I wish somebody made...

[Fang]

The Rules

List firearms and accessories for which you pine with lustful desire, and why you feel this way. However, these should be things that are not currently available or are available in very limited or rare form. Wishing for something to exist for less money doesn't count; wishing for a gun to be available in a different factory configuration is fair.

So, without further ado, here are my submissions:

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I wish somebody made a "scout" style bolt-action carbine that takes standard removable double-stack mags for the caliber (e.g. AR-15 mags for 5.56x45mm, AK mags for 7.62x39mm, M14 mags for 7.62x51mm), and comes stock with aperture sights. The modern bolt-action rifle market seems to be limited to the huntin' rahfle paradigm, ignoring the fact that bolt-action carbine provides a combination of reliability, ruggedness, accuracy, and lightness that a semi-auto doesn't. As for the magazines, that's purely for convenience. The few bolt-actions that support removable magazines use mags that are proprietary, and therefore expensive and difficult to find.

I wish somebody made a JAK slide (http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPT3.asp?ProductID=643&CatalogID=4) style holster for revolvers. I use one of these to carry Hi-Powers or 1911s outside the waistband, yet it holds it close enough that even in this carry mode, the guns don't print. It would be nice to have something similar for my revolvers.

Also, I wish someobody made a government-size 1911 with a nickel finish in 9mm. Also, the same in a CCO (officer's frame, commander slide) configuration. 1911s are very sweet shooters in .38 Super, and the nickel-plated .38 Super is a traditional 1911 design. Unfortunately, .38 Super is obsolete and has been supplanted by 9mm, hence the caliber choice.

Another gun I wish was still in production is the Colt 1903 model in .32 and .380 ACP. Those guns are small and flat, yet not so tiny as to be unpleasant to shoot.

Also, it would be really cool if it were possible to get Hi-Powers in stainless steel. There might be a metallurgical reason that we don't see any of those, though, as Hi-Powers have a history of being a little rough on their frames.

I wish somebody would make East German-style folding wire stocks compatible with a standard AKM rear trunnion beecause they're compact, lightweight, simple, and doesn't require modifying the receiver or trunnion. They also look good with wood furniture. Alas, the originals are very expensive and hard to find, so clearly others like them, too.

[Clinotus]

http://devisualis.com/images/stuff/look/239.jpg

I wish that the Sig Sauer P239 ("http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=9&productid=71" ) was a slimmer gun than it is. Its a nice compact but really not that compact and kind of thick. Overall its a nice firearm and I love them. I just wish they could shrink that reliability into something I could single stack and dare I say it? Pocket Carry. :)

http://devisualis.com/images/stuff/look/grips.jpg

I wish that every manufacturer put a good set of grips on the firearms that they sold. The options are endless for finger grips, standard grips, slim grips. I just find the standard wood or plastic grips are lacking and do not really enamor one to accurate shooting right out of the box. Serious shooters eventually install better grips. Just my opinion though.

http://devisualis.com/images/stuff/look/travesty.jpg

I wish this travesty never occurred. Locks are pointless without some common sense in regards to children, storage and safety. Having a manufacturer decide or push this on you is insulting at best. The best lock is my safe and the best safety is my gray matter.

[Electrons]

The problem I have with this thread is I think "How hard would it be to make this?" instead of "I wish someone made...". However, I don't have any of the equipment to be able to make the parts I want.

I wish someone would make a bull barreled AK, just because I want to see what it looks like, and if there are any gains in accuracy of a not so accurate platform.

I wish Ruger would make their frontier rifle in .223, with the ability to accept stanag mags. Jeff Cooper defined the scout rifle's calibers as being .308/7.62x51 as the standard caliber, 7mm-08 for locales that forbid military calibers, and .243 for recoil shy and young shooters. Maybe someone can explain to me why he decided to choose .243 over the more standard .223. I plan on buying a frontier rifle chambered in .308 in the future, mainly because of it's availability. I would buy one in 6.5x55mm too if they made it, but unfortunately they have discontinued the frontier rifle (but not the frontier target grey rifle). Steyr chambers their scout rifle in .223, but I would only buy the Steyr Scout if I had copious amounts of spending money

I wish Ruger gave the option to make the frontier rifle left handed, seeing as I am an unholy abomination shoot left handed.

[dw33b]

The Rules

[...]

I wish somebody made a "scout" style bolt-action carbine that takes standard removable double-stack mags for the caliber (e.g. AR-15 mags for 5.56x45mm, AK mags for 7.62x39mm, M14 mags for 7.62x51mm), and comes stock with aperture sights. The modern bolt-action rifle market seems to be limited to the huntin' rahfle paradigm, ignoring the fact that bolt-action carbine provides a combination of reliability, ruggedness, accuracy, and lightness that a semi-auto doesn't. As for the magazines, that's purely for convenience. The few bolt-actions that support removable magazines use mags that are proprietary, and therefore expensive and difficult to find.

[...]
I am in absolute agreement here. I'd like to add an idea I read about in Poor Man's Scout Rifle, that it have some sort of switch to allow single shot (blocking the mag from loading while it is engaged) while the mag was still in the weapon so that the user may shoot specialty ammo without depleting the mag. But yeah, I'd snag a scout rifle, one that wasn't stupidly expensive really quick.

[Fang]

I am in absolute agreement here. I'd like to add an idea I read about in Poor Man's Scout Rifle, that it have some sort of switch to allow single shot (blocking the mag from loading while it is engaged) while the mag was still in the weapon so that the user may shoot specialty ammo without depleting the mag. But yeah, I'd snag a scout rifle, one that wasn't stupidly expensive really quick.

Ah, so that's the idea behind the M1903's magazine block switch. That would be pretty cool.

[Electrons]

Ah, so that's the idea behind the M1903's magazine block switch. That would be pretty cool.

I thought the idea behind the magazine block was to prevent soldiers from firing without a commanding officer saying so (seeing as at the time it was issued, Civil War era tactics were still being used).

[dw33b]

I thought the idea behind the magazine block was to prevent soldiers from firing without a commanding officer saying so (seeing as at the time it was issued, Civil War era tactics were still being used).

Never heard that. I've only heard that it was used for firing off AP rounds at advancing armor then swapping to whatever you had in the mag for infantry targets.

[mbquimby]

I wish someone made an adapeter that would replace the underfolding stock on aks like the M70AB2. Something that replaced the pivot point of the original underfolding stock and then allowed for an AR style beffer tube to be added.

[Danube]

Could I wish that everyone just left the AR15 alone? Rifle works fine as it was went we first got it.

[Cyrano 4747]

Could I wish that everyone just left the AR15 alone? Rifle works fine as it was went we first got it.

By "when we first got it" are you referring to the initial fielding of the M16?

Because I don't know what planet you live on, but the A1 was an improvement, the A2 was a huge improvement, the M4 was really significant for other reasons, and the move to flat top uppers in general really expanded what it was capable of.

[Danube]

By "when we first got it" are you referring to the initial fielding of the M16?

Because I don't know what planet you live on, but the A1 was an improvement, the A2 was a huge improvement, the M4 was really significant for other reasons, and the move to flat top uppers in general really expanded what it was capable of.

Earth.

A2 of course. The flat top uppers and M4 stuff is just marketing in my opinion. I've seen guys take old A2s and dominate tactically tweaked flat-tops. No mention of a carbine in my post.

[mbquimby]

Earth.

A2 of course. The flat top uppers and M4 stuff is just marketing in my opinion. I've seen guys take old A2s and dominate tactically tweaked flat-tops. No mention of a carbine in my post.

Do you remember that one time when you were soooo way wrong? That was right now. :tongue: In all seriousness, because the flat top M4 design lends itself to adjustablility it is a great improvement. I carried both the A2 and M4s in fairly intense combat situations and I felt way more secure and confortable with the M4. Regardless of how great a shot a person can become while shooting at paper/steel targets, there is no way to simulate the stress that occurs when your targets shoot back. Under those stress levels, the optics that can be mounted on an M4 (acog, eotech, aimpoint, ect..) allow for much faster and accurate close range (MOUT) target acquisition. Not to mention that having the ability to firmly mount vertical grips and having quickly adjustable length of pulls while on the fly allows for your weapon hold position to change as the environment changes. I do agree that anytime you add options to anything, you make it more marketable but don't confuse the order or intent. It is more marketable due to it being better, not better so it can be more marketable. None of this may be a factor if you are a plinker or even a "tactical" competition shooter. In those situations it may be that the cost does not validate the improvements. In the world of live or die, the M4 reigns supreme over other AR variants with absolute and unquestionable authority. End Rant.

[Danube]

Do you remember that one time when you were soooo way wrong? That was right now. :tongue: In all seriousness, because the flat top M4 design lends itself to adjustablility it is a great improvement. I carried both the A2 and M4s in fairly intense combat situations and I felt way more secure and confortable with the M4. Regardless of how great a shot a person can become while shooting at paper/steel targets, there is no way to simulate the stress that occurs when your targets shoot back. Under those stress levels, the optics that can be mounted on an M4 (acog, eotech, aimpoint, ect..) allow for much faster and accurate close range (MOUT) target acquisition. Not to mention that having the ability to firmly mount vertical grips and having quickly adjustable length of pulls while on the fly allows for your weapon hold position to change as the environment changes. I do agree that anytime you add options to anything, you make it more marketable but don't confuse the order or intent. It is more marketable due to it being better, not better so it can be more marketable. None of this may be a factor if you are a plinker or even a "tactical" competition shooter. In those situations it may be that the cost does not validate the improvements. In the world of live or die, the M4 reigns supreme over other AR variants with absolute and unquestionable authority. End Rant.

I dont think that the M4 is an under performer or anything like that. I can see that you see where I am coming from when I was talking about the marketing side of the rifle.

The additional sighting systems, mounting systems, tactical additions and kitchen sink stuff do make the M4 one of the top rifle platforms to have on the battlefield. But I'm not talking about the platform, I'm talking about a simple pick it up, hit the bolt release and start shooting aspect of a rifle. The A2 configuration was simply that a rifle that you picked up, hit the bolt release and well, started shooting. You had to figure out your sights but once you did you were good to go, you could carry it with its own handle, you could club someone with the rifle if you wanted and so on. I just like it.

[Cyrano 4747]

I dont think that the M4 is an under performer or anything like that. I can see that you see where I am coming from when I was talking about the marketing side of the rifle.

The additional sighting systems, mounting systems, tactical additions and kitchen sink stuff do make the M4 one of the top rifle platforms to have on the battlefield. But I'm not talking about the platform, I'm talking about a simple pick it up, hit the bolt release and start shooting aspect of a rifle. The A2 configuration was simply that a rifle that you picked up, hit the bolt release and well, started shooting. You had to figure out your sights but once you did you were good to go, you could carry it with its own handle, you could club someone with the rifle if you wanted and so on. I just like it.

You can do all of this with an M4 you know.

I'd actually argue that an M4 with a quality reflex sight is even more of a "pick up and hit the bolt release" type of weapon than an A2. No need to "figure out the sights" or any of that. For someone who isn't in to shooting and knows jack shit about proper sight picture and posture (like, for example, my wife) it's much more intuitive to drop the red dot on what needs to go away and pull the trigger. You can club with it too, I guess, although I"d prefer to shoot with it. Not as sturdy as, say, a fiberglass stocked M14, but I still wouldn't want to take a buttstroke to the face from one.

The only real negative thing to say about reflex sights on an AR pattern rifle is that most of them require batteries. That said, a some of them have battery life measured in decades and there are models out there which use fiber glass or other light-gathering devices and so don't need batteries. And if you really want, you can put a detachable carry handle on there instead.

In this day and age there's really no reason to buy an A2 upper unless you have a very specific reason - you served with an M16A2 and are trying to build a clone of "your" rifle, for example. Otherwise just pay the extra $10, use a detachable carry handle, and keep the ability to use optics on it if and when you want.