Within the dense jungles of Vietnam, the place each motion may imply life or dying, MACV-SOG wanted a rifle that was quick, quick, and lethal. They discovered it within the CAR-15, a weapon that may very well be shouldered in a slim bamboo thicket, fired from a helicopter skid, and carried for days behind enemy traces.
At this time, a long time after its heyday, I got down to construct my very own fashionable tribute to that iconic gun. That is my bastardized model, half historic homage, half sensible shooter. It’s not a one-for-one clone, nevertheless it captures the XM177E2 Vietnam-era CAR-15 vibe whereas including some fashionable reliability upgrades.
The CAR-15: A Weapon Born for Particular Operations
The CAR-15 rifle was Colt’s reply to the issue of creating the M16 extra compact and extra deadly for particular operations. In 1967, Colt rolled out the XM177E1, adopted by the improved XM177E2, also referred to as the Mannequin 629. Its 11.5″ barrel, retractable inventory, and distinctive 4.25″ moderator made it immediately recognizable and lethal in shut quarters.
MACV-SOG, the Research and Observations Group, grew to become synonymous with the weapon. These had been the boys operating top-secret recon missions into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam. They had been issued CAR-15s solely, they usually carried them with satisfaction.
“For stability, pointing, ergonomics and simply plain handiness, my CAR-15 was the best fight weapon I ever used.” – John Plaster
Specs That Made the CAR-15 a Legend
General Size: 29.7” retracted, virtually 10 inches shorter than a full-size M16.
Weight: Round 5.3 lbs unloaded, gentle sufficient for days-long missions.
Moderator: Diminished flash, elevated backpressure, and gave the gun its signature bark.
Efficient Vary: About ~400 meters, although most SOG firefights had been at 100 yards or much less.
My Fashionable MACV-SOG Construct
That is my Colt Commando Vietnam tribute construct, configured as a pistol so I don’t must SBR it. Right here’s the rundown:
Making is a bit Much less Gasy
The CAR-15, as it’s, is a reasonably gasy gun, however then once more, it’s a CAR-15. It’s positively acquired some bark to it too. A few of that bark is as a result of 11.5” barrel and CAR-15 model flash hider. Again within the day, MACV-SOG used one of these flash hider known as the Dissipator to change the sound, in order that it sounded extra like an AK-47, thus initially complicated the enemy and giving the smaller SOG groups an edge in firefights.
The commonest buffer you’ll discover in these is the usual carbine buffer, and whereas it really works wonderful, it throws a good quantity of gasoline again in your face and has a pointy recoil impulse.
Switching to an H2 buffer instantly tamed a few of that gasoline whereas leaving the recoil impulse practically unchanged.
Desirous to push it additional, I borrowed an H3 buffer from a buddy on the vary, and wow, that was a game-changer. It considerably minimize down the gas-to-the-face impact and smoothed the recoil in a manner that made the rifle really feel extra controllable, particularly throughout speedy strings of fireside.
After that vary session, I ordered a Griffin Armament SN-ACH charging deal with and their Suppressor Optimized Buffer (primarily an H3 weight). The tip result’s a gun that runs flatter, cleaner, and is just extra nice to shoot. It is a welcome addition to any 10.5 or 11.5 construct, suppressed or not.
Why I Constructed It This Method
The CAR-15 is so simple as it will get for a combat-effective carbine. No batteries to die, no optics to fail, only a light-weight, compact carbine confirmed within the jungles of Vietnam and surrounding international locations corresponding to Laos and Cambodia.
This construct got here collectively due to the H&R XM177E2 full higher, the center of the gun. It’s 11.5″ pencil-profile, chrome-lined 4150 CMV barrel on a carbine gasoline system offers the short-gun the precise stability of weight, sturdiness, and dependable operate, whereas the M16A1 carry-handle higher, solid 7075 receiver, Carpenter 158 bolt, and full-auto bolt provider preserve it genuine. Add the XM177E2 entrance sight base, CAR-style flash hider with grenade ring, and also you’ve acquired the {hardware} that makes this construct feed and run like the actual deal.
It hits what you level it at. This construct pays homage to that mindset whereas using at this time’s improved components to extract each little bit of efficiency from it.
Assist Equipment: As a result of It’s Extra Than the Rifle
No SOG tribute can be full with out the gear to go along with it. Right here’s what I preserve with this gun to make it a correct discipline setup:
Spiritus Methods Delta Bag (Tiger Stripe)
Ammo Load: Loads of M855 ammo
Smoke Grenades & Perimeter Safety : (3) smoke grenades and a visit wire package with flash bangs and flares.
SERE Equipment: Knife, compass, hearth beginning gear, chemlight buzzsaw, snack, water purification tabs.
Discipline Upkeep: Bore snake, brush, and CLP
Medical: Compact package for trauma care
Classes from the Unique SOG Groups
SOG guys handled their CAR-15s like instruments. They skilled till magazine adjustments and malfunctions had been muscle reminiscence, firing their primary load throughout coaching so nothing stunned them on a mission.
Sensible habits mattered: muzzles had been taped, the security selector change and chamber had been checked each morning to fight dew and dirt, and one man carried a cleansing rod taped below his handguard for the sector.
They solved reliability the easy manner: new magazines for every mission. That follow decreased failures attributable to bent lips, weak springs, or broken followers. As a result of the issued magazines had been principally 20-rounders, groups used canteen pouches as magazine pouches, stuffing them stuffed with 20-round mags to enhance the bandoleers loaded with additional magazines. Deep behind enemy traces, you couldn’t depend on resupply, so additional ammo was well worth the weight.
Remaining Ideas
The CAR-15 is an easy fight carbine: quick, light-weight, and tuned to carry out a single job exceptionally effectively. From MACV-SOG’s XM177E2s in Vietnam to this contemporary CAR-15 construct, the rule stays the identical: preserve it easy and adapt the package to the mission.
