Future Vintage rifles

[ArcticLight]

Ya know, kind of strange when you think about it.

I just spent the past 3 hours reading through the entire M40A1 build guide thread, 18 pages of that.

There is a fascination with this rifle, Maybe more so than the 30-06 Carlos used with the Unertl scope on it.

Also noted how some rifles had parts that are not available today, or expensive (Witchita sling swivels etc).

But now fast forward, we have this M110 Semi Auto 308 - and it's made by a company in certain specs.

Are we going to look back and say "man, the guys from Iraq wrote all these books and how that rifle was used etc etc" and start building M110 clones?

Just makes ya think, in the future....and I think the 110 is all COTS (Off the shelf) parts...

Man we've come a long way from the 1960's....

 

[Bedlam]

Re: Future Vintage rifles

It's a strange thought for sure. If Korean war rifles are vintage today, then Vietnam era rifles will be vintage pretty soon. But it's hard to think of an M-16/AR-15 as vintage!

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Future Vintage rifles

That's an interesting observation. I don't know why, but Hathcock had a lot to do with getting the 700 accepted over his model 70. What made him want to change? And yes, now that you look at it, look at the processes used in building precision arms. Going back to cut rifled barrels, reinforced fiberglass/kevlar stocks, aluminum pillar bedding which led to aluminum bedding blocks, glass bedding and skim bedding...

Most importantly, the quality of scopes! You just can't see through a clear older scope what you can from the newer, clearer optics. Durability was also an issue. That's gotten a lot better.

Now like you say, jumping into the precision semi-auto's. I never would have believed the M16 could have been made as accurate as it has. But they are. Better machining than back in the day, by a long shot. I used to be able to shoot one hole groups at 25 yds. with my old service rifle. Now, I can do that @ 100 yds with a couple of my better built AR rifles.

Better get 'em now while you can afford them.

 

[hondakilla98]

Re: Future Vintage rifles

Well since there are already people cloning and collecting Vietnam era AR's. Id say its a fair assumption that the same thing will happen again.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Future Vintage rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But it's hard to think of an M-16/AR-15 as vintage!</div></div>

I don't know. My Colt SP1 is pretty close to the M16a1 I used in Vietnam. I even got a Bayonet for it, and a three prong flash hider, (never can tell when I'll need to cut the wire off a case of C-rats.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Future Vintage rifles

I think AR's are also very plentiful, not near as expensive to purchase or build....

Moreso the things I mean are the really high quality jobs, the optics as someone mentioned.

The M110 has unique parts, specific mfg etc...

The M24 maybe, it doesn't have the following that the M40A1 has though but it's not near as old either..

Maybe some day the McMIllan and Barret 50 BMG's will also be a collectors item..

It'll be interesting to look back 30 years from now....

It also matters what feats are accomplished with them. I would love to read a book about Iraq and some 1000 yard shots with the M24...

I guess in that K98's and 1903's are vintage, the M16 will become that way, a very long time from now and ONLY after it's been replaced...

 

[unluckyjohn]

Re: Future Vintage rifles

does this military still release its old rifles to be sold to the public?

 

[BasraBoy]

Re: Future Vintage rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bedlam</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's a strange thought for sure. If Korean war rifles are vintage today, then Vietnam era rifles will be vintage pretty soon. But it's hard to think of an M-16/AR-15 as vintage!
</div></div>

I don't know - I could see that

I grew up when the L1A1 was the UK service rifle. Although I learned to shoot on Enfields as a cadet, the L1A1 was always <span style="text-decoration: underline">the</span> bad boy we all wanted to shoot.

Fast forward more years than I can (or want to

) count and I'm finally about to get my hands on one for the collection!

Maybe not a great "classic" rifle in the same way of the Springfields, Garands, Enfields, Mausers, Moisins etc. but judging by the way us Brits are snapping up the latest available L1A1's....it's got quite a following amongst us older blokes who remember NI and the Falklands.

I think anything that has been touched by history will always be in demand - so why not M16/AR....or good quality AK's for that matter?

 

[RemmyMaxhit]

Re: Future Vintage rifles

I stumbled upon a vintage AR website about a month ago. Ill have to go find it again. They has some really unique stuff, like repro prototype lowers (XE16? something like that) and quite a following apparently with folks wanting to do "vintage" AR builds. I have to admit, Im sorta partial to the old style AR look myself, already a classic I think