I would say manufacturing new modern firearms in the T2K post war environment is generally going to be two complex for most (nearly all) enclaves you'd find anywhere. The V1 Small Arms guide addresses this particular issue somewhat with the M16EZ.
However, don't forget the number of firearms generally available in the United States, so a variety of AR15's or Mini-14's may be a good choice as they are not uncommon, SKS's and AK-clones are also possible, going up to the far less common M1A's, but the vast bulk of these weapons will be bolt action hunting rifles. The US government holds large stocks of M1's which in my campaigns I have the Feds supplying to the states for use in their local militia's and state defense forces, which by 2000 could wind up in the hands of many local militia's as central control breaks down and these forces disentegrate.
|