Quote:
Originally Posted by HaplessOperator
It was actually first rolled out with Block 1 in '95 (!), just a year before the M16A4 was type classified (and which they'd been kicking around with as the M16A2E4 since about the same time the SeaBees started kicking the M16A2E3 around), and '97/'98 gave us the M16A4 rollout, and in vastly greater numbers, with all the same rail space (and more) with flat top and longer KAC quad-rail Picatinnys as the M4 SOPMOD. None of this is to disagree or nitpick, but only to emphasize that the RIS and RAS systems were around much earlier than most folks imagine. The kicker is that the rollout could have gone MUCH quicker; the forging house at Colt was only dedicating a tiny amount of capacity to this upgrade, and KAC was doing the RIS and RAS work essentially at a back office, with Crane working in essentially the same capacity toward these integrations for the SOCOM side of the house.
Also, how did they go crazy? Practically everything we do to a rifle for the past 20+ years is more or less what anyone halfway serious about shooting would have done to their rifles back in the 70s, 80s or 90s, except you don't have to hunt down a legendary mythical gunsmith that everyone in the country knows the name of to get it done; you just drop the parts in yourself after having them delivered to your door.
All that happened was that you now have better quality glass on top without drilling on your gun or mounting an interface, can mount a light without needing a clamp that holds a giant Maglite, and you don't have to zip-tie your handguards together while having parts zip-tied to your handguards, and we don't have to mess with the D-ring assembly anymore, cuz D-rings suck rancid, overripe dog turds.
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I didn't see M16A4 nor SOPMOD get in the hands of the rank and file until 97- 98. I know they existed, but I didn't see them when working with Marines nor Army so speaking of the T2K context, I think they just got under the wire for inclusion.
As for gun porn I'm referring to cut out magazine wells, monogramed charging handles and upper receivers (Zombie Response Team, etc.) over engineered charging handles, slings, vanity flash suppressors, etc. Many products are made for the range and are not durable. Theres a lot of garbage out there that I'm sure you've seen. And I don't know this, but don't Soldiers and Marines still zip tie their add-ons to their rifles still as back up? I can't imagine the military changing that much but it's been a minute for me.
BTW, I'm glad someone is active on here! Good to hear from you.