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Posted: 7/22/2026 12:30:22 PM EDT
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Been getting an itch for a retro, the new PSA/H&R M16A1 seems to fit the bill. Anyone have one? Noticed that some come with a 1 in 12 and others come with a 1 in 7 barrel. As thing would never see anything but 55 grain blasting ammo I'm not sure I would notice the difference. Yes, I could build one. I've built two. I'm not interested in chasing down parts. |
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Originally Posted By mlin: 1:12 is for those 1:7 is for those who want flexibility of shooting heavier bullets. To each its own. Pick a category you fit in best. 
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I built one a couple of years ago, just before H&R got really big into the retro stuff. Started with a Brownells lower that sat for a while until I got most of the rest from Luth-AR. I don't claim its a period accurate version as I used one when I served, so I opted for a slightly newer upper and barrel...a C7 upper and a 1:7 barrel, both of which have M4 feed ramps. Not period accurate but it will feed any modern ammo perfectly and works well with my left-handed defect, lol. I also opted for a trapdoor stock like the rifles we had back then, though a lot of the A1s were never fitted with these. Long story short, for a convenient, period correct rifle I'd go for an H&R, but you can also custom build one easily enough today if you want. |
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1/7 offers flexibility. I have both a 1/7 and a 1/12, it’s frustrating when you go to the range and have to keep up with what ammo you’re using in what because 1/12 won’t stabilize anything but 55gr. I bought a ton of M855 on sale and can’t even use it in that gun. It would be worth the headache if it was an original barrel, but not for a reproduction. |
If you aren't representing Jesus in a way that makes people want to hang out with you, you're doing it wrong.
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Not an M16A1. Flat-top with floated 1-7 A1 barrel. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By Ameshawki: It arrived. If there is a blem on it I can’t find it. Was drier than a pop corn fart but some CLP took care of that. Thirty round mag, but I have lots of twenties. No sling. I like it. And, where's the photo? You know it's required. (I'm curious to see how your anodizing came out) |
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Originally Posted By tet493: Originally Posted By tet493: Originally Posted By mlin: 1:12 is for those 1:7 is for those who want flexibility of shooting heavier bullets. To each its own. Pick a category you fit in best. Go 1/14 instead. |
| My experience with H&R has been mixed. I respect the fact that they are making accessible new production old stuff for the masses, but with my examples (both complete guns and individual build parts including receivers) has been less than stellar. I think where H&R shines best is when trying to save some coin when rolling your own using as much Colt/GI parts as you can find/afford and then using misc H&R stuff to refurb worn out pieces on those parts or finish out the build. Call me a snob but I really feel the whole point of these guns is having as much of the "real" stuff as possible from the era, and lately with a lot of parts kits being dumped into the market there are deals to be found on period correct Colt stuff. |
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Originally Posted By ArtifactDecay: My experience with H&R has been mixed. I respect the fact that they are making accessible new production old stuff for the masses, but with my examples (both complete guns and individual build parts including receivers) has been less than stellar. I think where H&R shines best is when trying to save some coin when rolling your own using as much Colt/GI parts as you can find/afford and then using misc H&R stuff to refurb worn out pieces on those parts or finish out the build. Call me a snob but I really feel the whole point of these guns is having as much of the "real" stuff as possible from the era, and lately with a lot of parts kits being dumped into the market there are deals to be found on period correct Colt stuff. These parts kits you speak of…where are you seeing them at? Gumbroker? EE? I haven’t looked for anything since I put together my 604 with an upper I bought here. |
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Originally Posted By JOG63: I was on the fence about ordering a H&R A1, or should I hold out for a Colt SP1! My shop has their feelers out! I think I'll hold out for an older Colt! A few months back i was in my LGS looking for a new pocket pistol. While waiting on the paperwork i spotted something familiar in the used rack behind the counter. It was an SP1 rifle that looked like it just came out of the box. The gun looked like it had been sighted in and then just stuck back in the closet for years. It even had almost all of its original cleaning kit in the buttstock. I checked the serial number and it showed the rifle was made in 1975. They wanted $1800 for it so i didnt even think twice and took it and a new pocket pistol home. |
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