How can one build an old-style AR-15/M-16 look-alike?

Teapot

Teapot

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What would be the best way to go about building an old style AR-15 that is closest to "MILSPEC". I say milspec because the modern rifles have more interchangeability with each other whereas the older Colt AR's can be problematic, afaik, when trying to swap parts out.
Would it be better to go with a Colt HBAR and get the slim barrel, triangular handguards then have the "fence" around the mag release removed? I really know little about this apart from the little information I could find on Google searches. It just seems like the SP1's are totally different animals from present day AR's.
There was a fellow (A R Mike?) selling some AR's and one had the M-16 upper I believe but I was too late to make an offer when I finally got time off work.
 
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Yes and no. The only things not compatible as far as I know are that SOME of the SP1's (but not all from what I understand) have larger diameter trigger and hammer pins - not a big concern as the correct diameter pins and fire control group parts are readily available from Brownells - and the upper and lower are large-pin. Not a big issue if you plan on keeping the rifle together as "old school".

When I had an SP1, I used a KNS push-pin setup to get around the screw-retained large pins. Worked just fine.

Of course, if you can find an early slab-sided lower from another manufacturer and a real M16 upper (uncommon but some are around), you'd be able to retain milspec pins.

I know it sounds odd, but a Norinco CQ311 upper receiver is a pretty good approximation of an early M16 upper, though you'd want to change some other things to get it looking right.
 
Claven2 said:
The only things not compatible as far as I know are that SOME of the SP1's (but not all from what I understand) have larger diameter trigger and hammer pins.
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SP-1's all have standard diameter trigger and hammer pins.

It's a few AR-15 A2 Colt models that have the odd, larger diameter trigger / hammer pivot holes in the lower.

I had heard from one source that this came about from Colt trying to salvage a run of lowers that had been drilled wrong, but I don't believe this at all.

I believe it was just another step that they briefly tried to make full auto conversion more difficult, and also forcing owners to buy replacement parts only from Colt.
 
Why remove the fence? The fence is correct for the M16A1, the rifle the army adopted. If you're going for the slabside look then get an SP1.

Trying to find A1 style lowers is going to be difficult. The only two that come to mind are an early Olympic or PWA. Keep your eyes on the EE, that's where I picked up my PWA with surplus M16A1 upper, good price too.
 
Leg said:
Why remove the fence? The fence is correct for the M16A1, the rifle the army adopted. If you're going for the slabside look then get an SP1.

Trying to find A1 style lowers is going to be difficult. The only two that come to mind are an early Olympic or PWA. Keep your eyes on the EE, that's where I picked up my PWA with surplus M16A1 upper, good price too.
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Do you have any pix of the PWA w/A1 upper? How do you like the PWA lower?
I have one in black finish that I'm thinking of color-matching to my A1 upper.
 
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