What's the Best/Your Favorite/Worst Contemporary Assault Rifle?

[Nickdfresh]

After seeing Tony's great thread (http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Assault.htm), I'm Just creating an opinion thread. Which CURRENT issue military rifle or "personal weapon" or whatever is the most effective, and has the best reputation? Or just looks the sharpest?

Or is this silly because there is little real usable differences between military firearms. But mention a weapon, give it's purported strengths and weaknesses and why you think it deserves it reputation. Then maybe, the opposite. Which one is notable for a high rate of failures or lacking durability?

I guess I'm going to select a weapon I don't really know that much about. The Heckler and Koch G36, but I think the weapon looks pretty cool and I recall the first time I saw it was footage from Kosovo where two Serb gun attempted to attack a Bundeswehr column in a Yugo, (a very bad choice) and were peppered with rifle and MG3 fire. I almost felt sorry for them as they were left to bleed to death...

Anyways, it's pretty high tech looking and H&K seem to make exceptional weapons:

http://www.jb370.de/data/clanky/g36/G36.jpg

More specs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_&_Koch_G36


I just think it's cool. I have also heard only good things about it with one exception. But I can't recall the specific complaint...

[Panzerknacker]

guess I'm going to select a weapon I don't really know that much about. The Heckler and Koch G36, but I think the weapon looks pretty cool and I recall the first time I saw it was footage from Kosovo where two Serb gun attempted to attack a Bundeswehr column in a Yugo, (a very bad choice) and were peppered with rifle and MG3 fire. I almost felt sorry for them as they were left to bleed to death...

A video of the incident.
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=nlkE8xUBfN8

That one of the attackers could move after being hit so many times explain very well why I dont like the .223 caliber.

[RifleMan20]

I do love the look of the H&K G36 espicially the G36C which is right here (I think this is a airsoft gun)

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6249/g36cqq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The G36C is the short barreled version of the regular G36, using a 5.56 NATO round and great weapon as I see it. Still the AK47 and Variants are one of the best assualt rifle chocies still. The M16A4 is a nice choice but its not my favorite, I like the M4 better. The Tavor is pretty cool gun too using a bullpup design and a pretty high rate of fire, MTAR21 is the smaller version which is said to be extreamly compact heres a pic

This I think is the CTAR21, almost like the MTAR21 which practilly mean the same thing (C in the CTAR means compact while the M in MTAR means micro)
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/3044/800pxtavorlatrunexhibitjh7.jpg
The Tavor uses the 5.56 NATO round and has a rate of speed up to 900 m/s

[RifleMan20]

And wow those serbs or watever they are got pwned, they had a tank on them and their car was shot hundreds of times

[tankgeezer]

dont know if it was best or worst, but Calico had produced at least a proto of an infantry weapon along the lines of a crook of the elbow carbine, like the CAR-15-16, it was chambered for a new cartrige of 4.5 to 5 m.m. and had a magazine capacity of 100 rds. Though it wasnt adopted as far as I know, it was a good idea, and would have been better if conbined with a small bore grenade launcher.

[pdf27]

I actually rather like the L85A2 (short, goes bang when you pull the trigger, great sling). The FN F2000 looks rather promising too.

[gumalangi]

i like old sturdy G3,.. the G3 Canadian SAS looks pretty cool,.

*sigh* i can't attach any picture

[Drake]

I'm with Gumalangi there, I like that weapon, though it is technically a full battle rifle (7.62x51 Nato).
G3 was the standard weapon when I was at the Bundeswehr and I had no probs controlling short auto bursts, never actually fired a full mag in auto, I kinda don't see much sense in that..

[RifleMan20]

The H&K G3 is a good gun, it is the base design for the G36C, H&K makes some of the best weapons like a favorite the MP5. Heres some pics the G3

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1299/g3a3editho6.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1299/g3a3editho6.76b15d39d9.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=132&i=g3a3editho6.png)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9424/2yppiplz5b15dur0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/635/g3hkriflebigpk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Bother that free sign up thing

[Panzerknacker]

The FM FAL for me, when you hit one with that he goes down, and stay down.

http://i32.tinypic.com/2iiiamc.jpg

[RifleMan20]

Looks like a mixure of a G3 and a FNC

[HAWKEYE]

I know they aren't technically "assault rifles" but I like them all.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Hawkeye/mgshoot6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Hawkeye/Mortar/collection.jpg

[pdf27]

The H&K G3 is a good gun, it is the base design for the G36C
WTF? The G36 is a slightly modified AR18, and about the only thing it has in common with the G3 is that they both go bang when you pull the trigger.

[Nickdfresh]

A video of the incident.
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=nlkE8xUBfN8

That one of the attackers could move after being hit so many times explain very well why I dont like the .223 caliber.

I believe there were MG3 machine-guns present (if memory serves correct). They may well have had a couple of 7.62mm rounds in them...

And I had a friend that had his kneecap shot off from what must have been a Dragunov 7.62X54mm rifle (I think the sniper had the center mass correct, but failed to account for the bullet's drop). I think he said he managed to empty two magazines from his M-4 in the general direction the shot came from in a woodland...

[Panzerknacker]

I dont think so, note the MG 3 emplacement empty, seems that the loader was caught outside the Leopard 2.

http://i31.tinypic.com/1426lo4.jpg


But is possible the car had some 9 mm hits, note this guy shooting with a HK USP

http://i27.tinypic.com/2r5uq1e.jpg

[RifleMan20]

WTF? The G36 is a slightly modified AR18, and about the only thing it has in common with the G3 is that they both go bang when you pull the trigger.

Can you send me a link that says that, I can't seem to find anything that says it is a slightly modified AR18, Doesn't look like the Germans took the AR18design though

[Major Walter Schmidt]

I only know the Stg44 so.... I guess Stg44 with Vampyir IR scope.
There was also a Grenade Launncher Stg44 but that doesnt count, does it.

[pdf27]

Can you send me a link that says that, I can't seem to find anything that says it is a slightly modified AR18, Doesn't look like the Germans took the AR18design though
Your Google-fu is weak, young Padawan!

From the technical point of view, the G36 is a radical departure from all the previous HK rifles, based on the proven G3 roller-delayed system. The G36 is a conventional gas operated, selective fire rifle, made from most modern materials and using most modern technologies.

The receiver and most of the others external parts of the G36 are made from reinforced polymers, with steel inserts where appropriate. The operating system appears to be a modification of the older American Armalite AR-18 rifle, with its short stroke gas piston, located above the barrel, square-shaped bolt carrier and the typical rotating bolt with 7 locking lugs.
http://world.guns.ru/assault/as14-e.htm

[RifleMan20]

Your right, Sorry that I doubted you PDF

[imi]

http://world.guns.ru/assault/hk417_12-2.jpg
Thank You Germany your the best :) (HK417)
http://world.guns.ru/assault/m4m203.jpg
best in close or long range,heavy firepower (M4)

[pdf27]

5.56mm for long range or heavy firepower? WTF? 7.62mm belt-fed is an absolute minimum for that sort of thing, with a strong preference for .50 BMG.

[imi]

I thinking about the differences the M16 and the M4 guns.Small caliber,but the rate of fire is 700 - 950 rounds per minute,and I think thats not bad,and when must choice I choice this two gun for assault

[pdf27]

Cyclic rate of fire is irrelevant - you'll never control either weapon on fully automatic particularly well (it's OK at point blank, beyond that you need arms like a Gorilla). In any case after more than 2-3 magazines at that rate of fire you'll start burning things out.
It's very rare that you need fully automatic fire from a rifle anyway - ambushes, clearing positions, and that's about it. Not to mention the fact that soldiers rarely carry more than a few hundred rounds because ammo is so frikking heavy.

[Man of Stoat]

HK derive their reputation from having an extremely good marketing department (probably inherited from Mauser!), however I have been remarkably unimpressed with everything they have produced that I have had my hands on. They seem to have a winner with the 416 and 417, given that they didn't design it from the ground up.

The G36, for instance, has an aura of myths surrounding it. A friend of mine has worked on them (mostly converting them to blank for the film industry), and his opinion is that they are wretched. Bear in mind that the only military customers for the damn things have been Germany and Spain. Hardly an overwhelming success. They are now practically giving them away and concentrating on the 416.

The roller locked rifles... where do we begin? Yes, the G3 works, but the ergonomics are terrible and the recoil heavy. Try one next to a FAL -- it is no contest. The 5.56 mm rifles with this system are badly balanced and marginal of function. All of these rifles fling your empty brass in a beautiful wide arc, glinting in the sunlight , telling the bad guys exactly where to aim at you.

MP 5 -- over engineered (it doesn't need the rollers or the fluted chamber, so why bother?), otherwise okay

USP -- bore line far too high, grip too big, and a safety catch/ de-cocking-lever combination which is ill thought out (flick the safety catch off with even a little bit too much enthusiasm and you activate the decocker.)

G36 -- they melt, the cocking handle is inaccessible, the safety catch out of reach of your thumb, and the sights/mounts are bespoke. Great idea...

UMP and its civilian equivalent -- like shooting with a brick in a Tupperware box.

They are most distinctly onto a winner with the 416 though -- an AR with the final gas related problems ironed out. They have been characteristically stupid with the civilian version though, since they have made it completely incompatible with the AR 15 rifles produced by everyone else on the planet. And they want €3500 for them , which really looks like they are charging €1500 for a gas piston...

[imi]

http://world.guns.ru/assault/aug_a3-2.jpg
That's another favourite of mine ;)

[RifleMan20]

H&K416 looks promising, and its coming in an upcoming game, Battlefield Bad Company, I guess that's how H&K advertise now. Do you think it's going to fully replace the M4 or will the M4 still stay for another couple years.

[imi]

RifleMan20:I think no need to replace the M4,its a good trusty gun
another trusty
http://www.hkpro.com/mp5sdtable.jpg

[aerwulf6814]

do both the g36 and the l85a1 suffer the same problems, what was done to correct it and how does the new /improved product rate?

[pdf27]

Nope, different problems. Not too sure what the problems with the G36 are (apart from the fact that it melts). The problem with the L85A1 was that it jammed all the time, and a number of parts (e.g. firing pins) broke regularly. H&K did a good job with the A2 rebuild, replacing/modifying a large number of parts, and the resulting rifle is very good indeed from a reliability point of view.

[kamehouse]

I like the FAMAS.

[RifleMan20]

The FAMAS, though, is HUGE. But I heard its performance was great.

[Semper Fi]

I like the m16a4 rifle, to me it has more use in it then poeple think. But for a new rifle, i Like the FN Scar mkII it looks great with the 7,62x51mm round.

[BadKharma]

I would go with the M-4 it is aged but effective.

[kamehouse]

The FAMAS, though, is HUGE. But I heard its performance was great.
Yet very light.Hence the hefty price for one.I chose it because it is the only AR I ever shot with.It is also very easy to assemble/disassemble.I liked the fact you could modify it to make it a left hander weapon too.:mrgreen: