r/RetroAR • u/Ok-Example451 • 2d ago
How is h&r
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.
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u/guynamedgoliath 2d ago
Mismatched receivers is clone accurate, and is even a thing with modern m4s.
The original design called for type3 anodizing in black. But at the time that couldn't actually be done and the grey was the acceptable solution. Its never been a standard "grey" and was more of a range.
For what its worth I went with a black C7 receiver and my build was more of a late 90s kinda thing
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u/Battle_Historian 2d ago
I have two H&R A1 lower receivers and one H&R A1 upper receiver. Both of my A1 lowers were a dark shade of gray, which I really liked. (I used one lower for a Mark 12 Mod H build, which I spray painted, so the lower color didn't really concern me.) I bought the A1 upper several months later to build my second lower into an A1 clone and it was a substantially lighter gray than the lowers. I don't mind a bit of a mismatch color between the upper and lower, but the difference was startling. I eventually coated the upper and lower with Aluma-Hyde II dark parkerizing gray to have them match, or at least be closer to each other, and was happy with the results.
Both of my H&R lowers were excellent quality and were easy to build out with milspec parts. My A1 upper was pretty good, but one or two of the holes are just slightly out of spec (but functional).
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u/Independent_Wrap7278 2d ago
Mines great. Its a mismatch, but i got the upper and lower separately to save a bit of money. I've heard if you buy a complete rifle from them it'll match better or have a higher chance, but its luck of the draw basically. Also mismatch is clone correct Most rifles of the era weren't matched. Also i have a slight wobble in mine but that's normal for any AR-15. So it's just a cosmetic issue.
Overall its a functional good quality milspec rifle. Sure you might get some lemons. But if you do they'll usually make it right. Also H&R is made in a different factory or area i believe, so their QC is usually better than normal PSA. And in my opinion normal PSA is usually just fine.
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u/modelwatto 2d ago
Wasn’t happy with the significant difference between what I received and what was pictured. I oiled the lower which helped, but it’s a little annoying having such a stark difference. Ordered in May, and I’ve seen worse examples recently. I’m glad I have it, but I’d rate it 3/5.
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u/aclark210 2d ago
That looks more like a mismatched rifle than a just a difference in anodizing. Did u contact customer support? Cuz with that big of a difference, it looks like they put the wrong upper with the wrong lower.
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u/modelwatto 2d ago
I bought the lower, the upper was from a parts kit. The customer service has the catch-all “all sales are final”
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u/Livid_Persimmon3600 2d ago
Did you order a black lower to match your black upper and what you received is grey?
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u/modelwatto 2d ago
No, I ordered a gray lower to match my gray upper and it was a significantly lighter gray than shown on the PSA website. I’ve also seen people with even lighter lowers than mine…
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u/Livid_Persimmon3600 2d ago
Yep, both of mine are lighter… I posted a pic in this thread.
In your photo your upper looks blk to my old eyes.
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u/aclark210 2d ago
That does not look like a gray upper.
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u/modelwatto 1d ago
It’s the non-existent lighting in my hotel room, I just chose a pic that was complete. Black would also have not matched, on the other end of the spectrum.
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u/jimmahoffa 2d ago
I did H&R lowers and a DOE all in black. Blems when available. Very happy with all of it. FRTs in everything running very well
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u/Livid_Persimmon3600 2d ago
I have a couple of 604 slick side uppers and lowers. The uppers are both fine, no canting. The lowers are some of my favorites.
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u/Missouri_Pacific 2d ago
I have two H&R rifles and 723 and a M16A1 with Vietnam era furniture on it. They both shoot great and they both have FRT’s in them. The A1 has an Atrius and the 723 has a trigger kicker in it. I enjoy shooting both of them!
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u/Ok_Consideration476 19h ago
I only have one (the 12.5” IDF Special). Well technically two since my Brownell’s BRN-601 Prototype (quasi clone of the first AR-15) was made by the same people before Palmetto State Armory bought Nodak Spud. Overall fit and finish is good on both firearms. I plan to get more (the 605, 606, 607, 733 and TIA) I just haven’t got around to it yet. I got distracted buying a Post Ban LEO trade-in Bushmaster Dissipator and an old Olympic Arms bull barrel match carbine.
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u/SquirrelBoom 14h ago
If you want fit and finish that's is apparent and visually a step above, no.
If you want fit and finish that looks like someone just cracked into a shipment circa 1966 somewhere on a firebase in Vietnam, yes.
Very very true to original as far as reproductions go.
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u/RaggedOldFlag11B 2d ago
I have two H&R rifles. An XM16E1 that’s bone stock with zero issues in a couple thousand rounds. My 723 has also been flawless for a few thousand rounds, mostly suppressed