The loss of modern infantry weapons

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by kalos72

Targan - You seem to know alot about the physical aspects of the weapons, could you make an M16 out of recycled/smelted steel given a good machine shop and skill?

I confess I only have very limited armorer experience, but I wouldn't want to try to reproduce an M-16 in a primitive shop. You'd have better luck with those old hardy Russian SMGs or even an AK-47.

I once read a book (or maybe it was a short story?) where some time travelers went back in time to try to allow the Confederacy to win (no, not Turtledove's superb Guns of the South). What was the war-winning item they took with them? Plans for modern gunpowder, and especially, plans for the Sten SMG. That's a weapon that could be reproduced pretty easily. They introduced it to JEB Stuart as a weapon for his cavalry forces, and an SMG would be excellent for horse-borne forces.

[headquarters]

The Ar15 platforms are just to finicky to be reliably built by hand .( Same as you Paul -got only limited experience but have seen and read some ).Think of the specific tempers of the steels and whatnot you need to make it go.

So I say -manufacture it yourself is most efficient if you use what caliber most prolific in your area.

Is there a cache of 9 mm ? Make cheap SMGs like the Sten.
Someone did make them in the woods of Poland during WWII with hand tools.

If rifle ammo like 5.56 maybe a singleshot .223 bolt or breach loader. Or a Ar 18 or AK variety -whatever is easier to produce.

Or if truly out of options - go for blackpowder weapons that can be made by a cottage industry with cheap materials and inexperienced manpower.

I love this "building the premisses" discussion .Inspiring to go back to the basic plans .

If you can get it - pics of "technicals" -improvised fighting vehicles are always a great addition to a T2K campaign imho .

Also it is what militias would use as spare parts gets rare .

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

I confess I only have very limited armorer experience, but I wouldn't want to try to reproduce an M-16 in a primitive shop. You'd have better luck with those old hardy Russian SMGs or even an AK-47.

I once read a book (or maybe it was a short story?) where some time travelers went back in time to try to allow the Confederacy to win (no, not Turtledove's superb Guns of the South). What was the war-winning item they took with them? Plans for modern gunpowder, and especially, plans for the Sten SMG. That's a weapon that could be reproduced pretty easily. They introduced it to JEB Stuart as a weapon for his cavalry forces, and an SMG would be excellent for horse-borne forces.