Carried and used an M16A1 from Jan - Dec of 1969 in Viet Nam. Never had a single stoppage. Used lots of LSA on the bolt and carrier. I am living proof that the A1 is an excellent firearm. 173rd. Airborne. Triangle grips rule.
I just got back from the range with my A1 retro build. Vid just posted. Only issue I had was the steel case ammo. I'm not sure if its because of lower pressure of the 223 vs 556 or the steel case was 'gripping' more and not feeding or extracting as easy. but Feed brass like a boss
Common with steel-cased ammo- in M16s, M1s, bolt actions... hate the stuff myself and many manufacturers advise against it. You don't want to bust an extractor to save a few bucks! Peace.
@@djcorner7747 If your AR cant run steel there is something wrong with it. I have thousands of rounds of steel through ARs through the years. Its really common for people who shoot alot to run steel, it costs less to replace a barrel and an extractor than to buy brass all the time when you shoot 1k rounds a month or even more more often than not.
When I was in the Air Force (when Reagan was president) we used 601s... I remember the firearms instructor at Ft Dix (army) making fun of the butt stock and the lack of forward assist. I bought a couple M16A1 kits and did a complete build. All original except for the NoDak spud lower... Now I’m doing a 601 build, even though I have an SP1. To me, nothing says M16/AR15 without the carry handle... thanks for the video... looks awesome
Thank you. I now have a slightly different A1 build. No more "C7" with the brass deflector. I got the stripped upper from Brownells. Got the original furniture from US Collectors Ordnance.
@@brandondang7156 1/8 is a good middle ground, 1/7 is best for heavier bullets like 77 grain, while 1/9 is best for 55 grain. All three can shoot 55-77 grain bullets but if you're looking for the best performance that's the basic rundown.
One thing I've researched is the different barrels. A test conducted after the a2 was in full production showed that the a1 barrels didn't bend (they were all thought to bend in the same spot) it turned out to be extreme fowling from an improper drilling of the gas port in the barrels. If colt knew how to drill holes we'd still be using pencil barrels. M16a1 wasn't a bad rifle by design but the execution was poor. Colt covered their ass with the a2 and made it a better rifle.
I always heard this (theol31) story also. That the thought was that the thin barrels slightly bent using bayos. Gauges put down barrels seemed to indicate that. Thickening the last part of the barrel was tried as a solution. Then was found to be a bur on the barrel gas port caused the gauges hang up occasionally. "Government profile" barrels always interested me because the thicker, stiffer barrel where it does the least benefit. I guess the "Government profile" earns its name. Of interest at least couple civilian ar15 makers (daniel defense, BCM that i know of) offer barrels thicker at breach tapering thinner to muzzle.
theol31 that and in that era of time the government was tampering with the 223 round into a government NATO round which kinda fucked the users at the time because not all the bullets were made the same alot of the 5.56 NATO rounds were lemons
Good vid. Two small info points. Original M16A1 furniture was made from fiberglass-impregnated resin; the newer A2 stocks/handguarda were engineered from DuPont Zytel glass-filled thermoset polymers. Also, the A2 stock is 5/8" longer than the A2. The A1 also has a 1/12 twist and the A2 has a 1/7 for the M855.
A2 is 1:7 twist rate, & the m16a4 remains 1:7 to this day. The tighter twist rate will stabilize a heavier grain bullet at longer distance. where as 1:10 will not stabilize heavier match grade bullets, allowing users for a variety of bullet types like match grade rounds for squad DMs etc.
Barrel difference is i believe. Gov barrel is skinny under the guard to help evaporate heat and maintain rigity at the front. Heat at the nose of the barrel could cause temporary or permanent curvature (accuracy issues) or possible splitting. More steel more regidity especially under longer firing periods. The standartd skinny barrel was more effective before they removed the slick chrome from the barrels that reduced friction and fowling on the rifeling of the barrel interior under normal fire conditions.
Nice, I saw the changes in these weapons from my military service. Had a hard time getting the hand guards off with that old delta ring, the new style is much easier. I was glad they went from the full auto to the three round burst. There was many changes to weapons from when I went in in 1989.
I had an SP1 and getting rid of it was one of those things I still “ kick myself” for. No forward assist and It even had a VERY unique serial number! I don’t remember the first two digits but it was a low five digit number ending in “000”.
Interesting video. I like the history and the development as they improved over the years. I think Mattel made the A1 stocks back in the 60s. I like the od school ARs and I'll add those to my "want to build" projects. The parts seem to be more available and I have no problem spending the extra money for the real stuff.
Miss the M16A1. Grew up first with the AR then the A1. When it came time to enlist I was already familiar with them. Try as I have, nothing else feels the same. Always feel like something is wrong, even if it may be an improvement or all the cool kids are doing it. I'm a fossil.
The A1's top receiver is actually what was considered an early A2. First A2 production models had A1 top receivers with the brass deflector added, after that the top receiver was reworked to receive the elevation knob and the windage knob.
Jerry Avalos The C7 variant incorporated the brass deflector but was an A1. It was full auto. With that said I would have preferred a non brass deflector upper but like I explained in the build vids I did, there just wasn't one available at the time. well unless I wanted to overpay someone. So I went this route
I'm currently building an XM16-E1 inspired rifle. I'll be using a 1-9 barrel instead and I'll probably have a2 furniture to start due to cost effectiveness. I'll say it's inspired by the look of the Colt Sporter II.
Great builds; I guess I had the A1 with that type of fore grip and no 3rd burst. My Colt I got later resembled the A2? and said HBAR with the more rounded stock. Thanks for sharin.
Thanks Rich. I know a little more than I used to just looking for the parts for these builds. The A1 evolved so much during its service that its sometimes hard to lock down all the features at any given time.
Ive got a 16inch midlength fsb build and ive been curious if i mount an a1 stock. Handgaurd is 2 piece midwest going for a mini m16 esk build/ spr I run the gun with a 1-6x28 Or a carry handle and romeo 5 mount. To train distance and close stuff on 1 build(cost reasons) So should i keep the adjustable or would an a1-E stock work nicley?
.............love the A1 and A2.....I prefer them ANYDAY over the current ugly flat tops...A1/A2 are gorgeous to me....I want one....leaning toward A2, but love the triangle forearms...great comparison...thank you...
The M4A1 carbine is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle. It took me a little time to find and wouldn't you know old Wiki has them... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle
Hey there dear HOHO:) Im snooping around your channel now to see what you are up to:) Hope we can continue to stay connected. I will try my very best. Loving your videos, even though I'm not familiar with those stuff:) May we grow tgt!!!
Nice to see them side by side makes me miss my SP1. Nice lookin work bench there Cobra! If Hollywood Don't need You. I got out the cd. Now one for you, What movie did Don Williams and Burt star in together?
Yes, my A1 buttplate has the storage. Its my understanding that the earlier ones did not but they changed that when they figured out the M16 did need to be cleaned.
Would you recommend the a2 as a first build? Also with so many component options how did you decide on which brands etc? Is there a parts list you would share? Thanks!
TheRealCobraBurnout Thank you for the reply. Are there any advantages to the shape or is it purely obsolete? It just looks better to use at a resting position when firing.
No real advantages. The A2 and beyond hand gaurds where built stronger actually. The A1 hand guards where thinner and lighter, thus susceptible to bending, cracking and sometimes pinching the hand as the 2 halves were never perfect and gap free.
....see my comment above....but I also wanted to add I would like an A2 with triangular forearm...maybe I will stick with an A1...either would do, but I like the triangular much better....
Tha A1 has a slip ring, the A2 has a delta ring. I much prefer the A1 (I don't really consider the C7 to be an A1). The A2 is also a fine rifle, but the A1 will always be my first choice.
M16A1 was officially fielded first by The US Air Force (in small numbers) in 1961. IN 1963 the Army had a shortage of the M14 and ordered 85,000 M16A1s. These early versions went thru several modifications with the final design of the A1 being standardized by 1967. the Army didnt officially replace the M14 with the M16A1 as their primary service rifle until 1969. The M16A2 was first adopted by the US Marine Corps in 1983...other branches followed suit.
*A1 and A2 Stock Differences:* *Overall Length* This is the first and most basic difference between these stocks. The A1 stock has an OAL of 9-⅞ inches. This means an A1 model M16/AR-15 rifle will have a LOP (Length of Pull) of 12.875 inches. The A2 on the other hand has a length of 10-½ inches. This means standard A2 rifles will have a LOP of 13.5 inches. That’s what most adult shooters with average height prefer.
Fulton Armory. I had one from Delton that was not as good on the finish. Fulton wasn't perfect either..but at the time of purchase these uppers where scarce for some reason.
Carried and used an M16A1 from Jan - Dec of 1969 in Viet Nam. Never had a single stoppage. Used lots of LSA on the bolt and carrier. I am living proof that the A1 is an excellent firearm. 173rd. Airborne. Triangle grips rule.
I just got back from the range with my A1 retro build. Vid just posted. Only issue I had was the steel case ammo. I'm not sure if its because of lower pressure of the 223 vs 556 or the steel case was 'gripping' more and not feeding or extracting as easy. but Feed brass like a boss
Common with steel-cased ammo- in M16s, M1s, bolt actions... hate the stuff myself and many manufacturers advise against it. You don't want to bust an extractor to save a few bucks! Peace.
@@djcorner7747 If your AR cant run steel there is something wrong with it. I have thousands of rounds of steel through ARs through the years. Its really common for people who shoot alot to run steel, it costs less to replace a barrel and an extractor than to buy brass all the time when you shoot 1k rounds a month or even more more often than not.
Do you many do you maintain them differently, idk how to clean mines yet
When I was in the Air Force (when Reagan was president) we used 601s... I remember the firearms instructor at Ft Dix (army) making fun of the butt stock and the lack of forward assist.
I bought a couple M16A1 kits and did a complete build. All original except for the NoDak spud lower...
Now I’m doing a 601 build, even though I have an SP1.
To me, nothing says M16/AR15 without the carry handle...
thanks for the video... looks awesome
Very good explanation of the differences between the A1 and A2. Brings back fond memories of basic and AIT at Ft. Mclellan, AL 1983.
I really like your builds. I have an A2 I built from parts, and I think an A1 is next on my list.
Thank you. I now have a slightly different A1 build. No more "C7" with the brass deflector. I got the stripped upper from Brownells. Got the original furniture from US Collectors Ordnance.
Love the "old" M16. A bit lighter and much better balance IMO. FYI, old Colt barrels were 1 in 12 twist. A2 spec was 1 in 7.
thank you
Which twist rate should I gey
@@brandondang7156 1/8 is a good middle ground, 1/7 is best for heavier bullets like 77 grain, while 1/9 is best for 55 grain. All three can shoot 55-77 grain bullets but if you're looking for the best performance that's the basic rundown.
Very good info Cobra! Both Awesome pieces of equipment there!
Thank you. I really like the side by side history of how these designs evolved.
One thing I've researched is the different barrels. A test conducted after the a2 was in full production showed that the a1 barrels didn't bend (they were all thought to bend in the same spot) it turned out to be extreme fowling from an improper drilling of the gas port in the barrels. If colt knew how to drill holes we'd still be using pencil barrels. M16a1 wasn't a bad rifle by design but the execution was poor. Colt covered their ass with the a2 and made it a better rifle.
Excellent information. Thank you very much for sharing. There is so much stuff out there I was hoping folks would chime in with their knowledge.
I always heard this (theol31) story also.
That the thought was that the thin barrels slightly bent using bayos. Gauges put down barrels seemed to indicate that. Thickening the last part of the barrel was tried as a solution. Then was found to be a bur on the barrel gas port caused the gauges hang up occasionally.
"Government profile" barrels always interested me because the thicker, stiffer barrel where it does the least benefit. I guess the "Government profile" earns its name.
Of interest at least couple civilian ar15 makers (daniel defense, BCM that i know of) offer barrels thicker at breach tapering thinner to muzzle.
theol31 that and in that era of time the government was tampering with the 223 round into a government NATO round which kinda fucked the users at the time because not all the bullets were made the same alot of the 5.56 NATO rounds were lemons
Good vid. Two small info points.
Original M16A1 furniture was made from fiberglass-impregnated resin; the newer A2 stocks/handguarda were engineered from DuPont Zytel glass-filled thermoset polymers.
Also, the A2 stock is 5/8" longer than the A2. The A1 also has a 1/12 twist and the A2 has a 1/7 for the M855.
I appreciate the info as I learned alot as I never really knew the suddle differences so thanks for the good vid...Good stuff...
A2 really incorporated alot of good changes but I love that classic look of the A1
That was interesting. I didn't know much about the M16s before this.
Thanks. The A1s went through a heavy evolutionary process.
A2 is 1:7 twist rate, & the m16a4 remains 1:7 to this day. The tighter twist rate will stabilize a heavier grain bullet at longer distance. where as 1:10 will not stabilize heavier match grade bullets, allowing users for a variety of bullet types like match grade rounds for squad DMs etc.
Yes, they had 1:8 and 1:7 with 1:7 becoming more common and the standard. Thanks for the comment.
Nice good detailed description of the two rifles.
Thanks. I missed talking about the different grips. lol
Barrel difference is i believe. Gov barrel is skinny under the guard to help evaporate heat and maintain rigity at the front. Heat at the nose of the barrel could cause temporary or permanent curvature (accuracy issues) or possible splitting. More steel more regidity especially under longer firing periods.
The standartd skinny barrel was more effective before they removed the slick chrome from the barrels that reduced friction and fowling on the rifeling of the barrel interior under normal fire conditions.
They both look fantastic.
Thanks bud. I dig em
Great job man...what a pair of rifles ....Thank's
your welcome
Crashing through the night comes a fearful sight Cobra...cobra! cobra...Cobra! Nice vid bro.
Great Builds and Great comparisons. Whats Next ???
krazy45cat bankruptcy I think. lol
Nice, I saw the changes in these weapons from my military service. Had a hard time getting the hand guards off with that old delta ring, the new style is much easier. I was glad they went from the full auto to the three round burst. There was many changes to weapons from when I went in in 1989.
Basics To Living Very cool you experienced the improvements first hand. Lots of changes for sure.
I had an SP1 and getting rid of it was one of those things I still “ kick myself” for. No forward assist and It even had a VERY unique serial number! I don’t remember the first two digits but it was a low five digit number ending in “000”.
That sounds like an early model for sure!
Just got to have me a retro build!!!!
Sweet video!
Thank you very much. The retro builds are fun to do at least once..if not twice. lol
Interesting video. I like the history and the development as they improved over the years. I think Mattel made the A1 stocks back in the 60s. I like the od school ARs and I'll add those to my "want to build" projects. The parts seem to be more available and I have no problem spending the extra money for the real stuff.
I think your right about Mattel. I read that somewhere that they helped contribute to the synthetic stock composition
Miss the M16A1. Grew up first with the AR then the A1. When it came time to enlist I was already familiar with them. Try as I have, nothing else feels the same. Always feel like something is wrong, even if it may be an improvement or all the cool kids are doing it. I'm a fossil.
Nice comparison on both builds.
tanks
The A1's top receiver is actually what was considered an early A2. First A2 production models had A1 top receivers with the brass deflector added, after that the top receiver was reworked to receive the elevation knob and the windage knob.
Jerry Avalos The C7 variant incorporated the brass deflector but was an A1. It was full auto. With that said I would have preferred a non brass deflector upper but like I explained in the build vids I did, there just wasn't one available at the time. well unless I wanted to overpay someone. So I went this route
Check Gunbroker for an authentic Vietnam era A1 top receiver, I see them quite frequently. Type in: "Colt A1 upper receiver" for starters. Good luck.
I did that pre build..not paying for an over priced used upper. I'm done with the build anyway...thank you
I'm currently building an XM16-E1 inspired rifle. I'll be using a 1-9 barrel instead and I'll probably have a2 furniture to start due to cost effectiveness. I'll say it's inspired by the look of the Colt Sporter II.
Excellent
Outstanding info/video Cobra!!! =)
Boom
Great builds; I guess I had the A1 with that type of fore grip and no 3rd burst. My Colt I got later resembled the A2? and said HBAR with the more rounded stock. Thanks for sharin.
HBAR would be a 'heavy barrel' so thick all the way down...just like the ladies like!
@@TheRealCobraBurnout Especially with that long tube lol!
@@robertbates6057 Indeed
The A1 uppers are extremely hard to find...I bought mine on GunBroker an paid to much for it but it is marked ch....I'm just starting my a1 build...
very cool. thanks for the lesson. I'm building some retro stuff very soon, also.
Heck yeah buddy. Hit me up if you ever need info. Maybe I can help or just be a sounding board for your thoughts.
Man i love these rifles. Good stuff brother
ZeroCipher7 thank you. They were fun builds.. Well the A2 was a pain with the first barrel not passing headspace check.
awsome comparison. great job
thanks towbar
Great looking pair
Thats what she said
:))
Nice, I did'nt know a lot of this, thanks!
Thanks Rich. I know a little more than I used to just looking for the parts for these builds. The A1 evolved so much during its service that its sometimes hard to lock down all the features at any given time.
Just now realizing your A1 has a brass deflector. That took me way too long
yes that one did. C7 which I've talked about
Fine builds Cobra!
Thank you very much!
Very nice old school cool !
thank you thank you
Nice pair. That sounded sorta odd. Looks like you did a Damn fine job !
Thank you Sir. And I get the 'Nice pair' comment every time the Doc says 'Turn your head and cough' lol
I will have to do one soon
Heck yeah. Fun stuff
Ive got a 16inch midlength fsb build and ive been curious if i mount an a1 stock. Handgaurd is 2 piece midwest going for a mini m16 esk build/ spr
I run the gun with a 1-6x28
Or a carry handle and romeo 5 mount. To train distance and close stuff on 1 build(cost reasons)
So should i keep the adjustable or would an a1-E stock work nicley?
very nice rifles i like the thicker barrels they just hold up better!
That's what she said.
Good Vid. Very Informative
Thank you. Lots of info out there to try and sort thru
.............love the A1 and A2.....I prefer them ANYDAY over the current ugly flat tops...A1/A2 are gorgeous to me....I want one....leaning toward A2, but love the triangle forearms...great comparison...thank you...
so brownells a-1 gaurds on a a-2 . best of both
Im going to build a mutant with a2 triangulat handguards and shorter a1 stock lol
If you haven't built your rifle yet, I'd recommend the A1; see my other comment/essay on this video :-)
Great Information! They both really turned out great! What direction you going in next? M4A1 or M16A4 ?
Need to get my edit in... LOL!
This seems like a trick question
The M4A1 carbine is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle. It took me a little time to find and wouldn't you know old Wiki has them... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle
Ain't this a kick in the pants... Here's a list! Scroll down through them...LOL!!!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle#Variants
....in my later years in the Air Force we used some M4s. Well actually the SFs that guarded us used them.
Sweet looking AR my friend.
Thank you Sir
Hey there dear HOHO:) Im snooping around your channel now to see what you are up to:) Hope we can continue to stay connected. I will try my very best. Loving your videos, even though I'm not familiar with those stuff:) May we grow tgt!!!
Thank you
Great video brother :)
Thank you
thumps up
very nice....
thanks
Awesome! Looove it!
Nice to see them side by side makes me miss my SP1. Nice lookin work bench there Cobra! If Hollywood Don't need You. I got out the cd. Now one for you, What movie did Don Williams and Burt star in together?
MrHolster canon ball run ofcourse. lol
Dont forget they reinforced the receiver on the A2 compared to the A1
Dammit there goes my credit card bill
Heat em up!
nice side by side
Thank you very much
love video where did find the a1 guards at
carter dexter U.S. Collectors Ordnance. Here is my vid on them. th-cam.com/video/T-JuDeIGvRY/w-d-xo.html
The lockdown 3 slot rifle rack is a good idea. I assume it's magnetic?
Oh yeah, its magnetic. So can be moved where you need it if you have a surface. Does good on the outside of my safe as well.
Only one of the two had a smaller and larger apparature One of them had a aperture that was a little bit Is lower for b d c
Big guns...interesting
Yes, I used an M16A2 some while in the Air Force so that sparked my interest in this 'hobby'
Two beautiful builds did the A1 have a tool kit storage in the buttstock?Thanks
Yes, my A1 buttplate has the storage. Its my understanding that the earlier ones did not but they changed that when they figured out the M16 did need to be cleaned.
Thank you for the comparison. I would like to build one similar to the A2. Are the parts difficult to find?
Seems to vary depending on what global or national crisis we are in. But A2 should be easier to find.
@@TheRealCobraBurnout I was looking around at some A1 and A2 furnature vintage company, and they had your video on their site, very cool.
If you still have the A2 rifle ... any chance you can weight just the upper? I cant find a reliable source for how much only the upper should weigh.
With or without bcg and charging handle?
@@TheRealCobraBurnout Without BCG and charging handle.
Mine weighs 4.14 lbs
@@TheRealCobraBurnout thank you!
Would you recommend the a2 as a first build? Also with so many component options how did you decide on which brands etc? Is there a parts list you would share? Thanks!
Can you put an A1's hand guard on any of the A2,3, or 4's? I really like the shape and look of it.
Yes, but it needs to have the triangle end-plate as well. Also rifle length gas system.
TheRealCobraBurnout Thank you for the reply. Are there any advantages to the shape or is it purely obsolete? It just looks better to use at a resting position when firing.
No real advantages. The A2 and beyond hand gaurds where built stronger actually. The A1 hand guards where thinner and lighter, thus susceptible to bending, cracking and sometimes pinching the hand as the 2 halves were never perfect and gap free.
....I trained with both....I like the feel of the triangular in my hand...more comfortable...
....see my comment above....but I also wanted to add I would like an A2 with triangular forearm...maybe I will stick with an A1...either would do, but I like the triangular much better....
Theres a brass deflector in A1?
Which one is better if you were in combat🤔 ?
A2 obviously. There is a reason improvements where made...
I think its C7 rifle they only change the rifles handguard to A1
A1 stock Was carbon fiber I believe
Are the hand Garuda interchangeable from A1 to A2
Is this a trick question?
@@TheRealCobraBurnout lol no I’m serious
Tha A1 has a slip ring, the A2 has a delta ring. I much prefer the A1 (I don't really consider the C7 to be an A1). The A2 is also a fine rifle, but the A1 will always be my first choice.
Back for some schooling
Better teachers out there
SINCE 1974,MY RIFLE CHOICE..
nice
You cant find an A1 stock anywhere.
U.S. Collectors Ordnance
Maybe bakelite material
M16A2 i think its from 1970 and M16A1 is from 1967
M16A1 was officially fielded first by The US Air Force (in small numbers) in 1961. IN 1963 the Army had a shortage of the M14 and ordered 85,000 M16A1s. These early versions went thru several modifications with the final design of the A1 being standardized by 1967. the Army didnt officially replace the M14 with the M16A1 as their primary service rifle until 1969.
The M16A2 was first adopted by the US Marine Corps in 1983...other branches followed suit.
Length of pull on both?
*A1 and A2 Stock Differences:*
*Overall Length*
This is the first and most basic difference between these stocks. The A1 stock has an OAL of 9-⅞ inches. This means an A1 model M16/AR-15 rifle will have a LOP (Length of Pull) of 12.875 inches.
The A2 on the other hand has a length of 10-½ inches. This means standard A2 rifles will have a LOP of 13.5 inches. That’s what most adult shooters with average height prefer.
@@TheRealCobraBurnout Thanks buddy. Exactly what I needed.
Where did you find your a1 parts?
That one was built several years ago but the Original Furniture came from www.uscollectorsordnance.com/ and other parts mostly from Brownells
@@TheRealCobraBurnout thank you for the link
which upper did you use for the a2?
Fulton Armory. I had one from Delton that was not as good on the finish. Fulton wasn't perfect either..but at the time of purchase these uppers where scarce for some reason.
th-cam.com/video/gRARXvZ1cNA/w-d-xo.html
Front sights are different
yes indeed.
You realize it's not the 1970s, right? Hehehe....
Actually like those retro ARs.
-Jen
Don't pop my personal world bubble I've created. lol
TheRealCobraBurnout Hehehe...
Nice video, nice rifles. You did forget to talk about the differences in the pistol grip though. I prefer the a1 grip myself.
YES! You are the first person to catch that I think. I noticed it after editing. lol. Thank you for watching and commenting!
Your A1 has the wrong lower, those are A2 lower receivers on both. Not a big deal, but not but accurate.
Yep, I've explained that before.
men how to be like you a gun smithing....