Posted on 12/09/2006 1:48:44 PM PST by VOA
After Words: Larry Kahaner, author of "AK-47: The Weapon That Changed
the Face of War," interviewed by Peter Singer
On Saturday, December 9 at 9:00 pm EASTERN: repeats Sunday,
December 10 at 6:00 pm and at 9:00 pm on BookTV (C-Span2 weekends)
Description: In his book, "AK-47: The Weapon That Changed the
Face of War," author Larry Kahaner traces the rifle’s role in wars
from Vietnam to Iraq. According to the author, no tool has
spread so much raw power to so many people in so little time
in the history of warfare. Mr. Kahaner discusses the book with
Peter Singer, who directs a project on 21st Century warfare for
the Brookings Institution.
http://www.galleryofguns.com/shootingTimes/Articles/DisplayArticles.asp?ID=785
aha!
I read almost all of it. I got to the part where you have to load your own to get it to perform out of a short barrel. Factory ammo ain't worth crap in a pistol.
Check the chart at the bottom of the page. Factory ain't that bad.
The 6.8 case has straight walled case and the diameter allows use with current M16/M4 magazines, an upper unit with a new barrel and bolt face are pertty much all that is required to field the 6.8.
Army brass is doing all it can to kill the 6.8 because of the logistics nightmare it will cause.
It would look like a 7.62x39 with a 115 or 110 gr bullet would match the 6.8.
The M1 had a 110 gr bullet. The cartridge, officially named the "cartridge, ball, .30 caliber, M1", was developed by the Winchester company. It was a straight-case, rimless design with round-nose bullet weighting 110 grains and muzzle velocity of 1860 fps (7.62x39 is 123 gr and 2330 fps, or a Delata of 460 fps).
Muzzle energy was about 2 times more than of .45ACP pistol cartridge but still almost 3 times less than of .30-06 rifle cartridge. In the modern sense the .30 carbine cartridge can be called an "intermediate" but the lack of the muzzle energy and round nosed bullet limited the effective range to about 200 meters or so. A spizter bullet would help, but not by much.
I think (here we go again) that a new upper for 7.62x39, already avalible from Colt, and new magazines would allow use of the exisitng and captured ammo.
We could issue 7.62x39 in brass cases but berdan primed to deny reuse by the hadjis.
The M16/M4 is a more accurate weapon.
Or we could just reissue M14s for folks headed for the sand box. Ammo shortage would become critical tho, as we cannot even keep up with demand for 5.56 as it is now.
Final thought. I have always held a M1 carbine would be a great self defense weapon or home or RV use. THey are just too pricey these days.
I've got an M1 Carbine. Bought it a Sears 30 years ago for around $89.00. It's a Universal Arms but it has always shot fine for me even with the thirty round mags.
Here's another article. Using factory loads at 25 yards shooting 1 to 1.5 inch 5 round groups. That ain't half bad in my world.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_12_47/ai_79586230
Damn, pinged myself! Read the above post on the 30 cal Ruger Blackhawk.
Sigh, I know. I bought a M1 military (Winchester) from a farmer years ago for $75. I had purchased it for my dad to take on his RV trips.
With his eyes closed, could tear it down and put it back together in a couple of mnutes. He carried one in the Army.
I later sold it to a buddy. The story of all gun owners....
I've never torn mine down (don't know how). Supposedly the Universal early models had one return spring instead of two and a machined receiver instead of stamped but I don't know how to tell the diff.
15 minutes to airtime bump
Airing in a couple of minutes bump
The BookTV segment in now airing.....bump
The 7.62x39 is not a pistol round unless you have a Thompson Contender or similar target/hunting pistol,It is a mid velocity rifle cartridge,2350 fps to 2500 fps depending on barrel length and ammunition manufacturer.I have three rifles in that callibre,Saiga hunter,Norinco SKS paratrooper (short barrel) and a 1952 Russian SKS standard barrel.I have chronographed many different brands of ammo and that is where I get my velocities.I have shot the AK and have found it to be somewhat less accurate whith every brand of ammo I have tried (2-2.5 moa) while my Saiga can do 1 moa or less with my hand loads or quality ammo.The AK is not built as well as the Europeam SKS however I would not turn one down if the price was right.
seems from this blub the author does not like citizens with "power" against any government. It is probably a tranference of he opposition to the sencond amendment.
can you use a .308 in a rifle chambered for the 7.62x39?
Don't some american companies make a 7.62x39 chambered gun.
.308 is 7.62X51.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.