Scope for Retro AR (Mod 604)

[chili]

Last year I put together a retro Model 604. Now I am thinking about adding a colt style 4x scope. Are these any good? http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/riflescopes/fixed-power-scopes/p/4x-colt-style-ar-15-compact-rifle-scope-by-ncstar-/cPath/203_208_325/products_id/418

NcStar quality scares me and I don't want to dump $40 into crap.

THanks

Chili

[Planning]

Last year I put together a retro Model 604. Now I am thinking about adding a colt style 4x scope. Are these any good? http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/riflescopes/fixed-power-scopes/p/4x-colt-style-ar-15-compact-rifle-scope-by-ncstar-/cPath/203_208_325/products_id/418

NcStar quality scares me and I don't want to dump $40 into crap.

THanks

Chili

i have several of the china made scopes like that( not the same brand) that i bought several years ago. they work good for the price. $40 cheap scope or $250+ colt scope. i went with the cheap scope. i can throw away several before i get to the cost of the colt. so far i have not thrown any away.
one of mine with the scope.
IMHO
ron

[drine]

$40 is not bad to just try it. The Chinese stuff is hit and miss. I have a very good red dot on a cantilever mount that was not over $40. (The cantilever mount is worth the $40 alone. Unit looks just like the Comp4. Once, it shut off so I stretched the battery spring and planned to replace it but never shut off again. I'd go for it. (Cpt Ron can afford better but chose the Chinese one, can't be too bad!)

[Orlando]

I went with the real deal 3x20 Colt on my latest build. Ran me $200.00 in box, instructions. I am kinda anal sometimes trying to make things as correct as possible. so I went with a Colt 3x
But hey for $40.00 why not give it a try?
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/Garandlover/3x20%20Colt/MVC-023S.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/Garandlover/3x20%20Colt/MVC-021S.jpg

[chili]

The only thing Colt on this gun is the upper, barrel, and most likely the other upper parts excluding the bolt and carrier. Buttstock (no trap door), handguards and pistol grip are all military surplus. Lower is from NoDak.

This gun is a replica of my issue M16 from my Air Force Security Police days. I never had scope on my issue weapon, but since this more of range toy I figured WTH? :533:

$40 is nothing, but if the scope is already to be known as crap, then I would rather put that money towards a Colt or a better repro.

Here is the rifle:

[Orlando]

http://98.196.65.94/retroblackrifle/index.html

[mitchstoner]

Ooooh, oooooh! Bookmark! Thanks, Orlando.

Re: cheap optics, there are a ton of brands like BEC, NCStar, Famous Maker (FM), Target Sports, UTG, etc. that are widely sold, and get good reviews like "Pretty darn good for the price I paid." Most are from China. Leupold or Svarowski they aren't. But...

For all we know they all come out of the same factory, and maybe even a factory that also makes so-called better brands. I recently bought a BEC 3-9x44 with a lighted reticle and adjustable objective for about $40, and was pretty shocked at how good it is.

Chalk it up to the economics of slave labor.



Also, Chili, NICE retro. I did one probably about the same as yours, except I bought NoDaks slickside lower, cause I'm almost certain the one I carried in '68 in Nam did not have the captured pins, and definitely did not have the mag release fence. Where'd ya get your upper? Mine was a complete barreled upper, surplus from Ohio Ordnance.

[Orlando]

I beleive the early 604's were partial fence lowers and the later 604's were full fence
I have built both

[chili]

I really appreciate the great comments and photos from everyone, it is a big help.


Re: cheap optics, there are a ton of brands like BEC, NCStar, Famous Maker (FM), Target Sports, UTG, etc. that are widely sold, and get good reviews like "Pretty darn good for the price I paid." Most are from China. Leupold or Svarowski they aren't. But...

For all we know they all come out of the same factory, and maybe even a factory that also makes so-called better brands. I recently bought a BEC 3-9x44 with a lighted reticle and adjustable objective for about $40, and was pretty shocked at how good it is.

Also, Chili, NICE retro. I did one probably about the same as yours, except I bought NoDaks slickside lower, cause I'm almost certain the one I carried in '68 in Nam did not have the captured pins, and definitely did not have the mag release fence. Where'd ya get your upper? Mine was a complete barreled upper, surplus from Ohio Ordnance.

I do know that cheap in price does not always mean cheap in quality. My point is I don't want to buy something with an existing reputation as crap.

I bought the upper from some guy on Gun Broker for $300 + shipping. I think it was new or very close to new. The front swivel still has the white presertative on it, flash hider shows NO wear or corrosion and the interior had no wear marks from a bolt carrier or charging handle.

Thanks for the kind remarks on 604.



I beleive the early 604's were partial fence lowers and the later 604's were full fence
I have built both

That is possible. My issue M16 (S/N 217139) was probably made in 1965 and had a full fence lower.

Very nice A1 upper you have. Makes me think about building an "Army" one.

I have seen that site before and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to build a retro AR.

Me with a loaner Colt in the 4 million range Ramstein AB Germany 1986 or so: