cluttonfred
Member
I got to spend some quality time with a 5.56mm AK variant last week, my first significant experience to the gun or the cartridge. A few observations….
My afternoon at the range just confirmed my wish to see someone come out with a new, lightweight carbine in the spirit of the M1 (not a replica) chambered in .30 Carbine and maybe 5.7x28mm. The classic 18-inch barrel M1 Carbine weighed 5.8 lb (2.6 kg) loaded with a 15 round magazine a sling. Using modern materials and technology, perhaps a polymer receiver with steel rails, it ought to be possible to get a new carbine with 16-inch barrel and a 10-round magazine down to 4.4 lb (2 kg) loaded. That's less than a Ruger 10/22 and exactly half the weight of the loaded AK!
Does anybody else actually prefer an M1 Carbine to a modern assault rifle?
- Even the worn guns and magazines that we had were rock-solid reliable.
- AK sights are just awful (why is the rear notch so narrow?) but I could still hit what I was aiming at (sihouette down to ~10-inch round targets, rapid fire, free standing, 25 meters).
- That and the reliablity did inspire confidence.
- At 8.8 lb (4.0 kg) loaded, that sucker got heavy after a while.
- That gas block and tube got awfully hot after a few magazines.
My afternoon at the range just confirmed my wish to see someone come out with a new, lightweight carbine in the spirit of the M1 (not a replica) chambered in .30 Carbine and maybe 5.7x28mm. The classic 18-inch barrel M1 Carbine weighed 5.8 lb (2.6 kg) loaded with a 15 round magazine a sling. Using modern materials and technology, perhaps a polymer receiver with steel rails, it ought to be possible to get a new carbine with 16-inch barrel and a 10-round magazine down to 4.4 lb (2 kg) loaded. That's less than a Ruger 10/22 and exactly half the weight of the loaded AK!
Does anybody else actually prefer an M1 Carbine to a modern assault rifle?