Is there market for US Colt M16A1 upper

benellibrian

benellibrian

Coyote sniper
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 26, 2008
148
31
Iowa
#1
I have a AR15 that I was going to sell at least I thought it was and turns out that the upper that is on it is a M16 upper with chrome lined barrel just wondering if there is any kind of market for these uppers.I pulled the sale so i didnt sell something to someone that they werent getting what they planned on getting.Thanks Brian
 
#2
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

There is a market for it just not nearly as big as the modernized/updated verzion. I prefer an a2 sighted carbine because I love the a2 sights. When it comes to the full size I prefer a flat top with an optic for versatility. What are the specs of your upper?
 
#3
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

I'm not sure the specs it is a old colt upper.
DSC03214.jpg
 
#4
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

Yes, but it's not as big as the market for what's 'new' with the AR platform.

The twist is 1-12" and the sights, as noted above, are a lot more difficult to work with. They are kind of stuck where you are zeroed. 50m-300m. Also, the heaviest bullet you can shoot is 60 gr. if it isn't a high BC bullet (because of the 1-12" twist). 55 gr. FMJ's and V-Max's are the best bullets you can shoot through these. They also do well, depending on the barrel with 50, 52, an 53 gr. match bullets. Just don't expect great results past 300 with them. At 500 these give up a lot of ground to wind drift.
 
#5
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

I found info on AR15 page that it was made during 1964-1971 when i get register on there I will put it up for sale there seems like they have a following on old m16 uppers.
 
#8
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: benellibrian</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I found info on AR15 page that it was made during 1964-1971 when i get register on there I will put it up for sale there seems like they have a following on old m16 uppers. </div></div>

Yeah there has been renewed interest in the old skool M16s lately - you shouldn't have any trouble selling it especially since it's a factory Colt upper.
 
#9
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

Bomb proof sights, incredibly lightweight and fast to swing... Whats not to love? Sure it doesn't do well at long range but an A2 doesn't do much better, except if you're using a spotting scope and wind flags.
 
#10
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RyanScott</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bomb proof sights, incredibly lightweight and fast to swing... Whats not to love? Sure it doesn't do well at long range but an A2 doesn't do much better, except if you're using a spotting scope and wind flags.</div></div>

Them sights is only bombproof if the rifle is zeroed to you. Pick one up and they are such a pain in the butt to change. I thought the A2 sights were a vast improvement over the A1.

And honestly, I didn't notice much advantage swinging a barrel with an A1 over and A2. Just that since your leverage is at the pistol grip they were both very manueverable vs. a straight stocked stick of many varieties.
 
#11
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

That's an SP1 upper so hell yeah someone would buy it, shit I'd buy it if I had the cash for one. I've always wanted an old Vietnam style SP1.

That should have the old 3-prong flash hider on it, right?

The original Colt M16 (IIRC) does not have a chrome-lined barrel, which was added after the debacle of M16's jamming in Vietnam.
 
#13
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JelloStorm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's an SP1 upper so hell yeah someone would buy it, shit I'd buy it if I had the cash for one. I've always wanted an old Vietnam style SP1.

That should have the old 3-prong flash hider on it, right?

The original Colt M16 (IIRC) does not have a chrome-lined barrel, which was added after the debacle of M16's jamming in Vietnam. </div></div>

The chroming of the chamber first started in 1963 and retro'd to everything in early 1967. Because that's how long it took everybody to fight about it. Let's just say Mac the knife and his statistics F'd that one up too.
The birdcage was introduced at the same time, 1967. The three prong flashider in my opinion was useless. The birdcage was better and the A2 birdcage is the best (of the non-brake type flash suppressors).
 
#14
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JelloStorm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's an SP1 upper so hell yeah someone would buy it, shit I'd buy it if I had the cash for one. I've always wanted an old Vietnam style SP1.

That should have the old 3-prong flash hider on it, right?

The original Colt M16 (IIRC) does not have a chrome-lined barrel, which was added after the debacle of M16's jamming in Vietnam. </div></div>

The chroming of the chamber first started in 1963 and retro'd to everything in early 1967. Because that's how long it took everybody to fight about it. Let's just say Mac the knife and his statistics F'd that one up too. the bores getting chromed was finally standardized in 1971. Amazing isn't it??
The birdcage was introduced at the same time, 1967. The three prong flashider in my opinion was useless. The birdcage was better and the A2 birdcage is the best (of the non-brake type flash suppressors).
I have to say I don't/didn't know M16/M16A1 uppers were in that much demand. But if someone wants it sell it for all you can get.
 
#16
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

Elevation is as easily adjusted on an A1 as on an A2 and you just need a bullet tip to adjust windage. No problem. The plus is that the sights don't rub into things and rotate themselves, which I have seen happen with A2 sights. If I had to use an A2 I would either loc-tite the elevation knob still or nail polish everything with witness marks.
 
#17
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RyanScott</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Elevation is as easily adjusted on an A1 as on an A2 and you just need a bullet tip to adjust windage. No problem. The plus is that the sights don't rub into things and rotate themselves, which I have seen happen with A2 sights. If I had to use an A2 I would either loc-tite the elevation knob still or nail polish everything with witness marks.</div></div>

I don't know which A1 you're talking about. The only way to adjust elevation on an A1 is to screw the front sight down in. To my way of thinking that's a little more difficult than just turning up the knob on the rear sight. As for the windage, again, turning a knob is simpler than screwing up a bullet tip or busting a pen. Try using one of these obnoxious things then tell me they were easier. I'll still say A2's are better by a long shot.
 
#18
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

A2s adjust exactly as A1s, per the manual, with the exception of the rear sight knob being designed to turn without tools. If you are turning the elevation knob on the rear sight to zero you are doing it incorrectly and your range marks will not work as designed.
 
#19
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

HELLLLOOOOO....A1's don't have an elevation adjustment on the rear sight.

Edit:

I thought I would also add that M16A1's only adjust 8 clicks in each direction on the rear sight. Each click is supposedly an MOA.
 
#22
Re: Is there market for M16A1 upper

benellibrian,

I may personally prefer the A2 over the A1 but that doesn't mean someone isn't interested in it. See what it takes to get registered to sell on AR15.com. I only say sell it there instead of here as you'll probably find more people looking for historical rifles instead of newer stuff.

Looking over on GB M16A1/AR15A1 uppers have gone from $120-$195 Bare receiver going for $99

You've gotta find someone who wants the history of it. Because in my mind that thing is worth at least $500.
 
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