For those of you not in the know, the Colt Expanse for Colt is essentially what the M&P-15 Sport is for Smith & Wesson; a reasonably-priced, baseline AR which functions as a good starting rifle, or a decent backup gun. The comparison is even more accurate, given the press release below announces that a new model of the Expanse, the CE2000, is now available with a dust cover and forward assist, just like the Sport II added a dust cover and forward assist over the original Sport. As they say, those who don’t learn from history…
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (July 29, 2016) – Colt, designer and manufacturer of the M4 carbine and M16 rifle, is excited to announce a new chapter in the evolution of it’s popular Expanse™ M4 carbine line with the release of the new upgraded model CE2000.
“This was a natural move for us,” said Justin Baldini, Product Director for Colt. “We simply listened to what our customers and our Colt Stocking Dealers were telling us, and the story was simple. Folks want the added features of a real Colt dust cover and forward assist, and they want it to come that way from the factory.”
And Colt did just that. Building on what made the original Expanse™ M4 model CE1000 special – the same Colt forgings, bolt, and other parts used on the rest of the Colt M4 line – the new Colt Expanse™ M4 model CE2000 is upgraded to include a Colt dust cover and forward assist.
“We couldn’t be happier to deliver to our customers exactly what they want,” said Paul Spitale, Senior VP at Colt. “It’s a proud moment to be able to build on the success we’ve had with the Expanse™ M4 in a way that provides an even better ownership experience to the discerning firearms enthusiast.”
With this latest model in the Expanse™ M4 line, Colt continues it’s efforts to put a quality AR-15® within easy reach of the modern sportsman. The Expanse™ M4 is a great point of entry for an enthusiast looking to build the modern sporting rifle of their dreams or a collector who wants an authentic Colt. The Expanse™ M4 in 5.56 x 45 NATO (.223 Rem.) delivers a true Colt quality experience at an exceptional value. The Expanse™ M4 model CE2000 retails for $749.
Tags: Colt
Kinda weird the original expanse didn’t have those parts.
Agreed, it was a dumb move to not include at dust cover and FA, even though the vast majority of people who will ever use one of these will never need either.
Agreed, it was a dumb move to not include at dust cover and FA, even though the vast majority of people who will ever use one of these will never need either.
The PR spin COLT put on this was really pretty disgusting.
They could simply have said, “We listened to our customers and made these changes.” Period, in stead of making it sound like some kind of noble Nobel-prize worth humanitarian gesture on their part.
The front sight post is something only Colt would do when a rear sight is configured for a BUIS or optic. Yet another reason I don’t buy Colt products.
You some people choose that config right? I don’t personally like it and run 1/3 co on my optic anyhow, but there are reasons to do it.
Oh wow. An AR with a FA and dust cover. What will they think of next? Maybe someone will try to retrofit a short stroke piston on there to replace the gas tube. Probably won’t happen, but fun to think about.
Always a day late and a dollar short with Colt.
Colt is the Apple computers of guns. Last to figure out what the market wants after years at it.
Yawn…
When is that midlength coming out…
Seriously….
Ummm…did Colt just introduce an AR-15 that is identical to 75+ other AR’s on the market and act like they just thought of it? “…upgraded to include a Colt dust cover and forward assist.” WOW…revolutionary. Good job, Colt. Maybe you should focus on not going bankrupt…again.
Well… In some years, Colt will announce “the pistol that shoots six times in a row”, and will name it “revolverTM”…
But what markings on the magwell?!?!?
Colt saw the Ruger AR 556 with all these features and selling like hot-cakes for around $650, so they had to get in the game.