u/General_Curtis_LeMay

To preface this, I know it's terrible lighting, but it should still suffice for this.

Pictured upper receivers are all Colt. One, a 727, one a 602, and one a M16A3/A4 (no M4 feedramps).

I've got zero ties to the USN or any branch whatsoever, but I really enjoy military AR clones. As such, I had to touch the NAVY stuff eventually. Here we are.

That all being said? My question(s) are as follows:

1. Why would CATSUPPLYCO make their lower to be so extraordinarily silver in color? That's why I tossed in the COLT uppers for reference. I know all details M16A3 are difficult to come by, but has anybody seen such a thing?
2. Has anybody seen a clear enough photo of a flattop M16A3 upper to determine forge codes?
3. Why IS IT that details/photos of the M16A3 are so difficult to come by? There are obviously some, but we have scores of pages of content surrounding A1's, A2's, and A4's, whereas the A3 has about 10 pictures that get recycled.

I just picked this up recently. More specifically, I couldn't walk away from it because I knew that (C) MP marked 14.5's are pretty scarce. I'm partial to either lower, but which do you guys think would be cooler?

As somebody pretty new still to carbines, why would this upper (which DOES have M4 cuts, just forgot to photograph) not have a '4' over the gas tube hole in the upper?

I wasn't the one videoing. I was the one firing.

The platform used: https://imgur.com/a/0PwUWNI

Fireworks in the background

^^^^ As per usual, CLICK or TAP on the photo to see more ^^^^

I'm calling it 'done'....Maybe

Long story long, about 6 to 8 years ago, I got into the retro AR craze and that bug hasn't left me yet. More specifically, I had to begin 'somewhere'. And where was that? "I'll start at the beginning (of Colt) I suppose...", I told myself. However, I had no experience with this, I had VERY little knowledge of any of it (always finding new stuff even still), and I just recognized 601 as an "M16, but green! Cool!".

So, I hopped on Brownells, saw their retro stuff, and grabbed BRN-601 upper and lower receivers to start. Later, I acquired the Brownells green furniture, a 1/12 .625 barrel, a BLACK receiver extension tube...Basically slapping something together. By the end, of course, not a single part was anywhere close to the original.

That's when I met a fellow through Gunbroker, of COURSE, and he began to explain little differences (like the dimpled 3 way selector, the bolt catch, etc.), then proceed to sell me said parts for way too much -- but in the process, it seemed to unlock something in this thick skull of mine. I could replace bits and pieces with the real stuff.

Skipping ahead, version II was now born. I'd managed to grab a scrubbed (of green paint) type B stock, a 601 pistol grip with some green left, a modern gray receiver extension tube, bolt catch, selector, etc., etc. But, no handguards (I told myself it wouldn't happen since they were so uncommon and incredibly expensive), and still working with BRN-601 receivers

Retrorifles, before learning that they were NOT trustworthy, actually came through for me ONCE, and it was for a fakelite'd set of type E handguards.

Fast-forward AGAIN one day, I'm browsing Gunbroker, out of sheer boredom and came across a listing from 'Jsanglemeyer'. "I've never heard of this seller before. Let's see what he's got for....Oh my..." Sitting there, in a very poorly lit photograph is a listing for what LOOKED like a set of what could pass as Type C or later black handguards at first glance.. I studied that photo, searching for any and every detail possible which may prove to me that these aren't what I think they are.

Turned out... hidden under that poor lighting was type B handguards with most of its green paint still in-tact to boot -- For $900! Which I'm still STOKED about even now, years later. Unfortunately, it wasn't going to be a quick process in obtaining them at the time to figure out if this wasn't going to be a scam, since at the time, he only accepted personal checks or usps money orders.

Without typing a whole NOVEL, over the course of time, version II made way for what is pictured above, and the final iteration, version III.

After sourcing more and more parts? Everything NOW is original (I'm still iffy about the barrel... 'W' for Winchester? 'L' for Loser? Never seen a 601 barrel like that before....IF IT ISN'T one, that makes two impossible barrels I've gotta somehow luck into now).... But, yeah, version I has morphed into version II, and version II exists as a standalone rifle now with some original parts, but mostly repro stuff, and finally, version III, I am now calling 'done'.

To any whom may wish to get into cloning, hear this:

I don't recommend doing your first clone as model 601 unless you have a SERIOUS hookup, or the patience of Job.

Essentially, I have a registered DD M203 40MM, and would like to purchase a few of these here flares just to keep for a rainy day (the figure of speech. Not a literal rainy day...Screw this drought though):

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1183337795

I've scoured through all of the relevant statutes I could think of, but coming up empty-handed. Granted, I've always struggled with reading when there are a lot of lines of print, such as what one would find in reading through different statutes, so maybe I simply overlooked it.

Is there anything y'all have seen which prohibits us mere peasants from purchasing/possessing?

^^^ AS USUAL, CLICK THE PHOTO TO SEE MORE ^^^

Still needs an ACOG, a thumbscrew mount to replace the A.R.M.S. mount for the M961, etc.

Reference photo: https://imgur.com/a/lVbect1

It's just a shame the barrel almost seems like it's shot out. Compared it directly against my FNMI M16A2 Grenadier which would consistently ring a steel torso all day long from 100, whereas this one would ring 4 or 5 then proceed to miss 6 or 7, followed up with 2 or 3 hits, etc. I'll put it on paper later and see if there's any evidence of weird shit happening to confirm, but same experience with two competent shooters that can at least hit a full size torso from 100.