The Story

What is a CAR-15/XM177/Commando?

The Colt Automatic Rifle-15 or CAR-15 is a family of M16 rifle–based firearms that was marketed by Colt in the 1960s and early 1970s. However, the term "CAR-15" is most commonly associated with the Colt Commando/XM177.

The CAR-15 name was an attempt to re-associate the AR-15 name with Colt, since the AR initially stood for Armalite the original manufacturer of the AR-15.

The Colt Commando was an outgrowth of the CAR-15 Military Weapons System, as a result of interest by the U.S. Army for a fully developed weapon. It was introduced by Colt's in 1966 in response to the US military's desire for a shorter M16. Colt engineer Rob Roy designed a simpler two-position telescoping tubular aluminum buttstock to replace the complicated extending triangular version. The triangular handguards were replaced by reinforced round handguards. Each half of the round handguard is identical, simplifying logistics by not requiring a top/bottom or left/right pair.

The XM177 uses a unique flash suppressor sometimes called a flash or sound moderator for its 10-inch barrel. This device is 4.2 inches long and was designed primarily as a counterbalance measure as the shorter barrel makes the weapon unwieldy. This device reduces flash signature greatly and sound signature slightly, making the normally louder short barreled carbine sound like a longer barreled M16A1.

After the Vietnam War, Colt abandoned the CAR-15 Modular Weapon System concept, but continued to develop short barrel carbines.

Why build one?

Ever since Ente first played Call of Duty Black Ops as a boy he has been a big fan of the weapons of the Vietnam & Cold War era, he also watched a lot of the History Channel growing up. After researching and building his M16A1 he has been interested in the CAR-15.

The Commando in Black Ops was a flat top receiver with a flip up iron sight and no long flash suppressor. Ente decided against building that version, for now… well now is the time.

Ente built his Black Ops Commando for less than $1,100 USD with new & reproduction parts.

(Tools not included in that price.)

How did he do it?

Ente went KAK to get a forged flat top upper receiver, muzzle device and lower parts kit.

After ordering the receiver he still needed the rest of the rifle, after some more searching around he went back to Linemount, He sourced the handguard and pistol grip from them and their quality is top notch.

Ente went to Duramag and ordered their two of their 20 Round Magazines.

For the rest of the build he decided to go to Palmetto State Armory for a majority of the remaining parts. He went with the PSA Stealth Lower Receiver, and a Harrington & Richardson CAR-15 Buffer Tube & Stock assembly. He also got a PSA Carbine Length Gastube and a PSA AR-15 10.5" Barrel. Lastly he got the PSA Charging Handle and Toolcraft Bolt Carrier Group together as a bundle.

Upper Receiver KAK Forged $125

Barrel Palmetto State Armory $120

Gas Tube Palmetto State Armory $13

Handguard Linemount $25

Muzzle Device KAK $20

Bolt Carrier Group Toolcraft $80

Charging Handle Palmetto State Armory $10

Lower Receiver Palmetto State Armory $50

Fire Control Group AS Designs $250

Lower Parts Kit KAK Industry $28

Pistol Grip Linemount $9

Pistol Grip Plug MLLL $5

H3 Buffer KAK $50

Stock/Buffer Assembly Harrington & Richardson $100

Magazine x2 Duramag $45

Iron Sight Troy $90

Total: $1,035

After it was completed he used headspace gauges to check the chamber clearance to ensure the rifle was safe to operate.

Accessories

Ente originally was going to go with an M16 standard issue style sling but after doing some more research on the CAR-15 and MAC-V SOG Forces that worked behind enemy lines in Vietnam, he found they fashioned their own slings. The MAC-V SOG would make their slings out of Canteen straps and 550 Paracord. Ente got a USGI surplus general purpose strap, removed the metal clips and used paracord to finish his sling. Ente also got a pistol grip plug to store a batteries for his light.

Magazine Coupler USGI $13

Stock Buttpad John Masen $18

Cleaning Kit DevilDogDepot $19

Sling USGI M1 Sling $20

After a few months of research, careful planning, sourcing parts and tools, the build was finished.

A list of parts and tools used can be found below. For those who want to build their own CAR-15.

Thank you for reading if you made it this far!

-Ente & Maltz

Founders of Functional Reserve Militia