r/RetroAR • • Feb 24 '26

r/RetroAR is looking for a couple of new mods. Comment here to volunteer!

11 Upvotes

I'm stepping down to focus on my "joining the military" and folk music subs, so this sub could use a couple more new mods. If interested in volunteering, ensure your account has at least 1 year on Reddit, and comment below with the following:

  • What is your background or area of interest as pertains to Retro ARs?
  • What would be your priorities, goals, changes if you become a mod?

r/RetroAR • • Mar 06 '25

Finishing up sub policy updates: what post flairs do folks want to see?

49 Upvotes

The mod team is refining our sub policies to update the “What is Retro?” post that is the core of what we do and do not include on this sub.

I’ve been polling the readership, and so far we’re looking at:

  • Fixed carry handles are mandatory (exception for AR-18, T65, etc)
  • provided the carry handle is fixed, modern accoutrements are still allowed (Keymod, modern optics, etc)
  • builds based on ARs in fiction are allowed.

I’ve seen some strong upvotes for adding post flairs to the sub, so that folks that just want to see historically accurate rifles can single those out, folks who like Retromod can zoom in one those, etc. I conferred with the senior mod and he suggested we have fun(ny) flairs for each category. Once these are made, post flairs will be mandatory to make a new post. What flairs would folks like to have for:

  • Historically accurate (externally) builds. (Still allows “sleeper” internal modern touches like non-historical twist rates and cartridges)
  • “Retromod” builds that have a fixed handle but modern accoutrements
  • Fictional builds based off movies, shows, manga, video games, etc.

Pitch us your ideas, and the best ones will be instituted, along with making post flairs mandatory, in the near future.


r/RetroAR • • 8h ago

Retro SBR goodness

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166 Upvotes

My pre-injunction 11.5


r/RetroAR • • 1h ago

KP-15A1 Mod 2 (and a single RailScale 1.5 Slot Cover)

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• Upvotes

r/RetroAR • • 10h ago

Is it really retro if the dude is still rocking it today

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33 Upvotes

r/RetroAR • • 7h ago

Is this kit worth buying?

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9 Upvotes

Hi all, getting ready to build my first ar. Does anyone have any experience with this kit from what a country? Looking to build an ar using real colt m16a1 parts and this looks to be my only option.


r/RetroAR • • 1d ago

This thing

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83 Upvotes

r/RetroAR • • 1d ago

That Real Gourmet Shit Calling the Old Surefires out

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62 Upvotes

The three amigos


r/RetroAR • • 1d ago

Super-Early Production Model 01 AR15 | Serial #000192 | Dec. 1959 Production? | Green Furniture | European Collector

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65 Upvotes

We are visiting a collector in Europe who has an incredible selection of rare firearms. Here is an extremely-early production Model 01 AR15. The serial number is 000192, and because the serial numbers for the Model 01 started at 000101, it is among the first 100 ever manufactured. This extremely-early serial number also indicates it was probably manufactured in December of 1959, the same month that large-scale production of this model started. 

The Model 01 was the first mass-produced version of Eugene Stoner’s AR-15 design after Colt acquired the manufacturing rights from ArmaLite. Serial production began in December 1959 and continued into mid-1963, with roughly 14,500 made in the range starting around serial 000101 through about 014484.

These early rifles were primarily for U.S. Air Force use, Project AGILE testing (AGILE was basically the predecessor to DARPA), limited foreign military sales, and some commercial/police sales. Key early export contracts included small batches (around two dozen each) to Malaya/Malaysia and India, plus smaller numbers to places like Australia, Burma, and Singapore.

Note some interesting features on this early AR include semi-gloss green furniture (is this original furniture?). These also have the slab-side lower (no fencing around the magazine release at all) and this is probably a 1-14" twist barrel. 

If this rifle was a transferable machinegun in the US, it would probably be worth in the $40k - $50k range. 


r/RetroAR • • 1d ago

That Real Gourmet Shit Let them eat!

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114 Upvotes

Lethal Weapons Retro Rifle match in Texas the past weekend. OG bushmaster upper.
Definitely a match to go to if you want to use your retro rifles!


r/RetroAR • • 1d ago

That Real Gourmet Shit Post-74 Parts Build Complete

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44 Upvotes

After being bitten by the bug of carry handles, I decided I needed a gray build. Build details:

BAD Attitude Lowkey raw aluminum A1 lower, electro etched and Moly Resin’d ([u/SLN583](u/SLN583), thanks again for the tutorial my man.)

Original Colt A1 CH marked upper with C MP Chrome Bore barrel

70s SP1 LPK

NOS Seatbelt Sling

USGI furniture (don’t grill me for the wrong stock, I had it on hand already from a previous build, trying to source a Type E in good shape)

Early-ish Colt - Armalite marked Bipod

All in, I think the build cost around $1100. The upper was complete- I managed to snag it off gunbroker for ~$600. SP1 LPK & sling was from AR15 sport and about $200 total. Front take down pin and buffer assembly was from max arms (probably aren’t 70s produced but close enough) and were about $60.

Furniture was sourced from various places.

Only thing I’m not 100% happy with is the depth of the right side of the colt manufacturing markings. Definitely undercooked but I don’t think it’s entirely out of the realm of rollmark irregularities.


r/RetroAR • • 1d ago

Parts Pig

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74 Upvotes

Ya know.... I love this little turd. Everyone needs a middy in my opinion.

The only thing its missing is a HEL-E4A.


r/RetroAR • • 1d ago

Old SureFire Light

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23 Upvotes

An old guy brought in his AR to sell today and he had this bad boy attached. For the right price, I might like it for a late 90’s Colt SBR build that I have in mind.

I very much appreciate any input you all might have on a fair price that I may offer the fella.

Many Thanks!


r/RetroAR • • 2d ago

Work In Progress, Chill Out Retro mod work in progress

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157 Upvotes

r/RetroAR • • 2d ago

Work In Progress, Chill Out I’m from Rhodesia

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185 Upvotes

Blood Diamond car 15 I know there’s some things that aren’t clone correct like the streamlight, the 100 concepts light cover, the radian charging handle (I have a m4 one for it), and the mount under the fsb isn’t a weaver one, and the slings a blue force gear, I also have a butt pad on the car 15 stock, aside from that it’s clone correct. Happy to answer any questions!


r/RetroAR • • 2d ago

Requesting advice on how to obtain a gray lower receiver

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21 Upvotes

Hello! I’m planning on building an early 80’s style M16A2 as my first AR build and already have a nice gray colt upper. I was curious from people who have some retro rifles built under their belt on how they would recommend going about it.

My current plan is to get a B.A.D lower with a clear anodizing and working with a company to cerakote it a gray thats close enough but want opinions or alternative methods! Thank you!

(I could care less if they are identical cause I know that was a given in the service but close is nice) ((photo of my upper for fun))


r/RetroAR • • 2d ago

Running my Colt XM177E2 at Viking brutality.

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260 Upvotes

r/RetroAR • • 2d ago

BRN-10A

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63 Upvotes

My BRN-10A with a free float handguard and wood stock. Fantastic rifle, very balanced and hits hard. I want to eventually put a two stage trigger in it to really finish it off.


r/RetroAR • • 2d ago

Toob handguard, Toob grip, Toob optic, Can't have enough toobs

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296 Upvotes

Thankful the old Armalites came with clamp on FSB. Made the whole toob process way more easier. Hose clamped on some spare weaver rail and drilled and tapped pic rail onto the bottom. Angle grinder go brrrr.


r/RetroAR • • 2d ago

H&R strikes again

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93 Upvotes

I've had pretty bad luck with H&R when it comes to anodizing, which is shocking to absolutely no one. I'm tired of dealing with customer service and don't really want to drop even more cash on Cerakote. The annoying guy who lives in my head is screaming "rattle can!" Thoughts?


r/RetroAR • • 2d ago

That Real Gourmet Shit I canned it

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82 Upvotes

Something about the current rattle can job is telling me to redo it, but boy do I like the way this turned out.


r/RetroAR • • 2d ago

Did any of the early M16A2 Commandos/733s have A1 Ejection Port Covers?

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76 Upvotes

r/RetroAR • • 3d ago

9mm DOE

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172 Upvotes

r/RetroAR • • 3d ago

Really loving this one!

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109 Upvotes

This build has been on the back burner waiting for a stripped upper, well it finally showed up. Found it at a local auction house for $30 however the Colt markings were oddly scrubbed from it.. Stock assembly I bought a decade ago from a local gunstore for $25.

I wanted an A1 style upper married to a quality M4 profile barrel, something light and great for the trail but still accurate out to 300 yards like the M4 I used.


r/RetroAR • • 3d ago

Work In Progress, Chill Out Work in progress

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89 Upvotes

My agency recently issued me this for SRT/SWAT. Bushmaster XM-15 E2S. Working on turning it into a BHD Delta carbine. Suppressor is on the way along with CAR-15 stock, 6 hole hand guard, and then probably swapping the grip for a LS2. Oh and almost forgot it has that third selection