Brownell's Retro Rifles, Really? Yes, Really

[Kirk Freeman]

A blast from the past, Brownell's comes out swinging hard--M16A1, M601, M16E1, XM177 copies AND a Dutch and Cuban AR-10.

Time to get your gun geek on.

https://www.brownells.com/aspx/general/clientpage.aspx?bapid=606

 

[KJQ6945]

Link is 404

 

[55fairlane]

https://www.brownells.com/aspx/general/clientpage.aspx?bapid=606

See if this link works......

 

[KJQ6945]

https://globenewswire.com/news-rele...Makes-History-Launches-Retro-Rifles-Line.html

 

[FlatSixShooter]

very cool. I was just watching a vid last eve on the early 50s Stoner designed .308...Jerry Miculek was at the armament museum in Florida and was shooting a Dutch mfg'd (I think) version with the happy switch in full-fun mode.


Brownells has been selling the retro m16a1 furniture for a while now ( I have a set) and Nodak was already doing the receivers so thats a pretty easy effort compared to the 308.

me wants that 308.



.

 

[confused89]

That has really got me thinking, too bad the price is up there on something I'd rarely shoot.

 

[M67]

Well sh**. Those are freaking cool, something else I'll need to budget for. Those would be awesome.....and putting a silencer on them just cause

 

[ru44mag]

A blast from the past, Brownell's comes out swinging hard--M16A1, M601, M16E1, XM177 copies AND a Dutch and Cuban AR-10.

Time to get your gun geek on.

https://www.brownells.com/aspx/general/clientpage.aspx?bapid=606

Hmmm. Looks like that exploder button didn't get introduced until 1964.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

I'm going to email that to my son. That should **** him off properly; he's lusted after an original AR-10 for years. Then I buy one before he gets to fondle one

 

[Kirk Freeman]

That has really got me thinking, too bad the price is up there on something I'd rarely shoot.

Correct. The Exploder (or second forward assist) was not on the original design. USAF and USMC did not want it but Big Army who buys guns by the warehouse wanted the gadget on the M16, Stoner said no, but eventually recognized the economic reality he faced and thus designed the Exploder for Big Army.

 

[michaelward50]

Well sh**. Those are freaking cool, something else I'll need to budget for. Those would be awesome.....and putting a silencer on them just cause

Good luck making any of these supersonic rifles much quieter.

OP - Thanks for sharing, very neat idea from Brownell's.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

OP - Thanks for sharing, very neat idea from Brownell's.

Sure, everyone on INGO knows that I live for this time of year. I even have spies out there. Bwahahaha.

 

[M67]

Good luck making any of these supersonic rifles much quieter.

OP - Thanks for sharing, very neat idea from Brownell's.

I regularly shoot supersonics suppressed. Every bit helps when it doesn't blow your ear drums out. Loud yes but don't have to use ear pro which is the main thing for me

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Looking closer, it's a shame they weren't able to source a proper AR10 front sight. Maybe one could be made and fitted.

 

[DRob]

Did the original 5.56 guns have 1:12 twist barrels?

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Did the original 5.56 guns have 1:12 twist barrels?

The most original had 1:14, and they went into production at 1:12. The transition was made upon the adoption of the AR15 as the M16. Also of note, the original Armalite (that's what AR stands for) AR15 was select fire, while the AR15 retconned from the M16 was semi only. Confused yet?

 

[DRob]

The most original had 1:14, and they went into production at 1:12. The transition was made upon the adoption of the AR15 as the M16. Also of note, the original Armalite (that's what AR stands for) AR15 was select fire, while the AR15 retconned from the M16 was semi only. Confused yet?

My only confusion is about those slow twist barrels. What were they shooting in those 12 and 14 twist guns?

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

They were shooting the same 55gr M193s we still do, but the slow twist was designed to increase lethality. 1:14 would stabilize the bullet in air, but as soon as it hit a soft target it would totally spaz out. They moved up to 1:12 because 1:14 wouldn't hold it stable at really low temperatures, but the 1:12 cost a significant portion of the lethality. I think leaves and twigs drove the switch to 1:9.

 

[DRob]

They were shooting the same 55gr M193s we still do, but the slow twist was designed to increase lethality. 1:14 would stabilize the bullet in air, but as soon as it hit a soft target it would totally spaz out. They moved up to 1:12 because 1:14 wouldn't hold it stable at really low temperatures, but the 1:12 cost a significant portion of the lethality. I think leaves and twigs drove the switch to 1:9.

Thanks. My limited experience with milsurp ammo was years ago with 62 grain M855 in a 12 twist Howa. Ran out of 45 gr HPs it shot very well and M855 was all we had. Couldn't hit the 4'x4' cardboard backer at 100 or 50 yards. Moved to 25 yards and found it was tumbling when it hit the cardboard there. Always figured the M193s were not much better but we don't shoot any FMJ anyway. It's generally not a good idea, and in many cases not allowed, in the prairie dog towns.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

You're probably just as well carrying them over to the enemy and pushing them in with your thumb They were running on the bleeding edge of stability, where the 55 vs 62gr actually makes the difference between working and not working. The M855 didn't come out until much later, though. I have a "C" barrel for my 602 replica, even though it's a 1:12, because I'm not going to pull my hair out trying to find a 1:14. It's not for M855s.