The Brownells Retro A1 rifle length barrel replicates exactly the exterior contours of the original "skinny" barrel of the M16A1 rifle, so it's ideal for building your own Retro Rifle™ OR any AR-15 where a lightweight barrel is desirable. Chambered in 5.56x45, this chrome-lined barrel has a 1-12" twist and is finished in matte black phosphate, with an overall length of 20". The muzzle threads are ½"-28 tpi, and in the back a standard rifle barrel extension is pre-installed.

5.56 NATO chamber (also accepts .223 Rem)

Original 1-12" rifling compatible with heavier bullets

Chrome-lined bore

Requires a rifle-length gas tube (available separately)

Available as Stripped or complete Barrel Assembly

You can get the Retro A1 barrel as a Stripped barrel with a relief cut behind the muzzle threads or as a complete Barrel Assembly that comes with a front sight base (.625", no F marks), sight post, detent, spring, sling swivel, rivet, flat Delta ring, barrel nut, weld spring, snap ring, and the M16A1 triangular handguard cap. The Barrel Assembly comes with of those components already installed, to help speed up your rifle build.



Each Brownells Retro A1 rifle barrel is machined from ultra-strong 4150 chrome-moly steel, and is magnetic particle inspected when finished to ensure there are no hidden flaws that could shorten its service life.



Big Book Catalog, Issue:72, Page:012