Flakjacket0311

Hi Everybody,
I'm new to the forum and had a question for all the AR experts out there.
I have a Colt Sporter, circa 1994. It is the model that was out just before the assault weapons ban, so it has the flash hider, but no bayonet lug. The lower receiver has the annoying sear block that sticks up and rides between a cut out in the bolt. The front pivot pin is screwed in and is not a capture-type pivot pin like on an M16A2.
I know that Colt put in all these annoying features for liability reasons. My question is whether the internals in the lower receiver, i.e. the trigger, springs, pins, etc. are interchangeable with other ARs from different manufacturers? If I need to replace lover receiver parts will I be forced to buy Colt OEM parts or will other manufacturers parts work?

Thanks for your help.

shep854

Welcome to the forum! From your user name, I gather you're a Marine rifleman; if so, Semper Fidelis!.

I can't answer your specific question (somebody here can, tho ) but I can point you to some other sites which would be extremely helpful:
www.ar15.com Note, to post you need an email addy that is not "anonymous" (ie, no gmail or hotmail ), but you can read.

www.m4carbine.net

www.m14tfl.com While focusing on the M14/M1A, there is a lot of AR knowledge there; you'll also find a strong Marine influence there!

Snake45

Push-out replacement front hinge pins for that stupid screw thing are available. I know; I have one on my old SP-1. Be advised that if you ever want to put a non-commercial Colt upper on that lower, you will need a special adapter pin to mate the two, but they're also available. Likewise if you ever want to put that upper on a common, "generic" lower (different adapter pin, though).

I'm not aware of any differences in the fire control system parts (hammer, trigger, pins, etc.) between commercial Colts and common GI-compatible parts. The SA-only disconnector and safety are different, of course, but I believe GI parts drop right in. (But I could be wrong about this.)

Rest assured that if your rifle DOES require unique FCS parts or pins for them, the market is such that SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE is making them and offering them at competitive (i.e., cheaper than Colt) prices.

Daniel Watters

Colt once used proprietary pin sizes for the hammer and trigger. I just can't remember if it was one of their post-Stockton knee-jerk modifications or a reaction to the 1994 AWB.

shep854

Will modding affect the value of a Sporter?

Flakjacket0311

Thanks to all for the information and advice.

Shep - you are correct, I was an 0311 from 1993-1998. I used the Colt Sporter on my own time to practice snapping in for rifle qual.

Additional question - Since my Sporter does not have the bayonet lug, can I legally have a front sight base with a bayonet lug installed? I bought the rifle in 1994, after the Stockton massacre and CA assault weapons ban but before the 94 federal AWB.

Thanks again for you hep. This forum is great.

Semper Fi

Flakjacket0311

As far as I know, modifying will affect the value, especially if the modification is permanent.

Any mods I do, I would like to be reversible, just in case I ever sell it. However, the value of Sporters has tanked so far, I wonder if they will ever recover, especially since Colt now sells the LE versions of ARs without all the ridiculous, liability features like receiver blocks, ground off bayo lugs and two piece pivot pins.

If I had my druthers, I would just trade it in and get an AR that is totally compatible with Bushmaster, Colt LE, LMT, DPMS and all the others. But the trade in value is so low, and the overall quality of the Sporter is so high, that I can't justify doing this.

Snake45

There's nothing federal against that. A few states would still frown on it, I believe. Check the laws of yours.

It's a reversible change, so it shouldn't affect the value if you keep the old base.

Daniel Watters

The odd-ball Colt hammer/trigger pins are 0.174" in diameter, while standard pins measure 0.153"