The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

OK you AR experts, I'm a rookie on these rifles, so a little help please. I acquired a Colt Sporter Competition HBAR AR-15 yesterday and just finished the clean up today. This is a used gun and appears to be a rifle built in the late 70's. Has an A2 butt stock and a real nice trigger. The barrel is 20-inch and marked "CMp 5.56 NATO 1/9 HBAR." I am assuming the barrel is chambered for the military round and is 1 in 9" twist.

This rifle is in nice shape with good internals, little wear on the upper and lower, and badly in need of required lubrication. The serial number begins with CH. I have seen some internet sources that indicate 1978 manufacture, but I can't be sure. If any of you are familiar with this rifle, I would appreciate whatever information you could provide. Colt's web site was not much help. Now to find a scope for this little jewel....

Pretty much all you need is stamped on the gun. I have a ton of experience with the platform, but only fired one of that model once, in the short time my Dad owned one. FInd the Delta cheekpiece for it, it will help your shooting a scope on it.

1:9 will stabilize 55-70 grain bullets best, but it can be used with as low as 40 gr. and up to 75 gr.

"translation" of your barrel markings: C-Colt. MP-magnetic particle inspected. 5.56mm NATO-chambered. 1/9-one revolution in nine inches. HBAR Heavy Barrel

WeldonHunter wrote:"translation" of your barrel markings: C-Colt. MP-magnetic particle inspected. 5.56mm NATO-chambered. 1/9-one revolution in nine inches. HBAR Heavy Barrel

Thanks; that is pretty much what I was able to determine, but confirmation on these markings is important because my experience level is low. This is only the second AR I have owned. If you have any recommendation for a scope, I am all ears. Right now, I am looking at a Vortex Strike Eagle illuminated reticle, 1-6x and a one piece AR mount. Just seems appropriate for this rifle.

Nothing wrong with that setup.

tjtM38 wrote:

WeldonHunter wrote:"translation" of your barrel markings: C-Colt. MP-magnetic particle inspected. 5.56mm NATO-chambered. 1/9-one revolution in nine inches. HBAR Heavy Barrel

Thanks; that is pretty much what I was able to determine, but confirmation on these markings is important because my experience level is low. This is only the second AR I have owned. If you have any recommendation for a scope, I am all ears. Right now, I am looking at a Vortex Strike Eagle illuminated reticle, 1-6x and a one piece AR mount. Just seems appropriate for this rifle.

I know a little about ARs but I'm by no means an expert. I actually had to google those markings to confirm them, lol. I was pretty sure on a few but some I needed confirmation. I own two ARs now with a few extra uppers, one in 7.62x39. I built both of mine. I'm still kind of on a learning curve myself and really don;t know much about optics. Mine are both iron sights. I'm also inadvertently becoming a bayonet collector. I have 7 of them now I think. Just picked up two new Colt marked surplus bayos a few weeks ago. This is the two I built.

WeldonHunter, I love your retro AR! Looks like something out of 1967 Vietnam. Have a friend and fellow co-worker who did an AR build with a Palmetto State upper in 7.62x39. It is pretty special. I got the Vortex scope mounted on this new AR, so I will try to give a range report when I sight it in.

This rifle/scope was easy to sight in and produced excellent results at 100 yards.

tjtM38 wrote:WeldonHunter, I love your retro AR! Looks like something out of 1967 Vietnam. Have a friend and fellow co-worker who did an AR build with a Palmetto State upper in 7.62x39. It is pretty special. I got the Vortex scope mounted on this new AR, so I will try to give a range report when I sight it in.

Thanks I was going for the M16 look. It has an Incorporated carry handle. The upper is an Olympic A2 20" 1:9 HBAR 5.56 upper but I also have a spare DPMS that's basically the same thing specs. wise. Exactly actually. It has surplus M16 triangular hand guards and the teardrop forward assist. I opted to use the Magpul grip I had over the A2 that came with the LPK. The M4A3 has a Bushmaster Patrolman upper that's 16" 5.56 1:9 and as I mentioned I have the 7.62x39 upper for it also.

Here's another angle from the side and one on the rack with the 20rd Mag and bayonet fixed. I love the retro M16 look.

tjtM38 wrote:This rifle/scope was easy to sight in and produced excellent results at 100 yards.

I bet if you keep working with it you'll pull that group even tighter. That setup was made for long distance shooting. That is a nice setup.

tjtM38 wrote:WeldonHunter, I love your retro AR! Looks like something out of 1967 Vietnam. Have a friend and fellow co-worker who did an AR build with a Palmetto State upper in 7.62x39. It is pretty special. I got the Vortex scope mounted on this new AR, so I will try to give a range report when I sight it in.

Looks like the one I was issued in 1986.....I helped the Recon guys in our Div. build some like the other one, except 10" barrels. The XM177E2's had been withdrawn by then, and the M-4 wouldn't be issued for 5 more years......

entropy wrote:

tjtM38 wrote:WeldonHunter, I love your retro AR! Looks like something out of 1967 Vietnam. Have a friend and fellow co-worker who did an AR build with a Palmetto State upper in 7.62x39. It is pretty special. I got the Vortex scope mounted on this new AR, so I will try to give a range report when I sight it in.

Looks like the one I was issued in 1986.....I helped the Recon guys in our Div. build some like the other one, except 10" barrels. The XM177E2's had been withdrawn by then, and the M-4 wouldn't be issued for 5 more years......

The M16 clone didn't really start out that way. I really didn't even plan either of them out. I bought a few SKS's and since my FFL charges me $20 for one or four rifles on transfers I decided to get a few AR lowers too. I'd been threatening to build an AR for a few years and that was the start of it. I knew I was going to build one as a carbine and the other as a long barrel AR like an M16. The upper came with regular modern hanguards but it didn't take long to start making it look more like an M16. Didn't take long before I got an M16 handguard set, probably 1980s era actually. I can get a surplus A1 stock but I like the A2 and it's new. I lucked out on the handguard set, it's in really good shape. I actually found a place selling the right side triangular handguards for like $2.89 each NOS still in the OE wrappers. I bought 20 of them, lol. The left side is another story. They cost if you want those. I know it'll never really be like an M16A1. Stuff like the surplus Colt M16A1 uppers are all but gone or really expensive for one without a crack.

WeldonHunter wrote:

tjtM38 wrote:This rifle/scope was easy to sight in and produced excellent results at 100 yards.

I bet if you keep working with it you'll pull that group even tighter. That setup was made for long distance shooting. That is a nice setup.

Yeah. you know I am still getting used to the trigger, but when I settle in with the right ammo and a cool barrel, I can do a little better. This string of 10 was the last of 40 rounds in a 75 minute shooting session. I can highly recommend the Vortex Strike Eagle 1 to 6x and the Burris one piece mount. Both were recommended at the LGS. Used my military discount (retired) and they got me under $400 for scope, mount and they put it on for free. I bore sighted in the back yard, then took it to the range. Easy.