The Colt .22 Tactical M4 Rifle

One of the loudly heralded rifles from the 2009 SHOT Show was the Umarex/Walther/Colt M-forgery. I had heard that the big box store had a couple of Colt rimfire M4s in stock, so I drove over to take a gander for the first time today. Overall I was impressed at Walther's ability to make a rimfire replica of America's favorite black rifle. The fact that the carry handle was detachable on the M4 version was a big plus for me. The barrel contour seemed pretty close to correct. I'm not certain if the hand grip or the adjustable buttstock will swap out with conventional AR aftermarket equipment though. If it does not, then shame on Walther. A major component of the AR's allure is the modularity that makes the rifle user friendly towards customization.

The magazine was not in the rifle that I examined, so I asked to take a look at it. The salesman assured me it was "exactly like a M-sixteen clip." All I had to do was fill out this yellow sheet....... I asked again to see the magazine. When the salesman's assistant brought the 30 round magazine from the rear of the big box store, I was not surprised. It was heavy plastic with a cut out on either side to show the remaining ammunition inside. A follower button was present on each side to aid in loading. That was a shame, to make a replica so close and then let the magazine destroy the illusion. There are many who would purchase the Colt/Walther M-forgery as a 22 rifle simply because it mimics the real deal so well. With the magazine in place, only Paul Helmke would have a problem seeing the difference.

The blue hang tag on the forward sling swivel attested to the rimfire rifle's all metal construction. Indeed, it felt to be about the same weight as it's more powerful cousin. I began to wonder if the receiver was good aluminum, or if it was pot metal. I remembered the problems Walther had a couple of years ago with the P22 slides. I envisioned this rifle after a year of use, with silver showing through the black paint on the receiver. It would certainly take on a patina common to a well used and well loved rifle through legitimate high volume use.

The asking price at the big box store was $589 before tax. I had ascertained that this was about a hundred bucks above dealer cost. That was fair enough, and for a man who shoots a lot of .223, it could mean the rifle would pay for itself quickly. My appetite for black rifle goodness is not that voracious, however. Perhaps it should be. If I owned one of these carbines, I would likely shoot it a lot. It would not be a substitute for a rifle i presently shoot a lot however.

I decided I would wait. I would wait until I saw some real world durability reports and real world reliability complaints. I would wait until the aftermarket caught up and accessories became available to fit the rifle. I would wait until I could purchase it used at the next gun show. Before I saw the magazine I almost had my checkbook out. I had always said if Colt made a 22 rimfire M4 replica, I would buy it. I probably still will, in time. I just want to know a little more at the price they are asking.

AR Magazine Selection

Tip from the Ogre:


Brownell's has their house brand 30 rounders back in stock. Good mags, those.

Speaking of ARs

From the comments:

X,
Awhile ago you did a post on purchasing ones first 1911. Any chance on doing the same for a AR?
Thanks,
T.

T,
I honestly don't think I know enough about ARs to do that. While I speak from personal experience regarding the 1911, that experience is widely varied, and it's something I studied pretty deeply.

If I were to attempt to do the same with the AR-15 and it's many variants and uses, I would be doing my readers a disservice. Officer.com has an excellent AR-15 buyer's guide up. The Brownells videos I linked to give a lot of expert info on how to build one. There are many more people out there that give solid recommendations. It seems Colt and Bushmaster are the ones to save up for.

For my money, if I did not own one, I would acquire one now. I would keep things simple, an open sighted carbine, with plenty of magazines. Use tactics to gain advantage so you may use the carbine effectively. Tactics trumps equipment any day of the week.

My two pesos.

Got AR?

With the prospect of another assault weapons ban on the horizon if Obama and Biden get in office, what are you doing to hedge your bets?

Are you quickly counting your nickels for an AR?

What is your local gun peddler doing? Is he ordering them up and claiming they are hard to get?

Well, America's favorite firearms parts source, Brownell's, is offering a web based video series on how to roll your own AR. They are offering these videos for (get this......) FREE! The video series gives the builder all the information necessary to confidently order build an AR-15 from scratch. It is divided into more than 50 segments that allow you to watch just the part you need without fast forwarding or rewinding through a huge file.

Brownell's is also offering the same series on pdf files for you to download.

You can also order an AR-15 catalog from the site, or by phone at 1(800)741-0015, just mention code #PEK.

Remember that, the next time you shop for parts.

Bargain AR15s

Just in time for Christmas..........

"We typically only sell these rifles at gunshows, but have collected way too many of them. Most all parts are brand new on the inside, this includes barrels, bolt/carriers, internals, buffer & spring but have external flaws due to being stored in "bulk" and are listed as being used. Lowers are a mix of manufactures and include CMMG, DPMS,and Doublestar.
None of these rifles will win any beauty contests, but will make a excellent truck or trunk guns. All rifles have been test fired and all are as-is. The $20 hand select fee will ensure a better finish."

$550 + $15 Shipping, optional hand select = $20.

"Rifle configurations are currently 16" 1/9 M4s, 16" HBARs and 20" HBARs and are not chrome lined. The 16" carbines come with 4 position stocks and the 20" rifles comes with an new A1 stock. Hand select only pertains to external condition, not make."

Now available at CMMG. They have mags for your new "baby" too.

I have not ordered from CMMG, but Uncle seems to be OK with them.

Hat tip to Common Folk.

Guns & Knives

AR-15
Machete
Big assed flashlight

AR Thoughts

Sooner or later she was bound to notice. The CDNN and Brownell's catalogs open on the desk to the AR parts and accessories should have been a big clue. Over the past two days I have been researching options, dreaming of building my own AR. The Colt uppers in CDNN are looking very good. Ever since I bought a AR at Dave's, the AR bug has been crawling through my brain nipping it's nether regions.

I had held off on owning an AR for years. I had smirked at the tactical Rambo types who refused to serve Uncle Sugar but coveted the equipment of the military. When I finally found an AR in my price range, though, I bought it. I shot it, painted the armory number of the last EBR I carried on it's butt, and became gut-hooked on the possibilities.

My wife-mate is a lover of old C&R rifles. She likes old walnut and blued steel. She goes for the shabby/chic look with them, the more beat up, the better. Purveyors of Mausers love to see her coming. This morning she went in my gun room to put away some patches she had cut. She saw the AR.

"What the hell is that?"

"Oh, it's a used rifle I found."

"You found it?"

"Well, Yeah, I found it used, but I had to buy it."

"Cool! When do I get to shoot it?"

I love my wife-mate. I demonstrated the manual of arms to her, and saw that she really needed an adjustable stock to handle the rifle well. It is also kind of heavy for her. She is a bitty thing, after all. I can't bring myself to remove the stock with the armory number from my AR, so that leaves but one option.........A Carbon 15. I love my wife!

Pawn Shop Circuit: Evil Black Rifles

It's rare that you see evil black rifles on pawn shop shelves, even in gun friendly Louisiana. Thus, when I entered Dave's shop and spotted a AR-15 on the rifle rack, my attention was captured. I am hardly what one would call an AR connoisseur, although I have been open to purchasing one if it could be found at the right price. Dave showed me a rifle that had been out of pawn a scant 45 minutes. It was a DPMS flat top carbine with a carry handle attachment. It wasn't fancy, but it was solid and it came with six 30 round aluminum magazines. Dave was wanting $650 for the entire package. That seemed like a pretty fair deal to me, as I had seen prices on AR's at gunshows, and I knew they started around $800. Still, I could not buy without dickering a bit, so I asked Dave if he would take $600 out the door and give me his usual guarantee. Dave clicked his tongue, smacked his lips, and thought about it for about 30 seconds, then he did a bit of mental addition, and said OK. Suddenly, an AR was coming home to meet the AK.