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Posted: 6/23/2005 8:49:03 PM EDT
| I'm wanting to build a Xm177, stupid question but they were A1 uppers during Viet-Nam correct? |
| If you aren't in a hurry, watch the EE and keep an open ear on local boards. There are always people who want to get rid of CAR15 style uppers, and they usually go pretty cheap. The last one I picked up was in exchange for refinishing work, so actual cost to me was under $15. |
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Don't know what the gun shows are like out where you are, but here in Georgia I'm always seeing A1 uppers at the shows. Have picked up a couple of them over the past three years at pretty good prices (under $100). Both Colt GI surp w/ 90%+ original finish. So if the EE section on this site doesn't get you one, check your next show 
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I just saw one of these at the range. It was some "off" brand that I've never heard of but it had the A1 style upper. I personally lust after flattops so it didn't do anything for me other than the nostalgic effect. Then again, I had a flat this morning and they pulled an *arrowhead* out of my tire. This thing looks like it was 200 years old (and probably is) so nostalgia goes a long way sometimes. 
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Here's a picture of my XM177-clone. www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=241194 Stickman's barrel, flash suppressor combo is a more accurate representaiton, but I used Bushmaster's 16" lightweight barrel and their slipover flash suppressor so I wouldn't have to weld things together to meet the minimum length. I used a slapside lower, slick side upper and a flat slip ring and have a fairly good copy. |
You are correct, sir. XM177 was the Air Force model and did not have the forward assist, XM177E1 was the Army model with forward assist; 10" barrels. The XM177E2 went to a 11.5" barrel. At least that's how I remember it, that was a long time ago in a far distant place. |
Right on. And by the way, for those of you who keep trying to find the flat profile slip rings; don't bother. The XM177 has a funky, one off, slip ring that doesn't exist. But the 11.5 inch barrrelled E1 and E2s used the same tapered slip ring that all current ARs have  (EDITED TO ADD) Whoops, just reread Parrandero's post, and it's not quite right. The XM177 was the original 10" barrelled unit. The E1 was the 11.5 inch smoothside upper Air Force piece, and the E2 was the Army forward assist model; also w/an 11.5 inch barrel. |
| You guys are a wealth of information. Did they use the current 6 position stock or was it a different one? I'm trying to get as accurate as possible, but as far as furniture goes I might just use a 6 position and A2 grip, unless someone has some of the old stuff at the Pasadena gun show. |
The military still isn't using a 6 position stock. As far as pistol grips, you should be able to find the A1 PG online or at a gunshow for around $5-7. |
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Stock on the 177 was a two position (open/closed) tube, with a plastic covered aluminum stock piece. Originals are hard to find and "collector's item" expensive when you do. You can get an aftermarket aluminum stock from some of the parts houses, which is close, but not exact. The easiest, but not the cheapest, way to build a 177 clone is probably to try to find a Colt SP1 or SP2 carbine, cut the barrel to twelve inches, and permanently mount a replica of the flash suppressor. The 12 inch barrel will give you a legal 16 " total. There are only a couiple of sources for actual spec duplicates of the 177 suppressor. I believe Total Silence, Inc. is one of them. Most all of the easily located dups look about as much like the real thing as Rosie O'Donnell looks like Cher. Built my own 177 clone over 25 yeas ago, on a Colt SP1, 'cause that's all there was back then. The suppressor came from a now defunct outfit in Texas, and while it came w/the funky washer, the suppressor itself was essentially a dup of the piece Bushmaster sells, on which the rebated area is too narrow, and w/o the wrench flats. Sleeved it to the proper diameter, and milled the flats in myself. 25 years and 6 ARs later, it's still my favorite.
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Colt 609 - Commando XM177E1 10" barrel with forward assist - Army Colt 610 - XM177 10" barrel without forward assist - Air force Colt 610B - 10" barrel without forward assist, experimental slip ring, four position three shot burst Colt 639 - XM177E2 11.5" barrel with forward assist Colt 649 - 11.5" barrel, commercial non-government version of the 639 without a forward assist. |
Any difference with the moderators? |
The XM177E2 added the grenade launching washer. As far as the moderators go, not sure if there were any difference. There was also a 619 Commando, commercial non-government version of the 609 (no "Property of U.S. Government" markings) |
Brsides the grenade launching washer, the E2 moderator rebated section was slightly longer, and somewhat thicker, than the early version. It also had takedown flats milled into the rear of the rebate. Can't comment on the sound moderating innards, but I'd assume that they're substantially the same |
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