Best Gun?

[The Yosemite Bear]

I can at least hit something with a single action revolver, those are nice and steady even if they don't have the recoil reduction elements of an automatic pistol (good idea of John Browning, turn the recoil into the force used to eject the spent round and cool down the chamber.)

still it works

[The Kernel]

I can at least hit something with a single action revolver, those are nice and steady even if they don't have the recoil reduction elements of an automatic pistol (good idea of John Browning, turn the recoil into the force used to eject the spent round and cool down the chamber.)

still it works

I second this; there is nothing like a good single-action Colt revolver. In fact the Colt Single Action Army has existed for over 150 years and is a perfect example of simplicity of design. The gun doesn't have any of those stupid overengineering of a Desert Eagle, yet it can go toe-to-toe with one in accuracy and usability and is much more reliable.

It is one of my favorites to bring to the range along with my Beretta automatic when I'm feeling lazy.

[The Yosemite Bear]

yeah, that's the best thing about those old Colt & Smith+Wesson revolvers they still WORK, and are damn near idiot proof.

[Alyeska]

Pistol: Glock-22 .40 S&W. Good pistol with a large clip size and a powerful round. It ballances between stopping power and recoil. Relatively little recoil while keeping high stopping power.

SMG: H&K MP5/40. MP5 rechambered for the .40 round. Good clip size, better stopping power and better armor penetration without sacraficing recoil or weight.

Assault Rifle: Colt M4A1. Fully automatic capable M4 Carbine.

Sniper Rifle: M21. Bassed on the M14, a highly reliable 7.62mm mid ranged sniper rifle.

Shotgun: USAS-12. Fully automatic 12 gauge shotgun with a good clip size.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Note the difference between the S&W Cal. and the Colt Single Action Army, is the shorter cartrage and auto extraction features of the S&W single action. The Colt has more power, but the difference is not much, the Cal. Revolver, can be fired from horseback, and can be quickly unloaded/reloaded.

[The Kernel]

Note the difference between the S&W Cal. and the Colt Single Action Army, is the shorter cartrage and auto extraction features of the S&W single action. The Colt has more power, but the difference is not much, the Cal. Revolver, can be fired from horseback, and can be quickly unloaded/reloaded.

But the Colt is the original western revolver

[The Yosemite Bear]

Oh, you mean the impossible to get Texas Ranger's only, five shot .44?

The Colt Manufactured John Walker modified version of the S&W Naval Pistol?

[The Yosemite Bear]

Or if you don't know, Smith & Wesson were making them for the British Navy and the Russian Army ten years before Colt was. The differences is that the Colt pistol had almost twice the powder of the navy gun. But was harder to load (since the navy revolvers were designed for loading under very BAD conditions.).

[The Yosemite Bear]

As far as guns of the old west I have to hand it to the French. The Volley Gun, and the LaMot(Lemat) were just evil the first for short range clearing (4 barrel sawed off shotgun/Express rifle), the second was a french cal pistol that had seven rounds, and a SHOTGUN built into it.)

[weemadando]

Personally:

Pistol - Sig (can't remember designation) chambered for .357.
SMG - MP5SD (the tradeoff of range and accuracy is moot - its an SMG. And a quiet one now).
Shotgun - Benelli M3
Rifle - G36 (nice and shiny)
LMG - HK23
HMG - HK21
Sniping - L96

And now, if I was to be equipping a fighting force:

Pistol - Colt 1911. Brute force and reliability.
SMG - MP5SD. Same reasons as above.
Shotgun - Benelli M1 or Remington depending on locale.
Rifle - FN-FAL. Reliable, 7.62. Good.
LMG - tempted to say RPK, but I might go with the MG3 - just fore more brutality.
HMG - Kord 14.5mm - don't do anything by halves.
Sniping - L96

[LordShaithis]

I'm a Quaker, so I shouldn't be talking about how guns are cool.

Give me all your oatmeal, biotch!

[Knife]

Machine Gun-
Current: M-240

Why. The complex, M249 style bolt system, firing system and the added weight as compared to the M60 makes the weapon a distant second IMO.

[Knife]

Pistols; well basicly anything in the .40 cal. I have a thing for it. My next big purchase will probably be the USP from H&K.

SMG: To many to choose. H&K MP5 in various configurations. Tompson .45 (the original )

Rifle: Anything with Iron Sights. Scopes are for snipers and pussy's.

Machineguns: M60D, or the E3 with the heavy barrel of the 'pig'.

[Vympel]

Pistol: SPS aka Gyurza (9x21mm round: capable of near to 100% successful penetration of 30 layers of Kevlar plus up to 2.8mm titanium plate at 100 meters)

Sub-Machine Gun: PPSh-41

Carbine: AK-102

Assault Rifle: AN-94

Sniper Rifle: L96A1

'Heavy' Sniper Rifle: M82A1

Light Machine Gun: RPD

General Purpose Machine Gun: PKM

Heavy Machine Gun: Kord

[Nathan F]

Machine Gun-
Current: M-240

Why. The complex, M249 style bolt system, firing system and the added weight as compared to the M60 makes the weapon a distant second IMO.

Good point, I didn't really think about the M60. OK, switch my MG to the M60.

[Agent Fisher]

Handgun: SIG-Sauer P226

Shotgun:Remington 11-87

Submachine Gun:Sterling L2 L34

Personal Defence Weapon: FN-P90

Assult Rifle: G-36

Sniper Rifle: M-21

[Death from the Sea]

This morning I was contemplating purchasing a new rifle and it gave me an idea for a thread. What are people's favorite guns (military of civilian)?

These would be mine:

Pistol: H&K SOCOM (.45 ACP)
Submachine Gun: H&K MP5SD (9mm)
Sniper Rifle: Tactical Operations Tango-51 (7.62mm)
Assault Rifle: H&K G36 (5.56mm)
Shotgun: Franchi SPAS-12 (12-gauge)

Yes, I really, really like H&K guns (and I almost put in a PSG-1 for sniper rifle) but what can I say? Anybody else have some favorites to share?

What are you buying this rifle for? Hunting? Competition Shooting? or just collecting in general?
I can't blame you for likeing H&K they do make some hella good shit. I have a H&K USP .40 and I love it. I also am quite fond of my Sig2340 which is chambered for the .357sig, I got it at a discount price because it was surplus from the order put in by the Texas State Troopers, it came with three mags instead of two and the case says law enforcement edition on it. sorry but I love telling people what a great deal I got on that pistol.
If you are looking for a good hunting rifle, I would reccomend this rifle in either the .270 or 7mm calibers.

[The Kernel]

What are you buying this rifle for? Hunting? Competition Shooting? or just collecting in general?
I can't blame you for likeing H&K they do make some hella good shit. I have a H&K USP .40 and I love it. I also am quite fond of my Sig2340 which is chambered for the .357sig, I got it at a discount price because it was surplus from the order put in by the Texas State Troopers, it came with three mags instead of two and the case says law enforcement edition on it. sorry but I love telling people what a great deal I got on that pistol.
If you are looking for a good hunting rifle, I would reccomend this rifle in either the .270 or 7mm calibers.

The rifle I'm getting (I say getting because I FULLY intend on buying this as soon as I stop being a poor college student) is for hunting/sniping/all-purpose rifle. The Tango-51 is the most accurate 7.62mm rifle in the world and I doubt there is much debate on that. Lot's of tactical snipers around the world have passed over the PSG-1 in favor of it. Truly awesome weapon, but you need to be REALLY good in order to push it to its limits.

Yeah, H&K guns are great, no doubt about it. I'm probably going to get my hands on a USP .40 sometime in the next few months and I'll try to fill out the rest of the collection later. I'm not too sure if I can get the MP5 anytime soon (let alone the MP5-SD) but a guy I know has one (he is the single largest collector of military hardware in the world and has damn near everything) so it should be possible.

[Solid Snake]

I want this cute little thang.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Ok, snake I will send you one of the original 1960's models complete with the fucked up powder they had back then too, oh, no croming of the barrels, and just like in the 1960's you won't have a cleaning rod either.

[Glocksman]

Machine Gun-
Current: M-240

Why. The complex, M249 style bolt system, firing system and the added weight as compared to the M60 makes the weapon a distant second IMO.

Good point, I didn't really think about the M60. OK, switch my MG to the M60.

Why?

The M60 is such a piece of junk that the USMC has dropped it in preference of the FN M240.

However, the M60 had many faults. For instance, certain parts such as the sear and gas piston could be installed backwards, resulting in malfunctions. The attachment of several parts such as the gas cylinder and trigger group was so poor or flimsy that they could easily work themselves loose or even fall off completely. The latter was particularly dangerous if the weapon was loaded and cocked, leading to 'runaway' fire. The lack of gas port adjustment could also lead to a runaway gun. If the weapon was sufficiently fouled, it could cycle far enough to feed, but not far enough to re-engage the sear. The bolt lugs were particularly prone to burring during use, and wise gunners kept a stock of replacement bolts stashed away.

If the feed cover was closed while the weapon was uncocked, damage to the feed pawls would result. Early feed covers were so flimsy that users could bend them in use. If bent, the cover could drag out the buffer retaining yoke, causing the buffer and recoil spring to exit the receiver.

Minor faults included the fact that the carrying handle was attached to the receiver, not the barrel. An asbestos glove was required in order to remove a hot barrel. In addition, a bipod was attached to each barrel, representing unnecessary weight when multiple barrels are carried. The front sight on each barrel was not adjustable; thus, the aiming zero changed every time a barrel was swapped out.

Look at it this way.
Other than the Aussies during a period of temporary insanity, how many countries other than the US and our client states (who were given the damned things) adopted the M60?

Now compare that number to the number of countries that adopted the FN MAG and paid hard currency to do so.


Here's an article from Army Magazine on the subject.

During the shoot-off competition, the M240E4 reportedly demonstrated greater reliability; it had an operational stoppage rate of less than one stoppage per 10,000 rounds for the M240E4 versus one stoppage in fewer than 1,000 rounds for the M60E4. This reliability came at a weight penalty, however, when compared with the M60E4. Moreover, Zienowicz notes that recent operational testing has pegged M240B reliability at one stoppage in more than 40,000 rounds.

The 240 is literally ten times as reliable as the M60.

My personal choice for a medium caliber machine gun would probably the the South African SS-77

[Knife]

Why?

The M60 is such a piece of junk that the USMC has dropped it in preference of the FN M240.

As of 96 IIRC. Didn't like it then, don't like it now.

However, the M60 had many faults. For instance, certain parts such as the sear and gas piston could be installed backwards, resulting in malfunctions. The attachment of several parts such as the gas cylinder and trigger group was so poor or flimsy that they could easily work themselves loose or even fall off completely. The latter was particularly dangerous if the weapon was loaded and cocked, leading to 'runaway' fire. The lack of gas port adjustment could also lead to a runaway gun. If the weapon was sufficiently fouled, it could cycle far enough to feed, but not far enough to re-engage the sear. The bolt lugs were particularly prone to burring during use, and wise gunners kept a stock of replacement bolts stashed away.

If the feed cover was closed while the weapon was uncocked, damage to the feed pawls would result. Early feed covers were so flimsy that users could bend them in use. If bent, the cover could drag out the buffer retaining yoke, causing the buffer and recoil spring to exit the receiver.

Minor faults included the fact that the carrying handle was attached to the receiver, not the barrel. An asbestos glove was required in order to remove a hot barrel. In addition, a bipod was attached to each barrel, representing unnecessary weight when multiple barrels are carried. The front sight on each barrel was not adjustable; thus, the aiming zero changed every time a barrel was swapped out.

That article is obviously describing the M60D. The E3 model addressed most of those issues. The gas plug was omni directional and the gas system was simplified with the lug and lug nut. The bipod was repositioned further back and the legs made sturdier. The 'Carring Handle' was placed on the barrel and a bunch of minor fixes for various things were added as well.

The only couple things they didn't fix was the fucking leaf spring for the trigger housing group and a weak ass spring for the cover assembly, namely the feed cam spring.

Look at it this way.
Other than the Aussies during a period of temporary insanity, how many countries other than the US and our client states (who were given the damned things) adopted the M60?

The M240G, the one the USMC adopted, added around four pounds to the weapon system. The complex bolt system, modeled off of the M249 or at least simular in design, gummed up quicker in harsh conditions including over lubing. It lacked a forward hand guard or forward pistol grip which makes assualt fire impossible. Unless you like burning the shit out of your self while shooting. The M60 was fairly acurate while beening employed like a rifle, the M240 cannot be employed that way.

Sorry, the M60 might be old and perhaps wearing out, but I dislike the M240G and believe they could have found something better.

[Glocksman]

Sorry, the M60 might be old and perhaps wearing out, but I dislike the M240G and believe they could have found something better.

They certainly could have, but getting funding to purchase all new machine guns would have been the problem.

As it was, converting 'surplus' Army M240s was the way around the unreliability of the M60 series.


My only question is this: With the design of the superb German MG42 available at the time of adoption, why screw around with the M60?

I have no direct experience with the M60 or the MG3 (West German MG42), but I know people who have when they were in the Army in Germany back during the 80's, and all of them have said that the M60 was junk compared to the MG3.

[Knife]

My only question is this: With the design of the superb German MG42 available at the time of adoption, why screw around with the M60?

I have no direct experience with the M60 or the MG3 (West German MG42), but I know people who have when they were in the Army in Germany back during the 80's, and all of them have said that the M60 was junk compared to the MG3.

*shrug* couldn't tell you, really. I too have not practicle experience with the MG42. But the M60 is starting to get a bad rep that it doesn't deserve after a long and good service life.

[Sir Sirius]

Semi-auto Handgun: CZ85 COMBAT 9mm Luger
Revolver: Colt Python 6'' barrel .357 Magnum
Assault Rifle: Valmet/Sako Rk.95 7.62x39
Shotgun: Saiga-12k 12-gauge
Bolt-action rifle: Either M/39 "Ukko-pekka" 7.62x53R or Sako TRG-22 7.62x51

Since this is about favourite guns I limited the list to weapons I have actualy fired. I can't really call a gun I've never used a favourite now can I?