Retro rifle build GAU 5/A/A

chrisp51 · January 5, 2019, 05:07 PM

I have a colt car15 that I bought in the early 80's. It has no forward assist no mag release and no shell deflector. I was lucky and found an additional barreled upper a few weeks after i purchased the CAR at a gun show. I am an Air Force vet and have always wanted a GAU 5/A/A. Well I sent off the extra upper to John Thomas (also an Air Force vet!) Owner of Retro Arms works to have it modified to mimic the GAU carbine. Just want to say he did an excellent job. As soon as I can get some pics I will post them. I am afraid my photos will not do justice Mr. Thomas's work. Stand by.

chrisp51 · January 9, 2019, 08:13 PM

The one on top is the colt with the upper I sent to Retro Arms works. The one on the bottom is the Trioy XM177E2.

chrisp51 · January 9, 2019, 08:18 PM

Finally got the picture issue straightened out.

davidsog · January 10, 2019, 03:58 PM

Quote:

M177E2

Carried one as a private in 1/75th as Platoon Sergeant's RTO. Worst rifle I ever carried in the Army.

bamaranger · January 25, 2019, 08:50 PM

Care to elaborate on why your carbine was "worst"?

davidsog · January 29, 2019, 11:18 AM

I was the APL RTO when I carried that thing. The zero wandered and it was not reliable meaning it malfunctioned quite a bit.

It's report interfered with anyone on a firing line with you and at night the muzzle flash was so large it blinded you, everyone around you, and silhouetted them as well.

Everytime I shot that thing on a live exercise...I would be noticed and not it a good way, LOL.

It looked cool but there is are some good reason's why it did not see large scale use.

bamaranger · January 31, 2019, 03:24 AM

davidsog,

Thanks for your reply. Always good to hear from someone whose been there and done it.

If you get the NRA magazine "the Rifleman", there is an article there, I think well done, discussing the xm177E2, you might enjoy it. Some of the issues mentioned are reliability, report and muzzle flash.

chrisp51 · February 1, 2019, 06:30 PM

John Thomas (Retro arms) actually opens up the gas hole a bit to help with reliability as part of the build he did on my colt upper.

davidsog · February 3, 2019, 08:19 AM

Quote:

John Thomas (Retro arms) actually opens up the gas hole a bit to help with reliability as part of the build he did on my colt upper.

It is a good looking rifle and I understand wanting to have one in the collection. I remember being issued it. I was 19 year's old and thought I was "the man" cause I got the special rifle, LOL.

January 5, 2019, 05:07 PM	#1
chrisp51 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2012 Location: NC Posts: 148	Retro rifle build GAU 5/A/A I have a colt car15 that I bought in the early 80's. It has no forward assist no mag release and no shell deflector. I was lucky and found an additional barreled upper a few weeks after i purchased the CAR at a gun show. I am an Air Force vet and have always wanted a GAU 5/A/A. Well I sent off the extra upper to John Thomas (also an Air Force vet!) Owner of Retro Arms works to have it modified to mimic the GAU carbine. Just want to say he did an excellent job. As soon as I can get some pics I will post them. I am afraid my photos will not do justice Mr. Thomas's work. Stand by.

January 9, 2019, 08:18 PM	#3
chrisp51 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2012 Location: NC Posts: 148	Pictures posted Finally got the picture issue straightened out.

January 25, 2019, 08:50 PM	#5
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,309	why? Care to elaborate on why your carbine was "worst"?

January 31, 2019, 03:24 AM	#7
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,309	article davidsog, Thanks for your reply. Always good to hear from someone whose been there and done it. If you get the NRA magazine "the Rifleman", there is an article there, I think well done, discussing the xm177E2, you might enjoy it. Some of the issues mentioned are reliability, report and muzzle flash.

January 9, 2019, 08:13 PM	#2
chrisp51 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2012 Location: NC Posts: 148	The one on top is the colt with the upper I sent to Retro Arms works. The one on the bottom is the Trioy XM177E2.

January 29, 2019, 11:18 AM	#6
davidsog Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2018 Posts: 1,326	I was the APL RTO when I carried that thing. The zero wandered and it was not reliable meaning it malfunctioned quite a bit. It's report interfered with anyone on a firing line with you and at night the muzzle flash was so large it blinded you, everyone around you, and silhouetted them as well. Everytime I shot that thing on a live exercise...I would be noticed and not it a good way, LOL. It looked cool but there is are some good reason's why it did not see large scale use.

February 1, 2019, 06:30 PM	#8
chrisp51 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2012 Location: NC Posts: 148	John Thomas (Retro arms) actually opens up the gas hole a bit to help with reliability as part of the build he did on my colt upper.