28 June 14
âFate makes no appointments, nor does it wait on any man! You have to be alert and ready the instant it arrives. Even then, there are no guarantees!â
Anon
More comments on modern military rifles, from friends in the industry:
âSeveral decades ago, âlightâ sporting rifles, intended for rough-country and mountain hunting, became all the rage. Gun-rags were filled with articles and ads, excitedly describing virtues of these guns. The discriminating hunter just had to have one!
One companyâs offering of four-pound guns even included one chambered for 300 WM. Nothing Iâd want to shoot!
This remarkable lightness was achieved by extensively removing ânoncriticalâ metal: deeply fluting already skinny barrels, selecting (bolt) actions with the smallest dimensions and sometimes even removing metal from these, âswiss-cheeseâ perforations of the magazine box, and plunking this minimal metalwork into skinny, fiberglass stocks.
Did they run?
Sure, in the short term. But, theyâre pretty much gone now, because, no matter how thoughtfully constructed, they were nowhere near as rugged and durable as whatever one would consider a âstandardâ hunting rifle.
In addition, anyone can fire âa few roundsâ through nearly any rifle, but, with extensive use, punishing recoil quickly sheds its glamour!
Jeff Cooperâs âScout Rifle,â in 308, represents the upper limit for most shooterâs ability to tolerate repetitive shots. Its design concept is that it will be shot once, maybe twice, then moved. Recoil may not be actually painful for some, but it is definitely there, especially with heavy bullets.
So, when you want the convenience of feathery ordnance, youâve got to be willing to absorb the punishment. And, you must also confront the fact that the rifleâs useful life may be limited to just a few thousand rounds. âHigh-impactâ plastic is still plastic!
To paraphrase Cooper, lightweight weapons are âcarried a lot, but seldom shot.â Maybe an acceptable philosophy for rifles intended for recreational purposes. On the other hand, a rifle intended for serious fighting may also be carried a lot and seldom shot. But, when it is shot, it will be shot a lot and will get hot and dirty in the process. And, when there is one such episode, chances are there will be more, soon, before youâve had an opportunity to clean it!
Thus, toughness and durability are why military rifles tend to be âchubby,â at least by sporting standards. To quote custom gunmaker, Roger Green, âItâs easier to take ten pounds off the shooter than ten ounces off the rifle.ââ
âJohn, I have a problem with this whole weight issue! Like you, I have hiked/run many kilometers in âoperational areas,â during the Bush War in Africa, while carrying personal weapons and ammunition. I seldom complained about inherent weight and bulk, particularly during active contact. I was glad I had my R1, and the enemy didnât!
The R1 (SAâs version of the FAL, in 7.62×51) is my all-time favorite battle rifle. When the terr hides behind a tree, just go through the tree!
Those were the days, my friend, and âwe were there!ââ
âMilitary rifles and carbines have a hard enough time holding themselves together when âworkingâ parts are all metal, at least when they are subjected to the number of rounds and heat that might be deemed adequate for the user to become familiar and proficient with the piece.
All break sooner or later, but âlaterâ is preferred!
I share your skepticism of plastics, and calling them âpolymersâ does not magically improve their suitability.
Or, maybe I’m just old-fashioned in thinking that a rifle manufactured today should still be functional and eminently ready for service in 50 or 100 years, like most firearms made 50 or 100 years ago!â
Comment:
Itâs the same, old story:
âIf you canât take the heat, donât get married!â
When in the middle of a fight, few things are more frightening that the thought of having a broken rifle in your hands! Military organizations have a system in place for fixing/replacing broken rifles. As individuals, we donât and likely wonât!
So, when a rifle is all that stands between me and certain death, I want one that is not going to break, or otherwise stop running, at an inconvenient time, despite excessive heat, dirt, and continuous lack of maintenance!
Happily, there are many acceptable choices. However, as the election season draws near, inventories will begin to shrink once more. Now is the time to insure your are adequately armed and trained!
The Test is coming!
âI see no marriage fail sooner… than such as are conducted for beautyâs sakeâ
Michel De Montaigne
/John