You know what rifle I'd like?

[Nightcrawler]

I'd like to see a sporter type rifle that's as strong and reliable as a military rifle. Here's exactly what I have in mind.

-Easily scoped. Perhaps a flat topped receiver, with a reciprocating charging handle on the right side (hey, I'm left handed). This charging handle would also function as a positive forward assist and a bolt release. The bolt would lock open when the last shot was fired. Receiver is made of STEEL.

-Reliable. Gas piston or roller locking recoil operation. No direct gas impingement, none of that flimsy stuff Remington puts into its semiauto rifles. Non-match-grade rifles would all have chrome lined barrels and chambers, and maybe stainless steel bolts and other internals.

-Easily disassembled, without tools, and easy to clean the barrel from the breech end.

-GOOD IRON SIGHTs. This means no crappy buckhorn sights. Apreture sights, ala the M1, adjustable for windage and elevation.

-LONG ACTION. There are plenty of .308 semiautos out there. This one would be in .30-06 and other long action chamberings, and would be capable to withstanding the hottest loads and the heaviest bullets.

-Detachable box magazines. Reliable, well designed ones made of steel or high-impact polymer, with solid locking mechanisms and a magazine release that's workable when shooting left or right handed. 5 round mags for hunting, 10 round mags for the range.

-Wood or synthetic stock, nice looking, but not too heavy.

-Accurate. The "rack grade" version of this rifle would be accurate as, say, a rack grade M1A. There'd be heavy barreled and match barreled versions, too.

-Variety. Barrel lengths would be 18", 20", 24", or 26", depending on the model. The basic model would be available in .30-06 or .270, but a "varminter" model would be available in .22-250. I'm thinking that "Magnum" versions (built on even longer actions, ala the magnum BAR Mk. IIs) would be nice as well, in .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, and something not available on the market right now, a 5+1 or 10+1 semiauto .45-70.

Lots of features and variations for the wide variety of shooters. It'd be REALLY nice if the barrels were interchangable, so you could buy one rifle and have all different barrel lengths. Plus, the rifle would be California legal.

But mostly, I just want a .30-06 semauto that's not built on a flimsy shotgun receiver and that uses decent detachable box magazines that hold more than 3 or 4 rounds. When I'm at the range or am out plinking, I don't like to stop and reload every five shots.

That new Benelli rifle, the Argo holds promise (I seem to remember reading that a 10 round mag would be available for it), but it's not out yet, and I don't think Benelli's going to import the version that has iron sights...:banghead:

 

[Dr.Rob]

I am amused by the phrase "crappy buckhorn sights", but beyond that let's point out a few things.

First, you won't get military toughness and barrel interchangibility for various calibers in a lefty friendly semiauto without dropping some serious coin AND having one heavy assed weapon.

Not that your ideas are bad. But that's a serious want list all in one weapon.

The last good interchangable rifle ala Blaser, cost way more than most working stiffs are going to drop, and that bavarian rig was a strait-pull bolt action. Adding a semi-auto system that works reliably to this mix? Hmmmmm. Provided the case rim was the same on all calibers offered, maybe. That way you could use the same bolt/firing pin etc.

Chrome plating and stainless internals? No argument there, that should be standard.

Semiauto 45-70, that would be a trick. You'd end up with something like the old Remington .351 auto rifle as a base to build from. But would it be light enough? Is there enough pressure to work a gas system from a low pressure 45-70? Can it handle the so called "Garret" hot loads? Be a shame to build a semi auto bear gun that can't handle the hot stuff.

Me, I just want a Colt Lightning in 44 magnum, oh and yeah chrome the barrel and internals. Leave those authentic buckhorns on it please, maybe some nice figured wood and german silver accents, like a shnabel tip on the slide.

 

[SodaPop]

All they need to do is make an 18inch FAL in 5.56 with A2 sights and it would be #1.

 

[Nightcrawler]

The barrel interchangability was just a thought; if it's too much trouble I'd sooner leave it off than have a ridiculously overpriced weapon.

Maybe "crappy" was too strong a word for buckhorn sights. I LIKE AK-style square-notch tangent sights. But some sights, like the ones that were on my Marlin or my Winchester Trappers, don't have a well defined rear notch and I didn't like the sights. In any case, I consider M14-style sights to be superior in terms of ease of target acquisition.

A 5.56mm FAL? I dunno...sounds like Blasphemy of the Highest Order to me, SodaPop. LOL 'Sides, isn't the FAL kind of heavy and beefy for 5.56mm?

As for the .45-70 semiauto....low pressure might be a problem if it was gas operated. But if it was roller-locking recoil operated like a G3, then it shouldn't be a problem. If there's one thing .45-70 generates enough of, it's recoil, right?

Oh, and making it "lefty friendly" doesn't mean it has to be complicated. A reciprocating charging handle on the right side of the receiver (Ala M1, M14, Mini-14, Kalashnikov, AR-180, FNC, etc.) and a large flipper-paddle magazine release that can be operated with either hand. That, and the ejection designed that the brass won't hit the left handed firer in the face (the FAL is fine in this regard; the M16 is NOT).

Weight...personally, if it weighs 9 or so pounds, that's fine with me. Weight is the price you pay for DURABILITY. I had a Remington 7400 with it's aluminum reciver. It was ammo finickey, and very complex to take apart. If I was going to be out wandering the wilderness on a hunt, I'd prefer a slightly heavier rifle that worked when I got my game in my sights than a nice light sporter that didn't. Espeically if I was hunting something mean that might try to eat me if my first shot didn't kill it, and I needed a fast follow up shot. I've been on long marches with a heavy weapon before, too, so I know how much it can be not fun. But if you really want the lightest weapon, I'd recommend one of those featherweight bolt guns or a single shot.

The nice thing about a gas operated, 9-lb semiauto in, say, .338 Win Mag, would be that the recoil wouldn't be so brutal as it would be in a 7-lb bolt gun.

As with everything, it's a tradeoff. Some people hunt with M1As and Garands, after all.

 

[Schuey2002]

-Reliable. Gas piston or roller locking recoil operation. No direct gas impingement, none of that flimsy stuff Remington puts into its semiauto rifles. ....
-Easily scoped. Perhaps a flat topped receiver, with a reciprocating charging handle on the right side (hey, I'm left handed). This charging handle would also function as a positive forward assist and a bolt release. The bolt would lock open when the last shot was fired. ...
Oh, and making it "lefty friendly" doesn't mean it has to be complicated. A reciprocating charging handle on the right side of the receiver (Ala M1, M14, Mini-14, Kalashnikov, AR-180, FNC, etc.) and a large flipper-paddle magazine release that can be operated with either hand. That, and the ejection designed that the brass won't hit the left handed firer in the face (the FAL is fine in this regard; the M16 is NOT).

It sounds like you you're looking for a H&K G36!

Then, I read this part..

The Receiver is made of STEEL.

So much for that idea..

 

[Nightcrawler]

Except the G36 is in 5.56x45mm, my good man. I wouldn't buy one even if they were available.

Now, a G36 action SCALED UP to .30-06...now you're talking. Still, polymer/alloy receivers don't work well with full-house rifle rounds....