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2014 Colt 6920 (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 8/30/2026 4:56:20 PM EDT
[Last Edit: tet493][Edited]
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If the 2014 Colt 6920 was on shelves today, would it be on your radar or recommend list? It seems that most rifles still do not surpass the 6920, minus the ones in higher price brackets. |
| My 6921 and 6721, both have restricted markings, and both have the 0.59 trigger pins. They are both getting on in age but still maintain good groups. |
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I picked up a pair of LEO trade-in 6920s earlier this year that have 2013 and 2015 barrel dates. One for me and one for my daughter who is headed off to college this year. They've both been very nice shooters (they both work well with Trigger Kickers -- can't wait for the 3-pos selector!) and I'd expect them to last a long time. With the M4 rollmark -- and it actually being a rollmark instead of laser -- with normal-sized pins and a full auto BCG, they're a great incarnation of the 6920. That being said, overall I prefer the pre-2013 6920s. They had the side-sling swivel and came with carry handles, while the 2013 configuration switched to a Magpul rear sight, FSB-bottom sling swivel, and a Magpul magazine in the baggy. Attached File |
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I personally think a 16” FSB carbine gas is an affront to nature and its Creator, so when I traded for a 6920 upperAttached File from a buddy I had @BigBore chop it down to 14.5” the way God intended. |
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The Colt 6920 will always be the baseline AR for me. There are many nicer and many shittier rifles on the market. But the 6920 still competes and gets respect. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By MudEagle: I picked up a pair of LEO trade-in 6920s earlier this year that have 2013 and 2015 barrel dates. One for me and one for my daughter who is headed off to college this year. They've both been very nice shooters (they both work well with Trigger Kickers -- can't wait for the 3-pos selector!) and I'd expect them to last a long time. With the M4 rollmark -- and it actually being a rollmark instead of laser -- with normal-sized pins and a full auto BCG, they're a great incarnation of the 6920. That being said, overall I prefer the pre-2013 6920s. They had the side-sling swivel and came with carry handles, while the 2013 configuration switched to a Magpul rear sight, FSB-bottom sling swivel, and a Magpul magazine in the baggy. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/470117/Pair_of_M4s_copy_jpg-3819829.JPG Beautiful rifles. The fully roll marked non-QR code Colt M4 Carbine lowers are the very best Colt has ever made. |
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Originally Posted By bluedog82: I personally think a 16” FSB carbine gas is an affront to nature and its Creator, so when I traded for a 6920 upperhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/499242/IMG_1653_jpeg-3820072.JPG from a buddy I had @BigBore chop it down to 14.5” the way God intended. That maybe be true. lol Using an anathema post-cz M4, hanging a suppressor on the long skinny gov barrel, has yielded great results at mid ranges. I reckon the extra bit of velocity is helping past 300yds. I picked up an older M4 as an old issue rifle analog. Let’s see how long until it’s a 14.5”…. |
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Originally Posted By EnablerNo1: Around 2010 iirc. Correct, Fall of 2009 to January 2010 |
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The Colts are my benchmark to judge the others. The 6920’s were my first AR’s. Still have them. Add: what year was it Colt first offered m4a1 (was not marked us property and had a heavy barrel)?? Was that 2012/13? That was my A1 outside of the M4’s. Still have too. |
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I had three of them (6920s) from the 2012-2013 era. All were flawed. Here are some issues I noticed (each issue only on one out of three) -Canted FSB (rear sight needed a lot of windage) -Canted buffer tube -Poor staking on buffer tube (missed the mark) -Severely scratched up lower (just cosmetic) -Poor-fitting mag catch (swapping between them fixed it) -Bolt almost swallowed a field gauge after 1500 rds -Couple other things I'm probably forgetting The poor QC + only a 7" handguard and crappy factory trigger make me wonder why people go nuts over them. |
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Originally Posted By Andrewsky: I had three of them (6920s) from the 2012-2013 era. All were flawed. Here are some issues I noticed (each issue only on one out of three) -Canted FSB (rear sight needed a lot of windage) -Canted buffer tube -Poor staking on buffer tube (missed the mark) -Severely scratched up lower (just cosmetic) -Poor-fitting mag catch (swapping between them fixed it) -Bolt almost swallowed a field gauge after 1500 rds -Couple other things I'm probably forgetting The poor QC + only a 7" handguard and crappy factory trigger make me wonder why people go nuts over them. Did you just throw the barrel away after the 1500 rounds? |
This thread reminded me that I have had a box up in storage that said "Colt" on it. Took a peek, and yep, it's kinda this: Is there a difference between this 2013 and the 2014 referenced in the thread? If so, what's the big deal with these? I just took one home from work years ago and never bothered to open it. |
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Originally Posted By GrizzlyAdams: A 16” carbine gas govt profile barrel isn’t on my radar anymore. So any 6920 would have to be cheap to catch my eye Originally Posted By GrizzlyAdams: A 16” carbine gas govt profile barrel isn’t on my radar anymore. So any 6920 would have to be cheap to catch my eye I don’t remember seeing issues with 16” carbine gas rifles. If I remember correctly, marketing and aesthetics was the main reason for the switch? Originally Posted By kel: This thread reminded me that I have had a box up in storage that said "Colt" on it. Took a peek, and yep, it's kinda this: https://i.postimg.cc/XvnWfDdw/IMG-1268.jpg Is there a difference between this 2013 and the 2014 referenced in the thread? If so, what's the big deal with these? I just took one home from work years ago and never bothered to open it. Supposedly after 2014 Colt started changing the most. |
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Originally Posted By kel: This thread reminded me that I have had a box up in storage that said "Colt" on it. Took a peek, and yep, it's kinda this: https://i.postimg.cc/XvnWfDdw/IMG-1268.jpg Is there a difference between this 2013 and the 2014 referenced in the thread? If so, what's the big deal with these? I just took one home from work years ago and never bothered to open it. BTW, that QR code in the bottom left of the label tells us the serial of your rifle and that it is a 2013 production. |
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Yes. I bought an 18/19 OEM2 and it's my favorite rifle. I regret not buying two and selling all of my other 16"ers during the panic. Its not as soft shooting as the newer gas systems, but has been 100% reliable and is almost absurdly accurate for a chrome lined M4 barrel. |
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Originally Posted By dana: Can anyone tell me how to tell date of manufacture? Can i find a date looking at the rifle or is it just by feature set? Mine came with the clamp on side sling mount but i took it off like an idiot. You can contact Colt since their online data base is not complete. Checking the barrel mfg is also an option… it’s usually close enough to the complete rifle mfg date. If you still have the plastic bag it came in that would have the mfg date printed on it |
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Originally Posted By Frens: You can contact Colt since their online data base is not complete. Checking the barrel mfg is also an option… it’s usually close enough to the complete rifle mfg date. If you still have the plastic bag it came in that would have the mfg date printed on it Thanks, after i posted i looked at my role mark and a little google info. M4 role mark and prefix looks like it is around 2012-2015. Thats close enough for me. |
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Originally Posted By dana: Mine looks to be about 2012-2013. Good solid rifle considering it cost $800 new. I'm surprised at how stable the cost of the 6920 has remained over the years. I bought mine in early 1998 when they were first introduced (SN# LE0022xx) for $749...just checked GunDeals and it looks like they're @ $950 or so nowadays, almost 30 years later. Mine has somewhere around 15k rounds through it (conservative estimate), but just because it sits in the back of the safe now while my others get range time. I've done nothing more maintenance-wise than change springs and gas rings. I SBR'd it about 15 years ago and had the original barrel cut to 14.5" (Colt 14.5" M4 barrels weren't plentiful at the time). It's been through numerous iterations over the years, but I've put it back close to how I had it set up in the early 2000's as my Patrol/SWAT rifle. A few versions over the years... Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Current set up... Attached File |
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Originally Posted By DVCNick: Before I got my first AR around 2003 I'm pretty sure. Originally Posted By DVCNick: Originally Posted By Positronic: What was the year Colt STOPPED using oversize pins? Before I got my first AR around 2003 I'm pretty sure. I think it was later around the 2009 time frame. Geissele has the information on their website when ordering triggers for the large pins or small pins. |
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Top notch in 2014. Would still be pretty respectable today, good quality. However, the configuration would be a bit dated (carbine gas system on a 16", government profile barrel). I also think FRTs make non-M16 profile lowers less desirable now. Price could make it a lot less appealing. The rollmarks are desirable. |
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Originally Posted By M855Bukkake: Top notch in 2014. Would still be pretty respectable today, good quality. However, the configuration would be a bit dated (carbine gas system on a 16", government profile barrel). I also think FRTs make non-M16 profile lowers less desirable now. Price could make it a lot less appealing. The rollmarks are desirable. Rare-Greed works in Colt lowers. |
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Originally Posted By krdt: I just bought a new old stock 2013 6920 upper the other day ;p. Originally Posted By dalle0001: Are you sure it’s actually from 2014? Because my Colt le6920socom for example says 2013 configuration but it’s a recent production. Sorry never looked at the labels of the base 6920s. This is accurate - 2013 configuration does not mean 2013 production. ETA I have a 2013 production SOCOM, it is more accurate than a carbine should be and basically bombproof. The only thing I could see changing to make it better would be midlength gas. If I could only keep one, that would probably be it. The "M4A1" just plain works. It's modern enough to use most modern accessories, but still kinda qualifies as retro. |
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Originally Posted By LeadBreakfast: This is accurate - 2013 configuration does not mean 2013 production. ETA I have a 2013 production SOCOM, it is more accurate than a carbine should be and basically bombproof. The only thing I could see changing to make it better would be midlength gas. If I could only keep one, that would probably be it. The "M4A1" just plain works. It's modern enough to use most modern accessories, but still kinda qualifies as retro. I'm conflicted about what barrel to use on a spare upper. A older Colt, Modern Colt, or a DD. I reckon the DD is gonna be longer lasting. The DDs just aren't available in SOCOM or heavy profile. Hm... |
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Originally Posted By tet493: I'm conflicted about what barrel to use on a spare upper. A older Colt, Modern Colt, or a DD. I reckon the DD is gonna be longer lasting. The DDs just aren't available in SOCOM or heavy profile. Hm... If you're intending to stay carbine gas, the Colt SOCOM barrels are very tough to beat. Could also be an opportunity to move to mid length gas as well. All in your preferences but Colt barrels have always been solid. |
Malcolm X was right about liberals.
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Originally Posted By JamesJones: My 2013 6920 is so smooth and wearing perfectly after all these years. Don't know if I'll shoot the barrel out because I don't shoot it enough anymore but I'm keeping that rifle for life if I can help it. They just work. Almost like decades of proven combat performance provides a few clues. Some don't like the configuration, which is entirely understandable, but the 6920 isn't all of the sudden incapable as some seem to suggest. If the argument is that it's not free floated, it's not a precision rifle and there are numerous options to fix that. They still do exactly what they were built to do decades ago, and they do it well. |
Malcolm X was right about liberals.
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Originally Posted By LeadBreakfast: If you're intending to stay carbine gas, the Colt SOCOM barrels are very tough to beat. Could also be an opportunity to move to mid length gas as well. All in your preferences but Colt barrels have always been solid. The Colt SOCOM barrel is one of the very best barrels in production. Accurate, durable, and well proven in the GWOT. It’s my preferred general purpose barrel. |
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Originally Posted By LeadBreakfast: They just work. Almost like decades of proven combat performance provides a few clues. Some don't like the configuration, which is entirely understandable, but the 6920 isn't all of the sudden incapable as some seem to suggest. If the argument is that it's not free floated, it's not a precision rifle and there are numerous options to fix that. They still do exactly what they were built to do decades ago, and they do it well. |
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Originally Posted By MudEagle: I picked up a pair of LEO trade-in 6920s earlier this year that have 2013 and 2015 barrel dates. One for me and one for my daughter who is headed off to college this year. They've both been very nice shooters (they both work well with Trigger Kickers -- can't wait for the 3-pos selector!) and I'd expect them to last a long time. With the M4 rollmark -- and it actually being a rollmark instead of laser -- with normal-sized pins and a full auto BCG, they're a great incarnation of the 6920. That being said, overall I prefer the pre-2013 6920s. They had the side-sling swivel and came with carry handles, while the 2013 configuration switched to a Magpul rear sight, FSB-bottom sling swivel, and a Magpul magazine in the baggy. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/470117/Pair_of_M4s_copy_jpg-3819829.JPG I always put the side-sling swivels on the right side so the forward assist will dig into my side and back. |
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Originally Posted By Andrewsky: Once you get into adding night vision stuff the shorter handguards present a few ergonomic challenges. PEQ/ATPIAL or Yes, longer rails are nice. Thermal is the #1 challenge with a short handguard. |
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Originally Posted By tet493: PEQ/ATPIAL or HS321 on top works fine. IWC or Arisaka light mount pairs with this fine. Yes, longer rails are nice. Thermal is the #1 challenge with a short handguard. If this configuration with the FSB didn't exist, the lasers wouldn't have been offset in the first place. Which would have been nice. |
2014 Colt 6920 (Page 1 of 2)
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