, have you actually shot the shotgun in this config?

Also, "The new round Colt A2 Handguards must have been tough to find and the LSOs were sourced as a stand in."

I believe there was a transition period at Colt where they mixed and matched parts, between the Sp1 and Sp2 era. This may have been factory.

Thanks, Dutch's rifle in the movie is pretty interesting also. Its also an SP1 with M203 Handguards and a replica M203 built buy the prop or armorer on the set. You can tell by how low the trigger and guard are.
I believe they used the same type of cobbled together M203 in Scarface, though Tony Montanas gun has a forward assist, unlike the ARs in Predator.

And the lack of a forward assist on both Predator guns leads me to believe they were SP1s.
When the Sporter 2s came along, Colt either immediately or very quickly built them with A1 forward assist uppers. The upper I built my XM177E2 clone around was an early Sporter 2 upper that has a forward assist, A1 sights and no Brunton Bump (Brass Deflector)

I have put 25 or so rounds through the shotgun, Its really fun to shoot as the weight dampens the recoil.
The shotgun is actually a slight bit heavier then the SP1, so it might be more accurate to describe the whole contraption as a Rifle attached to a shotgun as opposed to a shotgun attached to a rifle.

 

[dw617]

Dutch's rifle is def a little more iconic. I've seen a few clone builds over the years in forums, online, etc. Same with the Scarface rifle.

You're right, the Scarface example has a brass deflector.

The evolution of these rifles is very interesting to me.

 

[Cap'n Mike]

Finished-up my "retro type" build yesterday.

I did install some "non-authentic" parts (ambi-safety, PSA enhanced FCG, anti-rotational trigger pins, JP-upgraded trigger springs, battle-arms mag catch).

Did some shooting with it on my backyard range.
Trigger pull right now is about 5.5 pounds.
Functions well and the sights were dead on with no adjustments needed.
(Athough, our chickens were not too happy about all the noise)

Those triangle carbine Handguards are a great look.

 

[Cap'n Mike]

Dutch's rifle is def a little more iconic. I've seen a few clone builds over the years in forums, online, etc. Same with the Scarface rifle.

You're right, the Scarface example has a brass deflector.

The evolution of these rifles is very interesting to me.

I have some info and pics on Lone Star Ordnance stuff ill post up if there is interest.
I also have some early Bushmaster/Quality Parts Corp info from the late 80s/Early 1990s.

 

[Cap'n Mike]

Dayuum @Cap'n Mike
Also, "The new round Colt A2 Handguards must have been tough to find and the LSOs were sourced as a stand in."

I believe there was a transition period at Colt where they mixed and matched parts, between the Sp1 and Sp2 era. This may have been factory.

I sometimes forget that not everyone is as much of a gun nerd as me.
Here is a comparison of Colt A2 handguards (near) and the Lone Star ones like on Billy’s gun (Far)

 

[67ray]

Someone have an SBR? This is my fave fixed carry handle:

 

[Cap'n Mike]

Someone have an SBR? This is my fave fixed carry handle:

View attachment 733474

The Colt 733 is peak carry handle in my humble opinion.
Here is my clone.
Not my best effort.
Im Kinda ashamed of my laziness in building this one.
Ironically, it’s my favorite Rifle.

 

[paul73]

The Colt 733 is peak carry handle in my humble opinion.
Here is my clone.
Not my best effort.
Im Kinda ashamed of my laziness in building this one.
Ironically, it’s my favorite Rifle.
View attachment 733920View attachment 733921View attachment 733922

that is how it is supposed to be, if handle is desired - i frankly hate when handle is attached to a picatinny rail. a very nice traditional look, if one really loves a TRAADITION.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRdfX7ut8gw&t=10s

 

[Whiskeywon]

The Colt 733 is peak carry handle in my humble opinion.
Here is my clone.
Not my best effort.
Im Kinda ashamed of my laziness in building this one.
Ironically, it’s my favorite Rifle.
View attachment 733920View attachment 733921View attachment 733922

I have C7 uppers if you need one. You know I have horde tendencies.

 

[Cap'n Mike]

I have C7 uppers if you need one. You know I have horde tendencies.

The one C7 upper I have went onto my 723 Clone.

The temptation to make a Heat clone upper is real, but it would only morf into another complete rifle, and I need another clone project like I need a hole in the head.

I know you have some top tier clones Wiskey, post them up.

Im ashamed of my lazyness with my 733 because its just my XM177E2 clone with the moderator swapped for an A1 birdcage and the aluminum stock swapped for fiberlite. Super lazy