Need some help with future M16 purchase

[gqllc07]

I will be retiring soon as long as the purchase of my business goes through. 

I want to purchase a transferable M16 and it doesn't need to be a safe queen. I want it to be a Colt. From there I don't know from bottom to top value what to look for? M16 A1, M16 A2, M16, prop gun, 614 Ar15? Basically I need an education. I have been trying to read up but there is a lot of info and would hate to make the wrong purchase. Looking to spend under 40K if possible

Thanks appreciate the help!

[Uncle Zeek]

Here's a great thread on the subject:

 

 

[gqllc07]

Thanks! Some great info in there....I know I want a small pin lower...I thought back in the day there were some people like M60Joe who converted them but I might be wrong.  Years and years ago I had a M16A1 Hbar....had to sell due to a divorce...if my business sells I would like to get another M16...I saw some were marked M16 and some M16 A1 and some converted AR15's that say they were factory M16's? Maybe a 614? I have maybe 30 different uppers I could use lol

[MPFiveO]

12 minutes ago, gqllc07 said:

Thanks! Some great info in there....I know I want a small pin lower...I thought back in the day there were some people like M60Joe who converted them but I might be wrong.  Years and years ago I had a M16A1 Hbar....had to sell due to a divorce...if my business sells I would like to get another M16...I saw some were marked M16 and some M16 A1 and some converted AR15's that say they were factory M16's? Maybe a 614? I have maybe 30 different uppers I could use lol

M60 Joe has retired but he did do small pin conversions back in the day. Any converted Colt will be marked either SP1 or A2 Sporter II. Pretty much all the other semi auto models were made after 1986. These will all be slab side lowers with no retained front pin.

There are full auto factory AR-15's but they'll have either a full or partial fence. The only one that doesn't have a fence is the Armalite 601. The AR-15 marked guns will usually have a Model designation such as 613, 614, etc.

It's hard to establish a hierarchy because certain models are desirable for certain reasons, rarity being the primary reason. The A2 is the lowest in numbers because they came out just a couple of years before the 86 ban. There are lots of 9 million serial number range M16A1's and also lots of Model 604's, 603's, 614's and 613's made through the 70's. And in fewer numbers are the 60's era guns like the partial fence 602's.  Lot's of guys place a premium on US Property markings because they are few in numbers and may have been used in an actual conflict once upon a time.

If you just want a shooter that's a Colt I'd suggest a M16A1 or a 600 series of the same thing which would be a 603/613.

[gqllc07]

Thanks for all the great info...Why are some marked M16 and not A1 or A2? How are those?

[MPFiveO]

There are basically three receivers, if you don't count the Armalite 601. The earliest Colt from the 60's had a partial fence lower. This was the first one to use a captive front pivot pin. Then came the A1 with the full fence around the magazine release button. The A2 further improved the lower by reinforcing the front pivot pin lugs with a radius. It also added a thicker band of material to the rear of the receiver where the buffer tube screws in.

Most of the early partial fence lowers were marked AR-15. These were made before the rifle was adopted by the military and designated the M16. 

The full fence A1 lowers were first used starting somewhere around 67-68 and nothing changed until the A2 reinforcements were introduced around 1982-83.

So, all of the M16's made between 68 and 82 used the exact same receiver regardless of the markings. A  commercially marked M16 or M16A1 will have the exact same lower as a 603, 604, 613 or 614. Even the US Property marked lowers use the exact same receiver. And, in addition to this there were quite a few A2's that used A1 lower receivers.

So, while the lowers had a variety of markings, they only served to identify a particular model or indicator of whether it was for export or commercial use. As for the quality, they are all pretty much identical.