C7 vs. AR-15?!

[Dave L.]

I happened to be looking at a few AR-15s on Wolverinesupplies.

They look just like the rifles at Cadets. But the rifles at Cadets were C7s (they were selectfire, either off, on, or on auto), not AR-15s. But how similar is an AR-15 to a C7? Is it just looks, or is the AR-15 simply the C7 without the selectfire option?

- Dave.

Edited again: Ack, I gotta be more careful when I type.

 

[furet]

AR-15 is the commercial version of C7 / M16, you are right about it being semi-auto only, everything else is the pretty much the same. Canada has a few suppliers now with various excellent quality AR-15's and accessories galore, take a look at the picture forum, there is a thread for AR-15 pics. http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19208

 

[sparrow]

Selective fire aside, most AR15s only share an outward silhouette to the C7. From the manner in which many of the C7s parts are made and tested the C7 is a superior system both dimensionally and techincally. Some of the things other manufacturers cannot or will not build (in no particular order or manufacturer)
Bolts which are MP'd
Carrier keys which are correctly staked
barrel profiles which are correctly turned
Front sights which are taper pinned and in the proper direction
Barrels which are MP'd
Chamber dimensions which are exactly Mil-spec ( and don't think for a moment that because it says 5.56 it is correct)
receivers extensions which are the correct diameter and are staked
fire control parts which let go and are made by bottom feeders
The list goes on and remember IBS. Don't get me wrong, I use two Bushmasters and they are awesome, would I use them in hot desert conditions with hot military on full auto and hope it doesn't blow...Hell NO, I'd leave that to Colt Canada/USA or FNMI.

 

[Quiet]

The only difference between a C7 and an AR15 is the make and configuration of the lower reciever.

C7's recievers are made by Diemaco and are full-auto.
AR15 recievers are made by a long list of companies and as a rule are not designed for full auto.

Other than those key fire control components, you can look around and find AR15's assembled in just about any configurations with any manufacture of parts, including Diemaco. I've seen many Diemaco parts listed for sale, but due to the dubious provenience of how they may have come on the market, I would choose avoid them.

Also, just because something is milspec does not automatically make it better. 5.56 chambers are a good example of this.

 

[P0WERWAGON]

receivers extensions which are the correct diameter and are staked

what is a reciever extension?

 

[smgcon]

Wes:

Receiver extension is another term for Carbine buffer tube. The article you have quoted has mislabeled the barrel extension.

 

[P0WERWAGON]

since when are they staked? sparrow, you drunk again?

 

[sparrow]

since when are they staked? sparrow, you drunk again?

Stay in your lane Norinco Aimpoint clone boy

Lower receiver extension M16A1 part# 62356
Staked on using M16A1 part# 62357
These are sub parts to "lower receiver extension assembly"

 

[P0WERWAGON]

i bow to you and humbely await your gracious foregiveness.......

 

[Janeau]

The C7 is the M16 made by Diemaco under Colt license. Colt AR15 are Mil specs and are the same construction. Many manufacturer offer military specification guns, think FN, the actual US military M4 and M16 US Army official contractor, Bushmaster, Stag to name a few. Some AR are not mill specs, think about some sDPMS guns, the Bushmaster Varmitter, Carbon 15 and most heavy barrel, SS barrel variant. (Upper might be not, lower can be Mil Spec). Are Military Specification guns better?? I do not think so, since military guns are usually a little bit generous in parts dimension to allow dirt, grit, fouling and easy parts interchange between guns.

I will take a tuned, NM trigger, heavy SS barrel AR15 over any Mill Spec AR.

 

[koalorka]

I won't call bushmaster or Stag milspec. A factory that is a source of parts that end up in rifles delivered to government contract does not mean the stuff that they sell to the civilian or even the LE are milspec. The only milspec rifles are those that are delivered to the US militry and have gone through government inspection with established testing and sampling protocols

+1. Many Colt snobs will however persist with the notion that their LE6920 is somehow Mil-spec and far superior to anything else.

 

[Dave L.]

...wow. I think I need some time to think over this information!

So the C7 is 'milspec?' what does milspec mean? Does that mean it's just been built to use military ammo better or something instead of conventional hunting ammo?

- Dave.

 

[highspeedlowdrag]

IMHO, you shouldn't get too caught up in the milspec - non milspec arguement. For all intents and purposes, any of the offerings on the Canadian market will serve you well for what you will be using it... You won't be going to war with an AR15 any time in the near future, so buy the one you like and use it for it's intended role - punching paper or gongs at your friendly neighbourhood club...

hsld.

 

[dangertree]

IMHO, you shouldn't get too caught up in the milspec - non milspec arguement. For all intents and purposes, any of the offerings on the Canadian market will serve you well for what you will be using it... You won't be going to war with an AR15 any time in the near future, so buy the one you like and use it for it's intended role - punching paper or gongs at your friendly neighbourhood club...

hsld.

^-truth.