There is already a FN USA.

Save the Colt name, but at least sell it to another major arms manufacture and reform Colt's management.

The Colt brand name is toxic. That's not going to change any time in the foreseeable future, maybe not even at the heat-death of the universe. I know there's already a FN USA, but what should happen is that that company expands by taking over the assets of Colt, which are its designers and manufacturers, and eliminates its liabilities, which are its managers and brand name.

They already make the M4-A1 now, Colt lost that contract, because of the crappy way that the company is now run.

TFB's Top 5 Historically Significant (Automatic) Pistols.

Sorry revolver fans, next time.

At least it wasn't as lame as the Assault Rifle one. At least they recognized the mighty 1911. But the last one was an oddball I'm sure few people have heard about. I hadn't heard of it.

I've heard of it. It's one of my dream guns actually.

But then again I'm a big ass Resident Evil nerd so eh.

I saw it first on Aliens and then REII.

Oh the VP-70? First read about that in the British magazine "Combat and Survival", way back in the 80's.

I remember it from a ttrpg splat book.

edited 31st May '15 12:29:41 AM by TairaMai

That is some impressive weight savings. M240 gunners would surely appreciate the lighter load.

Does it do anything about the recoil though? Eight pounds is a lot of recoil mitigation thrown away.

It seems they are moving to caseless ammunition to reduce weight.

Semi-caseless to be correct. CT ammo is Cased-Telescoped ammunition.

Like caseless, it weighs less than conventional ammo, but unlike some types of caseless you can get CT ammo wet and it'll still work fine. And you don't need expensive/complex electrical ignition systems.

I recall there was no issue with the weight reduction in the the LMG version. It drops 14 lbs which puts the unloaded weapon at 11lbs still.

So CT chambered A Rs when?

Dunno. They have some working models apparently. Not sure how much more weight you can actually trim off of an AR though. Most of the MG's weight comes from the various components and internals. By changing those they changed the weight.

The big issues are:

• The logistical chain: while basic training can use the old M-16/M-4 and M-249/240 weapons, line units will have to convert en mass. The supply chain will have to figure out how to ship these to units in the process of deploying and units de-mobilizing.
  • The National Guard will fight tooth and nail to get the same weapons as the Regular Army as the Regular Army has had "issues" supplying good kit to the Nasty Girls. NG units took M-16A2s and M60s to Iraq in 2003. They have been converting to M4's, but this could spark old arguments anew.

• Big Army now owns the blueprints to the M-16 and M-4. The old guard will scream that these rilfes are "paid for" and with Colt on life support there will be calls to toss Colt a bone.
  • Ditto POGO, journalists and other Arm Chair Military to pull out all kinds of arguments as to why LSAT "isn't needed" or somesuch.

• Big Army can hide behind the "NATO STANAG" excuse: "we need to be in line with NATO". Hence the 9mm and the 5.56mm. STANAGs have been used as a club to beat back the 7.62mm and .45ACP fanboys. Expect some whitepapers on how LSAT will "hurt NATO".
  • Nations may pull a France: "Your standard is nice and all, but we'll just use our own or use old ammo just because"

On the plus side:

• The weight savings will make the infantry branch cheer. Expect the performace boost and increased ammo count to slience the Colt Fanboys/Old Guard.
• NATO might jump at the chance to save weight and get more out of their infantry.
• If LSAT impressed the Marines, a common USMC/US Army rilfe and machine gun system will make the budget wonks squee.
• Colt going to the great gunshow in the sky may cause a lot of the old guard to STFU. On Colt Defense's epitaph will be their flawed M-16 and their petty attempts to block replacements.

Anyone has details on small arms used in the Croatian/Bosnian War? Info I'm looking for (again) is not from the Yugoslavian Army and/or their militia proxies.

Anyone ever wonder how to reload an AK with one hand?

The answer is like a total badass

Dat stock, dat grip and dat EO Tech.

FYI, Colt don't make M4s no more. At least not ones Uncle Sam buys.

FN Herstal USA done got that contract

There are soemthing like three contractors now making the rifles instead of just Colt.

I'm amazed at Chinese airsoft engineering. There's a clone of the Marushin M1892 rifle, re-engineered to shoot the more common 6 mm BBs. Now, two things: the original was built for duster gas, and nobody even thought of using propane in it - when I sourced one of the early production run for a friend a few years ago, it failed disastrously. Leaking like a sieve, parts breaking, all kinds of mayhem.

Now, I ordered one last week since it was on a sale, expecting the worst (a prop costing as much as a non-functional Denix). Filled it with gas, put a couple of BBs in... Three unexpectedly great things. They apparently tweaked the output valve to be stiffer, so first, it's not as stupidly overpowered as the first run (which, according to some people, could clock at 500 fps BB velocity), second, holds the gas better, and third, is damn near silent. Expanding gas is barely louder than the hammer dropping.

edited 1st Jun '15 3:46:00 PM by NotSoBadassLongcoat

POTD: A General Motors M16 Still In Military Service.

Obviously it's a conversion job from A1 to A2.

Wow. That is quite the thing to see. There are some Bushmaster ones floating around as well.

^ It gets even better. They found an authentic (if modified from original) XM-16E1 in service in Cambodia.

I wonder if it came from a GI (he lost it, KIA or otherwise) in The Vietnam War or from ARVN or somewheres.