The Colt SP-1 was my first AR. I was in 7th grade (1986) and begged my dad everyday . He told me if I came up with the money he would buy it for me. I mowed grass all summer for 5 bucks a yard. Saved up 500 bucks. Dad found me one used from an LE officer for 450 !!! Lol.
Dad is passed now so if the present administration would want to try something too late. But if you think thats bad , in 8th grade I took it to school for a "How to " demonstration in one of my classes. Of course had to store it in the principles office before and after. No one had FEELINGS back then. Lol
John Plaster spends some prose in his books talking about what a great weapon it was. He reached a point where he realized his suppressed Swedish-K wasn't getting the job done and promptly grabbed an XM-177 for MACV-SOG work.
I just got done building my GAU-5/A/A and it's a awesome little light and nimble carbine. Luth-Ar slick side upper with no forward assist, Brownells 11½" 1-12 chrome lined barrel, Black Nitride m-16 bolt carrier, Aero stoned and polished milspec LPK, Essential arms aluminum CAR stock on M-4 6 position buffer tube, 4½" aluminum XM-177E2 flash hider pinned and welded. This thing shoots even softer than My Colt AR-15A2 lightweight 16" and M-4 Lightweight 16". At Test Firing I burned through 100 rounds before I knew it. No malfunctions just pure joy. I haven't had that much fun shooting a AR-15 in 35 years! The whole point of this build was to build a classic GAU-5 but with the modern coatings and finishes and all of the improvements that have come along since March 1967 when the first XM-177E2's were delivered to MACV-SOG in Vietnam. Now I'm trying to talk myself out of slapping a 37mm flare launcher under the barrel. I knew that adding that grenade ring was going to lead to temptation! Lol
I just got done building my GAU-5/A/A and it's a awesome little light and nimble carbine. Luth-Ar slick side upper with no forward assist, Brownells 11½" 1-12 chrome lined barrel, Black Nitride m-16 bolt carrier, Aero stoned and polished milspec LPK, Essential arms aluminum CAR stock on M-4 6 position buffer tube, 4½" aluminum XM-177E2 flash hider pinned and welded. This thing shoots even softer than My Colt AR-15A2 lightweight 16" and M-4 Lightweight 16". At Test Firing I burned through 100 rounds before I knew it. No malfunctions just pure joy. I haven't had that much fun shooting a AR-15 in 35 years! The whole point of this build was to build a classic GAU-5 but with the modern coatings and finishes and a of the improvements that have come along since March 1967 when the first XM-177E2's were delivered to MACV-SOG in Vietnam. Now I'm trying to talk myself out of slapping a 37mm flare launcher under the barrel. I knew that adding that grenade ring was going to lead to temptation! Lol
I doubt it would happen. Mike Wettleland was brought in as CEO because of his experience in making detailed replicas of older M-16 models at Nodak Spud. NDS used to make a replica upper receiver which featured the forging flash left on like the older H&R M-16's.
My Grandfather was in MAC-V SOG and I have a picture of him somewhere deep in the bush carrying one of these, so I've had sort of a fascination with those rifles and have always wanted one or a clone so I may just have to pick up one of these H&Rs now.
Great video. I had an A1 colt kit I bought years ago and got the H&R XM177E2 lower from PSA and put together my own using an 11.5 barrel. Pinned and welded the correct faux moderator. Love the rifle.
my grandpa fought in vietnam and we talked about his service rifle. He was an engineer, so he never really had to shoot that much, but he talked about the 3rd burst that his gun had. If he had the 20rd mags, he would only load 18, and if he had the 25rd mag, he would only load 24. I dont know to what extent he did this, if it was for range use or what-have-you, but I found it interested none the less.
The "3 round burst" was a mechanical wheel (gear) / paw set up, it did not reset if mag went empty. When the shooter did a reload and still on burst, it would only fire 1 or 2 rounds depending where the paw was at on the wheel (gear). By down loading the mags to a number divisible by 3 it was an easy way around this problem. The idea was a "quick fix" to slow down the amount of rounds fired / wasted (grunts would hold rifle above their cover to spray and pray in Nam) and try force better accuracy . - by the by disregard those that jump on any premise to "dis You or call You a liar" without knowing all the facts / conversations, makes them a troll and very little else :)
man PSA is killing it! Kinda wish they would chill out for a minute. I've basically handed them my last few paychecks💰, Seems like every week they come out with something new I just can't say no too! 🤯
Yes, I almost need to block their website. 😂 I started buying from them when they were the new guys on the market. I've had great experience with them, I did a low buck AR from them over 10 years ago that I did close to the "filthy 14" shooting it, but unfortunately I didn't document, film and do a write up on it. Thousands of rounds with only lubrication, the lubrication was 10w30 synthetic oil with some 2 cycle oil in it. I'd run a chamber brush when changing to brass cases from steel cases and back. I shot many cases of ammunition though it.
I really wish they could produce the LPK’s in the correct grey too instead of the black they make them in. Otherwise PSA is knocking it out of the park with all their new offerings.
Reading the Vietnam Ranger/LRRP books as a teenager in the mid to late 90s, this was always my dream rifle. Should I ever move back to the US, this will be the first AR I get. I know there are better and more modern ones. But this is going to be it.
Another reason for lengthening the barrel from 10" to 11.5" was to mount a underbarrel grenade launcher. The XM203 was starting to be fielded and guys wanted to mount them on their little carbines instead of having to carry a full size M16
The Colt proprietary 30-round "banana" magazine came out in 1965. It was fickle and didn't work with every Colt rifle or carbine. The USGI 30-round "dogleg" magazine came out in 1970 and was scarce. The Marines didn't get them until a year later.
Heck, the 20 rnd magazines were still floating around the Army in late 80s. During some of my training, we would have a few 20 rnd magazines loaded with ball ammunition carried in butt pack or rucksacks. Interesting things that you could run into back then in S. Rainer and other places.
Great video , love the sling , looks like a great replica of the old days . I went thru basic with an H&R M16, it rattled from all the recruits pushed thru it. But, still able to score Expert , despite being cleaned , and shot literally hundreds of times over the years in the armory. I would love to have an H&R replica 🇺🇸
I have to say that is just amazing! The XM177e2 is one of my fav ar looks, along with the cold c607. If I lived in us I’d jump to get my hands on one of those.
Was sent to Fort Sill, OK for basic training in 1981, and was issued a brand new H&R M16. My home town was just 14 miles from where they were made in Gardner, Ma...It doesn't end there, as my sister's husband's dad, worked at H&R and was involved with tooling them up to make the M16...My have to get that XM177E2
My gau 5 upper just came in the mail today so I'm almost positive they do. My upper is considered a pistol and the have a XM177E2 lower. Go to their website shits pretty cool with all the retro stuff they have.
With the standard bird cage, the XM-177 will blow out your ear drums. They're extremely loud. The muzzle device definitely tames that noise. That's why it was adopted & considered a silencer in its original configuration.
Five hundred years in the future we are going to be cyborgs "shooting" hardlight replicas of these firearms along with an A.I. replica of Tim in an augmented reality as seen through our cyborg "eye's."
This really hurts. If only PSA/H&R had released these legacy rifles a couple of years ago before my state's AWB I'd have given them a few thousand dollars of my money already.
I built my own faux XM177E1 as a braced pistol using a PSA upper and lower with the 10.5" barrel and the muzzle device from Brownell's. Looks the part, absolutely love it - and then they release the "real deal" here.
Carried a GAU in the USAF for a bit (79'-80'). Never fired it. When Qualifications time came up, I was issued a M-16 (original model, no forward assist.) so I never heard what my GAU sounded like.
My father and every vet iv talked to with "technical" experience with that muzzle device all had a different answer to why. They all said it made it sound more like a AK.
It is just fudd lore. And one can’t question it as a jr enlisted. One that irked me was “slap the ping pong paddle to send the bolt home, because under stress your fine motor skills won’t work due to adrenaline.” No thanks, I will use my thumb. Funny, I could also change freq on the radio under fire. Tiny little buttons with a smush feel.
Shot mine at my memeber’s only range where for rifles, we have miniature C-zone steel from 100yds to 384yds. From a bag, no problem using the short range aperture and making consistent hits out to 250 yds. From there, used the L aperture out to 384. The front sight post’s tip is roughly as wide as the 250yd targets, and wider than the 384 yd targets. Those are a bit tricky to hit with moderate winds, but doable. I loved how I was the only shooter there shooting retro while others shot contemporary AR builds with Hubble telescope style optics, lol. On this range, my EoTech and 5x magnifier is plenty! Oh, I was shooting Winchester M193. Shoots well from the retro style 12-twist barrel!
They make a flash hider you can thread on to a 16inch barrel and make it look like it's a 11.5 with a long flash hider. It looks identical but gives the benefit of higher muzzle velocity
They do make them and I have built a few rifles using them over the past 30 years. The steel models weigh around 8oz. the aluminum models weigh around 3oz. I recommend the aluminum because it doesn't Shift the balance point of the rifle forward to the muzzle as much. The neutral balance right at the trigger Gaurd and magwell is what made the originals so popular.
Troy made those a few years ago & they were really popular. They were very popular too. Those seatbelt slings are nice, they don't dig into your shoulder like the standard ones. Good to see PSA keeping the retro market going. 👍🏻
Last 7 yrs at PD carried a XM177 (11.5 in) - during training and qualifying, everybody knew when I was on the range (even out of sight). The "bark" of it going off was very distinctive and no body wanted to be on my right :) . Cubs liked it, but didn't understand why the barrel was 3 times as thick under the hand guard which made the whole thing just as heavy if not more than their pencil thick barrels.
They weren't a heavy barrel. It had the A1 profile. You're a liar. Only the M4A1 came with a heavy barrel decades later. The CAR15 always had a pencil barrel.
@railfanningpoints2.045 Hmmm - been a few years since sent drawing and specs to AFT (miss spelled per "rules") for tax stamp. Nam era barrel at 3 1/4" Dia. , 7 1/2 in" under hand guard then another 4" at 1 7/8" Dia. is definitely heavier and bigger around then a production pencil 16 1/4" barrel. Most of the Officers I trained with and others I later trained can confirm I had, carried and used it. Not talking about production guns. Not talking about what is considered "modern" heavy barrel rifles. It would do you well to read in context rather then jump at a chance to ridicule and call some one a liar.
I have the H&R XM177E2 lower with the regular XM177E1 upper and a Turbo T3 silencer from YHM. whole system is a two stamp gun and runs great!!!!! Super short and fun to shoot at the range.
Olympic Arms used to make a clone named the 'SGW', it was the very first AR I bought back in 1979 and I still have it. 11.5" barrel with a permanent 5" flash suppressor, teardrop forward assist and an M16 selector/safety that had a steel pin to keep it from going 90 degrees to the rear. Very accurate for what it is but badly overgassed.
Interesting mine didn't have any pin to do that. I've definitely worn out a few disconnectors, triggers, and hammers in mine. But at the time the unit I was in had a some gray areas on things too. Even some of us PVT's could do then. 👍
The strap comes from the 2-quart canteen cover. We used to make “jungle slings” just like this back in the late 80’s/early 90’s before all the “cool-guy” modern slings started to get issued.
I was issued a Frankenstein "M16" in 1993 complete with an XM177 lower, full stock, A1 upper and M203. It went boom when needed so I guess there's that.
I just want to touch on how stupid it is that moderators or modifiers are classes as suppressors. I would love to have an 11.5 or 13.5 barrel with a modifier on it.
I had that config (Colt AR-15 Sport) .. The CMMG 22LR conversion was VERY accurate (surprisingly) and that Colt scope was surprisingly effective, even on most nights.
I was a Army 45b20 from 69 to 72 in a depot shop. I can say the the muzzle device worked. It cut the noise down to 20 inch barrel levels. Without the device, the noise was horrible. IMHO, this carbine was about the right size for the 5.56x45.
My dad just bought a Colt AR15 from 1967 for 4,000$. It’s amazing, in good shape and shoots well surprisingly. Surprised how little he paid for it being as early production it is.
My Dad carried CAR15 while in SOG . My Uncle was in Recon while with the 101st in ‘67. He didn’t like it compared to the M16. My Uncle said it was way too loud and the shorter sight radius didn’t work for him.
I did that with my Bushmaster AR-15 it has the Retro handle and I had the moderator put on it and it had to be welded and tapped to get the 16 in Mark but I love it
Dammit, that SP-1 was my very first AR back in the seventies. If I could go back in time the very first thing I would do is slap myself silly and prevent me from selling it.
My XM177ish clone is by far my favorite retro rifle. I really want to pickup a pencil barrel, when I built mine I could only find the heavier profile with the pinned faux flash hidder.
H&r m1 garand replica would be awesome and keep these comming I’ve bought Mossberg retro cause they are the guns I love old style not tactical overload awesome job
Bg deffence has them with any color carakote you want, they run around 1700 but you get the color furniture you want also, and id you dont k ow BG deffence makes great firearms period, there ARs are awesome,
If I had one complaint I'd say the laser "rollmarks" like you mentioned in the video. I saw that the H&R DOE from this year's Shot Show has real stamped rollmarks. I'd gladly pay extra for them to be stamped. The lasered ones just look weird on a gray anodized lower.
It's certainly been an interesting evolution for the AR-15 from the Colt 601 to the forward assist to the shell case deflector to the other small but beneficial changes. I look at firearms from a Mechanical Engineering point of view with no sentimental attachment to any machine. 😎🇦🇺
Yes I use 45gr Ballistic Tips in my GAU-5 for deer and varmints. It's more accurate than 55gr Ball with higher velocity and explosive expansion. It's clocking 3500fps out of my 20" XM-16E1. The first AR-15's had a 1-14 twist barrel and it works great with the lighter than 55gr projectiles too. I think that the DOD made a big mistake going with 55gr Ball. The DOD is pretty unoriginal and they always are pushing for a heavier bullet.
@@duck_rifle5879 a few, I try to remember the funny things & forget the rest. Kigali, Rwanda was absolutely nuts, a whole different level compared to Mogadishu, etc.
Nice lookin rifle! I got no complaints...I dont have a PSA but the Smith and Wesson I got is one of the best ARs I have. It was one of the redeeming factors with me and S&W after the Hillarly Hole fiasco that is still on going.
@@SaginawGS I could have sworn Rothco was OEM. Yeah, I like their new stuff since the triglide is plastic and thus quieter. Sucks that it is made in CHI-NAH
Very nice replication! If you have the chance, I'd love to see you do a HBAR Colt compared to a modern 16 inch standard or chrome lined barrel. But keep up the fantastic work and I'm going to be checking the PSA site for sure.
I actually built one of these using the H&R lower and 2 position buttstock. My smith told me after pin and welding that he actually carried one of these as a Nike Missile site guard in the USAF. He told me he didn't recall the rubberized butt being as glossy as the repro is.
I believe you said there was no XM177. There was. It was the slick side 10". The XM177E1 was the 10" with forward assist. The XM177E2 was the 11.5" with forward assist. The GAU-5/A/A was the slick side 11.5".
I bought a blem version last year for about $1200 range with tax and shipping. Ended up being happy with the purchase. The blemish is barely noticeable. The rifle shoots nice.
