Although as somewhat of a purist I keep a bone stock LE6920 with carry handle in its factory configuration just for the history of it, my favorite variant is the Colt LE6720 AR15A4 Lightweight LE Carbine.
Unlike the one in the video, mine is basically an M4 with the pencil barrel. Same handguards, Same BUIS. Same Colt quality.
I appreciate the pencil-barrelled Colts for their different balance. Although the 6920 is certainly the industry standard and imminently shootable, I prefer the change in overall feel and agility of the 6720.
I changed the handguards on mine to the thinner CAR-15 style handguards and improved the feel even more. With the addition of a carry handle sight when I’m in the mood it’s about the lightest, handiest stock carbine I can imagine.
Although I will probably always keep my LE6920 for its history, the pencil barrelled 6720 or 6520 will usually be my choice to go to the range on any given day.
[b]If you own a 6720, or 6520, please post a pic.
Let’s have an appreciation thread for pencil barrelled goodness![/b]
My 6520.
When I bought it as a used LE trade in, I basically intended that it would go into “retirement” as a collectible since I owned no other Colts. (it’s also the first and only complete AR I’ve ever bought). But through a series of events it ended up pulling duty as a “throw in the Jeep” irons-only gun for several months until I had assembled and vetted a less “valuable” carbine that could take it’s place.
I like the “pencil” profile barrel a lot. I have two fixed-stock carbines with 14.7" pencil barrels, as well as two A1 rifle clones.
I have a 6720 but I’m kind of over short hand guards and FSBs so going to get something else with a LW barrel and 13" free float HGs.
The 6920 Trooper was a neat gun and I briefly owned one but it was way front heavy compared to my 6720. I hate gov’t profile barrels. If Colt would do the exact same gun with the 6720 barrel it would be killer.
Just picked up a 6720 today. Mine is roll marked AR15A4 LightWeight Carbine. When did Colt change to the A4 vs A3? Is the only difference M4 feed ramps between A3 and A4?
The Colt 6721 carbine is marked “AR15A3” IIRC. The 6721 predates the 6720 by a number of years. It has a flattop upper, 16" heavy barrel, and I think it had a 1/9 twist as well.
I believe it is out of production now.
Kind of where I’m at. I had a 6920 that I put a Centurion C4 cutout handguatd on and cut the barrel to 14.7” with the A2 pinned. Looks awesome. But then with a red dot I’m like why? The FSB just gets in the way. Looks cool when not shooting but not as practical for actually shooting imo.
When it was an A3, I don’t remember it being roll marked as light weight carbine but I could be wrong–it’s been a few years since I looked at one at a gun show.
I love mine, I paired mine with a DD RISII FSP cut out. Wicked nice. On that rare occasion I see one of those rails, Im always tempted to buy it and build another.
