Going Old School With the AR-15

Over the past few years, a few companies have released retro-oriented rifles, which have been well-received on the market. While many in the younger crowd like to install optics, lasers, rail systems, and all manner of tactical tidbits onto their rifles, nearly turning them into crew-served weapons, some of us old-timers enjoy the simpler things in life.

The fact that various companies have introduced AR-15 designs from decades ago proves that shooters yearn for those old-school rifles. How much do they yearn for them? It seems that whenever one of these designs is introduced, they sell out in short order.

A number of manufacturers have introduced retro-style AR-15s. Among them was Colt, with their M16A1/AR-15 (the CRM16A1). Sadly, Colt only made 2,500 of these rifles, so demand far exceeded the supply, with expected results on their prices. From Colt, they cost $2,500, and secondary market prices are…well, good luck with that.

Suffice it to say that anyone looking for a faithful M16A1-type reproduction these days will have a little bit of homework to do in finding one that checks off all the details.

Why do we like “retro” guns?

Sometimes, nostalgia brings us back to what felt like a better time, perhaps a simpler time. When people see old cars, their gaze turns to a far-off place, and a smile creeps onto their lips. The same might happen when they listen to an old song.

For many of us, handling a weapon we were trained on long ago brings back fond memories of times gone past. Maybe it was basic training or other military service. Want to see this in action? Hand a WWII veteran an M1 Garand and see what happens.

Handling a full-sized AR-15 took me back to when I was 17, and I had just bought my first Colt AR-15. But it went deeper than that. In the early and mid-1990s, we used the Colt AR-15A2 HBAR as the cover weapon for our sniper teams, which were set up similarly to the military’s configuration of sniper teams. The spotter had a semi-auto rifle, and the sniper had a bolt gun.

Holding my buddy’s full-size “retro” AR-15 brought all of that back to me. Sure, I’ve had AR-15s of one sort or another over the years, but they’ve been carbines, mostly, along with a pistol. This full-sized rifle has a much different feel than a carbine.

As a matter of fact, my pal told me, “As soon as you picked the rifle up, I could tell by the way you carried it that you’d be getting one.” And he was right. The moment I picked his rifle up, it felt like it was a close friend I hadn’t seen for a long time. I thought to myself, “This is what those old combat vets are feeling when they pick up an M1 Garand, and I see that smile on their faces. I’m finally old enough that I’m experiencing it too.” I finally understood.

Palmetto State Armory

Recently, I had a personal experience with Palmetto State Armory since a friend of mine bought one of their “retro” rifles. It’s a clone of the M16A4, just like the M16A2, except that the carry handle is removable. It attaches to a Picatinny rail along the top of the receiver, adding versatility to the rifle. I like his rifle so much that I bought one for myself. No, Palmetto State Armory (PSA) did not send me a rifle; in fact, they ignored my request for a T&E rifle. As such, I have no stake in the game as far as PSA is concerned, and I wanted to be transparent about that.

I decided to go with the M16-A4/AR-15A4 configuration because I wanted the carry handle option, but I also like the fact that I can remove that carry handle and mount a scope on the Picatinny rail if I desire. Quite simply, it’s the more versatile option. The fact that I can mount the carry handle brings it close enough to the “A2” configuration that I feel like I’m holding an M16A2 for that nostalgia.

Yes, if you’d go over the rifle with a fine-tooth comb, I’m sure you could come up with small details of how it’s not precisely like one of the older M16-A4s, but really, I saw no point in that. For me, it’s close, and that’s good enough. This isn’t going to be a “Safe Queen” and the rifle has been to the range, and it will shoot many more rounds at the range, so it will be a user. If I wanted something to park in the safe and just drool over, then maybe I’d seek a rifle that’s a true clone, but I’m not that kind of guy.

At The Range

How did the PA-15 perform at the range?

Overall, it was excellent. Accuracy was good, and reliability was perfect. We encountered zero surprises, and considering how familiar we are with this configuration of the rifle, that was a good thing.

The fit and finish of the rifle are very good. The buttstock on my rifle is ever so slightly loose, but it doesn’t affect functioning at all, and were it not for my OCD, I wouldn’t have even noticed it.

The buttstock is standard A2 length and built just like the USGI versions. The front sight base is standard. The rear sights on the removable carry handle are A2 all the way and very fast to adjust. To zero the sights, the rear sight is bottomed out and any elevations are adjusted on the front sight. Once that’s done and the windage is dialed in, everything is complete.

Aside from the markings on the lower receiver (and the lack of a Fun Switch), it would be difficult to tell that this rifle was not USGI issue. We ran various loads of .223 and 5.56mm ammo through it, including some from Nosler, which included their 77-grain ammo, and it all fed fine and was accurate, thanks to the 1:7 twist rate.

Naturally, the additional weight of the standard 20-inch barrel helps keep recoil on an already tame rifle to an absolute minimum. We ran some drills that took us through all shooting positions, and it was fun to have a full-sized rifle in my inventory again. This version sells from PSA for $699.99 at the time of writing, and it’s well worth the money.

Final Thoughts

If you want a retro-style rifle, they’re out there. Depending on what you’re after, you may be able to find one at a reasonable price. Given the competition that we’re seeing with these rifles, it indicates that there are many people out there who love retro, as they’re seeking them out. Demand definitely outweighs the current supply.

How about it—is a retro rifle for you? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Let us know in the Comment section!

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