Hey everyone, I'm getting ready to buy an A1 upper that has a shell deflector on it. I want to build a Vietnam era Car 15. I'm not sure of the exact name or model number. I just like the shorter barreled looking rifles. I might go to a 20" rifle but I would rather not for now.

When did the shell deflector come into existence?

Would I still use the tear drop plunger? If so were can I find those?

Can the shell deflector be grinned down and made to look like one without it?

I want to build as close to a Vietnam era rifle as I can build. I also like the rifles of the late 70's to early 80's. The rifle that sticks out in my mind is the one from the movie Platoon that Tom Berenger's character had and I believe William Dafoe had a Car 15 too.

I'm really new to building a retro rifles and I want to know more. I have been looking at the retro rifle site and learning as much as I can.

Thanks everyone.

The upper is technically not an A1 upper. It is referred to as a C7 upper. These were not used on any Vietnam-era M16s or carbines. The Brunton Bump, aka "brass deflector" can be removed and the upper re-profiled, but with A1 uppers, and even slickside uppers, being available, my question is why not buy one? As far as which models were used in Vietnam, you need to look into the XM177/GAU-5 series of carbines.

Shell deflector appeared about 1983.

You can find an A1 upper easy enough on the EE or GB, just have to watch out for awhile. Probably a short while, they're common enough. A tear drop would be appropriate.

Hey everyone thanks for the info. I was thinking Vietnam era rifle and I do like the early 80's rifle's too. I'm thinking of something like maybe what special forces would have used. I grew up watching The A-Team and Tour of Duty so these rifles and the look of them are something that hold a special place for me.

So can someone direct to a thread of pictures and info for an 80's retro commando type build?

What did the Delta Force guys use in the movie (and real life) in Black Hawk Down?

I have some PSA lower receivers. Would these be okay for my build?

I'm going to go ahead and buy this upper and then look for a slick side upper later.

Thanks everyone.

two good sites:



http://bpullignwolnet.dotster.com/retroblackrifle/index2.html

http://www.biggerhammer.net/ar15/

With a C7 (A1E1) type upper, you could build a late Model 723. Here is one I built.



Mostly what they used in BHD would have been the Model 727 which uses an A2 upper.



They also used a Model 733 Commando. It is similar to the Model 723, but it has a 11.5" barrel.

Hey everyone thanks!

Also great looking rifles in the thread above me. I dig those and that is the look I'm going for.  I have been wanting to do an SBR and this just might be the project I do it on.

I found this site and thought I would post it here and get everyone's take on it.

Cold Car-15

I think this is the model I should build. The model 733.

If anyone has more pics and links to the A1 C7 origins and what I could build I would be open to suggestions. I do want to build a Vietnam era rifle someday but for now I will build this one for the time and era it should be in.

Thanks everyone!

If you want to build a BHD affiliated AR, that would be a good one. The 733 is on my build list as well, but behind a 604 build.

Yeah, I think that is the one I need to build. I need to read and find more info on it and then do a parts search. I think an A2 would be a nice build for a BHD clone. I will get my Vietnam era rifle someday. I just have to wait and plan it out after this build.

Is your upper receiver black or grey?


I would build a lower that I could use with the C7 upper for a 723 and also use the same lower with an XM177E2 upper.  This would cover a Vietnam era build and a BHD build.



Platoon is not a good reference for a Vietnam era CAR15.    http://bpullignwolnet.dotster.com/retroblackrifle/ModGde/CrbGde/653.html   The Platoon carbines were close to the model 653 which is not  'Nam era.



The Vietnam era XM177E2 will be the easiest build to avoid NFA paperwork and tax. Pin and weld the moderator to 16" of barrel length.     http://bpullignwolnet.dotster.com/retroblackrifle/ModGde/CrbGde/629.html

http://www.nodakspud.com/AR%20Lowers.htm  NDS16A1  lower receiver also A1 upper receivers available in black or grey...whichever matches your current upper

http://essentialarms.com/STOCKS.html  Essential Arms has aluminum carbine stocks that are a close match to original Colt stocks

http://shop.ar15sport.ihoststores.com/category_v3.aspx?categoryid=105   ar15sport has 6 hole skinny carbine handguards and a faux replica of the XM177E2 moderator

http://shop.ar15sport.ihoststores.com/category_v3.aspx?categoryid=91    Links to other retro parts






http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_127/449652_going_for_a_1993_Somalia_car15_build_and_need_your_help.html   link to the BHD thread, lots of pics there



http://retroarmsworks.com/   John Thomas can help you with any gun smithing work you may need, he has built a lot of non NFA XM177E2 barrels found in this forum

Thanks for those links and information! That is an awesome list to get me started.

The upper is black or looks black in the pics. I got it off of EE here on ARFcom.

The add for the upper

I will need an A1 sight.

You will also need to track down a large round forward assist for it to be correct for a 733. You could get by with a standard round forward assist if need be.

How will I know the difference?

Also while I'm thinking about it. What were the Israeli M16's?

Standard (small) round


Large round

The large round forward assist will work with an A1 lower, but the head has to modified in order to work with an A2 lower. If you are going to use an A2 lower, you may want to use the standard (small) round forward assist. With an A1 lower, you can use either.

Okay thanks for the info.

My next question. What handguards should I be looking for? Are they M4 handguards? They look different than what is on my M4 that I have now. Also did I read that they should be four vent holes? If you have a link to where I can find them that would be great too.

Now on to the barrel. I think I'm going to go with the look of either the 609, 610, 619, 629, 639 or the 649. I like the moderator and I also like the looks of the grenade ring. I want to use a 11.5 barrel. I know it is not correct for a 723 or 733 but I just like that look.

Where can I find those moderator?

I did find in my extra parts an A2 pistol grip. So I'm one part closer. I think I have a shell door coming with the upper and not sure right now of any other parts. I do have a PSA lower kits but it has the MagPul grip and trigger guard. I will have to get a trigger guard.

If you want to be correct, you will need 6-hole CAR handguards. If you are not worried about being correct, and it appears that you are not, you can get away with the newer 7-hole CAR handguards.

As for the barrel, even with the moderator and grenade ring, you cannot use a 11.5" barrel unless are going the SBR route. You need a barrel that is about 12.75" (with moderator and grenade ring pinned and welded) in order to make it a non-NFA weapon. If SBR's, this is a non-issue. Tony's Customs has a 16" XM-177 barrel available. If you want to source your own barrel, they also have an XM177 style flash hider available by itself.

Hey thanks for those links. The full barrel is what I'm looking for. I will not be doing an SBR with this one. The next build that I do that is retro I want to do a 100% correct and I will SBR that one.

I do want to find the six hole handguards. I'm not sure where to find them but I will keep searching. I may end up doing a correct build with this one but I just like that front profile of the barrel. Maybe I will stash this receiver back and order an slick side. I'm still debating.

This is going to be a fun build and my first full build. I'm used to putting lowers together and buying a complete upper.

Does the barrel have to be over 16"? I thought if I got a flash hider that was 4.5" and a barrel of 11" it would come out to 16" and I would be fine.

With any barrel, you are going to have about 5/8" that you lose because of the FH. That is about how much threaded area there is. With some of the long FHs, the way they are designed, they can go past that threaded area by a fraction of an inch. To be a non-NFA barrel, it has to be no less than 16" with a pinned and welded FH or no less than 16" without a FH. A 11.5" barrel with a 5.5" FH equates to about 16.25" OAL.

Just my personal preference but if you haven't ordered a forward assist yet, you should get a teardrop unless you do decide to go with 100% correct build for one of the models you listed.  I think they look much better then the round ones, especially on the older A1/C7 style uppers, and also feel better to me/seem easier to use.

I know everyone has to have something they like, and some people enjoy having clones of the 80-90s colt models.  I guess I am just different on that matter, I really do enjoy the older Retro type builds for say a 601-602-603-604 etc models used in Vietnam.  But all the ones that are more modern just aren't as fun to clone to me.  If it was me, I'd build a nice rifle with whatever you wanted on this C7 upper, then later on down the road maybe get a real A1 upper on the EE for a true Retro build.  But don't let me spoil your fun if you do decide to go 100%, like I said different strokes for different folks.  Those C7 uppers are one of my favorites, I like the A1 better since it doesn't have the brass deflector on it but for a rifle that you just want to build up to use I don't think you could get a better upper for the price.  They are noticeably cheaper then true A1 uppers, with all the same benefits.  I am a keep it simple guy so I prefer the iron sight A1 uppers over the modern flat tops unless I have a need for a scope.  

My choice for it would be a 11.5" commando type if I were to SBR like you mentioned, I love how the 11.5" barrel handles.  But a good alternative would be a lightweight 14.5 or 14.7" barrel with pinned FH.  I prefer the 14.7 length so that the standard A2 FH can be used.  

Check out some of the IDF builds as well for ideas.

Yeah I"m just going to have fun with this build. I'm not sure if I will go 100% correct on this one. I do want to get an A1 slick side upper. I thought about building a 20" rifle but it seems the handguards are very hard to find that are not broken or in a condition that I would be happy with. I think I found a couple reproduction ones but are really expensive. I also like shorter rifles.

The IDF builds I have seen a couple and they are awesome looking. I grew up in the 80's and Vietnam movies, shows and documentaries. I was a history buff as a kid and when told to pick a book from the library I never picked a pick of fiction or a book for my age group. It was always WWII, Korea or Vietnam. I would say 90% Vietnam.

I will look around for parts as I go and if I can double up on parts I will. I would like to have a few different uppers if not AR's. I have a modern built rifle that I like and I have never owned an A1 or A2 so I think it is time.

The first AR-15 that i saw was in a gun shop slash grocery store in WVA. It was a 20" with triangle handguards and a 20 round magazine. I remember staring at it and wishing I was old enough to pick it up. The guy behind the counter told me about the rifle and since then I have had a thing for A1's. The A2's are starting to grow on me a bit as I go. I had a chance to buy a Bushmaster A2 years ago and passed on it to build an M4 flat top. I sold that and built another one.

It is time to add an A1 or two to my collection and then an A2.  

Okay, looking at both of these I am starting to fall in love with the 723 and the 727.

I just emailed a guy about some hand guards that are six hole. One is Lone Star and the other is DPMS. Do you know of another source for these hand guards? I can find the 7 hole but 6 hole is something I cannot find. Does Essential Arms sell these? I'm trying to think if I saw them in the link. I want to say they were 7 hole but I could be wrong.

I think I have looked at way to may parts listings haha.

I'm going to try and buy as many extra parts as I can to do 2 to 3 builds as I build this first one. I will also start looking at the A2 receivers for the BHD Delta Force I want to build.

The 6-hole handguards are the older versions as the 7-hole are the newer. The Lonestar and DPMS are but two that were produced. Either of these would suffice for your purpose. You will not find much at all in the way of 6-hole handguards for sell except by individuals or maybe some surplus business. Essential Arms may have the 6-hole handguards. The picture they show on their website looks like it. You would need to contact them to make sure. I bought all of my 6-hole handguards from members on this forum.

I found two 6 hole handguards last night and emailed the member here about them. One is Lone Star the other is DPMS. He emailed me back and gave me a good price for both sets. I'm just waiting to see if he takes PayPal and if so that is a couple of parts down.

I have an A2 pistol grip and I also have an MOE LPK parts kit that I can use. I will just replace trigger guard and pistol grip from LPK. I may even buy an LPK and keep these two MOE sets I have. I have not found an A1 pistol grip as of yet. I saw some on EE that a guy was selling off but not sure of the condition.

I also found from Midway the A1 site kit. I found it somewhere else to but Midway had the best price. I found a tear drop plunger on Bushmasters site.

Essential Arms I will need to call them. I wonder the price of the stock set? I think to be correct its 4 position. I'm not sure when 6 position came into to play.

I'm adding parts up as I go and I think I can get into this rifle for around $650 maybe a little less. I might sell my unfired VZ 58 (2008) and jump on building this rifle and one more.

Is there any sites that show the 723 and 733 in action?

Bear in mind, the 723, 733, and the 727 all use the A2 grip. The 2-pos. buffer tube would be correct for a 723, 733, and 727. The 4-pos. buffer tube did not come into play until the M4. Nodak Spud has the mil-spec 2-pos. buffer tubes (in XM Gray). That is where I got mine. The also have the reproduction buffer tube nut and charging handles (in XM Gray). You can use standard carbine buffers and springs. CAR fiberlite stock bodies are available at M&A Parts.

I keep looking at Nodak site. Is it best to contact them or call them to order?

Also good to know about those parts. I have an A2 pistol grip so I guess I will use it. I hate A2 grips but I've used them in the past for other builds.

Can you physical tell the difference on a 2 position versus a four or six position tube?

Also thanks for the link to M&A parts. I have not been on the site in a few years and knew I had seen those stocks there before.

I bought those two handguards. So I have a spare for a future build. One Lone Star and one DPMS. Is there a difference in them? I'm guessing these builds are more of the skinny handguard type and not the thicker ones that I see more on modern M4's.  

Mil-spec buffer tubes look the same with one exception. That is the amount of holes for adjustment. If you a re not building a correct model, you could get by with a 4-pos. tube. To me, paying a few dollars more to get the right tube is worth it. You are correct about the handguards. The fatter handguards did not come about until the M4 was introduced.

As far as contacting NDS, it is best to send them an e-mail ([email protected]). Harlan is able to answer them within 24 hours. A lot of the time, he, nor Mike, have time to answer the phone.

instead of starting another post.. and being this one is already A1 upper questions.. can someone explain the difference  between a A1 upper and a C7 upper?
what makes them different? i can't spot the difference between one or the other..
thanks
Pete

A C7 upper has a brass deflector an a A1 doesn't .  

The C7 (A1E1) upper has the Brunton Bump (brass deflector) and the A1 does not have it.

Here is one of my 723s with an A1 upper...




and the other with a C7 upper.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_127/449652_going_for_a_1993_Somalia_car15_build_and_need_your_help.html

The nice part about the 700-series carbines is that they're kind of a combination of older 6xx series parts and the newer 7xx (A2) parts.

On my 723, for example, I have an A1 pistol grip on an A2 lower, which could be correct for an early-to-mid run carbine, before they ran out of A1 grips. Mostly it's because I hate the A2's tumor.

And then there's the repro Fiberlite stock on an six-position tube. The six-position isn't correct for either series of guns, but I needed the extra adjustment, and you really can't tell unless you flip it over and count holes anyway. Sometimes I shoot with armor on, sometimes not, or sometimes I let someone shorter than I am shoot it and they don't need the full A1 or A2 LOP to be where they need to be behind it.

On the handguards, I have a set of six-hole and a set of seven-hole skinnies, and the seven-hole is what lives on it. There isn't really any functional difference there.

Essentially, other than the tube (Which is a matter of shooting practicality) I consider the upper on mine to be more late-model, and the lower more early.

Either way, if you're going to go with an A1 upper, I highly suggest ditching the standard A1 peep (little hole/little hole) and going with an A2 (little hole/big hole) one. It's a vast improvement, and literally the only part of the A2 sight system that I would consider an "upgrade".

You guys are a wealth of knowledge.

Has anyone written a book on this subject?

I am a published author and I think this would make a great book. The subject matter is just mind blowing how many different models and things are truly out there.

Okay, bright side. I just sold my VZ2008 (VZ58) and I'm going to be able to do my build. I also just found a slick side A1 receiver and I'm waiting for an email back on that. If its good to go I'm going to pull the trigger and buy it as well.

The retro bug bit me a long time ago and I thought I had suppressed it . . . I guess I didn't. Does it ever get better? I want a 629, 723 or 733 and than an A2 build and I think I will be good . . . Until I want do a 20" rifle lol.

Good info and thanks. I'm enjoying the parts hunt. It reminds of when I used to restore muscle cars. I did Mopars and the parts hunt was insane. It was also before the internet at times.

I will look into that about the A1 sight. I really can't wait to jump into the build. Its my first full build.

I built mine with a C7 upper anyways.   It's not meant to be a perfect clone and I like the way it looks.

I do love that look and that is a great looking rifle. You guys who have posted your rifles have great looking rifles that I hope to achieve soon.

If I heard back from the member here on the Colt upper receiver its a slick side no forward assist so I have to look at what I can build but it gets me right were I want to be.

Keep the info coming guys I'm learning and thank you all.

Now that C7 build a couple posts up looks great.  Looks a lot like mine.  I think the short barrels look so good on the A1/C7 uppers.  

That don't surprise me much about the gunshop/grocery store deal.  There used to be a lot of shops like that around here, I am from WV myself.  

The 20" rifle handguards don't cost as much as you  might think.  I have seen intact ones for sale on here lately for 25-35$ for a set.  They were fairly used but looked decent - be good for a BFPU build like I like.  If you look around awhile or check out gunbroker or ebay you can find some pretty nice sets that look about new for $50-70ish.  Most of what I plan to build will be rifle length A1s , and a couple carbine ones here and there.  I used to build AKs when they were cheap and still have a couple kits left for the future but have recently gotten into ARs.  Once I get out of this hard spot I should be able to afford my hobbies once again, and can't wait to build up some older style 601-604s.

One other thing you might like to know is if you need rear sights for any A1 receiver you get, all the new sets I know of are made by DPMS and usually cost 20-25$.  It is wise to change the peep sight out in these, as the sight is not correct to start with.  They are same plane sights and not offset a little like they are suppose to be.  They should be offset slightly because as you flip the sight the screw that holds it turns, therefore changing impact L-R.  At least that is what I have been told about the DPMS sights so I haven't used any yet.  But I do plan to order a couple sets some time and just put A2 peeps in them since I like the A2s better anyways.

I have a couple Fulton Armory slickside A1s I am not sure what I am gonna do with yet.  I did a BFPU look to one of them and will probably build a 604 on it.  The other maybe another carbine.  They are pretty nice receivers.  They have the A forge stamp on the side.  The fit and finish looks pretty good tho, one of them has a small rough spot next to the forge stamp but other then that looks great.   So don't be afraid to pick one of those up if you see one.  I prefer the ones with the forward assist myself, but nothing wrong with the slick sides at all.

i guess the reason for my confusion comes from my colt SP2 i have a early 80s colt SP2 that i bought brand new in the colt box back around 82/83 maybe as late as 85.. it has a A1 style upper with no brass deflector, slab slide lower. actually the only things A2 on it is the furniture and barrel. then i started seeing uppers for sale with and without FA and brass deflectors (or Burton Bumps as they are called) large hole small hole.. and some were being called C7's and  others A1's
at one point i thought the difference was because of US and Canadian Builds...
thanks for the info..

Good to know on the A1 sites. I have seen them at Midway and I think they were around 15 or so bucks. I think they had the best prices so far n the A1 sites. I also looked at Fulton Armory and they look nice. I would love to do a slick side upper to build without the forward assist. I also I want to build one or tow with the forward assist.

I'm talking to a guy that has four A1 style uppers. The one is a Fulton Armory. He has a Colt but it has had feed ramps cut into it. I wish it had not been messed with. The other two that he has are Capco Martin Marietta. The one has been painted a camouflage pattern while the other one looks unused.

I'm thinking about the Capco martin Marietta uppers. I know that they are not 100% but should be very close to what I'm looking for. I'm taking a couple of days to think about it and check one more source for a Colt upper.

I can't wait to get these builds going. The C7 is going to be my first one and a fun one to build. If I get extra parts as I go then I will build a couple at a time.

So much good info in this thread and I'm learning a lot. I thought an A1 was an A1. My eyes are now open to that not every A1 is equal. Just a lot of info to take in. Interesting about your SP1. Got pics of it?

lol i also used to build Mopars..big block K frames.. small block K frames.  decoding serial numbers.. searching through back seats for the build sheets. 2 hole real valance. no hole rear valance.. bucket seats.. bench seats...  ACK!!!..
it was fun inthe early day.. just swap motors and k frames, a dana 60 and call it good... then the number collectors got involved.. or as my buddy put it.. "These people don't collect cars.. they collect stamps"  lol
the last car i built was a 73 340 cuda.. it drove me nuts.. shark gills? no shark gills..  ACK!!    bill board stripe, hocky stick...  strobe...  ACK!!... lol
now the only mopar hot rod i own is a 79 lil red express.. you only had 2 options... red interior or black... lmaoooooo
god forbid you try and do a hemi car or a superbird... you pretty much need to know the date and time the car came down the assemble line... lol
Pete

Ul4evr we share something in common. I was big time into Mopars. I used to buy and restore or buy and sell. I had a 70 Coronet R/T one of one. The only other car known with the same paint color (black on black and mine was black with white buckets) was used in the movie Lock UP. I decoded that car and all the numbers before the internet and before a lot of good books were out there. I stumped the number guru himself. Galen Govier. Once we talked he offered me a job. This was before the internet was really big. He said he was so far behind that he needed someone with knowledge and I had that knowledge and was very young to have it. A few weeks later I had a stroke. My memory went. It still isn't great. I can still somewhat decode a Mopar without a book. Takes me a bit longer but I can do it.

There was a car lot here that sold fake cars and they kicked me off the lot more than one time.

I have a 75 Dodge truck I would like to do a Lil Red Express type thing but different. I love Lil Red Express's.

I used to be the stamp collector type of guy but now I would buy a clone car in a heart beat and drive the wheels off of it. I think I'm in the same frame of mind with these builds. I want to be a 100% correct but I also want something to enjoy. I want that look but no worries if it gets a scratch. The scratch will just make me enjoy the rifle that much more.

I think you and I come from the same kind of thinking. We want that look.  

I just ordered two uppers. One was a Colt the other GM or HR. I ordered a Colt A1 sight (if they can find one if not it will be a replacement) and the correct A1 ejection port doors. I also got one tear drop forward assist. I'm off an running.

My hand guards should be in this week as well as my C7 upper. I think I will use the two hand guards that are 6 hole for the correct upper builds and see if I can't find either another 6 hole or use a modern for the C7. I'm not sure how period correct that build with be. My build money is going quick now time to stash uppers back and build as I can.

It is easy to get carried away if you got the spare cash.  Where did you order the uppers from a member on the EE?  I wish someone made A1 port doors and correct A1 rear sights instead of having to source them.  Heck for that matter, I wish there were more people making A1 uppers since there is a large market for them now.

I seen some factory A1 rear sights on GunBroker for $35 I believe, not a bad deal considering the repros are $20ish and you still need a aperture to make it correct.  

If you aren't building a 100% correct build, like if your just building a rifle up for fun like you was talking about with your C7 upper then I would just use 7 hole handguards because you can pick them up for $10 or so usually.  They make 2 different types of modern ones, one is the skinny CAR style like the 6 hole handguards and the others are the M4 fatter type handguards.  Personally I hate the fat M4 handguards and will never buy a set.  I like how the slimmer CAR handguards look and feel.  You will find many for sale on the EE for cheap.

Sorta random but I see A1 uppers every once in awhile with a purplish tint to them.  When I get the money I plan to look for one of them, I always loved how they looked.  I think most of those were not made by colt but were replacement uppers made for the Gov in the 70-80s and have the LM forge mark.  I always like the rifles that look a little different or worn.  My favorites are the A1s with finish wear, and browned port doors/slip rings.  There is just something about a rifle that has the been there done that look that I like a lot more then a new looking rifle.  Plus you don't have to worry about using it :)

I agree. The been there done that look is something I really love. My AK-47 (WASR-10) to me has that look somewhat and I'm one that has never worried about the finish. If it gets a scratch I love it even more. The uppers I ordered only one has finish on it. The Colt is black and I believe Slim said was one he would not refinish. The other is going to be either a GM or H&R receiver and it will be white. I asked if he could hand pick one that has no finish on it at all. He said that he would do his best.

The place that had the uppers left (I believe Slim now has four. I bought two) is Indiana Army Surplus. I'm not sure if I can post a link or not or I would link you to them.

The C7 I want to build as close to original as I can. It will be a 16" barrel. I think with an A2 flash hider on it. I plan to build this one as a fun project to see what it is like to build a full AR-15. I have only built a lower and never a full upper or a full rifle. The Colt I want to build into a 629 I think. I think that is the look that has drawn me in the most besides the 603. There may be others that I want to build as I go.

Yeah I had an AR with the fat M4 handguards and I did not like them at all. I felt like they would break if I used it. The PSA build that I did is an M4 and it seems to have skinnier handguards on it. When I get in the six hole ones I will see what it is like compared to my M4 that I have now. If I can't find what I'm looking for, for the  C7 I will use the seven hole. I would like to save money for the Colt and GM upper and do those two 100% correct. The C7 will be a fun gun build and one that I will be on the fence of keeping or selling to fun the other two builds. I think I will keep it lol.

I keep tossing around the idea of selling my AK-47 in a package deal with 12-14 mags I have and a 1000 rounds of ammo. If I did I could build the three rifles. The AK was my first rifle that I ever bought. It is also one that will eat and shoot anything I put through it.

I'm going to be using a PSA lower for the C7 build. I might use one for the Colt build. If I do use one for the Colt I'm going to maybe attempt changing the fence and re-shape to be exact on the model I chose to build. I'm debating on doing that. If I don't do that I will buy a NODAK lower and sell my PSA lower.

I found this link for Cold Model Guid and I thought I would share it.

If I were you I would keep your AK and build the AR's up as the money comes in.  I have never sold many guns since I become attached to them easily.  It's that way with most things I own.  And as far as keeping/selling the C7, you should keep it as well.  No use ordering/building it up if you plan on selling it right away.  

Something that really may interest you if you plan on building a few AR's like I do is getting into 80% builds.  You probably wouldn't save much money since lowers are so cheap anymore but you could build 100% correct builds that way.  Look up some of the engravings that Braceman does, it is just amazing.  He can reprofile an 80% receiver to look just like a partial fence A1, or even a slab side etc.  And engrave it to look like an original Colt, or H&R, or Hydramatic etc so that you can't really tell the difference from an original.  I planned on building a bunch of AR's with A2 lowers until I seen his work, now I can't wait to get the money to send him a bunch of 80s.  And it doesn't really take that much mechanical know how to do it.  I plan on going with the router type jigs and if you already have a drill press you don't need but a jig for $100-150, and router which I believe are about $80-100.  

And my favorite Colt model other then the older 601-604's would have to be the 733.  I love the short 11.5" A1/C7s with just the standard A2 flash hider.  That will be my first SBR as I already have a 11.5" C7 pistol.