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Posted: 11/19/2006 3:56:34 PM EDT
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Ok I bought this used in 88 or 89(I think) I keep looking at the timelines and the lack of any fencing on this lower. It is a SPII with old school sight package but no ribs at all Is it a retro/Franken AR? Chop and swap?  |
The stock looks like it has a 1" extended buttplate on it. Bushmaster carried them at one point (might still). |
It does have a large pin It is a brake-I put the spacer on the stock for my ape like arm! Thanks |
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Your gun, with exception of the brake and stock extension, appears to be a factory AR15 A2 Sporter II. The very first AR15 A2 Sporter II's were simply SP1's with A2 furniture (stock, grip, and handguards) and an A2 Government profile barrel with a 1/7 twist. Later on Colt started using the A1 type uppers with forward assist. The forward assist button was a large round button with a flat cut on the inside to clear the receiver. Later yet Colt started using the A1 type upper with the A2 brass deflector. The A1 sights were still retained. Then, finally, Colt started using the A2 uppers for their AR15A2 Sporter II. Here’s a photo of a Government Carbine upper and lower.   Sometime around the ban in 1989 Colt did away with the bayonet lug but kept the flash hider until 1994. Toward the end of this period they started using true A2 type lowers that had the fence around the magazine release button, the extra ring of meat around the receiver extension, and the radius on the front pivot pin lugs. Some of the transitional receivers still used the large front pivot pin or the same double headed screw as the SP1. This is a Colt Sporter Match Target rifle receiver.  Somewhere in this transitional period prior to 1995 Colt started using larger diameter hammer and trigger pins as well as installing sear blocks. Eventually Colt decided to start using M16A2 forgings and they started making their civilian version of the AR15A2 with the small front push pin. The early version was not held in place by the usual spring and detent but rather a small screw on the opposite side. I don't know what kind of people they had working for them but the Colt AR15A2 rifle of today is what it should be, or as close as they will get it, to being correct. It finally has the captive front takedown pin of the correct size. All other external dimensions and features for an AR15A2 are correct. |
The highest SP1 I've ever seen was 211k. Maybe they jumped to 300K when they reeased the SPII. It is closer to the beginning of production than the end. |
| I had wondered about that too. It does appear that when Colt came out with the AR15A2 Sporter II they issued a new block of serial numbers. The highest serial numbers I have on my SP1's are SP182XXX and, SP193XXX, while my two AR15A2 Sporter II's are SP 330XXX, and SP 331XXX. The two Government Carbines that I have undoubtedly started with a new block as well as a new prefix. Those are GC0023XX and GC0033XX. I have a friend that has an AR15A2 Sporter II with the serial number 332XXX. |
Actually, the early round assists did not have the flat cut on the inside. There was no need for them to do so, since the early type lowers have clearance sufficient to allow the use of the full round. I guess the later, if they had the flat were used because they had milled the flat onto all remaining round pieces. The extra expense of milling the cut to clear A2 type lowers raised the production costs back up to what thoriginal teardrop had been; and the current small round piece was born. |
And now here's something a bit odd, but then we are talking Colt here too.  The R6601 (Blue Label) Sporter Match HBAR I purchased NIB (still have box) is a slab sided lower with large pivot pin and standard sized hammer/trigger pins. All other features are A2 with the exception of the missing bayo lug. It's serial number is SP249xxx. Pictures added:  
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That is ODD! Most, not all, but most of the Blue Label guns, like my Sporter Match Target, have a different prefix than SP. My Match Target prefix is MT for Match Target. It is one of those rare transitional guns that has all of the A2 features and still retains the original size hammer and trigger pins and no sear block. It obviously still has the large front takedown pin though. You can spot it as Colt a mile away! But, again, we are talking Colt here. They've been known to just grab a receiver out of a bin to put a rifle together. It's a good thing they didn't build CARS! |
Mine's 327xxx range 
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