Posted on 04/23/2008 1:17:21 PM PDT by LSUfan
The site of manufacture is important. I agree with that. But the country of origin for the design or company is less important in my book.
All the Marine Corps’ M16A4s are made by FN, a Belgian company, in South Carolina.
To me, the most important factor is that our troops get the best weapon available.
That hasn’t happened since our GIs went to war with M1 Garands in 1942.
Other than the barrel and the bolt what part would that be???
Here is a RETAIL Colt M4 selling for LESS than the US military pays!
And you would be, Colt can sell it's carbine to police (not private citizens) for $1,699 because the government is buying in bulk.
When I bought my AR15, about thirty years ago, they were cheaper - and so was gasoline.
I've watched this dance over costs of aircraft procured by the government - 'rip off' is a cornerstone of USG dogma - it's not true.
MANY years ago, and just for chuckles, a group of us obtained the USG specs for the $600.00 ash tray then being trumpeted: Of course you could have purchased an ash tray for $2.95 but if you followed the AF requirements they got a deal.
On the other hand, a piston system you could pin onto an existing receiver sounds like a really nifty upgrade.
Exactly right, all for PC crap, which existed then too! At the Infantry Museum at Ft. Benning, I always stop by the display case with the Chauchat for a good laugh. One time there were some local HS boys and let me tell you, those kids knew their military history. It was great listening to 16-17 year olds talk about the Chauchat and they brought up the Browning (BAR) issue as well as the .303 Lewis gun, also not used properly because of politics rather than good common sense.
Even more delightful was when one of them brought up the fact about Al Gore being against every successful weapon’s development (Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Abrams M1 tank, body armor—the list is long), great kids!
Should retail be LESS than what DOD pays?
HK and FN both have subsidiaries in the US. The guns will be made in the US.
So was/is that piece of crap jam-in-the-sand Barretta but we were still issued that crap for way too long.
Piston has to be dialed in, and has to stay dialed in, or it jams too.
My Bushie ARs run fine, all day long, but the fit and finish of the Colt is better. I’d pay 15 for a Colt if I didn’t already have the Bushmasters for 12.
Wet and dirty runs a LOT better than dry and dirty.
You and the police alike can buy black guns for less than you might because the military contracts drive costs down due to volume...conversely, there are market influences as well; if people want 'em, the price will not go down until supply outstrips demand.
But the point seems to be that the government price, in hight quantities, is below that charged to police for lower performing weapons.
No sir.
The only difference between this weapon and the DOD weapon is that this one is not selective fire. This Colt M4 costs LESS at RETAIL than the DOD is paying for their M4s.
Repost. There are a couple of big threads on this from a few days ago.
There is a huge difference between a select fire carbine and a one pull-one round sporter...pistol grip & telescoping stock or not.
There is also a huge difference in the profit one shop might be willing to take versus another shop - but you knew that.
Go to the annual National Match at Camp Perry and watch the civilian shooters with AR15s swapping out their commercial parts for MilSpec GI components where possible and legal, everything from GI match barrels to the GI 5-coil extractor springs instead of the 4-coil commercial ones. There's a lot more to the cost of a military contract item than that of the unit itself, including the cost of the inspection and acceptance process [I was an inspector on Ruger Security-Six revolvers purchased for DOD base security guards; one in three failed initial inspection] maintenance and future spare parts availibility contracts, and product engineering and development cost compensation.
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