USAF 604 Build Progress.......

[ffuries]

Build update.......Met up with a buddy and.....

Barrel installed, along with the handguards, and 3 prong flash hider, and gas tube installed and pinned.

The rear sight is being a pain, we couldn't get the roll pin to start at all, he didn't have the A1 sight tool to install the front sight, and didn't want to tear up the rivet and swivel trying to install swivel.

So the sling swivel and front and rear sights need installed still......But it now looks like a proper rifle from the distance.

Couldn't be more grateful for the work he did for me, getting me this far.

[Junk Yard Dog]

There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

[ffuries]

There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

Actually for me it was 1988, and I'm standing outside in the dark, in the poring down rain, in a California desert guarding a pallet of aircrew 38s and our ground personal M16s with an identical M16 slung over my shoulder, during an Operational Readiness Inspection.

That was miserable enough for me, and lasted 8 hours until we could transport them to a secure facility......Man I was so soaked, I squeaked as I walked down a hallway later. Ah memories of youth....!

[ffuries]

CINC Household and I managed to install the front sight. So the sling swivel needs installed then I can mount the sling. Plus the rear sight drum, detent and detent spring and that damn roll pin (Flat spring, aperture and screw are already installed). We have compressed the end of the roll pin just a bit and it still won't go into the hole. Stopping for the day before I get frustrated.

[Tula44]

That is a nice looking rifle! I like the retro look. I thought about putting a carry handle on my AR.

[entropy]

There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

Actually for me it was 1988, and I'm standing outside in the dark, in the poring down rain, in a California desert guarding a pallet of aircrew 38s and our ground personal M16s with an identical M16 slung over my shoulder, during an Operational Readiness Inspection.

That was miserable enough for me, and lasted 8 hours until we could transport them to a secure facility......Man I was so soaked, I squeaked as I walked down a hallway later. Ah memories of youth....!

I did the exact same thing, about the same time, not far from you, for the 7thID(L) EDRE for Panama. I was guarding the Division's vehicles ( and heavy weapons) after weigh in, before they all left for Travis. Then we went the day after. The Infantry got to fly to Hawaii in C-5's and C141's us REMF's were stuck in 130's. I did get to see Pearl from the air on the way out, we arrived in the dark.

[ffuries]

There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

Actually for me it was 1988, and I'm standing outside in the dark, in the poring down rain, in a California desert guarding a pallet of aircrew 38s and our ground personal M16s with an identical M16 slung over my shoulder, during an Operational Readiness Inspection.

That was miserable enough for me, and lasted 8 hours until we could transport them to a secure facility......Man I was so soaked, I squeaked as I walked down a hallway later. Ah memories of youth....!

I did the exact same thing, about the same time, not far from you, for the 7thID(L) EDRE for Panama. I was guarding the Division's vehicles ( and heavy weapons) after weigh in, before they all left for Travis. Then we went the day after. The Infantry got to fly to Hawaii in C-5's and C141's us REMF's were stuck in 130's. I did get to see Pearl from the air on the way out, we arrived in the dark.

Ah, the good ole Herky Jerk flight. Did two 18 hour flights in the Herk after 9-11, took days for my body to adjust to being on the ground. It's like flying in a school bus!

[entropy]

Ugh! I didn't think I'd ever get to sleep on the 130, but I did.

So, I too am starting a retro build, one I've been wanting to do for a long time:
I was issued a Harrington & Richardson made M16A1. I found a place that will engrave your 80% receiver (it has to be 80% because, California.) that you send in, they will do H&R and Hydra-Matic markings and will put any serial number on it that you want. I still have my Equipment Card for my issue rifle, so that's the serial number I had put on it:

H and R receiver.jpg

It might be a while before I finish it, but the path will be fun, (mostly to Brownell's) and I'll have the closest I can get to my issue rifle.

[ffuries]

Ugh! I didn't think I'd ever get to sleep on the 130, but I did.

So, I too am starting a retro build, one I've been wanting to do for a long time:
I was issued a Harrington & Richardson made M16A1. I found a place that will engrave your 80% receiver (it has to be 80% because, California.) that you send in, they will do H&R and Hydra-Matic markings and will put any serial number on it that you want. I still have my Equipment Card for my issue rifle, so that's the serial number I had put on it:

H and R receiver.jpg

It might be a while before I finish it, but the path will be fun, (mostly to Brownell's) and I'll have the closest I can get to my issue rifle.

I'd normally doze off as we were taxiing, then snap awake after take off and still climbing to cruising altitude, find my spot, build my nest, and go back to sleep, the Load Master would have to kick and let me know we were on our final approach and to go strap in.

Looking forward to seeing your progress and build. Yeah Brownells got a lot of my money. I've got $946.75 tied up in mine total, which is less than I would have paid for one built already.

I have the following parts left over from my build. A2 buttstock, long buttstock screw, buttstock spacer, A2 pistol grip, pistol grip screw and washer, barrel nut, gas tube roll pin, front swivel rivet. If you can use any of them give me a PM.

[SA1911a1]

There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

Actually for me it was 1988, and I'm standing outside in the dark, in the poring down rain, in a California desert guarding a pallet of aircrew 38s and our ground personal M16s with an identical M16 slung over my shoulder, during an Operational Readiness Inspection.

That was miserable enough for me, and lasted 8 hours until we could transport them to a secure facility......Man I was so soaked, I squeaked as I walked down a hallway later. Ah memories of youth....!

I did the exact same thing, about the same time, not far from you, for the 7thID(L) EDRE for Panama. I was guarding the Division's vehicles ( and heavy weapons) after weigh in, before they all left for Travis. Then we went the day after. The Infantry got to fly to Hawaii in C-5's and C141's us REMF's were stuck in 130's. I did get to see Pearl from the air on the way out, we arrived in the dark.

Ah, the good ole Herky Jerk flight. Did two 18 hour flights in the Herk after 9-11, took days for my body to adjust to being on the ground. It's like flying in a school bus!

You guys just joined the wrong branch. In the Navy, we took our home with us everywhere we went. There was a restaurant and snack bar, a store with plenty of gdunk and we slept in beds in air-conditioning.

[ffuries]

There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

Actually for me it was 1988, and I'm standing outside in the dark, in the poring down rain, in a California desert guarding a pallet of aircrew 38s and our ground personal M16s with an identical M16 slung over my shoulder, during an Operational Readiness Inspection.

That was miserable enough for me, and lasted 8 hours until we could transport them to a secure facility......Man I was so soaked, I squeaked as I walked down a hallway later. Ah memories of youth....!

I did the exact same thing, about the same time, not far from you, for the 7thID(L) EDRE for Panama. I was guarding the Division's vehicles ( and heavy weapons) after weigh in, before they all left for Travis. Then we went the day after. The Infantry got to fly to Hawaii in C-5's and C141's us REMF's were stuck in 130's. I did get to see Pearl from the air on the way out, we arrived in the dark.

Ah, the good ole Herky Jerk flight. Did two 18 hour flights in the Herk after 9-11, took days for my body to adjust to being on the ground. It's like flying in a school bus!

You guys just joined the wrong branch. In the Navy, we took our home with us everywhere we went. There was a restaurant and snack bar, a store with plenty of gdunk and we slept in beds in air-conditioning.

We had Air Conditioning too Steve......At 20,000 feet, ramp down, kicking HALO jumpers out, no heat, unpressurized, sucking O2 through a mask, above Pinal Park Arizona, in February.......It was 40 below up there, I've never been so damn cold in my life. Then to add salt to the wound, we couldn't raise the ramp until we dropped in altitude. Apparently ice formed on the ramp and froze it in the open position. We did that 4 times a day, until we had LOX Converter leak and had to fly into Davis Monthan AFB for repairs.

[entropy]

Ugh! I didn't think I'd ever get to sleep on the 130, but I did.

So, I too am starting a retro build, one I've been wanting to do for a long time:
I was issued a Harrington & Richardson made M16A1. I found a place that will engrave your 80% receiver (it has to be 80% because, California.) that you send in, they will do H&R and Hydra-Matic markings and will put any serial number on it that you want. I still have my Equipment Card for my issue rifle, so that's the serial number I had put on it:

H and R receiver.jpg

It might be a while before I finish it, but the path will be fun, (mostly to Brownell's) and I'll have the closest I can get to my issue rifle.

I'd normally doze off as we were taxiing, then snap awake after take off and still climbing to cruising altitude, find my spot, build my nest, and go back to sleep, the Load Master would have to kick and let me know we were on our final approach and to go strap in.

Looking forward to seeing your progress and build. Yeah Brownells got a lot of my money. I've got $946.75 tied up in mine total, which is less than I would have paid for one built already.

I have the following parts left over from my build. A2 buttstock, long buttstock screw, buttstock spacer, A2 pistol grip, pistol grip screw and washer, barrel nut, gas tube roll pin, front swivel rivet. If you can use any of them give me a PM.

Thanks for the offer Mike, but I'm trying to keep it as A1 as possible with the exception of an A2 birdcage-never liked the flash hider (there's an oxymoron for you!) kicking up dirt when I shot. The little parts wouldn't be worth the shipping.