Shooting the Stoner: Mk23, Bren, and 63A Carbine

Forgotten Weapons ^ | 8dec18 | Ian McCollum

[Tijeras_Slim]

Dude, that's like not funny.

[FateAmenableToChange]

I own a Robinson Armaments M96 expeditionary rifle, which was in part designed as a clone of the Stoner 63. In terms of functionality, it’s one of the nicest semi-auto rifles I own, even though RobArms never came out with the Bren or the belt-fed modifications they promised. It really is a fantastic shooter.

[Big Red Badger]

No Photos ?!?

I’m Shocked.

[Bender2]

Back in the 1970s when I was a Class III Dealer. I bought a full auto Stoner “Bren” style automatic rifle configuration with 6 extra magazines for a hair less than $500 on a 'you owe me one' type deal and it was one sweet shooting honey as long as you kept it extra clean and lubed. I kept it about three months until a Houston Police honcho offered me $2,500 cold cash for it. That was a whale of a price back then and I accepted it. Nowadays, the rifle would bring a 5-figures price at auction on a really bad day--

Never a dull moment, eh?

[Beagle8U]

No pictures of Ron Paul?

[NFHale]

Hard to believe Ol’ Eugene designed a piston-drive machine (like an AK) and then went to the gas-impingement AR system.

Robinson Armaments made the M96 Expeditionary, based on the Stoner M63 rifle. Semi auto only, no Happy Switch... (sigh).... Not being produced, no parts, no service support either, unfortunately. But they’re out there if you got the $$$.

[Bender2]

Checked for any M96s for sale and could only find two but they had been sold without any mention of sales price--

Last price I saw on a Stoner was a while back and was $180,000 for a 63A LMG version IIRC

[Sergio]

bkmk

[Chode]

the other way round... the AR10, forerunner to the M16, was developed in the late 50's only to be scaled down and adopted as the M16 in 64 where the Stoner was designed in the early 60's

the AR180 was also piston driven

[NFHale]

RE M96:

Yeah, they’re out there, occasionally turning up at gun shows, but they go fast.

People like them.

I’d LOVE a Stoner M63, but the $$$$ isn’t in my wallet.. :^)

[NFHale]

I remember AR180s. Saw a lot of them on the market for a while, then they just started staying in peoples’ collections.

Love the modern stuff, but I prefer wood and steel, as in Garands, M14s, Enfields, etc.

Just something about those that makes me go “Hmmmm...” :^)

Could be because the FIRST rifle I ever fired was my uncle’s M1 Garand... Dunno....

[vannrox]

[vannrox]

[vannrox]

[Chode]

there’s no mistaking quality

[Chode]

i’d LOVE to see that idiot pull the trigger...

[Big Red Badger]

Worth the Wait!
Thanks,
Santa says Yes!

[NFHale]

A beauty...

I like the Rifle/Carbine configuration best.

[NFHale]

True that, brother...