Colt Halts Production of Long Guns for the Retail Market

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UPDATE: TTAG was able to speak directly with Paul Spitale, Senior Vice President of Colt’s commercial business line. He confirmed the above. Colt has halted production of its commercial long guns lines and is focusing its manufacturing and sales on 1911s and revolvers.

He also stressed that Colt has about 110 days of long gun inventory in its distribution network and if market conditions change down the road, they could revisit this decision.

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/colt-halts-sales-of-long-guns-to-the-retail-market/
Translation: Colt will virtue signal about not selling nasty ARs to civilians today, but they might quietly change their mind later if they think they can make a buck off the chumps they dis today.
 
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In the beginning, I carried a HK53 machine gun. The MP5???? was not enough for the rural environment that I was dealing with.

Wow, my experience with the Colt machine gun. Before 9/11, my agency acquired a bunch of Vietnam Era rifles from the Department of the Defense. We had a bunch of M-14 rifles that had never been fired. Several agencies in NC wanted the M-14's and we wanted new in the box from Vietnam M-16's. So,we traded all but one M-14. The Colt rifles were immediately converted to M-4 style rifles with short barrels and M-4 stocks. It was a good thing. The Colt M-4 never failed, even with sub-standard suppressors on them. This was the early 2000's.

After 9/11, our National Guard Armory was taken over by Special Forces folks. I bet that some of you didn't realize that your neighborhood had changed after 9/11. I was so fortunate that those guys embraced me as a friend and we would go to Moyock, NC (Blackwater) every weekend. You see, under their policies, SF, Seals, Delta, whoever could come and train for free on the weekends. It was an amazing time in my life.

The Colt M-4 would out perform me daily. I carried a Sig 357, but because of the ammo availabilty at Blackwater, I would use 9mm, so I bought a 9mm Beretta 92F.

I didn't carry a Colt overseas. I carried a Bushmaster M-4, with the 3 shot burst. I had access to many other machine guns, but the M-4 was the preferred choice. I carried a M9 pistol and could have carried many others including the Glock. The AK 47 was in all of our "hooches" but we chose the M-4. My rifle was always substandard because it was not a Colt.

When I came home I chose to carry a Colt 6920 semi-automatic on the job. My agency trained me for two weeks with the rifle. I spent my first few lunch breaks buying parts for the gun. Especially, the charging handle, that will cut you when operating the bolt. I have shot many thousands of rounds through this rifle. I will always keep it. Fortunately, I have several Colt's and love them.

Although, I didn't think much of the M-4 style rifle when I was 21, I have come to love it. I've been trained by the very best, the Crucible, the Israeli Defense Forces, the United States Department of Justice/FBI, Quantico VA, Gunsite, Blackwater in Moyock, NC, my law enforcement support agencies and so many in-service training all over the state including the NCDOJ and Salemburg, extensive SWAT training and SRT training, etc.

The MSTN is the preferred rifle by operators that I know now at this point from what I understand. I can't imagine trading my Colt for it.
 
Well, my point was that Colt is a standard. Just like Glock is the standard for handguns now. We will measure new manufacturers by this standard.
 
Well, my point was that Colt is a standard. Just like Glock is the standard for handguns now. We will measure new manufacturers by this standard.
I meant no I'll will toward your comment. I really enjoyed reading it.

And, i agree with what you say about standards.

But I also wanted to further my own opinion that, for the average buyer, a name brand rifles is no better than a no name brand rifle (unless they are going to put in the time and effort to master the platform).
 
Well, my point was that Colt is a standard. Just like Glock is the standard for handguns now. We will measure new manufacturers by this standard.
I would also say that DPMS is a standard. While many people openly shit on DPMS in open forums, I would remind people that a DPMS shoots just as well as a Colt, in the right conditions, with the right operator...
 
I would also say that DPMS is a standard. While many people openly shit on DPMS in open forums, I would remind people that a DPMS shoots just as well as a Colt, in the right conditions, with the right operator...
My brother got a DPMS 308 a few years ago, after 30+ rounds it stopped cycling. I inspected it an found the gas key screws backed out and one broke. DPMS wouldn't repair it.
Freedom group strikes again, I don't want anything that comes from them.
 
My brother got a DPMS 308 a few years ago, after 30+ rounds it stopped cycling. I inspected it an found the gas key screws backed out and one broke. DPMS wouldn't repair it.
Freedom group strikes again, I don't want anything that comes from them.

I appreciate this. It's a horrible story that really sucks.

If that happened to me I'd boycott DPMS too... But, so far, it hasn't.

But, I bet there is at least one similar story where a Colt started to come apart in a catastrophic way.

I'm just saying that people shouldn't bet their lives on a weapon just because the MSRP is double the MSRP of a DPMS, or something similar.
 
I am with you. You do you. I have had DPMS rifles that didn't function. I get it. I'm just sharing my experience with Colt rifles. I'm not drawing battle lines, but am embracing that things are changing. Colt is turning its back on us. I'm saying that they were once the standard. We should all find an outlet that loves us and our money.
 
I am with you. You do you. I have had DPMS rifles that didn't function. I get it. I'm just sharing my experience with Colt rifles. I'm not drawing battle lines, but am embracing that things are changing. Colt is turning its back on us. I'm saying that they were once the standard. We should all find an outlet that loves us and our money.
I wish we could find a standard which loved our money AND us... Big business is eating us up.
 
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If that happened to me I'd boycott DPMS too... But, so far, it hasn't.

I'm just saying that people shouldn't bet their lives on a weapon just because the MSRP is double the MSRP of a DPMS, or something similar.
The error in QA wasn't as big of a deal as to how the mfg chose to not handle it. If they'd shipped a new carrier, they would have a repeat customer. Thankfully it was a relatively easy fix.
I bought a NiB BCG, there was a bit much coating in the firing pin hole causing friction. Made a phone call, two days later a new bolt and pin were in the mailbox. I've purchased multiple WMD items since.
 
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Sold the 6920 I took to the Hickory show, today. The guy who bought it didn't even dicker. I asked him if the news of this week pushed him to buy a Colt and he said something to the effect of "You're dang straight!" Then he continued on and said something about when they say "Hell, yes, we are taking your AR15s!" that it was time to get an AR-15.

I then asked him about Colt stopping commercial sales of long guns. That was the first he'd heard of it, but it made him even more glad he bought the gun.

One down. One to go.
 
The error in QA wasn't as big of a deal as to how the mfg chose to not handle it. If they'd shipped a new carrier, they would have a repeat customer. Thankfully it was a relatively easy fix.
I bought a NiB BCG, there was a bit much coating in the firing pin hole causing friction. Made a phone call, two days later a new bolt and pin were in the mailbox. I've purchased multiple WMD items since.

So, I've got to ask... Is an AR15 a weapon of mass destruction? I've used some dangerous shit in my time, but I've never considered an AR15 a weapon of mass destruction. I've fired grenade projectiles, RPG's, mortars and so much other stuff, what makes the AR15 a weapon of mass destruction? Air support? That might be considered a weapon a mass destruction.
 
So, I've got to ask... Is an AR15 a weapon of mass destruction? I've used some dangerous shit in my time, but I've never considered an AR15 a weapon of mass destruction. I've fired grenade projectiles, RPG's, mortars and so much other stuff, what makes the AR15 a weapon of mass destruction? Air support? That might be considered a weapon a mass destruction.
OK, you had me thinking, “Crap!” & 2nd guessing that I misspoke :confused:
https://www.wmdguns.com/shop/bolt-carrier-groups.html
 
So, I've got to ask... Is an AR15 a weapon of mass destruction?
I have several that are considered Weapons of Mass Death and Destruction. ;)
 
told me he was talking to his wife and that is all she said he could spend.
As other CFF members will witness to I told two men to Please move away from my table at the last Murder Beach show. I asked them to move and make room for men who could buy without Anybody's consent. They ambled on down the row.
 
https://apnews.com/fbdf5e5f6d654332bbedfaffe3663154

Read it yourself and comment....like FOX....I report....you decide.....

Title revised due to WOKE words or phrases or intent...

SHEESH.....I will NOW be qualified to become a NYT Editor.....in some folk's opinion...

HOW has the value of Colt AR's changed since say 3 - 6 months ago....??

Beto said he was acomin'....and Colt Reacted...
 
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OP, if you believe your own title, I have an AR15A4 I'll let you have for the low low price of $1200.
 
I’ve been casually watching Arfcom and they still seem to be listed new for $950. No major change yet.

IF they get above $1200 I’ll be mildly surprised.
 
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Soooo....talked to an industry insider I know about this last night. Evidently, Colt decided to do this some months ago due to their not making any money on ARs. They were going to quietly just quit production, sell down their estimated six months' worth of product, then start producing again if/when commercial demand for ARs increased such that it was profitable to produce them once more. They never intended this plan to get out, but it was leaked by a blabby sales rep from a distributor.

Anywho, he said they have seen no uptick in demand or price for Colt ARs at the wholesale level since it got out last week. Appears to be largely a nothing burger at this point, but time will tell.
 
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