When I built mine, I used a Delton 1/9 twist barrel which allows for heavier bullets, even though 1/12 twist is period correct. But it is My clone!!!...also the Delton is .750 at the gas block instead of the correct .625 diameter, but only a true "stitch counter" would really ever notice. Finally, your slick side upper was issued to the Air Force wheras the Army wanted the forward assist on theirs. Love your project and have a nice day!!!
Man, thank you for the nice words! The M16 has sure went through so many iterations! It's hard to keep up with. I'd love to see you build; you should post a vid!
Looks good. I built an A1 (H&R stuff with the full fence A1 lower and forward assist upper) a couple months ago. I found a good resource is Apex Gun Parts for sourcing the small lower parts like trigger/hammer pins, takedown pins, etc. that are original Colt gray. I keep having to resist the urge to put an optic on it and keep it clean. 🤣
@@dylanroberts93 I hope you do so, it was a fun time building it. I am uploading the Vietnam Tribute Hike/Camp video tonight, it was a rough trip!!! Two days about killed us, but anyway, there is a quick clip of us shooting the retro build for the first time. I hope to have it up in an hour or so, 2 parts
The US has gone crazy Dylan, build you a decent rifle, train, and protect you and the ppl around you. There are nut jobs out there that want to hurt the good innocent ppl, we have to have ppl to stop them.
Thank you Jeff for the reply! PSA is making the H&R retro stuff now, however, in very short runs, so the supply goes quick! Just check their website daily and buy it when it does pop up, or it will be sold out b4 you get home. HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON BLEM RETRO M16A1 STYLE 20" 5.56 1/12 RIFLE, BLACK $1099
Your build looks awesome! Wouldn't yours be a 601 clone? The A1 had the fencing around the mag release and had the take down pins captured. Enjoyed your tips and Numrich parts is where I got original A1 rear sights and pistol grip for my C7 build last year.
Hey man, thank you! There are so many M16 variant’s, it makes my head spin, but, as a commentator called out, this is more like the basic M16. I mistakenly stated M16A1. But I still get confused on the 601 model that you mentioned. I really like how the lower turned out after machining the fences off. Looks so close to the original. 😀
that is more an SP1 retro build than an A1 but it is nice that you built it to your own style , the A2 flash hider has to go though 😉 the pivot capture pin was in the wrong way but looks great to me other wise ! Sarco has lower parts kits for 35 bucks with FC included (great deal for backup parts)
The front pivot, it’s an KNS Precision Inc from Brownells, it’s definitely not from the era, I thought about drilling and enlarging the upper and lower front take down holes to use a Colt screw pin affair, but found the KNS, not cheap, about $35 for a pin! I’ll have to keep an eye on Sarco, I almost forgot about those guys. Thanks!
Sorry I'm late to the party but I feel the need to contribute my two cents worth. I'm not here to beat you up either, just hope this helps. I'll start with your furniture. Believe it or not the "satin" finish on new furniture is correct even on the vintage, now antique stuff. The gloss we see on surplus stocks is simply from extreme wear from years of handling. So... sand it down with 220 grit paper. Then buy Duplicilor brand Engine Enamel With Ceramic in Low Gloss Black. That brand and color is EXACT. It doesn't make much sense to have a pristine / factory fresh upper & lower set with battle hardened furniture. Think of a classic show car, flawlessly restored except for scratched & dented chrome trim. It just doesn't look right. Let it all wear equally over time. Next is the perfectly smooth texture on your lower. This creates a couple problems. 1. It doesn't match the upper. 2. Without texture there is little for the finish to adhere to. It's likely to flake & peel very easily. Here's the solution... Harbor Freight sells a cheap handheld media blaster. Use that with glass beads or the black blasting media they sell. I forget what the grit is but they only sell one. After blasting, wash with dish soap & rinse well. The best coating I've found is... "Gun Kote" by KG Industries. #2403S Satin Gray. This is a ceramic mil-spec coating that is incredibly tough. Apply it with an airbrush. Thin with MEK if necessary. Then bake it in your oven per the instructions. It will look EXACTLY like the factory finish but is MUCH tougher. If applied properly, you will need to try really hard to scratch it or wear it off. Next is the machine work you had done. You went too far. I would have gone for the 604 model leaving the top horizontal "bump" to retain the detent & spring for the front pin. As it is now, there is nothing securing the front takedown pin. The 601 had a Chicago Screw similar to the SP1 and that sucks. I'm extremely impressed with the new H&R quality. Might even be better than the original. However... H&R and GM showed up too late in the game for the 600 series rifles. That was Colt / Armalite only. Not many options to fix that but few if any would notice. Another advantage to the model 604, most had the Type E buttstock. These has the trapdoor like the A2 and the secured rear sling swivel. You can also use a serrated bolt carrier as either was correct.. regardless of which you use,, it would be wise to invest a few cents & replace the firing pin retainer (cotter pin) with the original pin. It looks like a nail with a split end. Last thing, I couldn't help but notice that you didn't have slings for either rifle. I have several NOS / period correct slings I can donate to the cause if you pay the postage. Sorry if you feel beat up over my unsolicited advice. Believe it or not, I'm trying to help.
Thanks for the long and detailed reply. It’s good to know the type of paint to use. I am very happy with how the rifle turned out, I fashioned it after my 1970’s Colt SP1 so my son and I could do a Veitnam tribute hike and camping session. Besides a the gray baked on paint that is a bit off, it matched up pretty good with my SP1. I have two videos on the Vietnam tribute hike, and a quick short. Thanks for watching and the good information!
@@n721sw Very welcome! I'm glad you took it as intended. After I posted that I was afraid you might be offended. I'll look for the other videos. I'm a USAF Vietnam vet & while I enjoy the luxury of perfect or near perfect weapons now, even the new ones back then didn't look great. My first new one was all green and one of the very few that had matched colors.
Thanks for the reply, I would love to find a new manufactured early A1/603/XM../SP1 gray slick side style lower in stock anywhere, I would order one this morning. So, who has them in stock? PSA does not. I haven’t seen a slick side lower anywhere, except used on Gunbroker $$$.
My favorite rifle, very nice work. Blessings.
When I built mine, I used a Delton 1/9 twist barrel which allows for heavier bullets, even though 1/12 twist is period correct. But it is My clone!!!...also the Delton is .750 at the gas block instead of the correct .625 diameter, but only a true "stitch counter" would really ever notice. Finally, your slick side upper was issued to the Air Force wheras the Army wanted the forward assist on theirs. Love your project and have a nice day!!!
Man, thank you for the nice words! The M16 has sure went through so many iterations! It's hard to keep up with. I'd love to see you build; you should post a vid!
Very Cool 💪💪💪
Sweet rifle
Super enjoyable to watch brother! I loved seeing your whole process on this.
Thank you for the great reply and for watching!
Looks good. I built an A1 (H&R stuff with the full fence A1 lower and forward assist upper) a couple months ago. I found a good resource is Apex Gun Parts for sourcing the small lower parts like trigger/hammer pins, takedown pins, etc. that are original Colt gray. I keep having to resist the urge to put an optic on it and keep it clean. 🤣
Thanks for the comment, you should throw up a video about it, I’d love to see it. PSA is great btw
During Nam that was an Air Force issue. no forward assist.
That is a beautiful rifle
Thank you Dylan!
@@n721sw you’re welcome I hope to build me one soon. Might really need it soon
@@dylanroberts93 I hope you do so, it was a fun time building it. I am uploading the Vietnam Tribute Hike/Camp video tonight, it was a rough trip!!! Two days about killed us, but anyway, there is a quick clip of us shooting the retro build for the first time. I hope to have it up in an hour or so, 2 parts
The US has gone crazy Dylan, build you a decent rifle, train, and protect you and the ppl around you. There are nut jobs out there that want to hurt the good innocent ppl, we have to have ppl to stop them.
nice job man. ill make a video someday and show how i did mine
Hey thank you! Yes, throw up a video, I would love to see it, I love the retro stuff! Please drop a link back here if you make the video.
That looks really good and almost period correct !! Is PSA making those Harrington & Richardson M16 A-1 retro rifles if they are I want one ?
Thank you Jeff for the reply! PSA is making the H&R retro stuff now, however, in very short runs, so the supply goes quick! Just check their website daily and buy it when it does pop up, or it will be sold out b4 you get home.
HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON BLEM RETRO M16A1 STYLE 20" 5.56 1/12 RIFLE, BLACK
$1099
Your build looks awesome! Wouldn't yours be a 601 clone? The A1 had the fencing around the mag release and had the take down pins captured. Enjoyed your tips and Numrich parts is where I got original A1 rear sights and pistol grip for my C7 build last year.
Hey man, thank you! There are so many M16 variant’s, it makes my head spin, but, as a commentator called out, this is more like the basic M16. I mistakenly stated M16A1. But I still get confused on the 601 model that you mentioned. I really like how the lower turned out after machining the fences off. Looks so close to the original. 😀
that is more an SP1 retro build than an A1 but it is nice that you built it to your own style , the A2 flash hider has to go though 😉 the pivot capture pin was in the wrong way but looks great to me other wise ! Sarco has lower parts kits for 35 bucks with FC included (great deal for backup parts)
also a quick tip for the bolt catch , use a red spray straw tube from a can of whatever air, wd40 etc and use it as a slave pin
That’s a great tip! Thank you! I will use that next time.
The front pivot, it’s an KNS Precision Inc from Brownells, it’s definitely not from the era, I thought about drilling and enlarging the upper and lower front take down holes to use a Colt screw pin affair, but found the KNS, not cheap, about $35 for a pin!
I’ll have to keep an eye on Sarco, I almost forgot about those guys. Thanks!
Sorry I'm late to the party but I feel the need to contribute my two cents worth.
I'm not here to beat you up either, just hope this helps.
I'll start with your furniture. Believe it or not the "satin" finish on new furniture is correct even on the vintage, now antique stuff. The gloss we see on surplus stocks is simply from extreme wear from years of handling.
So... sand it down with 220 grit paper. Then buy Duplicilor brand Engine Enamel With Ceramic in Low Gloss Black. That brand and color is EXACT.
It doesn't make much sense to have a pristine / factory fresh upper & lower set with battle hardened furniture. Think of a classic show car, flawlessly restored except for scratched & dented chrome trim. It just doesn't look right. Let it all wear equally over time.
Next is the perfectly smooth texture on your lower. This creates a couple problems. 1. It doesn't match the upper. 2. Without texture there is little for the finish to adhere to. It's likely to flake & peel very easily. Here's the solution... Harbor Freight sells a cheap handheld media blaster. Use that with glass beads or the black blasting media they sell. I forget what the grit is but they only sell one. After blasting, wash with dish soap & rinse well. The best coating I've found is... "Gun Kote" by KG Industries. #2403S Satin Gray. This is a ceramic mil-spec coating that is incredibly tough. Apply it with an airbrush. Thin with MEK if necessary. Then bake it in your oven per the instructions. It will look EXACTLY like the factory finish but is MUCH tougher. If applied properly, you will need to try really hard to scratch it or wear it off.
Next is the machine work you had done. You went too far. I would have gone for the 604 model leaving the top horizontal "bump" to retain the detent & spring for the front pin. As it is now, there is nothing securing the front takedown pin. The 601 had a Chicago Screw similar to the SP1 and that sucks.
I'm extremely impressed with the new H&R quality. Might even be better than the original. However... H&R and GM showed up too late in the game for the 600 series rifles. That was Colt / Armalite only. Not many options to fix that but few if any would notice.
Another advantage to the model 604, most had the Type E buttstock. These has the trapdoor like the A2 and the secured rear sling swivel. You can also use a serrated bolt carrier as either was correct.. regardless of which you use,, it would be wise to invest a few cents & replace the firing pin retainer (cotter pin) with the original pin. It looks like a nail with a split end.
Last thing, I couldn't help but notice that you didn't have slings for either rifle. I have several NOS / period correct slings I can donate to the cause if you pay the postage. Sorry if you feel beat up over my unsolicited advice. Believe it or not, I'm trying to help.
Thanks for the long and detailed reply. It’s good to know the type of paint to use. I am very happy with how the rifle turned out, I fashioned it after my 1970’s Colt SP1 so my son and I could do a Veitnam tribute hike and camping session. Besides a the gray baked on paint that is a bit off, it matched up pretty good with my SP1.
I have two videos on the Vietnam tribute hike, and a quick short.
Thanks for watching and the good information!
@@n721sw Very welcome! I'm glad you took it as intended. After I posted that I was afraid you might be offended.
I'll look for the other videos. I'm a USAF Vietnam vet & while I enjoy the luxury of perfect or near perfect weapons now, even the new ones back then didn't look great. My first new one was all green and one of the very few that had matched colors.
FAIL! H&R complete A1 lowers have been available for weeks. So totally not an A1!
Thanks for the reply, I would love to find a new manufactured early A1/603/XM../SP1 gray slick side style lower in stock anywhere, I would order one this morning. So, who has them in stock? PSA does not. I haven’t seen a slick side lower anywhere, except used on Gunbroker $$$.
@@n721sw well do you want an A1 or a slick slide? A slick side is not an A1.
@@MSWeaponsChannel it’s technically the M-16