Whose got the oldest AR?

[coop68]

here is my question i apoligize if its somthing i just missed and or miss understood!

since you have a lower that was produced before 1986 could you technology convert it to a registered sear edit: or as a machine gun? or because it wasn't register during the grace period of 1986 its classified as a normal semi-auto AR? just curious.

[gcrookston]

here is my question i apoligize if its somthing i just missed and or miss understood!

since you have a lower that was produced before 1986 could you technology convert it to a registered sear? or because it wasn't register during the grace period of 1986 its classified as a normal semi-auto AR? just curious.

The sear is the machine gun. The rest of the weapon is just a parts host. My experience is limited to a 3 calibre registered Fleming sear for the HK9x platform. My sear saw use in HK91, 93, 94 and SP89 guns. I never gave a thought to when the host was manufactured. I could have been walking on thin ice, but your question is the first time I've ever heard anything about it in my personal experience with the ATF.

[coop68]

The sear is the machine gun. The rest of the weapon is just a parts host. My experience is limited to a 3 calibre registered Fleming sear for the HK9x platform. My sear saw use in HK91, 93, 94 and SP89 guns. I never gave a thought to when the host was manufactured. I could have been walking on thin ice, but your question is the first time I've ever heard anything about it in my personal experience with the ATF.

i used the wrong language when asking my question it kind of answers it self!

[Circuits]

M193 is not a "5.56 NATO" cartridge, as it predates the specification.

5.56x45 NATO is a 62gr, enhanced penetration bullet (originally designed by FN and designated the SS109 projectile), loaded to certain specifications, as accepted under STANAG in 1980. M855 is a US military designation for their ammunition which meets the "5.56 NATO" specification.

There is no "5.56mm NATO" chamber specification, either - there are individual weapon specifications, like an M16 chamber, or M249 chamber, and those chamber specs are as big or bigger than any .223 REM SAAMI specification, and intended to eat 5.56 NATO ammo.

A lot of manufacturers who chamber to the M16 specification, though, label their barrels "5.56" or "5.56 NATO".

[gcrookston]

M193 is not a "5.56 NATO" cartridge, as it predates the specification.

5.56x45 NATO is a 62gr, enhanced penetration bullet (originally designed by FN and designated the SS109 projectile), loaded to certain specifications, as accepted under STANAG in 1980. M855 is a US military designation for their ammunition which meets the "5.56 NATO" specification.

There is no "5.56mm NATO" chamber specification, either - there are individual weapon specifications, like an M16 chamber, or M249 chamber, and those chamber specs are as big or bigger than any .223 REM SAAMI specification, and intended to eat 5.56 NATO ammo.

A lot of manufacturers who chamber to the M16 specification, though, label their barrels "5.56" or "5.56 NATO".

You are correct, the process of adopting the 5.56 to replace the 7.62 as the cartridge of choice began in the 1970's. The UN in the 1950's moved to formalize the metric system globally, but this was a slow process in the US Military.

M193 is the US designation, not a NATO one, I erred. But M193 is 5.56x45 and is not .223 Remington. Although .223 can be fired in 5.56x45 without concern, the 5.56 should not be fired in a .223 chambered gun. The SP1 was a 5.56x45.

The two rounds on the left are 5.56x45 fired from a .223 chambered rifle. The two rounds on the right were fired from a 5.56 chamber. All four rounds are from the same lot of Lake City...

[jscwerve]

There was an sp1 or sp2, I don't remember which at the Tanner show in September. It was REEEEEAAAAALLLLY hard not to take it home with me. I would love to have a piece of nostalgia like that at home.

[gcrookston]

Every time I see one of those old M16s it reminds me of the literally thousands of green army men I purchased by the bag for $1. All those classic poses-bayonet charging, kneeling, bazooka, and empty hand grenade thrower. I spent literally weeks fighting wars against the bad guys. They didn't make Vietcong/Ruskie bad guys so I always had to improvise.

Tor

I also pretty much started my collecting because of those army men, and my father had been a Drill Instructor during WW2. I'd go around the neighborhood when I was a kid and ask guys about my Dad's age if they had been in the military and if they had anything they'd like to donate to my museum (I started when I was about 8). When I was old enough I started collecting the guns to go along with all the crap, eventually focusing on German and American 1905-1965. This AR is the tail end of my collection, along with a Type 56 and Type 54 brought back from Vietnam in 1967...