Small Hole vs. Big Hole
Colt owners often refer to having a small or large hole upper receiver (and corresponding lower receiver). Small hole receivers of .250" are the "milspec", but during early production by Colt for the civilian market, they produced rifles utilizing a .315" spec, so as to preclude use of military uppers on civilian lowers. This production lasted until roughly 1993-1994. As a general rule of thumb all Colt "unblocked" lower receivers, are large hole, while pre-ban "blocked" lower receivers represent transition years where occasional variations popped up.
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(Above left) Armalite large hole upper receiver... This was produced in limited numbers, and is no longer in production. (Above right ) New Colt small hole upper as shipped with a HBAR upper assembly. (Below) Colt SP1 and A2 upper receivers.
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