Colt M609 "XM177E1" Carbine conversion

[MadMike]

After my M653 conversion here comes another Marushin XM177E2 conversion, easy to do in the meantime.

It is the M609 XM177E1 Carbine which was used by US troops in Vietnam. Its characteristic feature is the flash supressor right behind the frontsight. You need a flash supressor without the ring on the bottom (I used the Guarder steel spare part, where the ring is an extra part - if using the plastic Marushin supressor the ring should be sawn off, but don´t do that if you have an original Marushin zinc supressor as these parts are very rare today), a A1 style front sight without bayonet lug and standard A1 handguard retaining rings. Just screw the supressor into the frontsight using an adaptor (I used a 14 mm bolt with a hole drilled into it for venting smoke/gases).

Of course the "M16A1" or "XM177E2" markings are not correct. The original Carbine is marked "Property of US Govt. - Commando Cal. 5.56 mm". But everything else is authentic. It is a nice, very compact carbine and easy to do modification.

[mark]

looking good!

I think that the magazine is a little too "blue" and shiny for an actual issue magazine though. I suppose that it could be painted or chemically treated to get a more silver/grey color that the actual 20 round Vietnam magazines seem to have.

Its too bad that the model designation on the receiver can't be changed without alot of trouble. If they where that would make your replica so much better

[gavin]

does anyone have a link to a picture of one so i can compare them as i searched but could not find any mike you realy know your ars

[MadMike]

Here are two pics of US soldiers carrying the XM177E1 in Vietnam. I found the pics on the internet.

[gavin]

great job a nice copie but as mark says the mags difrent any more projects lined up

[MadMike]

Well, to be frank the M653 as well as the M609 is no real project, not a big thing to customize, just playing around, killing time ...

[gavin]

it more like a conversion

[erikthecat]

i like your conversion, looks much more authentic that the other option! :)
for a comparison, so anyone that doesn't have the Maruschin can compare your modification the original.

here is an image of the original flash hider from the Maruschin XM177E2,
i attempted to remover the 'plastic shine' with fine wire wool, better but not great. below that is the metal alternative available from a well known UK model gun supplier, again better than the original, but that probably makes the parentage of the model even more doubtful? :)

[erikthecat]

i read a post the other day, it was a fix for a wobbly frame!
i can't locate it now, so if you don't mind can i post this here?
(feel free to move it to a better location)

anyone who owns an XM will know the problem.

the professional looking fix in the other post was made by drilling out the existing holes and retro fitting some stainless steel pins. it was probably a very mechanically sound solution, but it looked a little odd. as we now know it is not possible to chemically blue stainless, no ferrous content see.

my temporary fix, which is getting more permanent every day, as i am very lazy, was altogether more low tech.
a few layers of good old American style gaffer tape:)
it's grey in the image, but i have since replaced it with black.
it's rock solid.
from the outside no one would ever know.
they couldn't tell when i made that unorthodox cash withdrawal at my local building society! :)
(please advise if my humour is NOT FUNNY and i will modify)
nobody usually gets close enough / opens the thing up, so my guilty secret is .... well, still a secret:)

what do you think?

as i said, the tape is now BLACK, so it doesn't stand out as much as it does in the image!


again, the BLACK tape is less visible, but the GREY at least shows where the tape is situated.


did i mention the tape is now BLACK?

[mark]

Looks great Gary!

Nice "low tech" tip too! I would think that epoxy putty would work too if placed in the proper area. (with release agent on the upper to stop it from sticking)

Francky has the all steel flash hider for the Marushin XM177 in stock at the moment.

[erikthecat]

[mark]

Here you go..
http://www2.odn.ne.jp/~hak64500/index.html.htm

Uhh, I am not sure if there is another person at this time that we can get parts from..