SIGforum
Is the civilian “M4” outdated tech?

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/630601935/m/1000091715

September 12, 2025, 06:06 PM
Mars_Attacks
Is the civilian “M4” outdated tech?
quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Colt LE9620.

Laughs in SP1...... Big Grin


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September 12, 2025, 08:40 PM
jljones
9620, 9720. Whatever it takes. Big Grin


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September 12, 2025, 11:30 PM
old rugged cross
No, wished I still had my bone stock 6920 from around a dozen years ago or more. Great rifle. Frown



"Practice like you want to play in the game"
September 13, 2025, 12:33 AM
sigmonkey
I GOTTA GUN! OK????

It's got numbers and letters and shit, like an Algebra problem.

Those are all messed up too!

Y'all are mean.




"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא עוד
September 13, 2025, 10:57 AM
JoshNC
quote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
quote:
Originally posted by JoshNC:
And I want to do a 10.3” with a c7 upper, skinny 6-hole CAR handguards.


I have a 10.3 A1 and an 11.5 C7.

The 11.5 C7 is better.

My favorite of them all is the 16" dissipator.


I have 10.3, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 14.5, and 16 inch guns. My want for a 10.3 c7 is purely just for amusement. 11.5 definitely outshines 10.3/10.5, but the 10 inchers are just fun.


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"AND YEA THOUGH THE HINDUS SPEAK OF KARMA, I IMPLORE YOU...GIVE HER A BREAK, LORD". - Clark W. Griswald
September 13, 2025, 11:09 AM
apprentice
For the last several years I've only got one complete AR15, and it is a PSA Freedom or whatever model -- as bone stock as it gets aside from the red dot I added.
September 13, 2025, 01:17 PM
RogueJSK
I have one remaining M4ish 14.5" AR with a fixed FSB and carbine gas. (Yes, it's a true 14.5" with a pinned extended birdcage, rather than the more common civilian 16" carbine gas ARs that predominated in the 2000s.)

It was also my first AR.

But while I've still got it set up with a sling/light/optic, and it'll do the job just fine if needed, it wouldn't be my first choice. Or second, or third, or... Wink

It mainly just sits in the safe.
September 13, 2025, 02:48 PM
jljones
My first LE AR is what spurred this thread.

Late 90’s 6920 with the big pin front.


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September 13, 2025, 04:42 PM
m499
The more I use the newer stuff - the more I want to tear my rifles down and reconfigure everything back to A1 style carry handles and plastic handguards.. Cool So I guess that's actually going the other direction - even MORE “outdated” than the M4… Something like a later stage Colt 723 with the M4 barrel would be cool.

Screw a small section of pic rail to your OG plastic handguard to mount a flashlight and that setup can do everything a multi-$$$ gun can do within say 50 yards. Any farther I’d add an Aimpoint or Romeo5. The Vortex dots are also nice.

That being said - the 10.5” MK18 clone with the can is lots o’ fun and is my go to for when the zombies come. A VERY close 2nd place award goes to the 11.5 Gordy clone (It may actually overtake the Mk18 eventually).. My 14.5 is my long range gun ! Big Grin Big Grin

.
September 14, 2025, 12:31 AM
JoshNC
quote:
Originally posted by m499:
The more I use the newer stuff - the more I want to tear my rifles down and reconfigure everything back to A1 style carry handles and plastic handguards.. Cool So I guess that's actually going the other direction - even MORE “outdated” than the M4… Something like a later stage Colt 723 with the M4 barrel would be cool.

Screw a small section of pic rail to your OG plastic handguard to mount a flashlight and that setup can do everything a multi-$$$ gun can do within say 50 yards. Any farther I’d add an Aimpoint or Romeo5. The Vortex dots are also nice.

That being said - the 10.5” MK18 clone with the can is lots o’ fun and is my go to for when the zombies come. A VERY close 2nd place award goes to the 11.5 Gordy clone (It may actually overtake the Mk18 eventually).. My 14.5 is my long range gun ! Big Grin Big Grin

.


The late model 723 is a great gun. I put together an upper using a LuthAR C7 with m4 feed ramps, Colt 14.5 M4 barrel, colt bolt group, and a KAC RAS. It was a neat upper. I eventually sold it to a friend who wanted it and I rarely shot it. But I wouldn’t hesitate to do another like it. The early 723 with skinny 1:7 twist barrel is great too. I still have one of those and it’s a very light little gun.


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"AND YEA THOUGH THE HINDUS SPEAK OF KARMA, I IMPLORE YOU...GIVE HER A BREAK, LORD". - Clark W. Griswald
September 14, 2025, 07:55 AM
fritz
An M4 is certainly a capable rifle. It worked back then, it works now, it will work in the future.

Over time, modifications have made the rifle more functional in many ways -- accuracy, long-distance capabilities, ability to accept accessories.

I've never owned an M4-type rifle, and doubt that I ever will.
September 14, 2025, 11:30 AM
jljones
How do I know if I’m starting to OD on too much Small Arms Solutions YouTube channel?


________________
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September 14, 2025, 02:15 PM
ThunTiger
I’m running a KAC RAS II with a LA152 holding an Aimpoint Pro.

Finally got the thing put together and it’s *almost* a retro build.

Still very capable and reliable.
September 14, 2025, 02:56 PM
parabellum
I put this one together ten years ago, all Colt. Complete Colt upper including Colt OEM BCG and charging handle. LE6921CK 14.5" with an AAC Blackout non-mount FH pinned and welded to bring it to legal length.

Colt LE6920MP complete lower (minus buttstock) purchased off Gun Broker. Staked receiver extension.

Colt OEM waffle stock purchased from Brownells.

Colt OEM carry handle purchased from Brownells

The lower had the usual not-so-great trigger of Colt ARs of this era, so I installed an ALG QMS which is indistinguishable externally from the Colt trigger. Magpul MOE grip and Magpul aluminum trigger guard.

GG&G side sling adapter for the buttstock. I removed the Colt front side sling adapter because I've always found it a bit clunky, and installed a Colt OEM front sling swivel.

I've set this one back and left it unfired. (The Chinese bipod was used for photo purposes only)








I've got one I built around another Colt 14.5" M4 barrel, again P&W with AAC Blackout. Colt Upper receiver and receiver extension and associated parts. All Colt small lower parts. Colt OEM action spring and OEM H2 buffer.

This one looks a bit different now than in the pic, with a Daniel Defense A1.5 rear sight replacing the Troy, which had some problems. In the photo, the rifle wears an ALG ACT trigger but it now has a sweet Geissele SSA installed. Originally, this was built on a Noveske lower, which has been re-tasked, and the rifle now wears a perfectly fine Anderson Manufacturing lower. Magpul furniture, and the grip has been updated from the MOE to the MOE+. The sling has been replaced with my standard Blue Force Gear VCAS. A really sweet-handling carbine.




_______________________________________________

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September 14, 2025, 03:56 PM
Lefty Sig
M4 with a 14.5" barrel looks "right" and pinning and welding a GOOD flash hider to get to 16" is viable option to keep things off the Federal registry.

I just don't like M4's with 16" barrels.

I might look into building something with a 14.5 pin and weld...
September 14, 2025, 05:18 PM
Mars_Attacks
I see no need for one of them fancy schmancy M14 weight AR thingies.




____________________________

Eeewwww, don't touch it!
Here, poke at it with this stick.
September 14, 2025, 06:30 PM
Lt CHEG
quote:
Originally posted by jljones:
How do I know if I’m starting to OD on too much Small Arms Solutions YouTube channel?


Chris is a good dude. He worked as a firearms and tool marks examiner at the Monroe County lab when I was a brand spanking new ATF Agent in Rochester, 18 or so years ago. We didn’t agree on every single thing, but it seems like I never got out of the lab without talking with Chris for the better part of an hour. Very knowledgeable guy and I always enjoyed talking guns with him. I’m glad he’s doing well.




“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
September 14, 2025, 07:15 PM
parabellum
quote:
Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
M4 with a 14.5" barrel looks "right" and pinning and welding a GOOD flash hider to get to 16" is viable option to keep things off the Federal registry.
This information is about 12 years old, but the testing is thorough:

AR-15 Muzzle Device Comparison

I chose the AAC Blackout non-mount based mostly upon this testing.
quote:
For the best flash reduction, the B.E. Meyers 249F would be my choice.

For truly outstanding flash reduction at a more affordable price, the AAC Blackout is excellent.
The B.E. Meyers 249F is 325 bucks and apparently quite hard to obtain, and, unfortunately, while AAC still offers muzzle devices, a quick look at their site fails to show the non-mount Blackout, but if you can find one, I recommend buying it.



I have one on my SCAR 17 as well.



There may be better options available today, I don't know.
September 14, 2025, 08:47 PM
Lefty Sig
^^^ Yep, I used the AAC Blackout 3-tines on a couple AR's before I got into Surefire cans and changed to SOCOM FH's.

I went by these studies - similar results:

https://www.thetruthaboutguns....lash-hider-shootout/

https://www.thetruthaboutguns....flash-hiding-test-2/
September 15, 2025, 06:23 AM
MikeGLI
quote:
Originally posted by jljones:
9620, 9720. Whatever it takes. Big Grin


This did not get missed, Sir. Wink




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