I forgot to get out the original waffle magazines when I took these pictures. Oh well.

Stop posting this shit. I can only get so hard.

(I mean keep posting)

Nice.

My 603 clone is green (but not actually green) with envy.

Y’all need to stop. Already trying to put together (almost there) a Colt DOE 9mm clone because of Arc’s post.
Now this. I can only take so much, my wallet that is.
Awesome clone. Have a lot of the upper parts and bits of the lower. What are you using for the lower receiver?
Too cool

Wow, thats great. How does it shoot?

quote:

Originally posted by Sauer Kraut:
Y’all need to stop. Already trying to put together (almost there) a Colt DOE 9mm clone because of Arc’s post.
Now this. I can only take so much, my wallet that is.
Awesome clone. Have a lot of the upper parts and bits of the lower. What are you using for the lower receiver?
Too cool

The lower receiver is incorrect for a 601. It's an early SP1. The takedown and pivot pins aren't right. Neither is the verical pin on a coil spring inside the rear of the lower which retains the buffer. The 601 used a horizontal roll pin which went completely through the lower. Likewise, the magazine release and selector are incorrect. The bolt release is correct. When I started this project there were no NoDak Spud lowers, or any other lowers that would have been accurate. It was more important to me that the lower have the classic Rampant Pony atop the Globe and the AR-15 stamping on the left side.

quote:

Originally posted by Kampfhamster:
Wow, thats great. How does it shoot?

It shoots great with 55 gr. M193 ammo.The Colt barrel has a r.o.t. of 1/12, which is appropriate for 55gr. ammo, but not ideal for the more recent 62 gr. (M855) or heavier projectiles
I change the furniture out to G.I. black plastic when I occasionally shoot it because original factory painted green Model 601 furniture is very rare and expensive.

Actually, the barrel for a 601 should be a 1/14 r.o.t. barrel made by Winchester for Colt initially. Colt did not have the machinery to make 22 rifle barrels at that time, (only 22 handgun barrels).The 1/14 barrels proved to be innacurate for the 55 gr ammo; it keyholed.The Winchester barrels have a small W stamped on them, and forged front sight bases with no seam. Once the 1/12 r.o.t. barrels were standardized the front sight bases were cast and show flashing seams. I kept the 1/12 barrel on so I could shoot this rifle without accuracy problems.

Looks great! My actual 601 parts kit built on a Nodak 601 lower looks nearly the same. Only the the real Retro tweakers would be able to pick apart the differences and there's something to be said for the Rampant Pony making up for the details.

Thanks for the reply on the lower. I thought it was an SP1. Have a few Nodak lowers but have never used them. You’re right to use the Colt lower and thinking I will do the same. Even though the profile, pin size, etc. is correct on the Nodaks, having the Colt marking looks better.
You answered my other question as well…was wondering if the furniture was original. Impressive to see that. There are a few craftsman out there that can take black parts and give the the worn green original look.
I have boxes of parts, uppers, barrels, M16A1/601/604 pieces that I need to go through. Used to always pick that stuff up when I saw it. Now those parts are impossible to find at a decent price. Don’t have original green furniture, would have to replicate that.
Very nice setup!!

quote:

Originally posted by Sauer Kraut:
Thanks for the reply on the lower. I thought it was an SP1. Have a few Nodak lowers but have never used them. You’re right to use the Colt lower and thinking I will do the same. Even though the profile, pin size, etc. is correct on the Nodaks, having the Colt marking looks better.
You answered my other question as well…was wondering if the furniture was original. Impressive to see that. There are a few craftsman out there that can take black parts and give the the worn green original look.
Very nice setup!!

My pleasure.

The first/original stocks were an atrocious marbleized medium brown. They are cool, but kind of look like plastic fake vomit. I have some pictures of that furniture. I can search my files and maybe download a couple pics in the thread.

Because the base color was brown and not black, you can tell the difference between original factory green painted stocks and the reproductions that used later black stocks.
Supposedly, Colt used an early automotive expoxy olive green paint when they decided to coat the original brown fiberglass stocks.

A little thread drift - My retro not retro rifle, the only 20" I have left:



It's the wrong lower, and of course they never had wood stocks, but the flavor when you hold and shoot just feels right. It's fiction, and I wasn't trying for a video game, I just really wanted walnut on an AR.

Looks good.

I thought the handguard would smoke or char, but nope. I also haven't really gone house with rapid fire..

I thought it would be heavier than plastics, nope.

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder:
I thought the handguard would smoke or char, but nope. I also haven't really gone house with rapid fire..

I thought it would be heavier than plastics, nope.

is there a liner?

seen those type handguards for sale, but never handled a set,

No, it is unlined. I'm sure if you go house you could burn one, but you can burn/melt all kinds of handguards with appropriate effort.