My grandfather's 72nd birthday is coming up, and the bastard served 17 years: ten in the navy, seven in the army reserve. He's told me a lot about Vietnam and all kinds of stories from his time in service. We often sit and talk about it while we watch old movies. On more than one occasion we've watched a Vietnam movie, and he often states "What I wouldn't give to hold one of those again," when the M16A1 comes on screen. He tells me he was the best shot out of a thousand men with his, and had a unique one made by Harrington and Richardson with a chrome-lined barrel. For his birthday I plan on building him an A1 styled AR (don't want to purchase a pre-built if I can help it—too expensive). Problem is, I'm no AR savant. I don't even own any. Never have. I'm pretty ignorant as to what kind of parts I should get, and what kind of uppers and lowers will go together. Obviously budget is to be considered, I'm not particularly wealthy. Primarily, I want that balance between quality and value. I know A1s are notorious with jamming—I don't know if that carries over to modern AR builds of them—but I'd like it to be decently reliable if possible. Overall, I'd like to try and keep it under $1200 if I can. What kind of parts should I get, and where do you recommend I get them? Any advice or tips are appreciated, too.
Pic related: It's my grandfather at Quantico. He says so, at least. Though he often admits his memory may be off.
Brownells sells decent retro a1 receivers and barrels
Nolan Jackson
Build him an A1 clone. Its definitely possible to keep it under your listed price range. Of course unless you want to use real armalite/colt parts. You could purchase a good clone from brownells but it would run over budget a little bit. I built an A1 clone for about $800. (Pic related) I got alot of the parts from Amherst depot and various places around the web and gunstores.
On their website it doesn't have a buffer tube listed. Is that something only on modern, collapsible stock ARs? I'll also need a trigger assembly, which isn't listed with their retro m16a1. Can I just use any? Like I said, I'm an idiot when it comes to ARs.
user, I hate to be the one to tell you this but . . .
. . . They didn't have M16s in Wolrd War 2. Your grandpa is a bald face stolen valor case.
Matthew Taylor
Let's say i had the upper and lower purchased, along with the furniture. What parts would you recommend me to that you used or prefer? Again, you're explaining this to someone who's never had or built an AR. Sorry if my ignorance makes this frusturating.
Since youre new to ARs Id recommend you go onto retrorifles website and get the completed Retro uppers $550 no handguards. Then get a PSA A2 Lower complete 169. Very minor changes between the a1 and a2 lowers just some forging differences. and get an original a1 furniture set on ebay for 70 and assemble. The total is approximately 850 after shipping transfer etc.
Christopher Rogers
Where the fuck did you come up with WWII?
Logan White
a really old asian porn mag.
Juan Bennett
I'd assume the upper doesn't come with barrel and gas tube?
James Bell
I mean they look real but you can just buy those kinds of medals in shops. His camoflague is standard WW2 issue,
Carson Reed
Look on youtube or the internet for all listed parts of an AR and how to assemble them. Also make sure its compliant with wherever you live. If you know someone who knows how to build it have them help you because a gun is something you definitely want to know how to assemble. You can find relatively cheap parts from manufacturers like BCM and such
Charles Baker
My mistake. The photo here is from his later years in the reserve. Also, you said this in reply to the OP image, which is clearly an ERDL pattern uniform. Which was post WW2. My bad, I didn't see 'complete upper'.
Gabriel Turner
Comes with barrel , but youll need a gas tube and bolt and charging handle. Probably about 100 extra at PSA
Kevin Rodriguez
Don't get him anything. He's just gonna die soon anyway.
