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Posted: 8/7/2014 8:25:12 AM EDT
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I have a Colt 6520 that I want to make more 723-ish. The intent is the BHD look, as in the movie more than the really-really of Delta in 1993. I.e. a modern Aimpoint on the carry handle (film used a Comp M2, I have a Pro but they look pretty much the same besides markings) as opposed to a 3000/5000 IRL, and Surefire 660 in a barrel clamp mount vs a jury-rigged flashlight IRL.
I got it a few years ago NIB from CDNN for a very low price at the time. As built, it was an A2 upper, the typical current production Colt carbine lower, 16" skinny barrel with FSB, 4 position buffer tube, current Colt M4 butt stock & handguards. The barrel extension used has M4 feed ramps, but apparently the upper did not so Colt dremelled 'em in. They did a lousy job of that, such that the dremelled ramps in the upper didn't line up with the ramps in the barrel. I sent it back to Colt, and they dremelled some more to widen the ramps in the receiver. So, now they "line up", but the ramp in the receiver on each side is wider than the corresponding one in the barrel extension. They didn't finish the bare metal of the ramps, but then again they didn't do that after the original misaligned factory dremel job either. It hasn't ever hung up so I guess they knew what they were doing, even if it does look pretty bubba. Honestly I expected better from Colt but as long as it works I probably don't have any basis for further RMAing. Now, I understand the 723's were a transitional model and can be found with all sorts of parts, but I further understand that the default configuration would be a C7-type upper, 14.5" skinny barrel, CAR handguards & 3rd Gen (Fiberlite) butt stock (of which it looks like a reasonable repro is available from M&A Parts). I read a statement, but never saw a picture, that 723's were even made with A2-type uppers. However, given the above about mine I figure I might as well replace it with a C7 anyway since I'm going to have to pull the barrel to get it cut & permed. I'm not going to worry about what color anything is on this project, because I'm covering it all up with a rattlecan camo job in the end anyway. So, with the long-winded background out of the way, we come to the upper. Ideally, I'd want a real Colt/Diemaco one. However, getting one would mean haunting the EE and online auction sites for an indeterminate period, and I'm not typically that patient. Bushmaster used to make one, but not on their site anymore. The options seem to be... DPMS - I've seen these for sale several places, but I've heard these have dimensional issues such that only DPMS charging handles work.
PK Arms - don't know who actually makes these (does PK make or only retail?) I've seen several posts where people that have these comment favorably. RGuns - uniquely among the options, these have M4 feed ramps which would be ideal given the barrel I already have. I've seen several posts about issues with RGuns complete uppers or complete rifles, but the issues were not related to the upper itself but to other parts and/or how it was assembled. So, if they are reasonable quality I'd probably prefer the RGuns because of the feed ramps, but I'm interested in whatever feedback the forum regulars might offer on their quality. (unless of course somebody knows where an original Colt/Diemaco is laying around waiting for Prince Charming to show up with a Colt lower  )
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Hi, Mike!
Yep, I've seen that. There is a different Colt ad floating around that shows the C7 type upper. Like I said, a transitional model with a wide mix of parts. I think an A1 upper is certainly legit for the build, and you guys have some black ones in stock which would be fine since I'm painting it anyway, and you guys have a great rep so I wouldn't be worrying about quality (I already have a grey upper & lower on order for my A1 project). I think the "bump" is just a little more "typical 723", and of course an upper which already has M4 feed ramps like the barrel has closes that who can of worms about how OK is it OK to mate a barrel with ramps to an upper with or do I need to add them and if so is bare metal OK & etc... Colt when they built my carbine in its original state seem to have voted for "need ramps in the upper if you have them in the barrel, but bare metal ramps in the upper are OK". It would have more credibility if they hadn't done such a lame job of adding them in the first place, though 
If the consensus is that the RGuns upper is junk, then maybe the way to go is your black upper instead of the PK or DPMS. |
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The upper assembly depends on which version of the 723 you are doing. There were two different ones. One had the lightweight barrel and the later model had the M4 profile barrel, A2 PG, round FA, A2 FH, and brass deflector. Well, I'm definitely sticking with the factory skinny barrel, so overall that sounds kinda like another point for the A1 upper. However, I've seen lots of pics of clones and IIRC original pics showing skinny barrels on brass deflector uppers. EDIT: Actually, here is [a Colt ad showing that configuration on a 723... Attached File Your early photo still looks like a round FA, which is good since that's what I've got. |
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This is the problem with variations and transitions. You see 723s in three basic configurations. One with an A1 PG, A1 upper receiver w/o brass deflector, A1 FH, teardrop FA, and lightweight barrel; another with the A2 PG, A1 upper receiver w/ brass deflector, A2 PG, A2 FH, round FA, and lightweight barrel; then one with an A2 PG, A1 upper receiver w/ brass deflector, A2 FH, round FA, and 14.5" M4 profile barrel. You cannot go wrong with any of them.
Here is the pic of one in the A1 configuration. 
You will notice that the one in the picture has the Delta ring, whereas, the model 653, which is very similar, has a flat handguard retaining ring. About the only difference between the two is the handguard retaining ring and the buttstock. The 653 had the vinyl acetate coated aluminum stock and the 723 primarily used the Fiberlite stock. A few of the very early 723s had the vinyl acetate stock, but it was soon replaced. |
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That is a great Colt document Mike. Wish we had one for every model stickied in one place as reference. Thanks for sharing. I have all of these in my hunt101 picture account. They are scans from my originals I acquired back in 89-91 when I worked at Bill's Gun Shop. I can start a new thread with all of them if the Mods want to tack it. 
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I have all of these in my hunt101 picture account. They are scans from my originals I acquired back in 89-91 when I worked at Bill's Gun Shop. I can start a new thread with all of them if the Mods want to tack it. Quoted:
Quoted:
That is a great Colt document Mike. Wish we had one for every model stickied in one place as reference. Thanks for sharing. I have all of these in my hunt101 picture account. They are scans from my originals I acquired back in 89-91 when I worked at Bill's Gun Shop. I can start a new thread with all of them if the Mods want to tack it. Mike, I think that would be great! If you post them, I'll be on there asking for a sticky for sure. Thanks for sharing. |
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I built my 723 from parts a member collected piece by piece, but he ran out of money, still had to buy the complete lower, and Aimpoint. He abandoned the project and I saw it on the EE as a kit just prior to the 2008 panic and bought it. It came with a Bushmaster C7 upper w/ teardrop FA/A1 port door, Colt 14.5 1x7 pencil barrel, Colt FA BCG/CH, A.R.M.S. #22 M68 Aimpoint mount, extended A2 FH, black slip ring assembly, A1 PG, 6 hole Carbine handguards, and a 3 position Fiberlite CAR stock assembly w/H buffer. Paid $500.00 shipped for the kit, went out the day it arrived and bought the first stripped lower I could find. A Superior Arms S-15 Lower, I have since put a black McKay's A2 lower on it. Found a used Aimpoint CompML2 at JoJo's gunshop a few weeks later for $250.00. I got real lucky because it was almost a one stop shop.
ETA: Still have that old Superior Arms lower running strong on a Dissapator build. |
| I couldn't get myself to spray paint mine. Field expedient sling, IDF wrap on the handgauds and duct tape on the magazine body for a makeshift magpul is the farthest I could go. Yours looks fantastic BTW but mine would have lost a 1/4 of the paint in a month or 2. |
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Here's a pic of the rifle I put together with a real 723 complete upper. http://rs1085.pbsrc.com/albums/j430/home_alone1/2436BB27-16C1-403A-B5B2-E12C345F4BED_zps3eprd475.jpg~320x480 That's beautiful... |
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