This one has a story behind it. Agent Espo set out to build a Vietnam-era clone rifle and ended up tracking down a legit Colt M16A1 upper that had been sitting in a local gun store for years -- traded in from a police department during the Obama administration in exchange for ammo. It was missing the gas tube, handguards, and flash hider, but the bones were real deal Colt grey A1. He paired it with one of the first-run Harrington & Richardson M16A1 lowers after following the company's comeback for months and grabbing one the second they dropped. The early H&R batches supposedly came in a slightly different grey than current production, though that hasn't been fully confirmed. Barrel is a Colt 1:12 twist with a non-F marked front sight base. Furniture is all U.S. Collector Ordnance -- A1 triangular handguards, A1 grip, and A1 Type E stock. Lower parts kit is CMMG, which Espo notes isn't clone correct. Optic is a Brownells 4x scope.

Pros:

• Genuine Colt A1 upper receiver -- not a reproduction, actual surplus with real history behind it
• H&R lower is one of the few proper M16A1 marked lowers that hit the market in recent years
• A1 furniture from U.S. Collector Ordnance looks right and fits the era
• 1:12 twist barrel is period correct for the early M16/M16A1
• The backstory of how the upper was sourced adds real collector value and character to the build
• Solid foundation if you ever want to swap to an XM177E2 configuration down the road
• Great reference build for anyone trying to get into the retro AR space

Cons:

• Colt A1 uppers are not easy to find -- this one was basically a lucky break at a local shop
• H&R lowers sold out fast when they dropped and haven't been consistently available since
• CMMG lower parts kit isn't clone correct, which matters if you're going for a true period build
• No clone-correct trigger group -- a proper M16A1 would run full auto parts, which obviously isn't happening on a semi-auto civilian build
• Retro parts sourcing in general is a pain -- carry handle uppers were price gouged in 2022 and availability still comes and goes
• The grey finish on the H&R lower may not perfectly match the Colt upper depending on which production batch you get
• Brownells 4x scope is a nice touch but isn't standard issue for an M16A1 -- most went out with iron sights only https://www.agentespo.com/m16a1