TicTacDoc wrote: »

I was having a discussion with a chap about a year or 2 ago about the possibility of AR setups being nearly 20 years old and being able to apply for them as a vintage rifle in S/A condition. Any thoughts on that? do you think it could happen?

Ar's have been around since 1958 in one form or another. The first civilian one was released in 1964.

AR10-types are in use now, of course. Designated Marksman squad weapon.

A vintage car used to be 25 years old to qualify for insurance purposes, not sure if they have extended it to 30 years?

The AR would qualify either way, but AGS/ MoJ/EU would like us to continue with our 19th century equipment.

The only other sport still using equipment dating back to then is probably cricket .

Classic rifle, as defined by the Vintage Arms Association, is ANY design of firearm that pre-dates 1933.

Of course, here in UK that lets out ANY semi-auto centrefire rifle or carbine.

Even the much-loved M1 Garand is therefore left out - as it was not fully developed until 1936. Back when I had mine, prior to 1988, I could shoot it in any practical rifle competition, but not under the aegis of either the VAA or the HBSA [Historical Breech-loading Small-arms Association.

Of course, in Ireland there are a number of associations in which classic and vintage rifles may be shot - including one that specialises in the Lee-Enfield variants. The VCRAI, in particular, has members [including me] with examples of most manually-operated rifles and carbines, mainly military in origin.

tac

/points to the Military forum as a much better place to discuss the ins and outs of US Military tactics in the modern era than a sports forum...

The AR10 is not now and never has been a 'military sniper'.

In the British Armed forces, the MOS of 'designated marksman' recently became a reality with the adoption of the Lewis Machine Tool semi-auto in 7.62x51 NATO.

'The L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle has been adopted by the British MoD to replace the Accuracy International L96 series for Designated Marksmen. The MoD set about creating an internal sharpshooter program to which Lewis Machine & Tool submitted a modified form of their excellent 7.62mm LM308MWS rifle. After an extensive evaluation process, the L129A1 was selected for further consideration as it managed to hit "on target" in successive shots which bode extremely well for the product. Additionally, LMT harbored its own certified manufacturing facilities which certainly helped its proposal. The LM308MWS was pitted against top contenders in the German Heckler & Koch HK417 and the Belgian Fabrique-National SCAR-17. The end result saw the LM308 accepted as the newest British Army firearm to come along in decades - designated in the British Army inventory as the "L129A1" and modified for the rigours of combat.

Here in UK we can actually buy a straight-pull version of this rifle in .308Win or even .22LR - both are £3500.00 bare of any accessories.

tac

No forward bolt assist.That is an old machine alright.:)

driftkingire wrote: »

i was always under the impression that you couldnt get a licence for any semi auto larger than a .22 magnum in ireland?

You can.

driftkingire wrote: »

are they restricted?

Yeah, centrefire semi automatics are all restricted.

ok cool, id say it would be a tall order convincing the super you needed one alright,lol. especially as there as tactical as you could get and as far as im aware tactical rifles are frowned upon by our enlightened masters in the dail. if we lived in thailand were the government is overthrown every year or so i could understand why they would not like them being sold over the counter but its not like every tom dick and harry would even buy one over here. ive never seen such a bunch of buzzkills anywhere bigger than the bunch of muppets we have for politicians. dont get me wrong tho, high power semi auto rifles shouldnt be that easy to get anyway but id say it would be easier to get a lift to mars than get an ar over here.

if you had a gun that was 100 years old id say it would be more dangerous as a club than a firearm.

driftkingire wrote: »

if you had a gun that was 100 years old id say it would be more dangerous as a club than a firearm.

Not necessarily...How many 1896 Mauser "Broom handle" pistols are still being shot on a daily basis?Well over a 100 year old gun. I've a single shot .410 "poachers shotgun" that I still shoot occasionaly .Had that gun 38 years and started my shooting life with it.Still plenty of old Wincherster 1896 pump actions alive and well and doing what they do best or being used in cowboy action shoots.OK a lot have switched to the Norinco copy because of the lack of a disconnector in the orginal so it can be "slam fired" by holding the trigger and working the slide.

Go to Africa on safari and you will proably find your guide[If he is an old Africa hand] toting a double barrel rifle that was made in the last century and is still working on a day to day basis that he proably inherited from his mentor and has been fully refurbished.
Age means nothing to a gun if it has been properly looked after,they are inherently stable objects whose cheif enemies are rust and politicans.:p

See - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbatynKG1Sw

500gr bullet @1650 fps = 3-40 ft lbs....and that's the HALF-load.

This lovely old double rifle was made in 1897, BTW.

...and this? Boer War Mauser carbine in 7x57 - fires it's 175gr round-nosed bullet at 2250 fps - that's 1977 ft lbs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ygxIdeTtdE

Old doesn't mean harmless, y'know

tac

Victor wrote: »

The last century or the previous one?

The W. SCott double rifle that I'm shooting in the movie was built in 1897.

THIS double rifle, in .450NE, was being targetted prior to going out to Namibia a couple of years ago - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yw7rYJWUUE

It was made by G. Lewis in 1898 - check these figures - bullet - 480 gr (31 g) Lead 2,150 ft/s (660 m/s) 4,930 ft·lbf (6,680 J).

Still think that 100-y/o guns are harmless? :O

tac

Hey, it didn't offend moi!

Gave me an opportunity to show things that you might not have seen, though.

Thanks for that!

tac