Charlie's Custom Model Dissipator — a modernized interpretation of the Colt Model 605 "CAR-15 Dissipator" built by Potomac Armory on a Colt-marked lower, with a 16" HBAR barrel and a functional carbine-length gas system hidden under a rifle-length Magpul MOE handguard and a Colt A2 front sight base.
The Colt Model 605 — later nicknamed the "Dissipator" — was an early Vietnam-era attempt to shorten the M16 by cutting the barrel to around 15" while keeping the original rifle-length gas system and full-length handguard. The problem is dwell time: the distance from the gas port to the muzzle shrinks, the pressurized operating window gets narrow, and reliability suffers. Field reports from units testing the 605 in Southeast Asia frequently mention suppressor use as a way to mask the flash and compensate for the pressure loss. The rifle was never standardized.
Charlie's asked Potomac Armory to build a modernized Dissipator that preserves the visual proportions — long handguard, FSB-mounted front sight on what looks like a rifle-length gas tube — while using a carbine-length gas system to solve the dwell-time problem. The solution: a 16" HBAR barrel with the gas port drilled at the carbine position and a low-profile Mk12 gas block mounted there, plus a Colt A2 FSB installed at the rifle-length position as a visual element and front sight platform. The FSB is not a functioning gas block on this rifle — the carbine gas block under the handguard does all the work.
The barrel is a Double Star DSC HBAR in 5.56 NATO, 1/9 twist, 1/2x28 threaded, phosphated 4140 — chosen because it was one of the few 16" carbine-gas barrels that still carried the 0.750" rifle-length OD necessary to seat the Colt FSB properly. The upper and lower are genuine Colt (Cage Code marked upper, M4 Carbine-laser-engraved lower), with a Colt factory BCG, Colt trigger, Colt 4-position buffer tube, and Colt reversible safety selector. Furniture is Magpul throughout.
Specifications:
If the Vietnam-era Dissipator has always caught your eye but the dwell-time stories have kept you out of one, this is the honest fix — Colt bones, modern reliability, the silhouette unchanged. Order yours today and we'll get it out the door. This item must ship to an FFL holder. No civilian exceptions.
THIS IS A SERIALIZED FIREARM. It must ship to a Federal Firearms License holder. No civilian exceptions.
Buying and shipping through Charlie’s is easy, but there is some information you need to know. Only a federally licensed firearms dealer may receive a firearm or federally regulated serialized item (like a receiver or suppressor). We cannot ship these items directly to you. Please follow these steps to process your transaction:
1) Check your state laws to make sure the federally regulated item you want to purchase is legal in your state. Your FFL dealer should be able to give you all of the necessary information regarding your state specific laws. But, if we ship to your FFL, and there is a legal issue, we cannot accept a return. So please make sure that you know and follow your local and state laws.
2) A quick google search will show you what Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealers are in your area. When you are ready to purchase, contact the FFL dealer you would like to use and get their shipping address. During the check-out, put YOUR address in the “billing” section and the FFL DEALER’S address in the “shipping” section. If you don’t know your FFLs address, that’s okay. You can send the information later.
3) After check out, make sure to contact your FFL dealer to ensure they will receive your shipment for you (most do this for a small fee, but you should always double check).
4) Have your dealer send us a copy of their FFL to FFL@CharliesCustomClones.com. Charlie’s does not reach to your FFL (MAKE THEM EARN THEIR FEE!!!)
5) Be patient! In order to ensure we remain compliant with all federal laws, our compliance department is kept separate from our sales and operations team. Please allow a few days for our compliance officer to verify all of your dealer’s documents and ensure all federal laws are being observed. You should hear from our compliance department within 3-4 business days. If not, feel free to reach out for a status update.
That’s it! We try to make this process as simple as possible for our customers, but if you are unfamiliar the process or have any other questions, please visit our How to Buy a Firearm page for more details.
California and New York residents please, click here. The process may be different due to state specific laws.
NOTE: The free shipping option does not apply to full rifles, unless purchased with a riflescope. If you choose free shipping at check-out, we will bill you for shipping later.
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