Best Individual Weapon & Equipment in the World

[got1]

[quote="got1"]Thanks for bring this subject up again, we can refresh our selves on the the experiences of our cadet force and FFF.

The best weapon was the SLR. [/quote]

Greenronnie, my last comment was for our present cadet force members who always seem to have a lot of experience with these "new" weapons.

Never found any difficulty in parachuting with an SLR, only found a bit long for house clearing etc. but great fire power.

[Greenronnie]

OK mate, see where you're coming from, thought it was directed at me.
I have never had a problem jumping with an SLR either, or a GPMG for that matter, however a shorter weapon is definately beneficial for many reasons, as you said, FIBUA being one.

[tonyh762]

The Ak series of weapons are not the super gun some people think they are, they were designed for use by untrained peasants. Therefore, marksmanship goes out the window, which is a key skill in military training. If the AK47 was such a super weapon why have the Ruskys made AK74 and a new bullpup rifle.

You know this how?

Im sure the russians designed the rifle especially for untrained peasants.

[wannabe_bootneck]

That was back before I had any real experience with a number of weapons and I was repeating pretty much what I had read so disregard it. It is however true that Kalashnikov designed the weapon with simplicity and easy production in mind to allow the weapon to be produced in vast numbers to arm poorly trained personnel. Don't forget this wepaon was designed just at the end of WW2 with memories of Stalingrad and the whole Eastern front fresh in Ivans mind. Now with experience, the best weapon I've used has without a doubt been the HK G36, feels like a toy it's so light, yet it doesn't feel delicate or tacky, it feels solid, has an excellent sighting system incorporated, it recoils like an elastic band gun and just seems very easy to shoot very accurately with, it is just right!

[tonyh762]

That was back before I had any real experience with a number of weapons and I was repeating pretty much what I had read so disregard it. It is however true that Kalashnikov designed the weapon with simplicity and easy production in mind to allow the weapon to be produced in vast numbers to arm poorly trained personnel. Don't forget this wepaon was designed just at the end of WW2 with memories of Stalingrad and the whole Eastern front fresh in Ivans mind. Now with experience, the best weapon I've used has without a doubt been the HK G36, feels like a toy it's so light, yet it doesn't feel delicate or tacky, it feels solid, has an excellent sighting system incorporated, it recoils like an elastic band gun and just seems very easy to shoot very accurately with, it is just right!

Done and Done

How reliable is G36?
I used the Styer AUG for years, really nice to use beautifully balanced, short, accurate.
But at the end of the day it was complicated and it wasnt reliable so whats the point in it?

I want a bullpup SLR!

[wannabe_bootneck]

Well, I believe we put over 500 rounds through it mag after mag without any stoppages or any hint of a problem at all, but I will state this was on a lovely summers day on beckingham ranges so hardly the most testing of environments but none the less, I have no doubt in my mind that my L85A1 would never achieve that number in the same environment. To be honest, I have not heard a bad word said about the G36 from anyone who has used it it comes in a mind boggling array of variants to, the kurtz which has a slightly shorter barrel to the basic model, the Compact which has a tiny barrel short foregrip and iron sights on a picatinny rail rather than the integrated optics of the other 2. Also compatable with the AG36 USGL. The G36 is anything but overly complicated as well I found. The coolest thing I found about it, it's such a simple, stupid little thing but genius, is the ambidextrous cocking lever, in a 'resting' position it doesn't protrude from the upper body but rather lies straight ahead facing the barrel, it is on a spring so will come out either side to cock if you nkow what I mean, then when released return to the resting position, great, because I find reaching over a real arse ache. HK have their sh!t together to be honest, a nubmer of their weapons are designed in such a way e.g. MP5 family, HK53 & 33, G3 that once you've been instructed on one weapons system, the others have only very minor differences, which I personally think's a great idea. The highlight of the day for me was without a doubt the MP5K with folding stock, foregrip and a laser aimer, just looked cool. Is it sad to get a bit excited over shooting fancy foreign weapons?

[tonyh762]

I dont think H&K are foreign anymore, I think they are British owned.

The MP5K is indeed a beautiful weapon to use!

There is a new H&K that is being put forward as a replacement here in the USA for the M4s etc... unfortunatley its still 5.56 but they are looking into 6.5 and 6.8s as replacements for the 5.56 so things are looking up.

I forget the name of the rifle, looks similar to the M4, but far better (apparently) .

[SO19]

We ceased ownership of Heckler & Koch as of 2002. It is owned by a German group.

[Greenronnie]

Wannabe bootneck, you sound like a bit of a trainspotter to me. Obviously you spend far too much time reading geeky magazines. All that matters in personal weapon is that it works when you really need it to. HK have always made excellent weapons, however they are precision made and will never be as reliable in bad (ie real life) conditions as the AK. Read up on how the Germans' (absolutely excellent) weapons fared on the Russian Front.

[wannabe_bootneck]

I don't read any geeky magazines mate. All my experience with HKs is with working out on them down on the range, just happens that our REME gun fitter used to work for HK so knows them inside and out and passed his knowledge on to me and others. Being a part of the ISTAR element it pays to know your foreign weapons and equipment anyway. A rubber band gun will probably work in any condition, doesn't mean it should be rushed into production as the next service arm. Reliability in all conditions is of the upmost importance, but their are other factors to consider in making a good weapon.

[Artist]

There were cases in the Vietnam War where the Vietkong would leave their AK47's hidden underwater in paddyfields for days even weeks at a time. When they needed to use the thing all they did was drag it out of the mud, cock it and away it went. Poor old Elmer would never dream of leaving his M16 in a similar place. As it would clogg up ASAP.

As to what weapon I prefered carrying...Whatever my Lords and Masters issued me with. I imagine thats the same for most blokes who served or are serving. I did on the odd occasion tote an L42. A weapon I loved dearly.

The same went for fighting orders. You wore what you were issued with. OK a lot of us would add stuff like a USMC K'bar knive an extra water bottle or two. I proffed believe it or not a Tampax Holder for the use of ladies of the Armed Forces whilst in the field. Was a rather fetching green colour and was ideal for keeping important stuff bone dry. Me tickler and cig papers plus me Zippo lighter.

I destested the combats issued in the seventies and eighties mind. I always wore lightweight jungle trollies. If they got wet they would quickly dry on you unlike them Shitty Combat trollies with the lineing that once wet stayed wet. YUK!

One item of kit that was most definitely not Service issue was my Norwegian Army lightweight Bergan. I bought it for a quid one time in Norge. It was ideal as a Bugout bergan as you could carry a Yank Ponco liner, some scran and a change of clothes and daft as it sounds a couple of pairs of ladies tights in it (they keeps yer legs nice n warm so they do, Arrr). It was small enough for you to put it on top of your kit in the issued Bergan/Chacon they had in them days.

It was also ideal for them wonderful times when you were Yomping over places like Dartmoor with a Troop of Bootneck Nods or AACC bods straggling along behind and around you. Then it would contain me Yank Poncho liner some nicks n socks but more importantly my one litre indestructable Thermos flask full of hot chocolate. Used to crack the Recruits/AACC blokes up by standing there blowing on the cup as it was so hot!!!

"Can we make a quick wet Cpl?" they would ask me. "Fill your boots" I would reply "You've got five minutes and then were off to RV whatever". I didnt have to go with them as I was a Sigs instructor but hated being stuck in CTC so was always asking the various training teams if I could join them. Yes sad but true I loved it!!!

Artist

[Greenronnie]

W_b, also being part of the ISTAR element (I guess quite a bit further forward than yourself), I know quite a bit about foreign weapons. I was shooting them when you were probably in infant school.
Ref the G36, nice weapon, foreguard gets a bit hot after a few mags on auto. All that plastic is a bit suspect too.
Take note of Artist's comments on the AK 47, that is exactly what I'm getting at.

[wannabe_bootneck]

OK, I wasn't even trying to get into a pissing contest with you on this, I don't know what you do, but if you say so, I don't particularly care, you do what you do I do what I do. Despite me stating simple facts you have come out guns blazing looking for a pissing contest....that is what really grips me about para qualled bods, as soon as they get that maroon beret a lot seem to develope an attitude, I've worked with a lot of airborne guys and I have to say, it seems the minority that don't have this arrogant attitude, I've met some absolute stars in maroon, but like I say the nobs seem to outweight them. The plastic ain't half as suspect as the playdoough they make the SA80s butt out of. I have not disputed that the AK47 is reliable, my point was that despite this reliability it is not perfect, hence the AK74, AKM, AKSU, AK-101 AK105 etc etc. read the bloody post before you make stupid pointless posts.
Edited to add: Yes a bite hook line and sinker!

[SO19]

It doesnt matter which variant you are referring to, its still a robust and realiable weapon at its core. Any changes you see in the newer series of Kalashnikov's are merely attempts to follow new industry trends, be it smaller calibre as you see with the AK-74 or with the modular designs you see with the recent series.

[Artist]

OK, I wasn't even trying to get into a pissing contest with you on this, I don't know what you do, but if you say so, I don't particularly care, you do what you do I do what I do. Despite me stating simple facts you have come out guns blazing looking for a pissing contest....that is what really grips me about para qualled bods, as soon as they get that maroon beret a lot seem to develope an attitude, I've worked with a lot of airborne guys and I have to say, it seems the minority that don't have this arrogant attitude, I've met some absolute stars in maroon, but like I say the nobs seem to outweight them. The plastic ain't half as suspect as the playdoough they make the SA80s butt out of. I have not disputed that the AK47 is reliable, my point was that despite this reliability it is not perfect, hence the AK74, AKM, AKSU, AK-101 AK105 etc etc. read the bloody post before you make stupid pointless posts.
Edited to add: Yes a bite hook line and sinker!

Wannabe_Bootneck

Try winding your neck in sunbeam! Greenronnies got more time under his belt than you have hairs on your bollox!

You're an A level Student (so your profile states) but after reading your wonderful, insightful, thought provoking views I had you down as at least a fully trained member of the SAS/SBS.

Just who the hell do you think you are!?! Talking to blokes who have been at the pointed end of soldiering since you were sucking on your bottle of Cow & Gate milk! Arrogant little PRONGS like you really take the biscuit with your drivel!

Join up, do your time and then maybe, just maybe people will take notice of what you think regarding Soldiering. Because at this time you come across as a total waste of bloody space better suited to a full time job instructing the Brownies!

Oh and by the way I am also Para trained but have never worn a maroon beret. But I would rather have a Para next to me than some useless Gett like you!


Artist