Colt AR-15A2 Government Carbine

My first AR-15 was a Colt Lightweight Target Match. I bought it in the early 2010s as a bundle with 10 orlite magazines and a 300 round battle pack of Guatemalan 5.56. The rifle had the handguards replaced with a quad rail and the ammo came in a plastic bag that was filled with dead termites and half-eaten boxes.

Front and rear sights closer together = less accurate.

I’ve got a 1:7” H&R clone. I absolutely love it. Super light and handy little carbine. Kickass rock solid iron sights. I added a front sight block QD point/rail to attach my sling and light. Piggybacking an Aimpoint Micro on the carry handle currently but I’m considering switching to a prism scope.
It’s my favorite little AR by far

I’m always fascinated by the tension between carbine and rifle. Think Garand compared to M1 Carbine. Think K98 vs Stg44. There is always a dynamic tension between portability and range, between rate of fire/ammo capacity and power per round. Thank you for your videos! You have a knack for explaining these balances.

What a coincidence. My friend walked and sold a SP1 at the last SAR show.

I just inherited two Colt Lightweight carbines. One has an A1 lower while the second has an A2 lower. Both have the screw-type front pivot pin. The A1 rifle has never been fired and still has the wick in the barrel. Also got an unfired Colt A2 HBAR with an A1 lower.

From my observations, the last few thousand or so Sporter 2s came with A2 “Target sight” Uppers, both the Rifles and the Carbines.

The uppers went from slick sides to A1 forward assist to “C7” to A2, all in a few years, as well as changing port doors, slip rings and forward assists.

Would love to see you do a similar video on the Sporter 2.

They are fascinating transitional Colts.

2 of those are seen being used by Tom Barenger and Wilem Defoe in “Platoon” movie.

Sir, you are a national treasure. Thank you for putting in the time to learn all of this information and for sharing it with the rest of us.

Retro is all I have ever wanted and will ever want. Give to me that carry handle and get that m-lock out of my face.
Going to straight-up throw a 'nyet, rifle is fine' right out there for everyone.

My pre ban one must've slipped through QC and came without a notch to catch the charging handle latch. Still love it, I just always have to remember to forgo my nose to charging handle habit while shooting it.

Are you planning to review the H&R rifles?

I scored my Colt 6720 (AR15A4 Carbine) in the months after the tragedy of Sandy Hook. I was lucky in that I got it at GT Distributors in Dallas after being on a waiting list. Paid $900 + tax, as GT was putting people on waiting lists and not jacking the prices up. I love this carbine, and its a shooter. Honestly, people wanting simplicity could do an awful lot worse. Id love to see a cross over of the 6720 with the Colt "M5" lower

Colt really did the AR-15 dirty. If they had just made a mil-spec rifle from the start, everyone be buying Colt today. It was their dumb decisions that priced them out of the civilian market.

I would like to see more on the 6720 Lightweight carbine. You hardly ever see these anywhere, and It's my understanding that during production they weren't popular because they didn't have the "look" of the 6920 M4. I believe they were discontinued. If I'm not mistaken you can no longer even get the complete upper or even the barrel assembly to build your own. A person on the main AR15 forum claims that configuration was requested by Clyde's Armory, and that's why the serial numbers begin with "CAR" for "Clyde's Armory Rifle." Not sure if that's true but it makes a good story. I would love to get my hands on one.

I did a 723 clone. I used a C7 upper with a chrome lined 1/12 barrel and an Essential Arms aluminum CAR stock. Fine shooter. And with a polymer CAR stock, its super lightweight!

What grain projectile was the a2 carry handle sights calibrated for? I have an hbar 20” with 1:8 and I’m trying to match the correct round for the rifle and the sights for elevation adjustments to be correct.

You missed one. I bought a new LE Colt back in the day for my personal Patrol Rifle. I was a tactical rifle instructor so my department allowed me to carry it even before any LE was using them. Mine is a Colt A 3 Tactical carbine with H-BAR. It is a 1-9 twist. I still own it now. It is in fact stamped “military, Law Enforcement or Export only”. It is heavy for a Colt at over 8 lbs. the barrel is roughly the size of a U.S. quarter under the hand guard but tapers down to about nickel size. It does have the bird cage with no bottom cuts, a bayonet lug and no M4 cut past the front sight. The carry handle is removable with 800 mtr rear sight.

Really enjoyed, love those colts, thanks

I haven't seen Colt pencil barreled rifles around for at least 10 years or so. Wish they produced some, even a few retro versions would be cool.

Another excellent video. Thank you

Yeap my country military still uses this model.

Why'd they get rid of the gray finish and go to the black finish instead? Is there a reason?

Great review! Thank you👍🏼🤙🏽

A2 sight carbine with 14.5 pencil barrel is the coolest ar carbine and most popular retro build today.

Have a 1986 A2 20 inch HBAR. Replaced the barrel with a newer 20 inch Colt gov. profile. The HBAR barrel throat and first inch of lands where eroded down to steel. The rest of the barrel was still in good condition. love the color of the old colts they should bring it back.

Thank you very much for this video!

I had some nice Colts ,an early SP1 rifle and a Sporter 2 Carbine . I made a good profit in '95 when i sold them (AWB), but they haunt me every day. I have some nice clones,but i need another Colt. Almost 70, It will make my life complete.

I’ll be honest, colt lowers are amazing. I don’t know if that metal portion where the auto sear would be Makes it more sturdy but for a semi auto lower I love em

I'm still waiting for a non AR design to replace mine. So far none have the combination of ergonomics, accuracy, and lightweight .

How many models had .223 REM, on the left side of the lower receiver?

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Carry handle gang @agent_espo

One of my favorite Colt AR’s 😊

I really enjoy your Colt videos. I was a Marksmanship instructor at Camp Lejeune. (Stone Bay)
While there in the late 80s. Sect. Navy John Ball came down to check out the M9 and while there I was tasked with giving him a familiarization ( crash course) on the 3 styles of M16a1, a2, MX4. I think he enjoyed the day he spent with us Marines from Base MTU.
Keep up the good work.

This is a great video Chris. I have long tried to understand a lot of Colts changes and versions over the years with little history available. Thanks!

I’ve become more and more obsessed with the m16 and I’ve owned one for the last 20 years, and I’ve grown to respect it more and more because of what the rifle means to us in America which is why your channel is my favorite channel. I have learned so much about the rifle that I love.

Great Video. I bought my 6520 in late 1991. The Colt letter says it went to a Colt LE Distributor. It’s a slickside lower. 33 years and thousands of rounds later it’s still going strong.

love it

meh. colt garbage. take PSA any day

I want to build some copies of old colts but to get the colt grey I have to rely on PSA QC or buy from BKs and I don’t see their colt grey receivers anymore. Maybe they’re out of stock? If I’m going to spend more than I might as well find the real Colt parts and/or Firearms.

The Colt 6520 is one of my favorite rifles.

We’re all of the 6520’s large front take down pin diameter?

I hate to ask this question but will the xm193 55 grain ammo have the same effectiveness in a 1/7 twist as it does in a 1/12 twist

Another awsome video Chris! Thank you sir 🫡

I've been calling it a 727 clone, but I guess the right term for my A2 Carbine would be a 6520. Good to know!

I had the Bushmaster version of the Match lightweight. As soon as the ban expired, I bought Bushmaster version of the 6940. Still have it!

Chris, leaving aside fully automatic capability, just how good was the weapon in question ? I have heard that the performance of the AR has not changed too much over all these years. I like the look of these rifles, they look workmanlike.