i built my 1st retro a few months ago ( 604 ) now its time for another but i cant decide so..... im leaving it up to you ..... standard rifle/ or carbine please make my decision for me. as a side note nothing that involves a tax stamp please

601

603

I currently have:
1) 723
2) SP1 rifle
3) A2 clone
4) MK18 clone sbr
5) M4 clone
6) 603

currently building (already have upper assemblies) on a 604 and another 603.

No offense to those who like slab-sides.....

603 or XM177E2

The easiest would be a 603 for the rifle and a 653 carbine.

I would go for those two in that order myself.

It is a lot of fun finding original parts for a 602   patience build

Carbine definitely. Start looking for your upper, and the first thing that you find that you can afford, That's the one!

Make it easy on yourself, if you find a forward assist upper first, then a 653. If you find a slabside first, make it a 654

my 1st build was a 604 slick side i love the slick side but the hot caseing down my shirt im not to fond of .... but thats ok  retro burn scars are cool the chicks dig it!!!!

XM177E2

We must think alike.

Sexiest one ever made.....by far

I will jump on the XM177E2 bandwagon with both feet.

Do it.

Yup XM177E2, you got a rifle, now it needs a little brother

looks like xm177e2 is in the lead!!!! awsome but yall still have until dec 4

No SBR's? Well, that rules out the 607 or 609/XM177 Commando.  There is still the XM177E2 which can be done very well in a non SBR configuration. It also seems to be the most popular and the lack of the need for a tax stamp probably contributes to that.

I'm also a big fan of the 603/613/M16A1 rifle. That is the configuration which served the Armed Forces for the greatest length of time.

Another option would be the 605 if you wanted something shorter and still non NFA. If the flash hider is permanently attached it meets the minimum length requirement. You could just build another upper for your 604 lower to do this one. There's no rule saying that you have to build complete rifles. You can have multiple uppers too.

With NDS making lowers and now uppers in both slick side and forward assist configurations it is easier than ever to just build what you want as far as retro builds go.

For the XM177E2 you would need an NDS16A1 lower and NDS A1 upper to start with.

I, and others, would highly recommend the Essential Arms XM177 style stock. It has a shiny black finish that is a virtual clone of the original. The profile is almost exactly the same.

Your choice of barrel would be limited to the Bushmaster lightweight profile, a Colt (preferably a modern one, not an original early one), or CMMG lightweight profile. The lightweight profile is the correct one. There may be some others on the market but I would make sure that it worked before incorporating it into the build. Chrome lining is not only correct, but very desirable. I'll let the rest of the gang make their recommendations on who to have the barrel work done by.



The remaining parts are off the shelf and still available. You might have to search a little harder to find a lower parts kit with a no notch selector. The bolt group is the standard notched parkerized unit. You'll want an A1 grip and six hole handguards.

That's the quick and simple version of it.

XM177E2



605



603/613/M16A1



Sooner or later you will end up in BRD rehab. It's only a support group and it really doesn't encourage quitting.

your killing me smalls!!!!!! aahhh 45bravo as useual your the  tide changer in any/all situtions!!!!! xm177 is such a sexy gun !!!!! the wife  put her vote in for another 604!!! if all else fails do bolt right!!!!!!

If your wife likes the 604, then build her a 652. (slickside carbine w/A1 fixed stock, 14.5" barrel.) They handle really nicely, and I've come to prefer the fixed stock to a collapsible. FWIW, You could do a 649, which is basically a slickside XM177E2. Several pictures of E1's and E2's with fixed A1 stocks exist, so they are a viable option. If your wife likes the looks of a 604, go for a slickside carbine, either a 654, 652, or 649. Just my .02 - they are my favorites too.

my wife doesnt like to tele stocks for some reason ... i do , which is strange she is a small girl fixed stock carbine does sound cool!!!! thanks for all the imput so far guys!!!

This is yet another option where you can use your existing lower.