Reality about Assault Rifles

The AK 47 was developed as a military answer for a light rifle that could be used as a submachine gun. The cartridge was packaged for the ability to carry more 30 caliber rounds of smaller dimensions, by reducing its overall performance. The 308 Cartridge is very effective out to 400 meters, whereas assault cartridges operational range is about 300 meters. The originator of this kind of rifle was Carbine Williams American M1 Carbine, using a 110 grain bullet @ 2000 fps, for more effect than a pistol, and an effective range of 200 meters. With its ease of handling it became a desired assault weapon, especially with its high rate of full automatic fire for pinning the enemy down. The modern concept of demonizing these military weapons is just plain stupid! Taking them into a school for slaughtering children means they are not operated under design characteristics intended, i.e. open field warfare. Mounting a scope on them instead of original sights, or optical quick point sights, destroys short range capability. Overly large magazines destroy versatility, but has theatrical value (apparently). There are no fully automatic assault rifles in America, and the Davidians were totally unable to do that modification, nor did they want to. Semi auto is a American tradition, but pump action and lever action can be just as quick; and so there happens to exists many rifles that can do the same damage per minute, when realizing that 50 yards happens to be the average tactical range. A 1886 Henry rifle lever action firing Australian CCI 22 Stinger ammunition; used to control wolf and dingos, takes a jacketed short 29 grain projectile with a slower burning powder charge, to press 1800 fps for improved damage at 50 yards. 1886 to 1915 lever or pump actions, with the ability to carry up to 20 rounds in calibers from 25-20 up to 44-40 would all create untold havoc if utilized. Then there is the variety of 22 magnum auto loading rifles that would fit the bill as an assault rifle, but just not titled as such. My favorite survival rifle is the 22 cal AR-7 with 10 round magazines - and recoil spring set up for reliable operation with Stingers. The stock is hollow, and the barreled action fits inside, with a water resistant cap. Folks who saw it thought is was a device to hold a movie camera steady. And then folks that saw it make a tin can dance at 30 yards, was impressed by its capability of accurate high speed shooting, even though it looked like a Mattel plastic toy. Shoulder stocks have been demonized for over a century because of potential villainy, however from all the reports on the Kennedy assassination, I am beginning to believe one was used for the final shot from the sewer. In any case when I was shooting practical pistol courses, I would have loved to use one with my 357 Redhawk, believing it to would be a great assault rifle type package. With the 300 meter range at Waukeegan Illinois available, it was fun to try and shoot metric rifle targets with my pistol. Best score was about 40 out of 100. One or two rounds actually in the 10 ring! Prone with a shoulder stock, and proper sighting, I am sure there would be a great improvement, though keeping range at <200 meters would would realistically cut down on the 'arch of flight.' I have hunted with an 1876 Springfield 45-70 using 300 grain zinc 459 cal bullets (over-sized) that would shoot alongside a 1903 Springfield. A Marlin 256 magnum lever action set up with 87 grain bullets, and a 50 cal Hawken muzzle loader. A 30 cal M1 carbine shooting 140 grain flat-nosed cast gas checked bullets. A 6mm magnum Ruger (Custom) bolt action. [My prime Texas do everything rifle via reloading.] My favorite for close work with wild boars was the 30 carbine. The Marlin 256 was a bit too light in performance, whereas the British 303 was too intense. In fact, with the range of 50 yards as the

nominal, I would suspect the 30 cal carbine would be the nastiest weapon of all for social mayhem; and not the modern assault rifle that political peer puppets converge upon. In fact, for the supposed attack on the President by Lee Harvey Oswald - who was supposed to be a Marine, I do question intelligence here, because a serious Lee would not have selected an antique for his intent instead of a M1 carbine that he would have been familiar with, that only cost a few dollars more, and could be fired left handed; instead he chose a clumsy antique collectors item (?) that requires years of experience, and retraining, to accomplish the stupid, and totally unbelievable act that he became famous for - as an expert bolt action rifleman?!

Alvin Sugar