Your favorite assault rifle?

[Daemon688]

Haha......who actually owns all of these? What percentage of people have been so graced to shoot all of them?

My favorite assault rifle is the AK. In all the flavors, .308, .223, 12 guage, 7.62x39, etc.


Oh, and my favorite video game gun has always been the G36.

 

[absolut_beethoven]

Thanks to those who have taken the time to vote.

Those who chose not to because they didn't like my choices, hey, these are my personal favorites (for reasons already mentioned) and I was curious to see how popular they are.

Sure I could have used a different word to describe these, but then again everyone, even those in DC, know exactly what I mean i.e. full auto close quarter battle rifle, or whatever else you want to call it. Hence no single shot 30.06 or any other caliber.

And lastly, hopefully those who have been fortunate enough to shoot any of these will offer some insight to the rest of us.

 

[absolut_beethoven]

I've played with the G36 and HK 416, no experience with the rest of the list.

Would still prefer a standard M4A1.

So HorseSoldier, how about some insight on why you preferred the M4A1. Better handling, accuracy etc?

 

[MIL-DOT]

another vote for the GALIL .

 

[Medusa]

I've played with G3, Galil AR, Galil SN, FN MAG, M14, G36/AG36. From these I'd take AG36K over others as assault rifle.

From your choice I took the rifle I'd most happily have in my closet - FN F2000 with GL.

If to broaden the selection a bit you may keep your high-end assault rifles and give me Mk.11 Mod.0 (or SASS) and M24 SWS.

 

[Kaylee]

See, here's the point - it's terribly unwise to have a "favorite" anything unless you've actually had a chance to use the darn thing and see how it performs in the real world. This isn't an gamer board - we're not discussing variable values and pixels here.

Case in point - the FN2000. It looks slick and cool as anything in the photos. Yeah, I thought it looked pretty awesome in 2003 or so. Then I finally got the chance to play with one. Aside from that thick, light receiver being awkward as all heck to handle (and covering most of the mag), the innards look like they've come out of a blasted Mr. Coffee. No way I'd ever want to buy one now, even if it does come from a company with a very good reputation for making quality stuff.

So you see, someone can't give you any meaningful opinion on a weapon they've never even touched.

So here's my review -
I've field stripped, examined, and fired a G36. Same for an M4A1.

Handled an AUG and some of the internals, but never fired one or broke it down.

I've never even seen a piston-run AR upper or Tavor in person.



Based on that, I can say I think the G36 is decent, but would prefer an AR platform given my druthers. (for reasons of usable barrel length as part of overall length, ergonomics, magazine profile, and parts/expertise availability in the US).

The AUG sure shoulders comfy, and I'd certainly not turn one down, though I'd want to take more time getting accustomed to how it does its thing. No way I'd pay the premium the few in the states have though. As already mentioned, I've absolutely no interest in an FN2000. Couldn't even begin to tell you about the Tavor, and given my experience with the AR to date the 416 is an answer looking for a question.

But to each their own.

 

[UKarmourer]

Firstly, Onmilo, the Aussies may get a bit put back by your comment, especially those at Camp Eagle in Iraq, but its not widely known so OK

Of the choices there I would say G36, not fired it, but have handled it, and if its as good, or better than the HK53 I used in N.I then I'll take 2!

However I still Love my L85A2 (SA80 to those who dont know it) especially after getting the chance to try the 40mm UGL last week, I would take it over any other for daily use
gotta love it, never fired before, first round went wide, all after that were within 5m of target

 

[CWL]

The reason I chose not include the AK47 and the M16 is because the current trend seems to favor smaller, lighter rifles.

Are you aware that the M16A2 and G36 weigh about the same, and that the M4A1 weighs about 2lbs less? I have no clue about the others but suspect that there is no weight differential at all.

I have personally handled the G36 and AUG (plus a FAMAS) and would prefer the M16/M4 platform. This may be due to familiarity, but that is important when choosing a personal rifle.

Have you ever felt the trigger systems on a bullpup?

I also did not vote.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Are you serious? I don't know what any of those are.

So, I guess this is as close as I've got.

 

[SigfanUSAF]

Since your choices, as mentioned before, aren't readily available to 90% of the US population, I'll vote from outside your poll. SHTF, favorite "assault rifle", world invasion militia rifle, zombie attack, blood sucking liberal takeover home defense weapon, whatever, here's what I'm grabbing:

 

[amt341]

I vote AK -when I was in desert storm- we found a bunker full of these- we buried one in the sand along with the magazine - we slapped it together and emptied it- reliability goes a long way with me- too bad the M-16 will jam with a 1/2 piece of pocket lint-

 

[cracked butt]

Who needs assault rifles when you can have a pair of gold plated deagles?

 

[Correia]

And my favorite space ship is like totally the Millenium Falcon!

 

[trbon8r]

too bad the M-16 will jam with a 1/2 piece of pocket lint-

That must be why just about every special ops unit in the free world uses it.

 

[bender]

assault rifle, huh? your california is showing.

Yep. I don't own any, and have never shot one...

then again... I don't use that terminology

 

[10-Ring]

My fave not on the list -- HK 93

 

[hexidismal]

Seeing as very few (if any) members here will have had the opportunity to fire or even handle all (or any) of these firearms, perhaps a better question to avoid all these like responses would have been something along the lines of, "Which do you find the most aesthetically attractive". As is, the question will only continue to receive this basic repeat answer from real-world shooters.
In an attempt to stay on topic though as best is possible.. my favorite wouldn't be a gun on the list, since nothing in .308 is listed. If I had to pick one from the list that I would guess I would most want to use in a combat situation, then it would probably be the very basic HK416.

 

[Risasi]

Another "none of the above" vote here....

 

[GRIZ22]

I didn't vote because the M-16 ain't a choice.

Same here. I've used the M16/M4 since 1968 and I can't say I've had these condemning problems many speak about having. I've used it in Vietnam and in the desert and as long as it was reasonably clean it never failed me.

The only weapon listed I've used is the AUG. I thought they were pretty neat when the agency I worked for got them. However they have a multitude of real problems. Some are:

1. They slam fire if you are not using milspec ammo.
2. Insert the mag and tap as you're accustomed with the bolt back and rounds pop out of the mag jamming your AUG. It's the only weapon I know that does this.
3. The manual tells you you to open up the gas port if it starts jamming. Why does the M16 have this? Because the innards don't get fouled as easy.
4. I've read the Austrailians had reliablity problems with them when their AUGs got wet. Never had any with a M16.
5. The squeeze semi, jerk trigger is useful on the range but guess what you're going to do when you have a close up threat? Jerk the trigger and your first round will be on target and the rest off someplace else. Ours were modified so the safety was a 3 position safe, auto in the middle, and semi when pushed all the way to the left. If you have it on safe and a threat appears you'll push it past the semi to auto and have the same consequences mentioned.

Sexy looking weapon but not my cup of tea.


We went to M16s and M4s. Using one for nearly 40 years makes me pretty familiar with them.

I did use the G36 when palying "Ranger Elite". Does that count?

Sexy looking weapon but not my cup of tea.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

I think the Mosin Nagant is the true winner. Powerful, simple, effective.

 

[absolut_beethoven]

Case in point - the FN2000. It looks slick and cool as anything in the photos. Yeah, I thought it looked pretty awesome in 2003 or so. Then I finally got the chance to play with one. Aside from that thick, light receiver being awkward as all heck to handle (and covering most of the mag), the innards look like they've come out of a blasted Mr. Coffee. No way I'd ever want to buy one now, even if it does come from a company with a very good reputation for making quality stuff.

Thanks Kaylee, that's exactly the type of info that I was looking for.

As I implied before, I specifically didn't ask people to comment only on those that they had fired. I know how hard these are to come by over here, hence my poll to try and glean a little more info.

Sometimes handling the rifle is sufficient, or even just hearing the opinion of someone you trust who has. Even the mags with their biased opinions don't have too much info on these.

No offense to those who chose not to vote, or didn't like my choices. These rifles interest me and hopefully others will find the comments as useful as I have.

Hopefully some of these will make it into the army's new tests, and seeing as we're paying for those tests, we all stand to learn from them

 

[absolut_beethoven]

Have you ever felt the trigger systems on a bullpup?

That's one of the main reasons that I posted this poll CWL.

While I have been fortunate enough to to fire quite a few different rifles on full auto, thanks to my stint in the South African Army, I have never even handled a bullpup let alone fired one, and I confess that both the concept and the savings in weight and size appeal to me.

As Kaylee already mentioned, I might pick one up and hate the feel of it, just like happened to me when I first handled the Glock - small hands and Glocks just don't make good music IMHO.