Issued a couple as USAF Security Policeman in 1973 to 1981. Served in Minuteman ICBM, SPS armorer (Okinawa and Ellsworth) I cross trained out of SP in 82. Completed my career in 1995 in Operations Management and . S.E.A to the Sandbox. -oh, just finished an A2.. but with Geissele Automatics Tricon trigger, Super 42 coil buffer spring/buffer, maritime bolt release. 20-inch CHF barrel government profile.
I really like this build. That upper is so cool, I feel like the Air force nailed it. I think someone needs to start building new DOD acceptance stamps for these fantastic H&R builds.
I got the retro addiction , started with parts from Brownells built an M16A1 clone but all they had was black receivers at the time but I built my first one and I was so happy 😁 then I started the research into the various models and had to get more parts!! Brownells came out with the 601 furniture and lowers so I got them and repainted the furniture mottled brown then green over that , then I got real 604 parts, upper , mvp12 barrel , slick side Chrome bolt carrier group then a 603 upper with an mp12 barrel fell into my hands and after 3 years I found a serrated chrome bolt carrier group for that to finish it 😋 build other variations like the 653 and 654 models and finally got some gray parts from H&R! did I say I was an addict LOL
I’m building my 604 on a Palmetto H&R M16A1 lower, so I suppose mine would be more like a later model 604. I really love the way the partial fence you have looks and I had the option to buy the commando marked lower they offer but I got too hung up on markings on the lowers (sorta silly). Really nice video and very cool rifle!
i was about to do the same exact thing. I still might, I dunno. So far I've only ordered the upper. I didn't even consider the commando one with partial fence. Now I'm not sure. I like this early style though
I built one similar to this because I wanted one like the one I carried in the Air Force. However, I decided to do more "in the spirit of" than a genuine clone. Partly that was because I wanted to use an A2 lower. The A2 lower is objectively better than the earlier lowers mostly because of the full fence around the magazine release button. In 14 years of carrying and using them, I did have a mag come loose a few times from inadvertently bumping the button. I wanted to build one that would look and feel like the one I carried but also be more than just a range toy, hence the A2 lower. Additionally, I used a barrel with 1:7 twist rather than the 604's 1:12 twist so I could use whatever ammo I wanted rather than being restricted to 55 grain bullets for good accuracy. As a result, none of the parts are "correctly" marked but it handles just like my old M-16 and if you don't look too close, it will pass visual inspection. I can have "old faithful" but still take advantage of some of the improvements that came later. I'm not bagging on anyone who wants to do a true clone -- I think it's very cool -- but for my purposes a couple of modern touches were better. The one thing that's kind of a bummer is that because most of my parts are modern, the rifle is black instead of the (IMO cooler) charcoal gray but that can be changed if I ever decide it's worth the expense.
👍🏻👏🏻Awesome video, with GREAT info! Thank you for sharing it with us, and school us new guys with the intricate history of the ar!🙏🏻👏🏻👍🏻 i have 1 question-kind of related tot his video-if I want to make a xm17 clone using the new hr a1 upper, how do I go about matching the a1 rifle feed ramps to the m4 feed ramps of a shorter barrel? The only method I have found is [hand]sanding down the receiver feeds, is that my only method? Since your a builder-history buff I feel you may be able to answer this question , pot. Give me some good advice… and lol almost forgot , gorgeous looking rifle, love the anodize job and the partial fence lower
I have a 71 sp1. The only difference is that it has an interlocking screw at the forward hing, no reinforcement under the dust cover, and a birdcage. It has C MP C on the bottom of the barrel behind the birdcage. Back in the day, We used the 3 prong to break the wire on cases of C rats!
@pourindiesel My Mag story, Funny thing, I went 30 years without an AR style rifle. I came across an SP1 in original condition and bought it, ser# in the18s from 1971 with less than 100rds through it. It even came with some ball ammo still in the bandoleer. I put one rd in and fired it just to make sure it was OK. Then I laid down prone and picked up a 30rd magazine. 40 years since my last firing an M16 my training came through.To seat the rds, the first thing I did, was wack myself up side the head with the magazine! Darn it hurt! But I'd never fired an AR or M16 without a helmet on! Won't do that again!
Nice job, I have 2. One I bought as a complete rifle from Brownells the other I put together on a Brownells upper. Both of them (common issue) have to have the front sight post nearly burried all the way down to get zero, one in addition to that has the rear sight adjusted far left. I don't know who the hell brownells has making these parts. I think there are a hodge podge of parts And they just assembled them and sold them as complete rifle Usable yes but in my opinion unacceptable. I am in the process of de bastarding them right now.
You bought the H&R complete Air Force 604 upper, or did they sell it as a completed rifle? Did you have any issues with the pencil barrel overheating with a lot of rounds fired in a short timespan
The USA fought almost the entirety of the Vietnam conflict with pencil barrels. I don't think you'll have anything to worry about as far as overheating goes. You'll have to piece together the 604 unless H&R decides to offer it in complete form.
Issued a couple as USAF Security Policeman in 1973 to 1981. Served in Minuteman ICBM, SPS armorer (Okinawa and Ellsworth) I cross trained out of SP in 82. Completed my career in 1995 in Operations Management and . S.E.A to the Sandbox. -oh, just finished an A2.. but with Geissele Automatics Tricon trigger, Super 42 coil buffer spring/buffer, maritime bolt release. 20-inch CHF barrel government profile.
I really like this build. That upper is so cool, I feel like the Air force nailed it. I think someone needs to start building new DOD acceptance stamps for these fantastic H&R builds.
I got the retro addiction , started with parts from Brownells built an M16A1 clone but all they had was black receivers at the time but I built my first one and I was so happy 😁 then I started the research into the various models and had to get more parts!! Brownells came out with the 601 furniture and lowers so I got them and repainted the furniture mottled brown then green over that , then I got real 604 parts, upper , mvp12 barrel , slick side Chrome bolt carrier group then a 603 upper with an mp12 barrel fell into my hands and after 3 years I found a serrated chrome bolt carrier group for that to finish it 😋 build other variations like the 653 and 654 models and finally got some gray parts from H&R! did I say I was an addict LOL
Real nice video .
Thanks for commenting
You got two beautiful and historical rifles!
Thank you
I’m building my 604 on a Palmetto H&R M16A1 lower, so I suppose mine would be more like a later model 604. I really love the way the partial fence you have looks and I had the option to buy the commando marked lower they offer but I got too hung up on markings on the lowers (sorta silly). Really nice video and very cool rifle!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
i was about to do the same exact thing. I still might, I dunno. So far I've only ordered the upper. I didn't even consider the commando one with partial fence. Now I'm not sure. I like this early style though
I built one similar to this because I wanted one like the one I carried in the Air Force. However, I decided to do more "in the spirit of" than a genuine clone. Partly that was because I wanted to use an A2 lower. The A2 lower is objectively better than the earlier lowers mostly because of the full fence around the magazine release button. In 14 years of carrying and using them, I did have a mag come loose a few times from inadvertently bumping the button. I wanted to build one that would look and feel like the one I carried but also be more than just a range toy, hence the A2 lower. Additionally, I used a barrel with 1:7 twist rather than the 604's 1:12 twist so I could use whatever ammo I wanted rather than being restricted to 55 grain bullets for good accuracy. As a result, none of the parts are "correctly" marked but it handles just like my old M-16 and if you don't look too close, it will pass visual inspection. I can have "old faithful" but still take advantage of some of the improvements that came later. I'm not bagging on anyone who wants to do a true clone -- I think it's very cool -- but for my purposes a couple of modern touches were better. The one thing that's kind of a bummer is that because most of my parts are modern, the rifle is black instead of the (IMO cooler) charcoal gray but that can be changed if I ever decide it's worth the expense.
Excellent comments! Thank you!
Cool man. Nice
Essentially, a good video!
Haha thanks!
Nice job
Thanks!
Nice clone, you did a great job on that gun. 👍
Thanks!
👍🏻👏🏻Awesome video, with GREAT info! Thank you for sharing it with us, and school us new guys with the intricate history of the ar!🙏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
i have 1 question-kind of related tot his video-if I want to make a xm17 clone using the new hr a1 upper, how do I go about matching the a1 rifle feed ramps to the m4 feed ramps of a shorter barrel? The only method I have found is [hand]sanding down the receiver feeds, is that my only method?
Since your a builder-history buff I feel you may be able to answer this question , pot. Give me some good advice…
and lol almost forgot , gorgeous looking rifle, love the anodize job and the partial fence lower
beautiful
Thanks!
I have a 71 sp1. The only difference is that it has an interlocking screw at the forward hing, no reinforcement under the dust cover, and a birdcage. It has C MP C on the bottom of the barrel behind the birdcage.
Back in the day, We used the 3 prong to break the wire on cases of C rats!
Thanks for commenting
@pourindiesel My Mag story,
Funny thing, I went 30 years without an AR style rifle. I came across an SP1 in original condition and bought it, ser# in the18s from 1971 with less than 100rds through it. It even came with some ball ammo still in the bandoleer. I put one rd in and fired it just to make sure it was OK. Then I laid down prone and picked up a 30rd magazine. 40 years since my last firing an M16 my training came through.To seat the rds, the first thing I did, was wack myself up side the head with the magazine! Darn it hurt! But I'd never fired an AR or M16 without a helmet on! Won't do that again!
You used a Colt SP1 upper receiver with a bushing I can tell.
Yup
Also A1 Port Door Without Raised Wedge To Prevent It From Getting Closed and Pinched In The Closing Process 😀
Nice job, I have 2. One I bought as a complete rifle from Brownells the other I put together on a Brownells upper. Both of them (common issue) have to have the front sight post nearly burried all the way down to get zero, one in addition to that has the rear sight adjusted far left. I don't know who the hell brownells has making these parts. I think there are a hodge podge of parts And they just assembled them and sold them as complete rifle Usable yes but in my opinion unacceptable. I am in the process of de bastarding them right now.
my dream
You bought the H&R complete Air Force 604 upper, or did they sell it as a completed rifle? Did you have any issues with the pencil barrel overheating with a lot of rounds fired in a short timespan
The USA fought almost the entirety of the Vietnam conflict with pencil barrels. I don't think you'll have anything to worry about as far as overheating goes.
You'll have to piece together the 604 unless H&R decides to offer it in complete form.