XM177E2 clone build of a MAC-V-SOG CAR-15

[SgtHal75]

Whee!

I'm looking into one of those as we speak. If you grew up in the Platoon generation and wanted to be Barnes or Elias, you want that CAR-15.

Absolutily!!! But f*** Barnes and Go Elias!!!
And don’t forget when the platoon from the show “Tour of Duty” became MacVSog…Car15’s and Tigerstripes!!!!

But I will say the Car 15 comes in second to the mighty M60

 

[Cap'n Mike]

Love it! Slick side and a metal adjustable stock! I have a project going too. Did the CAR have a forward assist? I don’t think the upper I bought has one.

Some had a forward assist, some did not. The Army bought guns with forward assists, the Airforce bought guns without forward assists.
Probably the most famous CAR-15s ever, those used by Special Forces on Operation Ivory Coast, the Son Tay Prison raid in North Vietnam, did not have Forward Assists.
Apparently they couldn’t get enough XM177E2s through Army Channels, so they used Airforce Guns. Specifically
GAU 5/A/As. http://retroblackrifle.com/index.html

5A/As

Very cool retro rifle to Clone.

 

[JRT]

Some had a forward assist, some did not. The Army bought guns with forward assists, the Airforce bought guns without forward assists.
Probably the most famous CAR-15s ever, those used by Special Forces on Operation Ivory Coast, the Son Tay Prison raid in North Vietnam, did not have Forward Assists.
Apparently they couldn’t get enough XM177E2s through Army Channels, so they used Airforce Guns. Specifically
GAU 5/A/As. http://retroblackrifle.com/index.html

5A/AsView attachment 726943View attachment 726944
View attachment 726946
Very cool retro rifle to Clone.

I share your passion, I feel like I’ve read every book ever written by a SOG vet from Vietnam. Hard boys for sure.

 

[Andy in NH]

Very cool retro rifle to Clone.

Detailed right down to the duct tape on the buttstock - well done!

 

[Andy in NH]

CORRECTION: Tilt's pseudonym while writing for SOF was: Isaac Staats.

Tilt wrote two other articles for SOF before writing about MACV SOG in December 1987.

The article is called: Never on Sunday: NVA Hits Spike Team Idaho in Laos.

 

[Cap'n Mike]

Detailed right down to the duct tape on the buttstock - well done!

I wish that was mine, I just stole the picture off the inter webs.

 

[Andy in NH]

I wish that was mine, I just stole the picture off the inter webs.

From the example of your other builds, I think it is well within your skillset.

 

[Cap'n Mike]

From the example of your other builds, I think it is well within your skillset.

Thank you
I appreciate that.

 

[cams]

Beautiful job Mike. That is a sweet looking rifle.

 

[Cap'n Mike]

Beautiful job Mike. That is a sweet looking rifle.

Thanks Jeff

 

[paul73]

Some had a forward assist, some did not. The Army bought guns with forward assists, the Airforce bought guns without forward assists.
Probably the most famous CAR-15s ever, those used by Special Forces on Operation Ivory Coast, the Son Tay Prison raid in North Vietnam, did not have Forward Assists.
Apparently they couldn’t get enough XM177E2s through Army Channels, so they used Airforce Guns. Specifically
GAU 5/A/As. http://retroblackrifle.com/index.html

5A/As
View attachment 726946
Very cool retro rifle to Clone.

am i seeing a scope that is attached to a handle by an electrical tape up there?

 

[Cap'n Mike]

am i seeing a scope that is attached to a handle by an electrical tape up there?

Those Normark Singlepoint fiber optic sights were pretty cutting edge at the time.
There is an actual mount under that electrical tape, I beleive they came loose with high round counts during training, so the tape was a bit of insurance against the sight falling off.
This was a night operation, so the red lens flashlights, red goggles and red fiberoptic sights were the very beginnings of US Special Operations Forces developing equipment and learning to operate in the dark.