Home CMMG M16A1 “Clone” Build – Retro in Full Swing! Believe the Hype

M16A1 “Clone” Build – Retro in Full Swing! Believe the Hype

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Despite life events, I carry on! Much like this carry handle M16A1 clone build here.

Parts list:

Upper –
Luth AR assembled C7/A1 upper with optional tear drop forward assist
Harrington & Richardson 1:7 twist pencil profile barrel (from PSA)
Original GI surplus triangle handguards
Luth AR stainless steel gas tube
Retro gray colored offbrand slip/delta ring
Dirty Bird milspec charging handle
Microbest chrome BCG

Lower –
Aero Precision standard lower
No name lower parts kit
Aero Precision milspec trigger
CMMG A1 length buffer tube
JSE surplus A1 length stock screw
Luth AR rifle buffer and spring
Original GI surplus A1 Type D stock (no trapdoor, non fixed sling swivel)
Original GI surplus A1 grip

Believe the hype yall, the A1 weighs almost nothing compared to later versions of the M16. It shoots very accurately (at least my build does) and very smoothly. I can absolutely see why these could be popular among troops as this is a rifle you can carry all day and not even notice it. Sights are also much easier to use and remember than an A2 sight, granted they aren’t as flexible with their engagement distances but it is a suitable tradeoff in my opinion.

I encourage folks to try an A1 if you can, the retro craze is here to stay as I had predicted awhile back, and its really cool to experience what a lot of soldiers in Vietnam very likely experienced with their own rifles (minus the early on issues of course, thanks Ordnance Department).

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7 COMMENTS

  3. Ended up putting together my own A1 clone by assembling a lower off a Brownell A1 receiver and snagging a complete C7 upper from Fulton Armory to compensate for my wrong handed shooting.

    Gotta agree the A1 feels so light compared to the A2 or A4 that I can understand why so many GI's thought it was a toy when it first came out, though honestly a majority of the A2 upgrades seem unnecessary when I shoot it side by side with the A1. Beyond increasing the twist of the rifling, coming up with a more durable handguard, and closing up the bottom of the flash suppressor for the A2 flash suppressor, the rest of the upgrades seem rather superfluous for a combat rifle.

    Ended up pulling that and my M1 carbine out of the safe and honestly I think the M1 is a little lighter, but the A1 feels more balanced when the weight is more evenly distributed across an extra six inches of rifle.

  4. Nice Build, Always enjoy your videos. Used an old Bushmaster C7 for my upper…great for a leftie. I was one of the last classes in the Air Force to train with the A1. I remember the hot cases hitting my right arm. Here’s mine…

  6. If you get an extra set of A2 handguards for that you'd basically have a perfect Colt 711 clone. I call it the "Paul Harrell special", since it's the one he's holding in the famous screencap with the yellow coat. You could also get one of those rapid index dials for the A1 sights too for more nimble sight adjustment. Either way great rifle, the A2 overall is my favourite iteration of the rifle personally but I have both and the A1 definitely has it's perks.

    Thanks for the video Shazarad and I'm sorry life is getting a bit sad atm, I'm in a similar position. Cheers

  7. I’m also left eye dominant but as you know I shoot with both hands and eyes even I’m getting older I practice with both 😊. Nice build young man😊.i love the a1 sights still works for me can hit out to 300 yards still no issues 😊

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