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Brownell’s Colt carry handle retro scope, anybody?

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February 02, 2026, 08:56 AM
shovelhead
Brownell’s Colt carry handle retro scope, anybody?
COLT
Colt AR-15 4x21mm Carry Handle Scope Fine Duplex Reticle
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Summary
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Colt AR-15 4x21mm Carry Handle Scope Fine Duplex Reticle
Brownells #
430103506
MFR #
RETRO4X-COLT
UPC
050806500396

Anybody have real world experience with one of these? I’m considering one for my Hydramatic tribute M16A1. There are some “no names” out there, Barska makes one but my experience puts those at lower tier.

eBay has had the Colt branded ones pop up here and there but I’m concerned about counterfeits so if I’m going to spend 2-3 hundred dollars there I’d rather get it from Brownell’s and at least have some hope of a problem getting corrected.


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————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
February 02, 2026, 09:59 AM
Mars_Attacks
I have one. It's identical to my vintage original.




____________________________

Eeewwww, don't touch it!
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February 02, 2026, 05:31 PM
shovelhead
Marzy, I’ll give you a call later in the week, I’ve got some questions.


-------------------------------------——————
————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
February 02, 2026, 11:21 PM
KMitch200
From the looks of the sight height, it doesn’t seem conducive to any kind of proper cheek weld.
I took the Colt handle off 25-30 years ago and never looked back.

Edit to add: I have never shot a carry handle mounted scope so, there’s that.


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After the game, the King and the pawn go into the same box.
February 03, 2026, 08:22 AM
shovelhead
quote:
Originally posted by KMitch200:
From the looks of the sight height, it doesn’t seem conducive to any kind of proper cheek weld.
I took the Colt handle off 25-30 years ago and never looked back.

Edit to add: I have never shot a carry handle mounted scope so, there’s that.


Like Marzy’s rifle, mine being a tribute/replica/clone, whatever, has the integral handle so it’s that design or nothing.
E501951D-A255-45E0-A147-1B210FACA395 by nailheadjr, on Flickr


-------------------------------------——————
————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
February 03, 2026, 08:52 AM
Glynn863
IIRC, the Brownells copy is supposed to be made by one of the same companies that built the originals.

They occasionally go on sale for a decent price.
February 03, 2026, 08:52 AM
ScreamingCockatoo
quote:
Originally posted by KMitch200:
From the looks of the sight height, it doesn’t seem conducive to any kind of proper cheek weld.
I took the Colt handle off 25-30 years ago and never looked back.

Edit to add: I have never shot a carry handle mounted scope so, there’s that.


I have the Colt 4x20 on mine and it works fine.
Your nose is near the charging handle but that’s how they were shouldered then.
I have an A-1 604.





He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.
February 03, 2026, 11:03 AM
Mars_Attacks
Here's my original.




____________________________

Eeewwww, don't touch it!
Here, poke at it with this stick.
February 03, 2026, 12:01 PM
remshooter
I have one of the Brownell scops i bought for my Brownell Retro AR-15 A1 , a few years back .I like it ,clear glass ,
February 05, 2026, 10:50 AM
Voshterkoff
I wish I bought one before they slapped Colt on it and jacked the price up $100. I have an Israeli surplus unit somewhere that I should have returned it’s in such bad shape.
February 05, 2026, 11:11 AM
Mars_Attacks
I have an Israeli El-OP Eyal that is fantastic I bought from Apex back in 2007 for $100. Optics are perfect and the outsides have minimal wear.

They are now worth $800 to $1500.




____________________________

Eeewwww, don't touch it!
Here, poke at it with this stick.
February 05, 2026, 05:36 PM
john crusher
I of course, have an original Colt 4X20. It sets on my A1 copy, just like the good old days.
February 05, 2026, 07:38 PM
AllenInAR
Back just before Desert Storm, one of the corporals in our company bought one of the Colt ones and would put it on his A2 when we went to the field. We all thought he was the most high-speed/low-drag operators around. Big Grin


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The artist formerly known as AllenInWV
February 19, 2026, 08:39 AM
shovelhead
Got home late last night from a ER visit. And while checking my emails saw Brownell’s was offering 15% off, 2A Day. Couldn’t say no!

My CC is going to look like s*** this month again. Oh well, more fun than the 500 plus I’ve spent on ER copays in the last two and a half weeks!


-------------------------------------——————
————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
February 19, 2026, 11:16 AM
pedropcola
Stupid question that I’m too lazy to research and I trust you guys more anyway. Lol

These repros are 100% reliable so what caused the unreliability when they first came out in the Vietnam War? Ammo, lube, parts? What?
February 19, 2026, 05:18 PM
Mars_Attacks
The M16 in Vietnam suffered from bad ammo.
The powder got switched to stick powder and it's been fine since.


____________________________

Eeewwww, don't touch it!
Here, poke at it with this stick.
February 19, 2026, 09:28 PM
lyman
quote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
The M16 in Vietnam suffered from bad ammo.
The powder got switched to stick powder and it's been fine since.


add to that, lack of proper training, and non chrome parts,


however I have a friend that used an XM177 while there in SF and never had a hiccup with his,


a lot of the ''issues'' were a bit overblown,

and that statement came from other folks I know and knew that were there using them,


they do like to be run wet, mostly,



re the scopes, the crosshairs tend to be a bit thick so precision work is not always easy,
it is kinda a chin/cheek weld, at that height,

they are quite rugged, and will take a beating,


first ones were 3x, then later 4x,
basically the same scope used on the AR-18/AR-180 but with a different mounting bracket installed



https://chandlersfirearms.com/chesterfield-armament/
February 19, 2026, 10:35 PM
shovelhead
And a chrome lined chamber and barrel to reduce the possibility of corrosion.


-------------------------------------——————
————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
February 21, 2026, 07:33 PM
shovelhead
quote:
Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
I wish I bought one before they slapped Colt on it and jacked the price up $100. I have an Israeli surplus unit somewhere that I should have returned it’s in such bad shape.


Brownell’s emailed a 15% off code to me late Wednesday evening, I found it in the incoming mail after I got out of the ER that night. Four trips in there in less than three weeks, the discount code was definitely nice to get.


-------------------------------------——————
————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)