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JohnO and I were talking about this today, and I thought I'd just share my thoughts on what I'm hoping will be the next "Golden Age" of sport utility rifles.....
The 1980's are looked back on with a sense of longing.....growing up in the 80's and starting to sell guns back then, it was a great time for semi auto "assault rifles". HK, FN, IMI, Valmet, Colt, Armalite, Beretta, Steyr, SIG, Norinco, Polytech, etc. all sold and/or imported some of the finest rifles of the type. That all ended in 1989.
Now, after going through a long drought, it looks like we might have a second "Golden Age".
IF nothing stupid happens in 2009, we're going to see a whole new crop of sport utility rifles that will rival what was offered in the past.
FN already is offering the FS2000 and PS90, but they'll also be bringing to market the SCAR-L and SCAR-H. Bushmaster will hopefully have the Masada/ACR out to market by then as well, and Steyr has announced that they will be selling US made AUG A2's, and there are two US companies that are making decent clones of the AUG as well.
Beyond that, HK will hopefully have 416's and possibly 417's available, there are a bunch of promising AR piston systems coming to market, and we are able to buy real Czech weapons that we NEVER thought we'd be able to own back in the 80's, the vz-58 and vz-61. It also looks like SIG might finally be getting their head screwed back on with the 556.
I'm actually optimistic about things. Even if things don't go "our way" in the Presidential election, I personally feel that the likely hood of another AWB passing the House and Senate and being signed into law to be rather remote.
That does NOT mean that we shouldn't be vigilant and keep up the pressure, but I don't think the sky is falling either.
Unfortunately, I don't see the AK included in the good times. Unless the barrel ban is recinded, it's going to be a tough go of things.
Anyway, that's my two pfennigs. Feel free to discuss and if you think I'm off base, I'd like to hear your opinion too.
The 1980's are looked back on with a sense of longing.....growing up in the 80's and starting to sell guns back then, it was a great time for semi auto "assault rifles". HK, FN, IMI, Valmet, Colt, Armalite, Beretta, Steyr, SIG, Norinco, Polytech, etc. all sold and/or imported some of the finest rifles of the type. That all ended in 1989.
Now, after going through a long drought, it looks like we might have a second "Golden Age".
IF nothing stupid happens in 2009, we're going to see a whole new crop of sport utility rifles that will rival what was offered in the past.
FN already is offering the FS2000 and PS90, but they'll also be bringing to market the SCAR-L and SCAR-H. Bushmaster will hopefully have the Masada/ACR out to market by then as well, and Steyr has announced that they will be selling US made AUG A2's, and there are two US companies that are making decent clones of the AUG as well.
Beyond that, HK will hopefully have 416's and possibly 417's available, there are a bunch of promising AR piston systems coming to market, and we are able to buy real Czech weapons that we NEVER thought we'd be able to own back in the 80's, the vz-58 and vz-61. It also looks like SIG might finally be getting their head screwed back on with the 556.
I'm actually optimistic about things. Even if things don't go "our way" in the Presidential election, I personally feel that the likely hood of another AWB passing the House and Senate and being signed into law to be rather remote.
That does NOT mean that we shouldn't be vigilant and keep up the pressure, but I don't think the sky is falling either.
Unfortunately, I don't see the AK included in the good times. Unless the barrel ban is recinded, it's going to be a tough go of things.
Anyway, that's my two pfennigs. Feel free to discuss and if you think I'm off base, I'd like to hear your opinion too.