Absolutely, the most exciting firearm announcement for me at SHOT Show 2016 was from Troy Industries. Owner Steve Troy and I first met in 1998 while serving in the Air Force while we were both deployed to Ali Al Salaam Air Base in Kuwait with different units. And, it’s in the Air Force that we both used GAU-5 and GUU-5 carbines.
The GAU-5/A/A was employed by participants in Operation Ivory Coast during 1970’s daring raid on Son Tay prison in North Viet Nam.
The attention to detail is fantastic and you can tell this was a labor of love for Steve Troy. I can’t wait to order mine. They’ve even included the old-style buttstock and pistol grip. Troy Industries has also created a GAU-5/P (below) with its more modern accessories.
Here is Troy’s press release:
In partnership with The National League of POW/MIA Families.
The GAU-5/A/A is the United States Air Force version of the XM117E2 Commando Carbine. This firearm historically replicates the weapon used by The Son Tay Raiders in the largest rescue attempt of American POWs. 45 of the 56 Special Forces troopers were equipped with the GAU during the night raid on the Son Tay prison camp. The GAU-5/A/A was highly desired by Commando Forces for its compact size, fire power, high reliability and reduced signature.
In partnership with The National League of POW/MIA Families, we offer this limited edition, historically accurate GAU-5/A/A with modern manufacturing excellence. Portions of the proceeds will go directly to support their sole purpose: “to obtain the release of all prisoners, the fullest possible accounting for the missing and repatriation of all recoverable remains of those who died serving our nation during Vietnam.”
Availability of this collector’s item is limited, pre-order yours today at myservicerifle.com.
Tags: Troy Industries
What are the immediate actions for stoppages/FTF? I see no forward assist.
Pardon my ignorance; I’m not versed on stoppage drills involving pre-M16A2 models.
My opinion is that if you’ve got to force a round into the chamber to get the gun into battery, something is wrong. I think forward assists on the AR are unnecessary.
However, now someone will come along and tell you that they need it so that they can stealthily conduct a chamber check and ensure the round is fully seated. Or, that they need to chamber a round quietly by riding the bolt forward and then using the forward assist to seat the round.
A bit of Googling after posing the question yielded many similar opinions.
Thank you for the input; it makes perfect sense. There should be enough force behind the bolt slamming forward to properly seat the round. Those simple mechanics work flawlessly on my AK. 🙂
You can also push the bolt carrier forward with your finger.
On your AK, you can push a round into battery with the charging handle if needed.
People forget that the forward assist was put onto the M16A1 as a quick-fix to the problems they had had with the M16 fouling in the jungle becuase of the use of improper powder in the issued ammo, combined with Joe either over-lubricating or not lubricating enough.
It never should have been necessary, and it should have been removed once the causes of the problems were fixed.
It never made sense to me when I was taught the drill in 1982, and it makes even less sense nowadays. I agree with SSD, if you have to FORCE the round to chamber then you’ve got a problem.
Just my humble opinion.
Until you run a gun suppressed under a heavy firing schedule… then the forward assist suddenly becomes very useful.
You aren’t going to do it with those flash suppressors.
SPORS, instead of SPORTS. Just a guess. (An old TM or issue of the PM should have the answer?)
Love this! I’ve been thinking about building my own replica but this makes it way easier. I wish they would offer just the upper so that I can throw it on my Pre-Ban Colt lower but beggars can’t be choosers.
I really love the lower markings. Clean.
Will the ATF have anything to say about the faux sear pin hole and the “auto” markings on the selector ?
There are a few manufacturers with markings in the auto location so that one’s probably a non-issue.
It looks great but the M4 style castle nut needs to be replaced by the correct CAR-15 style receiver extension nut on both carbines. They look fantastic otherwise.
Hard to tell, but is that a metal collapsible stock like the original Colt, with the vinyl acetate coating?
Yes!
So they will be making a repo stock?!! Been wondering when someone would take a stab at it! Fantastic plastic just isn’t the same! And the Bushmaster version just not as cool without the coating… I always liked the balance of the metal stock over plastic too.
Essential Arms offers a pretty good repro aluminum, vinyl-coated carbine stock. I used one for my ‘modernized’ retro-ish/re-imagined GAU-5A build:
http://www.militarymorons.com/weapons/ar.access6.html#xm
I honestly had more fun putting together a retro-style carbine than most of the ‘modern’ rifles I’ve assembled recently, and I love shooting it even more. No rail, no optic, no light – just plain shooting fun.
It’s great to see Troy offer a ‘turn key’ retro rifle.
So close to a perfect replica (or as close as you can get without a couple tax stamps). Just needs aforementioned smooth RE nut and a flat slip ring. Repros are available and not that costly. Troy gives you all the costly and hard to find parts, which makes it a win, in my book.
The angled slip ring is actually correct for all but the very first CAR-15s. The Vietnam era XM-177s had angled slip rings back in the late 60’s.
I just went to pull reference material and ended up learning something. How about that? Everything after the 609/610 (XM 177/XM177E1) had the tapered ring. I was under the impression that all the 6XX-series carbines used the flat ring.
I’ve used a GUU-5/P before with blank fire, and the current GUU-5/P in USAF service does have a forward assist. However, I would love one of these. There’s something about a classic reproduction that has an appeal over modern.
Yeah, most have new uppers. You might be surprised what you run across out there, especially in the Guard and Reserve.
The arms room on Anderson back in early 2000’s had some crazy ancient stuff. It was more M16 museum than arms room.
I wouldn’t be too surprised. The one I used was from a Security Forces squadron. I liked it, but it would not work properly on full-auto. I don’t know if it was getting bolt-bounce or if it wasn’t picking up the next round or if it was something about the blanks, but I would put it on full-auto and it would go click after the first shot and I’d have to work the charging handle. It only worked on full-auto for a few short bursts one time. Semi-auto was fine though, so I just stuck with that. Which is also why I didn’t have issues running out of ammo.
Wow, that is so cool!!! It looks very well done. Lots of work to sort out all those details. Will be ordering one.
I hope some day Troy will do a Dale Murphy and Lon Horiuchi recreation sniper rifle collector set. And they could include a signature Larry Cooper 9mm Colt carbine. The same model that “probably” killed Sammy Weaver. Of course, it’ll be hard to remember who shot first when you pick up these classic gems from Troy Industries 😉
surprised it took so long for this comment…
Can’t tell if serious or not…
Very cool. Now I need to get my hands on a Singlepoint OEG.
So are there any advantages to the older configuration over the newer one? It seems like the older one with the long flash hider would have lower muzzle velocity, though the page does imply lower sound signature. Could anyone enlighten me as to what advantages the short barrel, long flash hider configuration would have over the later version?
Back then, they didn’t have as great an understanding of gas port size and dwell time. The moderator increased dwell time and reduced concussion from the short barrel (enough that they are classified as silencers by the BATFE now), allowing the 10-inch and 11.5 inch barrels to operate reliably. Nowadays, getting a 10.5 to run properly is everyday knowledge, and the minuscule reduction offered by the moderator isn’t worth the added weight and length. So functionally, no advantage. Nostalgia-wise though…
SSD :
Since you and Troy met in the AF that means you also know of his other close buddy Matt P. Try calling him by his handle Basher Six Two …
Ahhhh….simplicity! You know when it gets down to it, simple and direct always wins out in the end. Like OD Green and woodland. Brings back some memories.
believe it or not the GAU-5 is still in service. or at least it was as late as 2010. i was a civilian DoD police officer with 1st SOSF squadron up until then and i carried a fully auto GAU-5.
Yep, although, at one time, the 16th SFS was on SOPMOD.
that was the active duty guys. our flight had 8 or 9 civilian guards and police officers. guards carried sidearms only but police officers, who patrolled in vehicles carried long arms. there were two of us. we were issued the gau’s. i remember some young airman went to make fun of my old slick gun when we went for qual. i pointed out that mine was capable of full auto. his wasnt. then i showed him how an old Marine shot 3 rounds bursts thru proper trigger control.