Got a "new" part for the pseudo-XM16E1 clone today!  






Many thanks to Trimdad, who was kind enough to trade me for his pre-engraved NDS lower for my blank one - proving once again not only the terminal nature of Retro BRD, but also the generosity of the membership here!  










Thanks to him, the XM clone is almost as perfect as I'm looking for it to be, though it's not 100% perfect - I wanted it to cosmetically look like an XM16E1, but I also wanted it to be a shooter - the upper is a later CHROME BORE marked barrel with a "C H" upper, which I figured was better suited to that use.  One of my former history professors and I have gone out a couple times with his students and we'll lay out the XM16E1 clone (used to be an A1 clone ) next to an M4A1 clone - gives the students an interesting look at "then vs. now."  

I also used to have an Edgewater buffer in it, but once again, since I wanted for it to be a shooter, I went ahead and passed it on to another Retro junkie.  I am still considering having the FSB cleaned up to look more like a cast FSB, and I'd like to eventually get a chrome BCG in it, though it will probably be a Young or RRA, not an original.  

The stock rack markings are also courtesy of a member whose name I've unfortunately long since forgotten - but the 1-263rd was one of my first units before it was disbanded - and when I saw the stock, I just "had" to trade another Type D for the "263" marked stock.  Still trying to decide whether I should give the whole thing a BFPU treatment, or just leave it as is - on the one hand, it's way too clean looking for me - but I've also never "intentionally" weathered any of my ARs - but not for nothing, my retro clones just don't get treated the same way as my other rifles (usually carbines) and even when I do shoot them, they don't really get the same kind of wear... not doing as much IMT with the XM clone.  

And while it's several notches down on the "HD" plan - it's nevertheless kept loaded when not at the range (amber) with 55gr. Hornady TAP.  

With another - as yet unengraved - Retro buddy:




~Augee

You guys really don't make it easy for me to suppress my desire for an E1.

It looks great.

Dude, that is sick.

Very nice.  Kudos to retroland members.  Nice beat all to crap 603 upper shouldn't be too hard to come by.  Save you a little fun abusing one.

While I agree, since the lower is beautiful, I'd keep it as is and let the whole gun get natural wear over time from shooting, handling, and cleaning. Great Idea using a more common barrel and upper for shooting, I do the same thing and usually replace the rear sight aperature for an A2 one.

Awesome looking 603 Augee!  

Next up in a series known as "Augee trades a perfectly functional part for an identical one because of a couple little markings?"  



A lot of guys here have done great work doing perfect clones minus the lowers (and up to and including 80% perfectly engraved lowers), it didn't seem right to hoard parts once I knew I was going to switch things around in favor of shootability - no point, for example - sitting on an XM upper and sticking a CHROME BORE barrel on it when there's probably a Retro member with an early barrel that's desperately looking for its mate.  Once the Edgewater came out, I kinda abandoned the idea of doing an "all correct parts" build.  

Then again, I've still got a decent number of retro parts "hoarded" anyways - but I'm gonna use 'em one day, I swear.  

~Augee

Beautiful weapon, sir. Well done.

Very nice. The Xm16E1 is a critical part of the history of the AR15. Very nice representation of an important model.

My 605 is at about the same point on the 'reality' scale, and the fact that it has a chrome bore barrel doesn't bother me a whit. I would prefer that the FSB was smoothed out, but it really doesn't bug me, and means it'll never be mistaken for the real thing in the future. (A danger in our hobby.) I look forward to shooting the snot out of it, something I tend not to do with my original XM upper.

Sweet!  I have always had a soft spot for the early 603 (XM16E1)  I built  nice one on a NDS lower with a CMP C upper (IIRC) back about 2011, but had to sell it later in the year to raise money to move back out west  to my sierra Nevada Mountains.  If availability from NDS ever loosens up (and I get a better income source), I would probably make that my next build.  Even though I had either a H&R or I think a Hydramatic M16A1 in basic in 1974 (I just remember it WASN'T a Colt like everyone else's in the platoon), the XM16E1 with a partial fence just has a certain panache'!

Nice!!! I recognize that lower! Glad it all worked out.