My "Retro" GUU-5/P, USAF Franken Carbine, sort of...

[imarangemaster]

Well, I took off my very boring flat top upper, and mounted my chrome lined, 1/7 twist M4 barrel on a Brownell's "Blem" grey 603 upper. The barrel gives me just over MOA with MK262 MOD1 77 grainers. The JD Machine lower (which will soon be grey too) already had a Colt Fiberite type CAR-15 stock, and the handguards are also the slim CAR-15 type. I already had the forward assist, and I got the upper, port door, and A1 rear sight for a total of $125, including shipping. The Brownell's blem upper had a double sale, and I used a promo code to get another $10 off and free shipping!

The Air Force got 629s (XM177s) with forward assists from the Army after Vietnam, and used them as their GAU-5/A/B (GAU-5/A/A was a model 630, without a forward assist). In the late 80s, these would have been reworked with the M4 style barrel, and been GUU-5/Ps. The Air Force NEVER throws out anything!

The first picture is how it looks in free America. (and for the trolls, the first picture, it is an incomplete firearm with no buffer, spring, or BCG, so it is NOT a violation). The second picture is with the grip fin to make it Commiefornia legal, as is the pinned CAR stock and the faux-A1 flash hider that is really a Cav Arms brake.

I can have the 20 rounders, as I had them as an LEO, so I can keep them. Actually, I probably had them from the late 70s and used them in my issue GAU-5/P I had in the USAF Reserves. When we switched to 30s, we pitched the 20s in the trash. Working in the arms room, I grabbed some. When I did work on patrol, I use a 20 in the weapon, and left the 30s in my load out in ALICE gear.

[nicky c]

Tell us about the medallion on the handle.

[Tere_Hanges]

Tell us about the medallion on the handle.

Looks like a USAF sticker.

[imarangemaster]

[imarangemaster]

I would prefer to have a 1/7 twist pencil barrel from a Colt 6420 or 6720. Then it would basically be a Model 726. At $279 for one of those barrels when in stock at G&R Tactical, that is too way too rich for my blood. Especially with as accurate as this chrome lined M4 barrel is!

[Tere_Hanges]

I tried to assemble an early colt carbine. I ended up using a Colt LE carbine upper with the pencil barrel and a plastic replica CAR stock.
This is a "BBRAW":


I put a fake flashhider thread protector on the upper to use on a featureless lower.
Fully featureless:

[imarangemaster]

Nice. That is a 6520 upper. That barrel is the bomb. 6420 had the same barrel with an A1 upper.

[highpower]

I built a XM177E2 a few years ago on a 70's era Colt M16 kit and am happy with it except that it has a heavy profile barrel (it should have the pencil profile to be "correct"). I think I am going to have to finally break down and pick up a regular pencil barrel, cut it to the correct length and thread the end as I can't seem to find the right one.

The A2 grip has since been changed to the correct A1 style.

[nitroxdiver]

Nice job Highpower.


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[Tere_Hanges]

Nice. That is a 6520 upper. That barrel is the bomb. 6420 had the same barrel with an A1 upper.

Yeah it sure is, I got it from Arms Unlimited in Nevada for $395 shipped. Its nice and light and handy.

[imarangemaster]

I just weighed the build with the A1 upper, and it weighs 5 pounds, 15 ounces...one ounce less than the build with the flat top and the Magpul MOE BUIS. That's a pound and one ounce lighter than my 186 Mini-14 with wood furniture. With a pencil barrel, it would even be 3 or 4 ounce lighter!

[imarangemaster]

YIPPEEEE! I just found (and bought) an early Colt upper 6420 (SP1 slickside upper with 1/7 16" pencil barrel) for under $300. Selling the complete Brownell's 603 upper (with port door, forward assist, and rear sight, 16" chrome lined 1/7 M4 barrel with A2 flash hider, handguards, delta ring etc. BCG and charging handle NOT included) First I'll take it and $250. Posting in classifieds later today SHIPPING included in $250 price.

[imarangemaster]

I already have a Colt M16 BCG and charging handle to go with the 6420 upper, so it will be all Colt upper end (except the Cav Arms Comp I will have to replace the flash hider with for Commiefornia). The earliest 6420s had slickside SP1 upper and A1 flash hider. When slickside uppers ran out, the used 603 uppers, and then finally switched to A2 uppers with Brunton bump and A2 rear sights. In the 80s and 90s I was an FFL. I ordered several 6420 "Sporter II Light Weights", and actual got one slickside and one A2.

The lower has a Colt FCG, and some Colt LPK parts, and the Colt A1 grip with grip fin. The stock is MA parts Mil-spec Colt N1 style Fberite, and the mags will be Colt and Simmonds 20s. The JD lower will be coated grey to match the upper for now, though eventually I want to get a NDS-601 lower. This will be the ultimate light weight, Commiefornia compliant, retro carbine build! THe only difference between it and the GAU-5/P I carried will be 1.5 inch longer barrel and the 1/7 twist instead of 1/12. (I guess that would make it an early GUU-5/P)

[BradleyAbrams]

That is a very nice carbine.

I have always liked the look of the XM117, and will likely build a clone ( or close approximation ) in the near future.


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[rp55]

There is an interesting article in February's American Rifleman about the use of the CAR-15 and XM-177E2 in Vietnam by MACV-SOG. They mention in passing the GAU-5A and that it is "identifiable by it's 10" barrel and lack of a forward bolt assist."

I'd alwats thought that the GUU-5P had a 14.5" barrel with no forward assist. Ranier Arms has a upper with no forward assist or case deflector.