Grand Junction, Colorado) -- A little-known Colorado company has beat out Hartford-based Colt's Manufacturing for a 23-million-dollar contract to upgrade M-16 rifles for the Air Force.

CAP-CO Incorporated beat out Colt's after a convoluted three-year battle for the contract. CAP-CO initially lost out to Colt's when the contract was put out for bidding in 1998.

But Colt's bid was apparently too low, and the gun-making giant defaulted.

CAP-CO expects its work force to expand from 115 to about 150 for the 30 months it will take to make the upgrade kits, which improve the M-16's accuracy, range and penetration capability.

techranger,
Are there any more specfic details on the upgrades?

This is great news for G.J.

WOOHOO [beer]

CAP-CO is just upgrading the A1s into A2s.

Does this mean surplus A1 parts on the market?  Could be a way to add a retro look to that A2 AR15.