It's been done a couple times already. At one point two former Navy SEALs tried a HEAT based drill even with weighted duffle bags on. Also, Gun Jesus has a HEAT video on his channel.
723s were made with both standard A1 upper receivers and C7 style receivers. (Also used briefly on the M16A1E1) The main differences between the two was that despite an A1 lower, they were marked M16A2 Carbine and were part of the A2 family technically. They had a 1:7 twist barrel where the 653 had a 1:12 twist barrel. Also the 653 had an aluminum acetate covered CAR stock, whereas the 723 had the new plastic 'Fiberlite' CAR stock. Mike, the president of H&R is a former owner of Nodak SPud, and I can tell you as one of the original members of the Arfcom retro forum, the guy understands all the nuances perfectly. I have bought multiple NDS receivers and have spent several hours on the phone bullshitting with him. (Years ago.) Anything he puts out will be clone perfect, despite people thinking it's not.
@@AdministrativeResultsTo add to his comment, I believe the earlier pattern 723s had the pencil barrel and A1 style deflectors, whereas the C7 uppers and Gov.t profile barrels came later, as seen on LAV's gun.
Seriously. Of course, who wouldn't want an Daniel defense mk18 with all the good stuff on it? Lol But I got a 10.5" PSA AR in burnt bronze cerakote for 800. Put a 100 prism on top. 2000 rounds (not much I know) later and running great. I did change out the spring and put an adjustable gas block.. but still. For roughly 1k I have a decent ar. Now if I was going to actually go to war or some shit or was a pmc.. yeah. I'd spend 5k in a kit lol
@@BG......... I don't. DD is overrated and not worth the money. I'm not a "poor", either. I can afford one. I went the route of having three fully customized PSA rifles built exactly the way I want them that all serve different purposes for the price of one DD.
I would like to know whats so special about dd and others that make them soooo much better than the rest.I mean the finest trigger out there cost under 400 so wtf makes them so great
PSA seems to be one one of the only American firearms company that are making strides on multiple levels. AK platform, AR platform, and now tapping into our nostalgia with things like this.
hell ya. That Sabre 10 they just released in FDE is..... wow. Like I love my Sig 716di but its just a regular looking gun. That Sabre 10 looks like its right outa Fallujah
The HEAT vest that Commando Store put out is brilliant. The ones made for the film didn’t actually function. They created a piece of useable kit from a movie prop.
I bought one of these as soon as they came out, added a few things that lightly modernized it (GG&G light mount with a modern light/sling setup) and it's become one of my favorite guns in my collection. The light weight and simplicity is refreshing compared to my more modern guns.
Biggest differences between 653 and 723, which are considerable, are: 653s had a 1/12” pencil barrel, aluminum vinyl acetate-coated stock with 2 positions, 603 upper, 603 lower, and A1 pistol grip. It was basically an XM177E2 with a 14.5” pencil barrel instead of 11.5” with moderator and grenade ring. FCG was S-S-A The 723 was introduced as one of the 9 different initial M16A2 family of weapons (M16A2 701/705, 711/715, M16A2/M203, 723 Carbine, 741 HBAR, 733 11.5” Commando, and 9mm 635 SMG). 723 was 1/7” rifling initially with pencil barrels and A1 or C7 uppers, A2 lowers with the RET boss reinforcement, A1 trigger pack, 2 position RET with Colt Fiberlite stock (no longer the aluminum), and had the A2 pistol grip. FCG was S-S-A. In the Unit, they burned through their barrels about every 2 weeks shooting high volume, and replaced their barrels with the 727 stepped heavy forend barrel with the M203 bracket cut/retainer shoulder. That barrel profile was later used for the M4 production. The Unit armorers machined additional stock position recesses for the Operators per their preference, which was usually pretty close to the full extended position. The original Colt M16A2 family brochure shows 723s with the C7 uppers w/brass deflector.
@@nc_classics9767 I grew up with SP-1s and Sporter IIs, while cataloging the various Vietnam-era, 1970s, and 1980s rifles and carbines. We had M16A2s in OSUT when I went through, but when I got to my first unit, they still had A1s with A2 furniture. I used to draw artwork of the various carbine variants, so I paid attention to any minute details and drew them all. I used to scour all the available books and periodicals in the 1970s and 1980s, to include Small Arms Review, Shotgun News, SOF, every book I could get on Vietnam, books on small arms, Grenada (there's a famous picture of a Ranger Mortar Team Leader with a 653), and SEALs had some cool pics of 653s with a rigged M203 bracket bushing. I noticed the 727s emerge in the late 1980s-early 1990s with SEALs to replace their 653s and M16A1s. They had a mix of 653s, M16A1s, M14s, and M60E3s in their Squads in the 1980s until they started getting 727s, then the 653s and A1s were rarely seen. Same within Ranger Regiment. PLs, PSGs, 1SGs, RTOs, Mortars, and drivers had 653s, which were then replaced with 727s. Army JSOC got 723s instead of 727s because they recognized the A2 rear sight was pointless on a carbine or rifle in practice. The best 723s have not had their photos published though. In The Unit, some of early 1990s Sniper Operations and Recce Teams had custom-built free-floated 723 carbines that were really impressive, even by today's standards. They had 12" aluminum or fiberglass free-float tubes with FSB pocket cuts in them. A suppressor was mounted and sleeved by the free float tube, looking like an MP5SD. Behind the FSB pocket at 12 o'clock, there was a little section of rail drilled and tapped into the tube, and a PAQ-4C IR Laser was mounted on it. At 6 o'clock, another little rail section was mounted for a dual button rigged vertical foregrip made from a sacrificed A2 PG. Some of these went on to their M4A1s in early GWOT. Short sections of wire ran from inside the grip up to the PAQ-4C, and to a Surefire P60 mounted on a little rail at 10:30. An ARMS rail was mounted in the carry handle slot, topped with one of the earlier Aimpoint 3000s or 5000s. Instead of a regular A2 pistol grip, they had a Lone Star Ordnance stow away grip with enlarged palm swell and backstrap. On the Fiberlite stock, they had the CAR Cheek Piece. A sharktooth rubber buttpad was zip-tied to the stock for better purchase with your stock weld. Some had the Redi-Mag additional mag well bolted on to hold 2 mags, while others didn't. The whole carbine would be Bowflaged that really matte texture paint popular back then. One of the guys who was on Super Six One in Mogadishu had a photo of his Sniper Team with everyone kitted-out with these modified 723s and 2 guys with early SR-25s. The man-machine-interface on those for Own The Night was really good.
Aqccording to Larry Vickers it was a tossup whether an operators 723 came with an A1 upper with/without brass deflector or with pencil barrel/ M4 profile barrel with cut. I believe it was a trasitional model right before adoption of the M4 Upper and there is no perfect "Clone". Vickers stated other Delta team members had pencil barrels while his had what became the M4 profile.
This is likely, due to accounts from many, the truth, because colt was building and selling whatever the hell they still had laying around in reserves as they transitioned to production of later versions
PSA is known to have quality control issues when they release a new product HOWEVER if there is an issue they have excellent customer service and will make it right
Once upon a time, carry handle AR's are what you bought when you couldn't afford one with a flattop upper. Now all these years later, my $425 Shrubmaster is highly valued. People will tell me all the time at the range how cool my "retro AR" is. Funny thing is, it's an original
The first AR I ever shot was an Armalite 20” A2 pattern with a fixed stock. I have never felt more accurate with irons. That thing shot like a laser beam. The carry handle sight was so good
I got the psa 723 as my black hawk down delta larp gun. Its close enough and cheap enough that i can paint it and have all the fun without worrying about damaging a classic or historic firearm.
A couple of years ago after completing SAW-E at Fort Indiantown Gap, I stopped at Atlantic Police Supply on my way home. Picked up the Colt version that was a Pennsylvania State Police trade in w/an old Surefire M500, sling, and butt stock mag pouch. Total out the door $634. Added a drop mount and Aimpoint Comp 2, (M68 CCO). Replaced the original bulb with a LED, now it's 700 lume. It shoots great, can't complain.
At 4:46 from the armored car take-down scene in Heat, it’s a Colt SP-1 Carbine with figure 8 bungee sling rig attached to the carbine stock with zip ties. Notice the slab side lower receiver with no mag release fences and the SP-1 dual-screw pivot pin, as well as no forward assist.
I served in the IDF in 2009-2012, no idea what exact model of rifle i had but it was a pancil barrel, no modern brass deflector, the old oval shaped forward assist, old 6 ports flash hider, non removeable carry handle with A1 sights and i think a 16" barrel with a fun switch. Always cool to see something similar.
The IDF got the older M16A1s from the USA. What they did was chopped the 20 inch barrels down to 13.9 and put a carbine buffer & stock on the lower. It's not a "retro" rifle per se but just a really weird chopped M16A1s. It works wonderfully though. I believe 13.9 is the lowest it can go past the rifle gas port and still be able to attach a bayonet.
@@Dan-di9jd there were several versions of short barrels 2 or 3 i dont remember, the longest one wasnt chopped i believe it was probably a 16" or a 14.5". But yes all the lowers say M16A1.
CAR-15 was a Colt family of weapons in response to the Stoner 63 system. CAR-15 included an infantry rifle, Infantry leader Carbine Model 605, USAF Survival Carbine Model 608, Commando Model 607, and Belt-Fed Light Machinegun. I think you’re probably referring to the XM177E2 Commando, which was a later production derivative that evolved from the 607. The 10” barrel 607 spawned the 10” XM177 and GAU-5A, which were followed with the 11.5” XM177E2 and GAU-5A/A with moderators and grenade launcher retaining rings.
@budget88tired old slogan. was there an inquiry and reparations? Fog of war. Almost as worn out as Germans still crying about Dresden. Get over it. Especially when you don't have any connection to the incident other than the way someone else told you to feel about it.
I love me a retro style rifle. I still remember when I was 7 years old and my father owning a rifle like this. I remember the sticker that came with it, it was a holographic sticker of a cobra and the company logo. He stuck it on my folder I used for elementary school. I believe he bought it after watching Heat, since it was his favorite film. That MagLite is a total vibe on this rifle. I'm glad that PSA is coming out with rifles like this, I need to take a look myself.
Love the heat rig, i bought one years ago when i was actually with SOCOM, mine is made by a company that made the low viz kit for socom. I had him make it as a cool thing for me, evidently 4 or 5 guys in my section saw it and had him make one too. I was the warrant officer for the section and the aTl for my team. They all thought i was going to wear it when i was on a counter KnR team at one of our embassies. I wanted it because of HEAT. It was so funny because initially he billed the unit for it. I went in to pick it up and he said someone else picked it up for me. I got back to my office, it was hanging on my door with a note on it from our O-6 (Section Leader) he put the note on it that said "Are you doing weekend jobs with Deniro?) I thought it was funny and then we got to have the meeting about operational budgets and what we can charge on them.
Im from Florida and have been here all my life so im partial to PSA - BUT - I absolutely LOVE every AR ive ever built from them and I have a good buddy who owns a nice range around me who lets me use his fully auto lower. This thing has seen THOUSANDS of rounds with zero failures. PSA is a legend.
Pretty nice, brother! I'm watching this as I fondle my wife's 'CAR-15' I bought her for her birthday a couple years ago. She's a bit on the 'smaller' side and a full-size rifle just wasn't going to work for her, and she saw the CAR and protested loudly that she wanted nothing less. Now she's happy, I'm happy (many sammiches have been made), and she has a rifle she can handle very, very well. Huzzah!
@@echodelta2172 negative, I’m a unapologetic Gen X’er of Silent Generation parents laughing at all you Millennials and Gen Z Zoomers constantly crying about bOoMeRs, market prices, and everything else. 🤣
So glad Kommandostore gave the HEAT vest the loving treatment it deserved. When I saw this vid's thumbnail I was like "man I hope that's the good one" and I was not disappointed. I'm sure they appreciate the shoutout.
Hey man just thought I’d let ya know they have blemished governments in stock currently. I wouldn’t wait on it they go crazy fast and they’re runs are super limited. I got the 654 slick slide last winter and I’ve been eyeballing they’re site for shits and giggles and it never got back in stock as far as I know.
Every time I see PSA mentioned I die inside… I of course want them to prosper but I’m also terrified with more exposure they’ll raise their prices WHICH ARE GREAT!
I wouldn't worry too much about that, it goes against their mission statement of producing affordable guns to arm as many people as possible...which is proving to be a really successful business model as well, because most people don't buy just one and call it a day.
Come to think of it, the same happens to me. I remember when I first come across them. It was 2012, immediately after that coward Lanza showed the would what a true coward is capable of. Anyhow I guess that was 12 years ago. They had hi cap mags for a still affordable price unlike you know.. cough cough CTD. Y’all remember the bullshit they pulled? Back to the reason I’m typing out a long comment instead of wiping my ass. I get nervous they’re so mainstream, it’s good for PSA, congrats Look at y’all go! But at the same time I bet the damn John brown gun club probably buys psa too. It is what it is, psa y’all are great patriots thanks for all that you do.
The great thing is that the 700 series was transitional so it could be a mix master of parts. A1 and A2 lowers with C7 or A2 uppers. It’s hard to go wrong.
My issued duty rifle is a Bushmaster XM-15 with a fixed carry handle BUT I absolutely love it. Bastardized with a Romeo5 on top, WMLX on a FAB Defense picatinny offset mount with an AFG on a picatinny rail bolted to the plastic heat shield. It works. Its reliable.
i always loved LBTG's (Little Brown Tactical Guys) down range. Perfect level of in theater bromance creeper mixed with real killer instincts. Plus they're quick to make jokes about killing the enemy. 10/10 reccommend.
I had an a4 for home defense but it had too much crap on it. I then handled a Marlin 44 mag lever action as my home defense gun and found the handiness really great. Putting both concepts together I then got an a2 and found I had the handiness and the speed of the semi-auto. As a defense gun the retro a2 is excellent. I added a flashlight and it’s ready to go. I also have a scope for the carry handle which will enable the gun to be used as a duty gun. Handy rifles have their place. They are made for your hands and not for all of the extra crap you want to put on it.
I got the 654 on accident, which is the slick slide version of this. I was disappointed at first it didn’t have a forward assist but once I had it I absolutely fell in love! Definitely a happy accident :) Not even sure if I’ve seen one without one in person before, but it feels so slim and streamlined. With the Car15 stock it feels like such a nice small set up without going SBR. Sucks that it comes with the polymer stock and if you want the aluminum one they make you pay $150 for it but to make it as affordable as possible I get it.
@@drstevenbrule4406 I’ve had the same dilemma going the black hawk down/blood diamond route on my mine. But I have a 654 and not a 723 though so mine don’t have a forward assist or brass deflector so the time period isn’t right for it technically. I do have 20rd mags for it though and it’s got a mid 70s action movie thing going on.
Heat is one of my favorite movies! No bullshit, the book Heat 2 came out awhile back and it’s pretty good if you dig the movie. Plus telling people you’re reading “Heat 2” shows them you’re literate and classy.
You really are Garand Thumb's little brother; you've even got your own miniature Charlie clone. Who kind of reminds me of Klayco47 a bit. Anyway, your on-screen interaction with Nick gives a nice boost to that parasocial high I get whenever I see such shenanigans on screen. Thanks for that bit of antidepressant.
If you want to put a light on these retro guns, please look at impact weapons components for your light mount. You can have modern amenities on your retro-ish rifle and it'll keep the weight WAY down.
As long as nick keeps the jokes and is in more vids we could see him and charlie being in almost a rivalry like it was with aaron and mike at the start
I LOOOVE retro-mod builds, especially if you do everything semi-era correct. I had a really nice pure clone M16A1 build but selling that to build my A2 I I realized it would be waaaay cooler to go the HEAT vibe and and imagine I'm actually a heist member or some other professional that needs a pattern rifle that fits their specific needs. Which 80s and 90s builds meant getting creative. I'm not into building CLONES per say, I'm into cloning retro building techniques. The maglite attachment is something I felt super cool about the first time I put it on. I got ahold of a cheap a2 upper from a buddy, and hunted down an extended flash to peen onto a 13.5 to give it an "updated" CAR-15 vibe, a1 solid stock with an altoids tin filled with mini tools taped to it it and the Brownells 4x retro scope. I thought about doing the cool trijicon reflex but it was too saucy and didn't fit the vibe. I took the maglite off it too, I need to put it back on. It really does look like a hand pieced carbine a well seasoned bank robber would put together with varying degrees of fund and resources. Parts of it look cheap as hell meat and potatoes, other parts look well thought out serious business, all of it screams "I know a guy"
I got an early PSA H&R 653 blem upper, teardrop FA & A1 birdcage P/W. Runs good, shoots good. No cosmetic blems, but the upper BARELY fits on a PSA lower. Perfect gun for rattlecan & LC2 gear.
Heck yeah, I frickin love PSA, they’ve got good guns for the price and they’re good for getting new gun owners started with AR15 lowers or full rifles even selling a very nicely priced AR15 and PSA dagger combo for about 900$, also they’re bringing back STG44s in modern calibers so they deserve all the love they’re getting and more
Man... I remember rifle qual in OSUT using the original M16 (Ft. Knox). That's when I learned to shoot right-handed. The little plastic clip-on deflectors were in short supply and I didn't care much for hot brass in my face.
PSA had a limited run on 654 complete upper, I was lucky enough to pick one up. It's very nice. Would not mind picking up another one but they have been out of stock for awhile.
I got ahold of the complete 654 and It’s gravy. I recommend the aluminum car15 stock they just started selling if your going that route. Feels short slim and streamlined
Once again Mr Admin shits out another great video! Psa is killin it! im really starting appreciate the retro/clone rifles more and more now and feeing the need to add one for shitz and grinz
Great video Nick! It's nice you let Aaron star in this episode on his channel. All kidding aside. I always did like the CAR-15/Commando upper with the built in brass deflector. To me the 16 inch barrel is the best for close range and long range. Thanks for this retro look.
Butstock under the armpit and muzzle down used be called the RHODESIAN READY in the mid-ninties......kinda like the failure to stop drill used be called the MOZAMBIQUE DRILL ...when I first started training our instructor used to drill this into our heads 2 to to body 1 to the head bad guy dead.......till it became a automatic reflex .....
I just put an order for the upper on PSA. I got their XM177e2 lowers last week as a birthday gift and now I'm trying to get an upper. I'm planning to make it retro-modern build with some modern stuff and some oldies.
A suit and tie are very comfortable if tailored properly. It’s ESPECIALLY important to get a shirt that’s loose around the neck and not tie the tie too tightly. That’s a big problem for guys with thick necks or former helmet wearers with over developed neck muscles.
I believe that it is a legal obligation for all guntubers to have a HEAT larp love it.
Heat was seriously one of the best shootouts in cinema
Kommando Store has the HEAT rig for you
Everyone should
It's been done a couple times already. At one point two former Navy SEALs tried a HEAT based drill even with weighted duffle bags on. Also, Gun Jesus has a HEAT video on his channel.
Point Break
723s were made with both standard A1 upper receivers and C7 style receivers. (Also used briefly on the M16A1E1) The main differences between the two was that despite an A1 lower, they were marked M16A2 Carbine and were part of the A2 family technically. They had a 1:7 twist barrel where the 653 had a 1:12 twist barrel. Also the 653 had an aluminum acetate covered CAR stock, whereas the 723 had the new plastic 'Fiberlite' CAR stock. Mike, the president of H&R is a former owner of Nodak SPud, and I can tell you as one of the original members of the Arfcom retro forum, the guy understands all the nuances perfectly. I have bought multiple NDS receivers and have spent several hours on the phone bullshitting with him. (Years ago.) Anything he puts out will be clone perfect, despite people thinking it's not.
Real info is in the comments
@@AdministrativeResultsTo add to his comment, I believe the earlier pattern 723s had the pencil barrel and A1 style deflectors, whereas the C7 uppers and Gov.t profile barrels came later, as seen on LAV's gun.
I was wondering about that shell deflector
@@Anoneemus_Noenaymeit would be absolutely dope a collab with Michael ad brandon
@@AjackLee4 So, it was close to a regular C8.
I love that PSA is basically proving that you can manufacture quality weapons at a reasonable price.
Seriously. Of course, who wouldn't want an Daniel defense mk18 with all the good stuff on it? Lol
But I got a 10.5" PSA AR in burnt bronze cerakote for 800. Put a 100 prism on top. 2000 rounds (not much I know) later and running great. I did change out the spring and put an adjustable gas block.. but still. For roughly 1k I have a decent ar.
Now if I was going to actually go to war or some shit or was a pmc.. yeah. I'd spend 5k in a kit lol
Don’t tell that to the PSA haters/ Colt dick riders.
@@BG......... I don't. DD is overrated and not worth the money.
I'm not a "poor", either. I can afford one. I went the route of having three fully customized PSA rifles built exactly the way I want them that all serve different purposes for the price of one DD.
I would like to know whats so special about dd and others that make them soooo much better than the rest.I mean the finest trigger out there cost under 400 so wtf makes them so great
@stevem4783 that's just the example I used cause everyone knows DD lol. But yeah, I agree.
PSA seems to be one one of the only American firearms company that are making strides on multiple levels. AK platform, AR platform, and now tapping into our nostalgia with things like this.
PSA is a gateway drug to a lot of things in the gun world. AK’s, AR’s, Glock, 1911, etc. you can spend a lot on their site real quick
@budget88copy and paste it again. The world has moved on from veiled antisemitic slogans disguised as patriotism.
Hilarious that this came out right after I made my first purchase from them. 😂
I bought my first AR from them. And my first shotgun. Lol
@budget88shut up, stop trying to be edgy
For their 4th sale they have
compact and full size dagger completes on sale for $100 … and that’s for both of them together.
I was astonished lmao
If PSA comes out with the StG44 like they said they are then they will hit legendary status.
I think it’s still gonna be vaporware. I got tired of waiting and got a B&T
@@nc_classics9767 Quit it with the negative waves, Moriarty!
They need to but to be a success I think it needs to be a common caliber like 5.56 or 7.62. 8mm Kurz like the original would make the gun impractical.
@@chriss377 300 Blackout is the way to go - it's the new 8mm Kurz ;)
If 7.62x39 was more of a straight walled case, that'd do it too. Too bad.
@@Odessa45that’s the caliber I will be choosing for mine….. well… if we ever get one .
Man psa is just killing it right now. They know what we want.
...cough cough... still waiting on that mp5 clone, you liars!😅
People supplied arms ;)
hell ya. That Sabre 10 they just released in FDE is..... wow. Like I love my Sig 716di but its just a regular looking gun. That Sabre 10 looks like its right outa Fallujah
Competitively priced firearm products and fashion accessories.
They listen
Nick dropping that wagner line was like a sleeper code for marines. Lol
Content creators that create a timestamp for sponsor part for easy skipping deserve a special place in heaven.
Did you at least hear my horse archer line? I was proud of that one
@@AdministrativeResultsit was funny bossman
⌚ 9-II Mis sing Links
@@budget.88 Don't you have anything better to do with your life?
@@aaronbates4848bro it’s likely a bot written by Feds, I just don’t even see it anymore I just look around it
I requested that PSA buy H&R for years so that we could get carry handle uppers back in our hands.
You have me to thank everyone!!
It was the purchase of NODAK SPUD that facilitated the retro line. H&R is just a name in the end. Especially nothing to do with AR manufacturing.
@@troylindstrand9619 YeS
The quality of these videos just keep hitting new high’s
@budget88o/
@@chemistryofquestionablequa6252hey you. Trying to hail a cab?
Highs, not high's.
If I don't see AK guy, flannel daddy and this guy reenacting that whole bank scene from HEAT... im gonna call the ATF
14:14 Nick spitting more then just facts, let this homie cook we need more of him.
That was June 8th.
@budget88already forgotten no one gives a fuck
❤
👏🏼
He was grabbin
The HEAT vest that Commando Store put out is brilliant. The ones made for the film didn’t actually function. They created a piece of useable kit from a movie prop.
Rocking the Sunday school fit
I wanna like this, but... It's at 69, so u get a comment. Congratulations 🎊
"Heat"*
I bought one of these as soon as they came out, added a few things that lightly modernized it (GG&G light mount with a modern light/sling setup) and it's become one of my favorite guns in my collection. The light weight and simplicity is refreshing compared to my more modern guns.
This Gun served me well during my time in Mogadishu and robbing LA Banks
Nëver forget the USS Liberty and the men who died on that day
I used a similar setup in Africa, although it wasn't mine, but the guy wasn't going to use it anyway
Biggest differences between 653 and 723, which are considerable, are:
653s had a 1/12” pencil barrel, aluminum vinyl acetate-coated stock with 2 positions, 603 upper, 603 lower, and A1 pistol grip. It was basically an XM177E2 with a 14.5” pencil barrel instead of 11.5” with moderator and grenade ring. FCG was S-S-A
The 723 was introduced as one of the 9 different initial M16A2 family of weapons (M16A2 701/705, 711/715, M16A2/M203, 723 Carbine, 741 HBAR, 733 11.5” Commando, and 9mm 635 SMG).
723 was 1/7” rifling initially with pencil barrels and A1 or C7 uppers, A2 lowers with the RET boss reinforcement, A1 trigger pack, 2 position RET with Colt Fiberlite stock (no longer the aluminum), and had the A2 pistol grip. FCG was S-S-A.
In the Unit, they burned through their barrels about every 2 weeks shooting high volume, and replaced their barrels with the 727 stepped heavy forend barrel with the M203 bracket cut/retainer shoulder. That barrel profile was later used for the M4 production. The Unit armorers machined additional stock position recesses for the Operators per their preference, which was usually pretty close to the full extended position.
The original Colt M16A2 family brochure shows 723s with the C7 uppers w/brass deflector.
You got a Larry Vickers amount of Autism about these guns. Thank you.
@@nc_classics9767 I grew up with SP-1s and Sporter IIs, while cataloging the various Vietnam-era, 1970s, and 1980s rifles and carbines. We had M16A2s in OSUT when I went through, but when I got to my first unit, they still had A1s with A2 furniture.
I used to draw artwork of the various carbine variants, so I paid attention to any minute details and drew them all. I used to scour all the available books and periodicals in the 1970s and 1980s, to include Small Arms Review, Shotgun News, SOF, every book I could get on Vietnam, books on small arms, Grenada (there's a famous picture of a Ranger Mortar Team Leader with a 653), and SEALs had some cool pics of 653s with a rigged M203 bracket bushing.
I noticed the 727s emerge in the late 1980s-early 1990s with SEALs to replace their 653s and M16A1s.
They had a mix of 653s, M16A1s, M14s, and M60E3s in their Squads in the 1980s until they started getting 727s, then the 653s and A1s were rarely seen.
Same within Ranger Regiment. PLs, PSGs, 1SGs, RTOs, Mortars, and drivers had 653s, which were then replaced with 727s.
Army JSOC got 723s instead of 727s because they recognized the A2 rear sight was pointless on a carbine or rifle in practice.
The best 723s have not had their photos published though.
In The Unit, some of early 1990s Sniper Operations and Recce Teams had custom-built free-floated 723 carbines that were really impressive, even by today's standards.
They had 12" aluminum or fiberglass free-float tubes with FSB pocket cuts in them.
A suppressor was mounted and sleeved by the free float tube, looking like an MP5SD.
Behind the FSB pocket at 12 o'clock, there was a little section of rail drilled and tapped into the tube, and a PAQ-4C IR Laser was mounted on it.
At 6 o'clock, another little rail section was mounted for a dual button rigged vertical foregrip made from a sacrificed A2 PG. Some of these went on to their M4A1s in early GWOT.
Short sections of wire ran from inside the grip up to the PAQ-4C, and to a Surefire P60 mounted on a little rail at 10:30.
An ARMS rail was mounted in the carry handle slot, topped with one of the earlier Aimpoint 3000s or 5000s.
Instead of a regular A2 pistol grip, they had a Lone Star Ordnance stow away grip with enlarged palm swell and backstrap.
On the Fiberlite stock, they had the CAR Cheek Piece. A sharktooth rubber buttpad was zip-tied to the stock for better purchase with your stock weld.
Some had the Redi-Mag additional mag well bolted on to hold 2 mags, while others didn't.
The whole carbine would be Bowflaged that really matte texture paint popular back then.
One of the guys who was on Super Six One in Mogadishu had a photo of his Sniper Team with everyone kitted-out with these modified 723s and 2 guys with early SR-25s.
The man-machine-interface on those for Own The Night was really good.
Aqccording to Larry Vickers it was a tossup whether an operators 723 came with an A1 upper with/without brass deflector or with pencil barrel/ M4 profile barrel with cut. I believe it was a trasitional model right before adoption of the M4 Upper and there is no perfect "Clone". Vickers stated other Delta team members had pencil barrels while his had what became the M4 profile.
I believe the 727 has the M4 profile barrel, but sometimes the 723 got retrofitted with them
This is likely, due to accounts from many, the truth, because colt was building and selling whatever the hell they still had laying around in reserves as they transitioned to production of later versions
PSA is known to have quality control issues when they release a new product HOWEVER if there is an issue they have excellent customer service and will make it right
Once upon a time, carry handle AR's are what you bought when you couldn't afford one with a flattop upper. Now all these years later, my $425 Shrubmaster is highly valued. People will tell me all the time at the range how cool my "retro AR" is. Funny thing is, it's an original
The first AR I ever shot was an Armalite 20” A2 pattern with a fixed stock. I have never felt more accurate with irons. That thing shot like a laser beam. The carry handle sight was so good
I'm glad h&r is back and getting the respect they deserve. I've been using their guns all my life and have never had a single issue.
⌚ 9-II Mis sing Links
I got the psa 723 as my black hawk down delta larp gun. Its close enough and cheap enough that i can paint it and have all the fun without worrying about damaging a classic or historic firearm.
According to Admin: When you pick up a retro build, you are required by law to do a Blood Diamond reference.
Which is why after this vid I’m watching blood diamond again.
I really want to get a PSA Gov't Carbine for a Blood Diamond base.
Timestamp?
@@Panzeroflake 15:16
@@Political_Brainrot_Auditor thanks :)
A couple of years ago after completing SAW-E at Fort Indiantown Gap, I stopped at Atlantic Police Supply on my way home. Picked up the Colt version that was a Pennsylvania State Police trade in w/an old Surefire M500, sling, and butt stock mag pouch. Total out the door $634. Added a drop mount and Aimpoint Comp 2, (M68 CCO). Replaced the original bulb with a LED, now it's 700 lume. It shoots great, can't complain.
At 4:46 from the armored car take-down scene in Heat, it’s a Colt SP-1 Carbine with figure 8 bungee sling rig attached to the carbine stock with zip ties. Notice the slab side lower receiver with no mag release fences and the SP-1 dual-screw pivot pin, as well as no forward assist.
I served in the IDF in 2009-2012, no idea what exact model of rifle i had but it was a pancil barrel, no modern brass deflector, the old oval shaped forward assist, old 6 ports flash hider, non removeable carry handle with A1 sights and i think a 16" barrel with a fun switch. Always cool to see something similar.
The IDF got the older M16A1s from the USA. What they did was chopped the 20 inch barrels down to 13.9 and put a carbine buffer & stock on the lower. It's not a "retro" rifle per se but just a really weird chopped M16A1s. It works wonderfully though. I believe 13.9 is the lowest it can go past the rifle gas port and still be able to attach a bayonet.
@@Dan-di9jd there were several versions of short barrels 2 or 3 i dont remember, the longest one wasnt chopped i believe it was probably a 16" or a 14.5". But yes all the lowers say M16A1.
Really wish they would do the classic CAR-15 as well.
CAR-15 was a Colt family of weapons in response to the Stoner 63 system. CAR-15 included an infantry rifle, Infantry leader Carbine Model 605, USAF Survival Carbine Model 608, Commando Model 607, and Belt-Fed Light Machinegun. I think you’re probably referring to the XM177E2 Commando, which was a later production derivative that evolved from the 607. The 10” barrel 607 spawned the 10” XM177 and GAU-5A, which were followed with the 11.5” XM177E2 and GAU-5A/A with moderators and grenade launcher retaining rings.
@budget88tired old slogan. was there an inquiry and reparations? Fog of war. Almost as worn out as Germans still crying about Dresden. Get over it. Especially when you don't have any connection to the incident other than the way someone else told you to feel about it.
@budget88 🇮🇱 number #1
Read SIEGE
@@LRRPFco52 You are correct, the XM177E2 Commando is the one that I was referring too, just couldn't remember the actual designation for it. Thanks!!
CLS bag strap as a sling FTW! I tried a few slings on my M4 before deployment and the CLS bag strap was the winner. Wide, light, easily adjustable.
Ah yes, the H&R 723 with aftermarket scope. An American Classic. An excellent choice Mr. Administrator, as always.
I'm diggin' the "Shoot Me First" vest style you're rockin' homie.
Brownell's retro line: old twist rate barrels, limited production, stinky booboo
PSA's retro line: modern twist rate barrels, hopefully not limited production, happy peepee
It was limited production because PSA bought H&R who made the receivers, thus bringing an end to the line.
goood luck finding an A2 upper.
@@investigativeoutcomes9343they’re on psa right now
@budget88 Stop noticing sir...
Original twist rates are cool
I love it. But I’m older and my preference is an XM177 with the Moderator installed. Thanks for the videos
I love me a retro style rifle. I still remember when I was 7 years old and my father owning a rifle like this. I remember the sticker that came with it, it was a holographic sticker of a cobra and the company logo. He stuck it on my folder I used for elementary school. I believe he bought it after watching Heat, since it was his favorite film. That MagLite is a total vibe on this rifle. I'm glad that PSA is coming out with rifles like this, I need to take a look myself.
probably a Bushmaster
@cymond who's plant is now Wyndham Weaponry in Maine
Love the heat rig, i bought one years ago when i was actually with SOCOM, mine is made by a company that made the low viz kit for socom. I had him make it as a cool thing for me, evidently 4 or 5 guys in my section saw it and had him make one too. I was the warrant officer for the section and the aTl for my team. They all thought i was going to wear it when i was on a counter KnR team at one of our embassies. I wanted it because of HEAT. It was so funny because initially he billed the unit for it. I went in to pick it up and he said someone else picked it up for me. I got back to my office, it was hanging on my door with a note on it from our O-6 (Section Leader) he put the note on it that said "Are you doing weekend jobs with Deniro?) I thought it was funny and then we got to have the meeting about operational budgets and what we can charge on them.
I never knew how much I missed the balaclava. ❤
It needs more cameos - just like we need more Hot Range Momma Lindsay.
Im from Florida and have been here all my life so im partial to PSA - BUT - I absolutely LOVE every AR ive ever built from them and I have a good buddy who owns a nice range around me who lets me use his fully auto lower. This thing has seen THOUSANDS of rounds with zero failures. PSA is a legend.
Pretty nice, brother! I'm watching this as I fondle my wife's 'CAR-15' I bought her for her birthday a couple years ago. She's a bit on the 'smaller' side and a full-size rifle just wasn't going to work for her, and she saw the CAR and protested loudly that she wanted nothing less. Now she's happy, I'm happy (many sammiches have been made), and she has a rifle she can handle very, very well. Huzzah!
The biggest win of my adult life was winning a Colt 727 parts kit for under 600 bucks on boomer broker. It's now an awesome BHD carbine clone.
“boomer broker” sweet weeping christ that was cringe. 😵💫
@@akforge boomer detected
I bet that before the "retro" craze you could get carry handle ARs all day long for that price
@@echodelta2172 negative, I’m a unapologetic Gen X’er of Silent Generation parents laughing at all you Millennials and Gen Z Zoomers constantly crying about bOoMeRs, market prices, and everything else. 🤣
@@akforge...huh?
*PSA puts out Retro line*
“Begun, the clone wars has”
Nick is a short king letting his homie cook. Respect.
So glad Kommandostore gave the HEAT vest the loving treatment it deserved. When I saw this vid's thumbnail I was like "man I hope that's the good one" and I was not disappointed. I'm sure they appreciate the shoutout.
I ran one of these rifles (not PSA) with my Heat rig at Lethal Weapons back in March. Both the gun and rig performed great!
Your content has been getting even better recently bro!
Tactical used car salesman larp. I love it.
If he just changes the glasses, he has a good cosplay of Walter from The Big Lebowski
I appreciate "Nick's" timing on addressing his virticallity because that's exactly what was crossing my mind at that moment.
PSA's Government Carbine looks just like the 723 but has the modern brass deflector.
Which explains why it's sold out. ='(
Hey man just thought I’d let ya know they have blemished governments in stock currently. I wouldn’t wait on it they go crazy fast and they’re runs are super limited. I got the 654 slick slide last winter and I’ve been eyeballing they’re site for shits and giggles and it never got back in stock as far as I know.
I love how you said you weren’t going to get in the weeds and automatically went straight for the weeds 💪 autism is life
I like Nick! He really is to you what Charlie is to Garand Thumb.
Every time I see PSA mentioned I die inside…
I of course want them to prosper but I’m also terrified with more exposure they’ll raise their prices
WHICH ARE GREAT!
I wouldn't worry too much about that, it goes against their mission statement of producing affordable guns to arm as many people as possible...which is proving to be a really successful business model as well, because most people don't buy just one and call it a day.
@@stevem4783 it’s an addiction…
Come to think of it, the same happens to me. I remember when I first come across them. It was 2012, immediately after that coward Lanza showed the would what a true coward is capable of. Anyhow I guess that was 12 years ago. They had hi cap mags for a still affordable price unlike you know.. cough cough CTD. Y’all remember the bullshit they pulled? Back to the reason I’m typing out a long comment instead of wiping my ass. I get nervous they’re so mainstream, it’s good for PSA, congrats
Look at y’all go! But at the same time I bet the damn John brown gun club probably buys psa too. It is what it is, psa y’all are great patriots thanks for all that you do.
One day admin you will be one of the greatest guntubers to ever exist and I can say you’re pretty close
I will certainly be one of the Guntubers of all time
This is the way.
What do you mean one day he already is
Admin is at least top 10 right now
He is in top 3 easy. Way better content than Garand Thump talking into camera like a gay boy or overweight Brandan Herrero
Loved the random blood diamond reference, great film.
You need to keep nick in the videos he was exceptionally funny. Some of what he said needs to be in a short gosh lee.
The great thing is that the 700 series was transitional so it could be a mix master of parts. A1 and A2 lowers with C7 or A2 uppers. It’s hard to go wrong.
Gotta say, this HEAT remake is looking fire!!
My issued duty rifle is a Bushmaster XM-15 with a fixed carry handle BUT I absolutely love it. Bastardized with a Romeo5 on top, WMLX on a FAB Defense picatinny offset mount with an AFG on a picatinny rail bolted to the plastic heat shield. It works. Its reliable.
We need more Nick for sure. I like him
Nëver forget the USS Liberty and the men who died on that day
i love how nick is always trying to cop a feel it’s hilarious
PSA never fails to exceed my expectations.
Your expectations must suck.
Very low expectations lmao
They have a sale now. A complete AR for under 400
good luck finding an unobtanium A2 upper receiver.
@@investigativeoutcomes9343Luck? They're all over the place.
Glad you broke these out instead of the wheel guns Admin 😉
All aboard the carry handle train 🚅
i always loved LBTG's (Little Brown Tactical Guys) down range. Perfect level of in theater bromance creeper mixed with real killer instincts. Plus they're quick to make jokes about killing the enemy. 10/10 reccommend.
It may not be an exact clone but it’s a good homage to the old style rifles…and I like it!!
I had an a4 for home defense but it had too much crap on it. I then handled a Marlin 44 mag lever action as my home defense gun and found the handiness really great. Putting both concepts together I then got an a2 and found I had the handiness and the speed of the semi-auto. As a defense gun the retro a2 is excellent. I added a flashlight and it’s ready to go. I also have a scope for the carry handle which will enable the gun to be used as a duty gun. Handy rifles have their place. They are made for your hands and not for all of the extra crap you want to put on it.
As an Ohioan that identifies as a South Carolinian I approve of this message
I got the 654 on accident, which is the slick slide version of this. I was disappointed at first it didn’t have a forward assist but once I had it I absolutely fell in love! Definitely a happy accident :) Not even sure if I’ve seen one without one in person before, but it feels so slim and streamlined.
With the Car15 stock it feels like such a nice small set up without going SBR. Sucks that it comes with the polymer stock and if you want the aluminum one they make you pay $150 for it but to make it as affordable as possible I get it.
Really getting into the retro stuff. But I have the terrible habit of wanting to mix in some modern goodies. Keep it up!
Me too! Gotta have a light lol
The decision to paint my carry handle gun to look like a gordon clone was the hardest choice Ive had to make
@@drstevenbrule4406 I’ve had the same dilemma going the black hawk down/blood diamond route on my mine. But I have a 654 and not a 723 though so mine don’t have a forward assist or brass deflector so the time period isn’t right for it technically. I do have 20rd mags for it though and it’s got a mid 70s action movie thing going on.
Heat is one of my favorite movies! No bullshit, the book Heat 2 came out awhile back and it’s pretty good if you dig the movie. Plus telling people you’re reading “Heat 2” shows them you’re literate and classy.
I’ve actually got one of those grips that mount on a mag light, although I use it for baton purposes
Nëver forget the USS Liberty and the men who died on that day
You really are Garand Thumb's little brother; you've even got your own miniature Charlie clone. Who kind of reminds me of Klayco47 a bit.
Anyway, your on-screen interaction with Nick gives a nice boost to that parasocial high I get whenever I see such shenanigans on screen. Thanks for that bit of antidepressant.
Glad to see you've hit the everybody-sends-you-free-shit level
This intro was intense the talking face is a true legend awesome video 🔥🤘🏽
Can’t wait until they start pumping out the WW2 stuff
I hear they’re long term plan is doing multiple decades. That’s very cool
If you want to put a light on these retro guns, please look at impact weapons components for your light mount. You can have modern amenities on your retro-ish rifle and it'll keep the weight WAY down.
As long as nick keeps the jokes and is in more vids we could see him and charlie being in almost a rivalry like it was with aaron and mike at the start
I dont know which colt model designation we were issued back in the 1970s, but it was the XM177E2, and yes we used pipe clamps to mount flashlights.
#carryhandlegang
HEAT was the first thing I thought of when I saw the dress clothes and retro AR
I LOOOVE retro-mod builds, especially if you do everything semi-era correct. I had a really nice pure clone M16A1 build but selling that to build my A2 I I realized it would be waaaay cooler to go the HEAT vibe and and imagine I'm actually a heist member or some other professional that needs a pattern rifle that fits their specific needs. Which 80s and 90s builds meant getting creative.
I'm not into building CLONES per say, I'm into cloning retro building techniques. The maglite attachment is something I felt super cool about the first time I put it on. I got ahold of a cheap a2 upper from a buddy, and hunted down an extended flash to peen onto a 13.5 to give it an "updated" CAR-15 vibe, a1 solid stock with an altoids tin filled with mini tools taped to it it and the Brownells 4x retro scope. I thought about doing the cool trijicon reflex but it was too saucy and didn't fit the vibe. I took the maglite off it too, I need to put it back on.
It really does look like a hand pieced carbine a well seasoned bank robber would put together with varying degrees of fund and resources. Parts of it look cheap as hell meat and potatoes, other parts look well thought out serious business, all of it screams "I know a guy"
00:3 the old legend has returned for a few seconds😢 we miss him but love the new man.
Why is production on these videos so damn good?
Seeing the talking balaclavas face for the first time is almost shocking but yet nostalgic.
I got an early PSA H&R 653 blem upper, teardrop FA & A1 birdcage P/W. Runs good, shoots good. No cosmetic blems, but the upper BARELY fits on a PSA lower. Perfect gun for rattlecan & LC2 gear.
Heck yeah, I frickin love PSA, they’ve got good guns for the price and they’re good for getting new gun owners started with AR15 lowers or full rifles even selling a very nicely priced AR15 and PSA dagger combo for about 900$, also they’re bringing back STG44s in modern calibers so they deserve all the love they’re getting and more
Man... I remember rifle qual in OSUT using the original M16 (Ft. Knox). That's when I learned to shoot right-handed. The little plastic clip-on deflectors were in short supply and I didn't care much for hot brass in my face.
PSA had a limited run on 654 complete upper, I was lucky enough to pick one up. It's very nice. Would not mind picking up another one but they have been out of stock for awhile.
I got ahold of the complete 654 and It’s gravy. I recommend the aluminum car15 stock they just started selling if your going that route. Feels short slim and streamlined
Once again Mr Admin shits out another great video! Psa is killin it! im really starting appreciate the retro/clone rifles more and more now and feeing the need to add one for shitz and grinz
Dude that Heat cosplay opening was 🔥🔥. PSA seems to read my mind.
Great video, as always.
Great video Nick! It's nice you let Aaron star in this episode on his channel. All kidding aside. I always did like the CAR-15/Commando upper with the built in brass deflector. To me the 16 inch barrel is the best for close range and long range. Thanks for this retro look.
Butstock under the armpit and muzzle down used be called the RHODESIAN READY in the mid-ninties......kinda like the failure to stop drill used be called the MOZAMBIQUE DRILL ...when I first started training our instructor used to drill this into our heads 2 to to body 1 to the head bad guy dead.......till it became a automatic reflex .....
These videos are always amazing. Love the intros. Can't wait to see you in the brand new Heat Remake.
This is peak performance
I just put an order for the upper on PSA. I got their XM177e2 lowers last week as a birthday gift and now I'm trying to get an upper. I'm planning to make it retro-modern build with some modern stuff and some oldies.
Going through a really tough time rn. New Admin videos help take the edge off...
playing mw3 with the m16 with the carry handle was the bomb. Gotta love sandstorm using the m16a1
I love it without the huge nub of a brass deflector. 😂 thanks for the vid.
A suit and tie are very comfortable if tailored properly.
It’s ESPECIALLY important to get a shirt that’s loose around the neck and not tie the tie too tightly. That’s a big problem for guys with thick necks or former helmet wearers with over developed neck muscles.
Nick cracked me up. Keep him around. That bit about watching the six. Awesome!
Awesome video with great retro gun which super cool deal!!!
I don't care what anyone says, Maglite is the most durable light on the market. Plus they have a plethora of replacement parts.