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What have I gotten myself into?! vol. Colt Expanse

6K views 27 replies 21 participants last post by  G schütze 
#1 ·
Glock Talk, I seek your council....

For the last three years I have been researching about different AR-15s. I decided to go with the LE6920 after looking at various threads and reading numerous reviews. I went to a local gun show this past weekend and let one of the dealers there know that I was searching for the LE6920 and I had my heart set on purchasing the rifle. He showed me what he said was the exact same pistol (Colt M4 CE2000) without the M203 notch. Excited, I jumped on the deal and figured that since I was basically getting the LE6920, I could always buy the barrel with the M203 notch. I buy the rifle for $800 (smh) and then proceed to buy $100 worth of magpul accessories to go with the rifle. So I basically spent $900 for this rifle. I got home and researched more about the rifle I purchased and learned a few things:
1. This is a budget rifle and is NOT the LE6920.
2. I severely overpaid for the rifle
3. The early editions (CE1000) did not come with a dust cover or forward assist (mine does).
4. Most people do not like the rifl

I went to my LGS today and asked if they would accept a trade in of my expanse so that I could purchase one of their LE6920. Of course, they said they would but I wouldn't get anywhere near what I paid for it (which is what I expected).

My question to everyone is:
1. Does the expanse and LE6920 differ that much (parts wise) that it justifies trading my expanse in for an LE6920.
2. Should I just buy a LE6920 and keep the rifle?
3. If I do keep the expanse, what parts would you recommend swapping out so that I have as close to a LE6920 as possible?

Thanks in advance.
 

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#5 ·
If you can afford to keep it then I would.
And buy the one you want.
Incidentally I looked at that Colt and it looked like a very good carbine and well made.
The only reason I didn't get one was the deal I got nothing the S&W I ended up buying.
 
#6 ·
Thanks for your replies!

I think I will end up keeping it and adding a few parts to it and just buy another rifle down the road.

With the upcoming election looking the way it's looking, I expect ar15 prices to soar so I may be able to sell it for what I paid for it.

Are LE6920 barrels with the M203 notch usually easy to find? I saw one online for $250 that I am thinking about ordering.

Thanks again for all the help!
 
#11 ·
It's more so the chrome lined barrel that I want. In my research I read that they last longer and are easier to maintain. I did also read they are not as accurate though.
 
#12 ·
It's more so the chrome lined barrel that I want. In my research I read that they last longer and are easier to maintain. I did also read they are not as accurate though.
The chrome lining is there for heat erosion resistance during full auto or extended firing dumping mags after mags on semiauto over and over and over and over and over again. Unless you see yourself doing these two things all the time, save yourself some money and buy ammo instead.

And frankly, by the time you have spent enough money on ammo to wear out these non-chrome lined barrels, you'd spent probably ten times the cost of the gun. Ask yourself then if a $150-200 barrel is really meaningful.
 
#15 ·
Are you planning to buy a grenade launcher? If not, keep what you have and sell it later down the road when you realize what you really want. And but what you really want next time instead of getting a basic rifle and changing out parts. The ar15 market is flooded with thousands of different variations.
 
#16 ·
I agree with fnfalman on all the points he is making.
For what it is worth, years ago I bought an AR that a lot of people would snub as being "low end". I sold it off to a friend, and bought some "high end" AR's to replace it. The low end AR shot every bit as well and reliably as the high end ones do, and I wish I kept it.

Before you throw a ton of money on your Colt, take it out and shoot it. If it works well (and it will) just keep it, and don't worry about supposedly better models.
 
#21 ·
Years ago i bought a 6920 during the ban (purchased with a letterhead). that rifle is out together so poorly that it needed alot of work to be more than a single shot. most of our dept colts were similar when they came new. back then colt was one of the only games in town and when we called about it they said if you don't like it get mini 14s. all the other agencies in the area advised the higher ups to avoid colt as well back then.

I like to take my 6920 when i go to armorer school and show it when instructors talk about how they are the best. the thing has machining marks inside and outside of the rifle and the upper and lower don't quite line up right.

That said one of our guys recently bought a new one. putting them side by side there is a night and day difference in quality and finish. his also ran out of the box where as mine was a single shot for almost 500 rounds (fire a shot, ram rod down the barrel to eject case and reload). colt has had to really step up their game
 
#22 ·
Years ago i bought a 6920 during the ban (purchased with a letterhead). that rifle is out together so poorly that it needed alot of work to be more than a single shot. most of our dept colts were similar when they came new. back then colt was one of the only games in town and when we called about it they said if you don't like it get mini 14s. all the other agencies in the area advised the higher ups to avoid colt as well back then.

I like to take my 6920 when i go to armorer school and show it when instructors talk about how they are the best. the thing has machining marks inside and outside of the rifle and the upper and lower don't quite line up right.

That said one of our guys recently bought a new one. putting them side by side there is a night and day difference in quality and finish. his also ran out of the box where as mine was a single shot for almost 500 rounds (fire a shot, ram rod down the barrel to eject case and reload). colt has had to really step up their game
Oh please...there's no way a milspec gun like a Colt could ever be that bad...:whistling:

Had a guy show up at a highpower shoot a couple of years ago with a Colt HBAR National Match Rifle and from the factory the barrel was so loose it wobbled.
 
#24 ·
It's more so the chrome lined barrel that I want. In my research I read that they last longer and are easier to maintain. I did also read they are not as accurate though.
There is another option you might want to consider. You could buy a complete upper with the barrel you want and just swap it out with the Expanse upper. For example, you can get a Stag Arms upper with the chrome lined, notched barrel you want for about $550. You keep the lower you have with all the upgrades you put on it. If you don't want to keep the Expanse upper, put it on sale at a quick-sale price on gunbroker or similar site. Just a thought.
 
#25 ·
I have ARs with chrome lined barrels and without. Can't tell a difference at all.

Shoot the crap outta that Colt Expanse and anything that breaks replace with a quality part. I have a feeling it will run just fine.

The only part I have ever replaced on an AR15 due to wear is an extractor. In my RRA after 5-6K rounds of really cheap steel cased ammo.
 
#27 ·
For routine civilian applications chrome lining is meaningless
Most high level competitors use non chromed as they are initially more accurate and tend to be accurate longer than lined. Yes you got take. But make the most of it. Unless you are a high volume shooter ( 2-3k rounds annually) you will probably die before accuracy becomes unacceptable due to barrel wear
 
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