Your preference for a combat rifle

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F2000 has a lot problem with it, one of them is the ejection mech that push the case upward into the ejection tube. two is the possible stopage with the ejection port blocked by mud or other object you might encounter in the field.

FN SCAR would be the ultimate combat rifle with the option of change caliber from 5.56 to 7.62x51. interchageable barrel length. all could be done by the operator at base camp.

iron sight is a nice back up, with today's high performance optics, improved capability is drastic with a ACOg Ta31 or a simple Aimpoint or EOTech. that being said, proper shoot technique with the iron is still the basis of any training.
 
Nothing against a Garand that's been rebarreled to .308 and nothing against one that's been shortened and lightened, but I think it bears mentioning that it was never USGI. I've heard about some that were done in the field and a couple that were R&D'd at US Gov't Springfield Armory, but the tankers you get now are either limited commercial production or the work of some gunsmiths. A prospective buyer of a M1 "tanker" must beware that not all are created equal and many have functional problems. A good one, though, would be great fun, I think.

My own preference for a combat rifle? Hmmm. First to mind is US Rifle Cal. .30 M1 or a Garand rebarreled to .308 in its full length. Otherwise, I remember this one thread on another board where we were discussing a local patrol scenario- I opted for a Winchester .30-30 and a couple of bandoleers of 150gr SP's for that one and it's a capable round out to 200yds if the shooter knows what he's doing with it. A .243 bolt gun, for it's balistics and flat trajectory, wouldn't be out of the question, but most all ammo for it is sporting and no option of AP and tracer and no select fire weapons are chambered for it. I think I'd stick to .30-06 and .308.
 
I'll take an M1. 14 and FAL are nice but I dislike bottom feeders. They interfere with a good low prone and that mag likes to snag on stuff.

Can't see rebarrreling am M1 to fire shorts either, as a matter of fact I'd like an improved load for the 06. Maybe a 165 at 2950.

Sam
 
I don't think that'd run right in an M-1's gas system.

Wow, I've been doing a lot of naysaying in this thread! :neener:

Off the top of my head, a good choice would be:

1) Cavarms Polymer lower
2) All Colt upper parts, Colt A3 upper reciever
3) Aimpoint Comp ML2
4) Barrel turned down to A1 specs

Add one truckload of M193 and Hornady 75gr. TAP loaded into a boatload of magazines and you'd be in very good shape.

A FAL, M-14, Garand, AK, M-4, Mini-14, XCR, SKS, M-96, SP-1, M-17, Aug, G-36, HK-93, XM-8, SU-16, G-3, AR-18, nearly any autoloading military rifle WW2 and forward would put you in an almost equally advantageous position. Pick what you like, and practice practice practice.
 
Whatever fits this description...

General Description:
- AK (possibly in bullpup config.)
- Utilizes AR mags, chambered in 5.56x45 NATO/ .223 Rem
- Smaller gas tube and piston assembly to coincide with the 5.56
- Gas block farther down the barrel than a standard AK, much like an AR-15
- Safety/selector switch repositioned/reworked, reminiscent of an M14 (safety built into trigger, selector switch somewhere else), or rather like a Galil
- Safe/ semi/ three round burst
- Flat, 90-degree gas block and chamber (think FAL, BAR)
- Rail running along the top much like an UltiMak, but going from where rear sight is located on an AK to the top of the gas block
- Flip-up front sight, reminiscent of M1/M14/M-16, permanently mounted on top of gas block
- Flip-up rear sight (patterned off the M16A2) permanently mounted at other end of rail
- 4x scope (easily removed), most likely an ACOG
- 20" heavy barrel, fluted, polygonal rifling, threaded for muzzle brake/flash suppressor or sound suppressor
- Chrome-lined bore and internal mechanisms
- Machined alloy receiver, fiberglass (not plastic) furniture with heat shields
- Repair/field kit inside pistol grip and/or stock

Variations:
- .308, takes G3 mags, 10x scope, bipod, 26" barrel, semi only
- 10" barrel, NVG4 scope with backup tritium ghost ring sights, detachable light and laser, integrally suppressed

... from this thread.

Well, either that or a SA M1A Scout--black synthetic stock, Leupold Intermediate Eye Relief scope, and QD rings.
 
Tanker Grand

Mustanger98

You are correct. There never were any “M1 tanker Grands†issued by the government. The only M1 Grands that I know of that were re-barreled to .308 were by the navy. They were used for ships company, landing party, and some MC security guard detachments. My M1 was re-barreled to .308 and matched conditioned at Quantico for use as a 1,000 meter rifle. Came with a spare bolt and operating rod matched to the receiver.
 
My M1 was re-barreled to .308 and matched conditioned at Quantico for use as a 1,000 meter rifle. Came with a spare bolt and operating rod matched to the receiver.
Click to expand...

Interesting.

The only M1 Grands that I know of that were re-barreled to .308 were by the navy. They were used for ships company, landing party, and some MC security guard detachments.
Click to expand...

CMP had a bunch of 'em a while back on auction. According to the info they gave, there were three ways they were done. The first way was a press-fit insert to shorten the chamber .5", which was known for flying out in your face on ejection. Then they started screwing the insert into the chamber, which they seemed to say worked better. They finally rebarreled some Garands to the Mk2 version with a whole new 7.62NATO barrel, which is the safest. I seem to recall they were looking for those to sell high.

Can't see rebarrreling am M1 to fire shorts either, as a matter of fact I'd like an improved load for the 06. Maybe a 165 at 2950.
Click to expand...

I've shot handloaded Hornady 165gr SP's with IMR4895 to run 2400fps from my Danish SA SG. Decent accuracy and no problems.

You do have to change the gas plug but an M1 will take that laoding.
Shoot nearly that in my match gun.
Click to expand...

You'd have to change the gas plug because of the difference between 2400fps and 2920fps. You also have to change the plug for bullets over 180grains which they tell you to stay away from to begin with. Personally, I'd stick to 147-168grain FMJ or SP and keep the pressure a little lower in the handloads. No sense in me beating myself up or beating my gun up.
 
I'd vote for the AR15A2 or M4 in .223/5.56. Worked well for me 35 years ago in the original '16 version----like the 'new and improved' A2/M4 versions even better.
 
Ranger,

I agree, a nice 20 inch M16A4 with a TA31 will do wonders. especially with proper ammo selection.
 
(Edit: Andrew Wyatt, what didn't you like about firing the XM8/G36? I always thought it was rather comfortable to shoot, and rather accurate.)
Click to expand...

The g36K i shot recoiled more than my mini-14 and was consequentially harder to control. The lop from the back of the pistol grip to the front face of the trigger was too long for me, and the scope on it, while clear and bright, was no ACOG.

also, you can't rezero the scope in the field (it somes "zereoed" from the factory)


the XM-8 i handled was bulkier through the forend than the mini-14, and was overlarge or poorly shaped and felt funny. the rifle i handled had no iron sights at all. The lop from the PG to the trigger was also too long.


also, neither gun was as compact as an AR, and a mini-14 was significantly more compact than either of them.


i didn't like the folding stock on the g36, as it was non adjustable, and the XM8 stock was less sturdy than an M4 stock, in my opinion.
 
My preference for a combat rifle? Well,....

I'd have to go with the 120mm rifled barrel mounted on an M-1 Abrams MBT. Y'all can run around and play SuperDuperLightfighterRangerSavesTheWorldCQBHero all y'all want. Me, I'm enough of a realist to understand that combat is in all reality a two-way live-fire range, where the other guy shoots back. Therefore, I want the biggest, baddest, most heavily-armored rifle I can get. Yeah, there are those who'll say an M4 is much better for CQB or MOUT than an M-1 Abrams. Have you any idea what kind of holes an Abrams can put through a house? We're talking serious penetration issues here baby.

I don't know about y'all, but I don't relish the idea of someone shooting at me. Tankers have the right idea, go into combat buttoned-up, hitting targets from 2+ miles away while moving at 50mph over terrain. That's the way to do it! And if it's a bit closer, switch to the coax. Either way, ya stay buttoned-up.

However, since I'm not fortunate enough to convince the U.S. gov't to allow me to buy an Abrams to park in the garage, I guess I've got to have a shoulder fired rifle, danggit. If I had to chose one of those I own, I'd go with my SAR-1. If I could chose any rifle I wanted, I'd feel well-armed with an M-16/AR, an Ak, an M-14 or a FAL. It's more the operator than the system anyways. If you know the capabilities AND limitations of your rifle and use it accordingly, you're lightyears ahead of the guy who grabs the latest WhizBangSuperDuperGeeWhizLookAtMyCoolOverPricedToy rifle off a rack with little or no real familiarity with it.
 
mustanger98,
The origonal M1's in 30-06 were designed around the 173 gr bullet at approx 2650 fps.
Changing the gas plug has not proven necessary for me because of the bullet weight but because of the slow powders we tend to use with heavier bullets.

There are several available on the market the best being from Fulton Armory.
http://www.fulton-armory.com/M1Dis3.htm

Sam
 
My choices...

The two military battle rifles I already own would be my choices:

(given that I could have unlimited ammo...or re-supply was not an issue )

M1 Garand in 30.06 if combat setting was in the country

AR15 M4 in 5.56 w/ red dot if combat setting was urban

:evil:
 
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Looks like me and OEF_VET have the same idea, well, almost.

I want the GAU-8 conviently mounted on an A-10. :evil:
Oh, and I want the rest of the loadout too.

Just give me a holler when you want some CAS.
 
Combat Rifle

Sigarms 552.
Safe, semi and auto trigger group only.
EOTech.
Surefire, M96 or M910 A.
Bruegger & Thomet forend.
 
M-14 w/sel switch served me well for 2 yrs in nam, also still being used in Iraq!
 
Let's see: I own an M1A, an STG58, and a couple HK G3s I built from parts kits, but I would happily leave them all in the safe and take one of my AR15s. In this fantasy thread, I would take an M4 with the Aimpoint. Even if I didn't have to supply my own weapon, I would supply my own ammo: I have a few hundred rounds of Hornady TAP.
 
F2000 has a lot problem with it, one of them is the ejection mech that push the case upward into the ejection tube. two is the possible stopage with the ejection port blocked by mud or other object you might encounter in the field.
Click to expand...

I would hesitate before criticising an FN product unless field experience showed up the problems. They have an unmatched experience in producing first-class small arms.

I may be wrong here but from what I recall, the port at the end of the ejection tube is closed by a flap which only opens briefly to eject each case, so I don't see it getting clogged with mud.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion
forum
 
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