All is well.  Now that my retro goodness has arrived, my 601 Nodak lower is recovering nicely after being pressed into service with an M4 upper!

In retro form, with a nice 603 upper with a CMP CHROME BORE barrel, and type E stock lower, it looks pretty good. Shown with my Colt bipod, original comic book manual, 1956 web gear and original Beau Gam "Duck Hunter" shirt. (Bullet button, California compliant version with 10 rounders...)





It still has a small personality disorder, though.  Occasionally it has a breakdown, and turns into a California "Featureless" build with 30 round magazines full of nasty MK262 MOD1 77 OTMs.




I'll probably leave the type E stock on and just use the paddle on the mottled grip when I go "Featureless"

Nice looking rifles as usual man! Thats a really nice lower too! we need to get some pics of you shooting these things.

There is just something so perfect about a 603 upper receiver. Great looking rifle! Love the carbine, too, with the carry handle! I've yet to own an AR without a carry handle, and never will.

I got the upper, furniture, and barrel from BROvet04.  It is absolutely the NICEST 603 upper I have ever had!  barrel and upper went together snug, and torqued perfect.  I guess I could call it a USAF early issue 601 franken-rifle: An original 601 that got upgraded with a 603 upper in some unit armory.

Don't the Sporter IIs look something like that?

Sporter II carbines use a short A2 stock, like a Canadian C7.  same length as an A1, but sling swivel to the rear like an A2 with an A2 but pad.  

I will probably never bother to put the Bushmaster M4 stock on it to run featureless with the M4 upper, since I have the paddle.  The Furniture set he sold me is awesome.  The pistol grip is like new, but I really liked the mottled one I got from Pro2ndAm on PIF, so I used the one I got from him.

The 601 will remain retro in the safe most of the time, as I have a featureless AK and seven loaded 30s that I keep for a house weapon.

*snip* pic removed

EDIT: Nevermind I posted a rifle not a carbine

I was an active FFL in the 80s and 90s (until 2006).  I sold lots of black rifles, many of which I built on PWA, SGW, and EA cast lowers with surplus parts.  I sold a lot of Colt AR15s, too.  I had Sporter Lightweights come with fixed A1 length A2 stocks, fiberlite stocks, A2 uppers, A1 with FA and Brunton bump, and even SP1 slick side.  ALL were slab side lowers (a la' 601/SP1) SOme had bayonet lugs, and some didn't.  During the transition and early bans, Colt used whatever they had on hand, much like M1 Carbine producers in WW2.

What kind of bullet button is that?

Back in the saddle again!

It's a dummy.  I have a real bullet button coming, but didn't want to be felonious when I took the pic.

Yep, funny you should say that.  I was actually humming Gene Autry's  "Back in the saddle again, back where a friend is a friend" while I was building it!  I am showing my age.

I am going to take it up and shoot it later this week.  I only have about 600 rounds of 55 grn reloads, loaded with IMR-4198 and IMR-4064. Since I haven't had a 1/12 barrel in along time (my pencil barrels have been 1/9 since about 2012)  All I have is M855 and MK262 MOD1 77 OTMs for the 1/7s..

I only have 100 rounds of MK262 77grn White Tip, it's real expensive and I purchased it for Defense Purposes, so likely 100 rounds is more than enough. I have 9 30 round mags loaded with 855, Tracer, MK262, 855, Tracer, MK262, etc, etc, etc. Those are my night time SHTF mags....lol

Looks great RangeMaster but everytime I see that paddle I throw up in my mouth.

I am SO sorry you live in that ass backward hell hole of a state!

(BEAUTIFUL state! HIDEOUS GOVERNMENT!)

With the exception of the slab side lower, it is virtually identical to the M16A1 I had in the Army in 1974,  Mine was either an H&R or a Hydramatic, I can't remember which.  I just remeber thinking "Why am I the only son-of-a-bitch in the company with one that wasn't made by Colt!"

My basic rifle in '78 at Ft. Knox was a Hydra-matic. I remember thinking to myself, "What does a transmission maker have to do with Army rifles?"



 

Well, I just wasn't happy with the 603 upper on a 601 lower.. So, I contacted the local gun shop I trade with, and traded him 300 rounds excess M855  62 grain(which the retro won't shoot and the M4 I use 77 grn MK262 MOD1), 150 rounds of  Federal 9mm "9BPLE" 115 +P+ Illinois state Police load, and 150 rounds of 7.62x25 Tokarev ammo for an Anderson forged lower and a DPMS LPK.

I plan on putting the 603 on the Anderson lower, even though it is an A2.  I will use the Rustoleum Grey auto primer on it to make it match.  That will look better with the late 603 upper and the bullet button, than the 601 lower. It will be my dedicated retro, so the bullet button and the 10 rounders won't be an issue. It will be almost identical to the M16A1 I was issued in 1974.

Now the 601 lower will be dedicated to my "California Featureless" M4gery build. It will be a late GUU-5-P USAF Franken carbine, or something like that.  MY USAF GAU-5/P had a 601 lower in 1979. Even though it will look a little goofy on an M4, with the hammerhead grip or SOlar Tactical kydex paddle, it is already goofy looking!  Goofy or not, I can use all my "possessed by me in California pre-2000" 30s and unconverted 20 in it.  It will be my defensive carbine.  It will either be one or the other.  i haven't decided which yet.

 

If you'd rather have a grey 604 upper, I'd rather have a grey 603. Being an Army vet it feels naked without a forward assist....though it looks so much sleeker I'm torn.

Hmmmm.  I am an ARMY and Air Force vet!  I'm really TORN!  IM sent

Wish I had a nice 603 to trade! I've only got one nice 603 and the rest have been "previously chewed" to varying degrees.

I'm sick for slicks!

Do it Range Master!

Done deal!  44Echo10 and I are swapping. I will be a slick sider again!  The ugly M4gery will be on an A2 lower.....

Ahhh, now that I am going to be a 604 owner I think I need to put a three prong on it, instead of the birdcage.  Heck, I might even do a duckbill, even though I can't pretend it is a early 602 because I have a type E stock.  Hahaha It never ends.....

Well, my ugly 601/603 child will be evolving.  I am trading the 603 upper for a 604 slick side upper.  That will go better with the 601 lower, so I decided to make a faux-602 out of it.  I rounded up a nice, but ugly (dired masking tape and rusted sling swivel and base), Type D stock that will rehab really nice, and looks like it will have good mottling to match my mottled grip.  I'll sell my Type E stock (very clean) and an extra A1 grip.  

Eventually, I will get a three prong for it.  Also Eventually, I will get some kind of cheapo chrome or Ni B BCG.

I guess I will start a thread chronicling the 602 project.  At least I traded for fro another lower (A2), so the 601 lower doesn't have to be defiled with the M4gery upper!