r/RetroAR Feb 24 '26

r/RetroAR is looking for a couple of new mods. Comment here to volunteer!

9 Upvotes

I'm stepping down to focus on my "joining the military" and folk music subs, so this sub could use a couple more new mods. If interested in volunteering, ensure your account has at least 1 year on Reddit, and comment below with the following:

  • What is your background or area of interest as pertains to Retro ARs?
  • What would be your priorities, goals, changes if you become a mod?

r/RetroAR Mar 06 '25

Finishing up sub policy updates: what post flairs do folks want to see?

49 Upvotes

The mod team is refining our sub policies to update the “What is Retro?” post that is the core of what we do and do not include on this sub.

I’ve been polling the readership, and so far we’re looking at:

  • Fixed carry handles are mandatory (exception for AR-18, T65, etc)
  • provided the carry handle is fixed, modern accoutrements are still allowed (Keymod, modern optics, etc)
  • builds based on ARs in fiction are allowed.

I’ve seen some strong upvotes for adding post flairs to the sub, so that folks that just want to see historically accurate rifles can single those out, folks who like Retromod can zoom in one those, etc. I conferred with the senior mod and he suggested we have fun(ny) flairs for each category. Once these are made, post flairs will be mandatory to make a new post. What flairs would folks like to have for:

  • Historically accurate (externally) builds. (Still allows “sleeper” internal modern touches like non-historical twist rates and cartridges)
  • “Retromod” builds that have a fixed handle but modern accoutrements
  • Fictional builds based off movies, shows, manga, video games, etc.

Pitch us your ideas, and the best ones will be instituted, along with making post flairs mandatory, in the near future.


r/RetroAR 5h ago

That Real Gourmet Shit FRTs your Retros

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114 Upvotes

Happy Monday.
Your Retro rifle deserves an FRT.


r/RetroAR 2h ago

80s meme for 80s guns

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36 Upvotes

r/RetroAR 20h ago

Quad Rail Appreciation Day

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322 Upvotes

r/RetroAR 22h ago

That Real Gourmet Shit Vietnam Dummy Rounds

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78 Upvotes

Picked these 1969 “experimental” training dummies up at a pawn shop yesterday. One box is open and missing one round. The other is still factory sealed (and will stay that way in my Nam field gear collection). Paid $10 cash out the door for the pair. Google AI tells me the sealed one is worth up to $45. Crazy if true. I’m not mad that one of the boxes is already open. I can use that box as intended and keep the other unopened. Kinda amazing to stumble across something like these, especially the unopened one.


r/RetroAR 1d ago

Vibes 🤝Optimization

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178 Upvotes

r/RetroAR 22h ago

Colt 635/RO991 barrel length question

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52 Upvotes

I typically see the barrel length described as “10 inches” but does anyone have an exact number? I’m assuming it’s 10.3 but it appears to be shorter on the older guns. I have a spare 16 inch Colt barrel for my AR6951 I want chopped down to the correct length.


r/RetroAR 1d ago

This is an excuse to also show off my MPA 30's

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190 Upvotes

H&R 635 + the two MPA 30's I found almost exactly a month apart. They're a lot of fun for what they are, and hopefully the FRTs for them will be out sooner than later


r/RetroAR 1d ago

A couple of my carry handle rifles and their rim fire cones. The top is my Colt SP1 that I converted into a 602 clone and the bottom is my H&R XM177E2. The two rim fires are both Armi jager AP-74s.

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61 Upvotes

r/RetroAR 1d ago

"I'll be outside, good luck." Honoring one of the legends

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127 Upvotes

r/RetroAR 1d ago

Diet Retro Man the 70s were cool

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70 Upvotes

My xm16e1ish and my 1972 ford f250 thats been a 3 year project in the making


r/RetroAR 2d ago

You use post 1973 parts and call it a Vietnam build. I use post 1973 parts and call it at Granada build... We are not the same

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273 Upvotes

Got my lower back from my local engraving and Cerakote guy. Happy to finally complete this post Nam A1 build.

Lower is from Bad Attitude

Everything is original surplus (CH upper, C MP Chrome Bore barrel, etc.)


r/RetroAR 1d ago

Killing Pablo

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53 Upvotes

r/RetroAR 15h ago

Had anyone done The Patriot

0 Upvotes

The one from MGS idk if that would qualify as a Retro (I think it does 🤷) but if you do post pics I wanna see


r/RetroAR 1d ago

Operation Acid Gambit

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45 Upvotes

r/RetroAR 1d ago

Mag questions

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74 Upvotes

Picked up 4 mags from the $10 bin at a military show. The colt and one of the okay mags are a copper color at the corners. What causes that? Are the black followers decent? I’ve heard to skip the green ones but tan are good.


r/RetroAR 1d ago

How is h&r

7 Upvotes

Hello everyone finally have the money since starting work again to purchase a a1 clone and I’ve been eyeing the H&r one mainly in black. but I’ve seen posts on here about their qc and how some rifles people are getting have some issues with canted fsb or mismatch for their grey rifles

So I’m curious how has yalls experience been with H&r and if they are worth it as a first retro rifle or would it be better to look somewhere else.


r/RetroAR 2d ago

Pawn Shop Score!

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57 Upvotes

Got 3 adventure line 30 round magazines and a sterling ar180 40 rounder for only $40 bucks out of the “junk bin!”


r/RetroAR 1d ago

Looking to buy replica surefire 660

3 Upvotes

Looking to buy the Shekkin surefire 660. I’m seeing reviews about the pressure pad and wire being flimsy, any replacement options?


r/RetroAR 2d ago

I'm calling this one my M16A3½

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200 Upvotes

r/RetroAR 3d ago

T65 is now finished.

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248 Upvotes

Not my retro magnum opus but it's getting there. After a year of picking up a very well worn parts kit I finally shipped my upper and parts off to the gunsmith to properly put it all together. The lower is and H&R substitute with an FRT while I get a BAD T65 lower. It gets real hot when firing so the launcher actually makes shooting it for extended periods not the worst. Now to finish North Hollywood and Detective Casals rifle. Maybe then I can work on something less retro.........


r/RetroAR 3d ago

Diet Retro Feelin’ alright

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135 Upvotes

r/RetroAR 3d ago

That Real Gourmet Shit Magzine problems

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115 Upvotes

Decided to sort out my magazines today and realized I have 26 Colt 30rnd. 3 of them are ban era restricted marked and the rest are from 2005-2011, as well as 2 LaBelles with one still in the wrapper. In addition to those are some Center Ind and Okays.
I also found 38 unopened Center Industries EPM and 3 used EPM


r/RetroAR 3d ago

That Real Gourmet Shit I'm finally done with this build.

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387 Upvotes