Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The gun industry is full of fads, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. A few years past, everything was M-LOK and operators, but slowly the retro rifle fad has taken over. It’s on its way out the door now, but it was a good ride. That Retro rifle wave is how I ended up with a replica M16A1 made from an LRB M16A1 lower and mostly Colt surplus parts. At the peak of M-LOK and operating, someone decided retro was the way to go.
At this point, most of this generation had likely been more than exposed to modern rifles, and some were likely curious about what it was and how much it had changed. That’s what lead me to build this gun. That and the fact someone sold an LRB lower for a song. LRB is a neat company. They are the masters of the M14.
Some years ago, they did a limited run on retro-inspired lowers. I believe it was 2009, well before the rage of retro rifles was in full swing. Finding this lower inspired me to build something as close to an A1 as I could. One of the best things about guns is that they can allow you to have a real, first-person view of history and to experience how things have changed with your bare hands.
The LRB M16A1 and My Generation
A long time, and about fifty pounds ago, I was issued an M16A2 and later an M16A4. I’ve got a base of experience with more modern variants but no understanding of how the retro M16A1s felt or handled. I might be thick-headed because you can tell me something all day long, but until I get hands-on experience, I don’t feel like I’ve learned anything.
Building, shooting, and enjoying this LRB/Colt M16A1 parts gun has allowed me to learn and experience what went right with the modern M16 and what they should have left well enough alone. I was also able to experience a very small part of what generations of soldiers and Marines previously experienced.
The difference between the old A1 and A2/A4 is night and day. Sure, they are both Stoner designs, but the changes are fairly large. First and foremost, it seems like the military took what was a fairly lightweight rifle and really beefed it up.
Going from an A4 or A2 to an A1 is quite the leap when it comes to weight. The M16A1 is a much better-balanced rifle that’s lighter. None of that useful government profile barrel and the A4’s rail is handy, but it does put the rifle off balance.
The Rear End
On the opposite end, the M16A1 used a shorter LOP that made the rifle more comfortable to use. Back in the day, a bladed stance was standard, but with a modern squared-up stance, the shorter one delivers a weapon that’s easier to manage.
I’m a big guy, but I remember my average-size compatriots struggling to reach anywhere beyond the magwell for a forward grip when shooting an A4 with body armor on. The M16A1 had a length of pull 1 ⅝ inch shorter than the A2 and subsequent A4.
The end of the stock lacks any texture, and it does feel a bit slippery on the shoulder. This makes it pretty clear why the A2 and beyond utilized a meat tenderizer texture on the stock.
I can see why the first soldiers’ impressions of the M16 series involved the Mattel company. The plastic furniture does feel somewhat cheap and flimsy. It’s thin, and I feel like if I butt-stroked someone in the face, the stock would break. The triangular handguard doesn’t inspire awe either.
I do prefer the nub-free pistol grip. It’s clear no one liked the nub since every major company now produces a straight, nub grip-free grip these days.
Sighting In
The A2 sights were quite fancy and fairly complicated. They are good sights for sure, but somewhat complicated for your standard infantryman. Not that they couldn’t learn how to use an A2 sight, but that the adjustments and design were fantastic for the field. Who, in the middle of a firefight, is making these finely-tuned adjustments? Its marksman sights on an infantry rifle.
The A1 sights are much simpler and easier to use. They feature a small and large aperture, and the adjustments are bog standard. Most modern companies use a simplified sighting system, not too unlike the original A1 sights.
To me, these are a better option for infantry sights and are less likely to get shifted in the field.
At the Range With my Mock M16A1
My favorite ARs have 20-inch barrels and rifle-length gas systems. This is how the rifle was designed, and it shows. Not only do we get better ballistic performance from the longer barrel, but we also get a much smoother shooting gun. The longer gas system results in a less violent system with significantly reduced recoil and less wear on parts.
Muzzle rise is cut, and the gun barely barks between shots. It just moves a bit, mostly rearward. The longer gas system and barrel help, as does the OG A1 birdcage flash suppressor. It helps act as a compensator as well as a flash hider. Shooting a rifle-length AR is best described as buttery smooth.
The platform is plenty accurate, and the simpler iron sights are more than enough to hit targets near and far. Even at 200 and 300 yards, you could ping a steel IPSC target in a good supported prone position. It’s easy to forget your competency with iron sights, so it might have taken some practice, but at the end of a long day, I heard ding a lot more than I wasn’t.
I’m also positive spending that a good deal of time with iron sights has made me a better shooter with optics. I plan to keep my skills somewhat sharp with irons. I get a lot more satisfaction from hitting targets with irons than optics.
The gun was also reliable. Mostly because I wasn’t shooting ammo backed by the wrong propellant and had a cleaning kit. In reality, the gun didn’t choke with brass or steel-cased ammo.
Old School Cool
The M16A1 clone delivered an experience different than any other I’m used to. I might have learned to use irons in boot camp, but that was a long time ago. This rifle allowed me to experience what the M16A1 was and really experience how much it changed. If we had blended some of the features of the A1 with the A2, we could have gotten a helluva rifle.
If you haven’t tried one of these retro rifles, do yourself a favor and give one a spin. Experience history firsthand, in hand.
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Simple and direct: I carried an M16 in Vietnam. It nearly got me killed twice by ripping the head off a fired case and then jamming a new round into the chamber which locked the whole thing up into a not-very-useful club.
It was loaded with small, easy-to-lose parts. When I fired it, I got “kissed” with a shot of gas, and it crudded up the receiver like nobody’s business.
Yeah, the Air Force had tested and approved it…domestically rather than in combat (where your life depended on it). Also, the least bit of dirt or sand or…whatever…would cause it to jam or sieze and back then there were no “Forward Assists” to force it to work properly, either. If we got a teensy bit of crud in it. we were effectively disarmed.
Thus, I will not have Stoner’s Abortion in my collection. It was a design inappropriate for combat or any situation that was in any way dusty, dirty, or muddy (and ‘Nam was all three all the time). IMHO, it may be okay as a civilian collectible or as a “show-off” piece, but for personal use…. Uhh-Uhh. Just not dependable.
The M16A1 never had a shell deflector on it I am a lefty and remember the hot brass going down my collar.
US Army 1970-71
I am a USAF Vietnam Era veteran and was in the Philippines (1963 / 64) when the first A1 was issued. I have pictures at our firing range of shooting both the new AR and the old M1 through pine boards and the results. If you would like, I can scan and send you copies for your records.
November 1965, Lackland AFB. Basic Training:
Our flight was at the rifle range for the first and only time. “Fall Out! Fall into the classroom!”
The instructor holds up this new M-16 rifle. It had OD furniture and had plastic/fiberglass furniture. Gives us the basic details of the weapon controls and operation. He demonstrates takedown for cleaning
and assures us that, in spite of the unusual appearance and small size of the ammo this was the most lethal weapon yet devised. “This 5.56 round is so fast and powerful, if it hits a finger, it blows the whole hand off. If it hits the hand, Bam! The whole arm comes off and a hit in the chest leaves a hole big enough to put your fist through.” His presentation was more like a used car salesman trying to close the deal. Meanwhile, several of us were exchanging looks, like, you buy this BS?
After passing around 4 examples of the wonder weapon, we go outside and run two or three 20 round mags into silhouette targets at 100 yds. The thing I recall most about the experience was the Zing of the recoil spring under my ear and realizing that I was being trained to fix airplanes, not fight the VC.
There was a time when a scoped M16A1 was considered very cool and I had one! Designated “Battery Sniper” which was another name for suicidal individual my job was to crawl out several hundred meters beyond the Battery position and interdict any RPG gunner teams or sappers. Yep only a moron would volunteer for that duty and I’m your man. Now I never attended Scout/Sniper school but nobody asked or cared. I hunted squirrels my entire young life how hard could it be?. And as Assitant Gun Chief it gave me the opportunity to get away from babysitting 9 teenage crybabies. As good as that combo was I gave it up for a superior weapon for that particular job: an M79 Greanade launcher! That’s right. Why pick em off when I could light thire sorry asses up? With a grenadiers vest loaded with goodies if I detected enemy movement- real or imagined all I had to do was mark them with a Willie Peter round ( White Phosphorus) or a Regina’s Pu%&Y round ( Red Phosphorus) and if that didn’t do the trick no problem. 16 trigger happy strung out teenage boys behind Ma Deuce 50 cals one mounted on each howitzer and ammo carrier would open up on an azimuth to the smoke. I made like a momma sea turtle laying eggs and dug a wallow to hide in cause here it comes. Even a round or two of 155mm beehive would be unleashed.Add in anyone with an M60,’16, 1911A1 ,M3, and a bow and arrow or two( hey we were homicidal teenage boys) and it’s easy to see where I was any one sane wouldn’t want to be. But I didn’t suffer from that affliction. When everyone shot thire wad- literally, I would get on the radio and call the Fire Direction Control track and tell them to pass the word I was coming in. Whel I got to line of sight of the battery, I’d fire a star cluster round over the battery to let them know it was me. I would immediately report to the BC ( Battery Commander) for an after action report. BC: “What’s the body count?” Me: “Couple dozen Sir( lying)) and a bunch of body parts and blood trails.” This of course made him cream his jeans, as he had something to report to the DIVARTY commander. And that boys and girls is all I know about the M16A1.
I carried an A1, A2, and M4. Didn’t really notice much difference between the A1 and A2, just the obvious added forward assist — that I never needed. I was USAF Civil Engineers, just enough infantry training to defend an encampment (tent city) if necessary and augment our security forces — basic defense and fire team maneuvers, convoy defense, etc. Didn’t really get into anything more than a couple minor skirmishes where I actually had the opportunity to take a few shots in combat. Our job if fired on was to return suppressing fire as we moved out and let USAF, Army, or host nation security forces come and deal more thoroughly with the situation. If I’d had to fire in a sustained manner without time to clean maybe it would have been handy. The A2 was just under a pound heavier, but not that noticeable. The M4 I really didn’t like. South Korea, 2005 was the first time I carried one (during exercises). Stateside USAF rear guard troops hadn’t received them yet, though security forces had. At the training range they told us first timers that they would be easier to use for close targets and not as accurate as we were used to over about 100 meters. We had red dot sites and were all used to the standard sites. I was used to either firing marksman or just a few hits under every time by that point (20 years in), and was very disappointed with the red dot site. Under combat conditions I’m sure it could be more effective than standard sites at close range, but not on the range, even with timed firing. I shot a qualifying score, but only a few hits over the minimum!
Great article. Loved reading it. I am a Vietnam Era Veteran from 1969/1970. I own an AR15A4 from Colt. I have changed the pistol grip to original, purchased original steel 20 round mags. I’ve been waiting for 7 months now, (yes that’s correct, 7MONTHS!) for a set of triangular handguards from Retro Rifles in Reno Nevada. The company debited my Visa card on November 25th 2022. I knew this was a pre-order item, but they said it would be no more than a 2 or 3 month wait. I was okay with that and went ahead and ordered. 7 months later and I’m still waiting and no word when or if they’ll ever show up. Does anyone out there have an answer to my plight? I’d sure appreciate any help offered. I look at your photo’s and can only dream that maybe someday I’ll have the same thing. Thank you.
Nice job on the build. Brings back lots of memories, some good, some not so good.