Colt AR15 A4

[Tyler14827]

I am thinking about picking up a Colt AR15A4. I will put a link to their website for the specs at the bottom. Does anyone have any experience with this gun, its accuracy, fit and finish and so on. I live in the New River Valley area and wanted to switch over to the 20" platform since I am in a more rural area (came from portsmouth). If I do get it then I think I am going to put some nice OD Green magpul furniture on it. Anyways, just though I would ask.

Link to Colt's page:
http://www.colt.com/Catalog/Rifles/AR15A4.aspx

[jdonovan]

you say rural area, and select a longer barrel platform, I'm assuming that is for longer range desires. However you pick a rifle that has less accommodation for optics mounting than is generally the norm.

I personally would be looking for a picatinny rail top on the upper receiver, and folding irons, if I even put irons on the rifle.

[MarcSpaz]

That Colt rifle is a great performer for what it is. Well built too. It is a flat top (removal carry handle and rear sights), but as JD mentioned, the front hand guard and fixed front post limit what optics to can add. Image clarity suffers due to ghosting from the front post. Clearance issues limit optics. This many not be an issue depending on the sight or scope you want... but something to consider.

Any 5.56/.223 is a bad idea for any distance. Sure, you can poke holes in paper at 600m, but its a long known fact that performance and lethality drop off drastically beyond 300m, even with 20" to 24" barrels. There are some very minor gains going from 16" to 24"... measurable, but not noticeable in the field.

If you want long range semi-auto, I would recommend an AR-10 or AR-10 clone. They are lethal out to 750m-900m... roughly 3 times what a 5.56 will do.

[Tyler14827]

I dont want to switch calibers. I know that the 5.56 is limited but it is what I want to stick with. This is more just something I want. I am looking for a 20" AR that is as close to Mil Spec that I can get. Obviously this Colt is one that will be pretty dang close to that since they make the US Governments select fire version of this. And my old AR was used for work (I am a Police Officer) and my new department provides them so I no longer need the shorter barrel. At this point I am just wanting a 20" Mil Spec AR. I should have made that clear. I am sorry.

[MarcSpaz]

Sounds like a win to me. I love my 5.56 M4 clone (SIG 516). If there was ever a brown fan moment, it would be my "go-to"gun. However, I would love to have a legit Vietnam War era AR15 or M16. The Semi-auto version with matching parts and numbers will cost about $5k and the burst version I have seen for around $30k. It would be awesome.

I think that rifle you linked too is going to be a close compare. Too bad Armalite doesn't make an new AR15 anymore.


I have no idea about this site... just using it as an example... but this M16 bipod would be the perfect addition.

https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/p ... oduct=2572

[jdonovan]

I am looking for a 20" AR that is as close to Mil Spec that I can get. Obviously this Colt is one that will be pretty dang close to that since they make the US Governments select fire version of this.

close, FN has the current contract to make them, colt has the 'paperwork' that holds the specifications and gets a royalty on each unit delivered.

At this point I am just wanting a 20" Mil Spec AR. I should have made that clear. I am sorry.

So what's your budget?

Depending on that you may have some other options to consider.

[Tyler14827]

I have heard about FN making a civilian version as well. However, from everything I have read about it, it seems to be inferior to the Colt. Something about them not being allowed to use the same production methods to make it for public sales since Colt has the rights to it, among other things.

And the budget is $1,000. No more than that.

And that bipod looks pretty sweet. To bad that website is all sold out.

[grumpyMSG]

I have heard about FN making a civilian version as well. However, from everything I have read about it, it seems to be inferior to the Colt. Something about them not being allowed to use the same production methods to make it for public sales since Colt has the rights to it, among other things.

And the budget is $1,000. No more than that.

And that bipod looks pretty sweet. To bad that website is all sold out.

That is the mysterious thing about the internet, if something gets out there, it must be the truth. FN is going to use the most of the same parts from their M16A4s as possible, it would keep costs as low as possible. My experience with FNs versus Colts (M16A2s to be exact) would lead me to tell you that both are pretty good rifles with some really great rifles from both brands being out there. My personal best shooting happened with a re-manufactured Colt M16A1 that became an M16A2 with kit from FN.

As for the bipod, be glad you couldn't buy it. It functions just like a clothes pin. Unless the rifle has a thin profile (M16 or M16A1) it will not close all the way leaving the legs closer together and taller than you would really want. It actually attaches to the rifle clamping on the barrel under the front sight post. As for the suggestions about the front sight post, remember the M16A4 kept a fixed front sight post. When you look through an ACOG (4X) it disappears.

[MarcSpaz]

As for the bipod, be glad you couldn't buy it.

I recommended it for looks, not function. I have a few friends with M16's and AR15's from the 60's that are display in their Man-Cave, using the classic bipoid. For under $30, it looks nice on an illuminated box shelf.

As far as function goes, if you want a classic rifle, you don't have many options unless you mod the rifle, and that defeats the purpose of buying a classic rifle.