Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
New Year, New FREE GUN FRIDAY! Enter to WIN the Smith & Wesson and Black Hills package.

FN Military Collector Series: Three Frontline Legends

Paul Scarlata by Paul Scarlata
December 29, 2016
in Guns, Rifles
0
FN Military Collector Series: Three Frontline Legends

For fans of more modern weapons, FN’s new Military Collector series includes (from top to bottom) the semi-auto M16, M249S and M4.

0
SHARES
51
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
For fans of more modern weapons, FN’s new Military Collector series includes (from top to bottom) the semi-auto M16, M249S and M4.
FN Military Collector M16
FN Military Collector M249S

FN Military Collector M4
FN Military Collector M4
FN Military Collector M4


Since the end of the Revolutionary War, American shooters, hunters and gun collectors have shown a propensity for our military’s standard-issue rifles. Part of this is because many thousands of them gained an intimate knowledge of these weapons while serving their country. Thus, it was only natural that when they returned to civilian life and needed a firearm for hunting, home defense or militia service, they chose one they were already familiar and comfortable with.

Then there was the economic aspect. Until the end of World War II, it was our government’s practice to sell off surplus military rifles in an attempt to reduce inventory, conserve storage space in arsenals and recoup some of the expenses of manufacturing them. So it was that Model 1795 and Model 1816 smoothbore, flintlock muskets were seen in the hands of frontier settlers, hunters and militiamen well into the 1860s. The Model 1841 percussion rifle-musket (aka the Mississippi Rifle) served with distinction in the Mexican-American War and was popular with discharged veterans, many of whom were early explorers of our Western frontier.

Surplus Sales

FN Military Collector M16

After the Civil War, the civilian market was inundated with surplus Model 1861 rifled muskets that were snatched up at bargain prices by cost-conscious farmers and the thousands of new settlers heading west. Many veterans of our fratricidal conflict became familiar with the new metallic-cartridge-firing rifles, and surplus Spencer carbines and rifles, along with Springfield Model 1865 and 1870 “Trapdoor” rifles left over from U.S. military trials, found a ready market.

When the Army replaced the Springfield Model 1873 with the new small-bore, smokeless-powder Krag-Jørgensen rifle in 1894, the .45-70 Trapdoor could be bought for a few dollars from mail-order dealers. When they were replaced by the Springfield Model 1903, surplus Krags could be bought for less than $5, and thousands were used by hunters looking for a bargain rifle.

  • RELATED STORY: FN Sentinels – 8 Battle-Proven ARs From FNH USA

The story repeated itself after World War I when the government disposed of excess M1903 and M1917 Enfield rifles, thousands of which were sporterized to make them more suitable for hunting. The post-1945 years saw additional M1903 and M1903A3 rifles sold off, followed shortly afterwards by M1 Garands and M1 Carbines, which could be purchased from surplus dealers or through the Director of Civilian Marksmanship Program (DCM) at cut-rate prices. In fact, my older brother bought a mint-condition M1 Carbine from the DCM in 1966 for the princely sum of $20.

This largess came to an end in the when the armed forces began adopting select-fire rifles and increasing anti-gun legislation discouraged the government from disposing of surplus military firearms to civilians.

While these actions increased the prices of those rifles already on the market, it had the secondary effect of encouraging entrepreneurs to begin producing semi-auto reproductions of M1 Garands, M1 Carbines and M14 rifles using a combination of surplus and newly made parts. When the M16A1 rifle was adopted, its civilian-legal version, the AR-15, quickly became the hottest item on the semi-auto rifle market, a position it continues to hold to this day.

Battlefield Icons

FN Military Collector M249S

One of the newest entrants into this burgeoning civilian market is FN, a global leader in the development and manufacture of high-quality, reliable firearms for military, law enforcement and commercial customers worldwide. The company’s American headquarters are in McLean, Virgina, with manufacturing operations in Columbia, South Carolina.

FN has been manufacturing the M249 squad automatic weapon (SAW) for the U.S. armed forces since the early 1980s, and in 1988 it received a contract to produce the M16A2 rifle for the Army and Marine Corps. In 2012, it also received a contract for M4A1 carbines. With the seemingly insatiable current market for AR-15/M4-type rifles, it only made sense for FN to enter the booming civilian market. In November of 2015, the FN Military Collector series launched, a product line that features commercial variants of its iconic military designs.

The initial products in the FN Military Collector series are the M4 and M16, which are civilian versions of the U.S. armed forces’ currently issued M4A1 carbine and M16A4 rifle. The series also includes the semi-automatic M249S, a civilian-legal replica of the full-auto M249.

FN Military Collector M4

All three weapons are chambered for the 5.56mm NATO cartridge and feature 7075-T6 aluminum alloy receivers and polymer furniture. The M4 and M16 will accept all commercially available 10-, 20- and 30-round magazines and many accessories, while the M249S can use 20- and 30-round magazines or M27 linked belts.

  • RELATED STORY: SLP Competition – FN America’s 12-Gauge Range Master

The M4 and M16 both feature receivers with full-length Picatinny rails, Knight’s Armament M5 RAS handguards, ambidextrous safety levers, forward assists, ergonomic magazine releases, A2-style front sights, flip-up rear sights, spring-loaded ejection port covers and bayonet lugs. They each come with an aluminum, 30-round magazine. The M16 has a fixed buttstock while the M4’s is collapsible. In addition, the M4’s A2-style compensator is pinned and welded to the barrel for a 16-inch overall length.

According to Mark Cherpes, the president and CEO of FN America, “This new line of products allows us to showcase FN’s battle-proven legacy of producing firearms for militaries worldwide and passing this technology on to our commercial customers. We’re excited to bring these semi-automatic versions of the world’s most iconic products to America’s gun owners.”

For more information, visit fnamerica.com or call 855-536-4872.

This article was originally published in ‘Military Surplus’ #188. For information on how to subscribe, please email subscriptions@outdoorgroupmags.com or call 1-800-284-5668.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

The CZ Custom A01-SD OR.

The CZ Custom A01-SD OR is Optics Ready and Dialed in For Competition

The cover of the new Heritage Journal 2023.

Athlon Outdoors & Heritage Firearms Release HERITAGE JOURNAL 2023

The Daniel Defense MK12 Alpine Predator.

Daniel Defense Limited Series MK12 Alpine Predator Rifle Sells Out in 30 Minutes

The DSI Variant 1 comes out-of-the-box-ready for 3-gun.

A 3-Gunner’s Dream: The Dark Storm Industries Variant 1 Rifle

Load More

TACTICAL-LIFE NIGHT SHOOTER SEASON 2

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

The CZ Custom A01-SD OR.

The CZ Custom A01-SD OR is Optics Ready and Dialed in For Competition

When it comes to shooting competitively, it helps to look for any advantage you can find. Fortunately, there are companies...

Read more

TRENDING

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

...

5 new pistols launched at NASGW.

5 New Pistols Launching for 2023

...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: The Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

...

The upgraded Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical is built for long-range shooting.

FIRST LOOK: Rounds Downrange With the new Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Tactical Reload Semi-Auto Pistol Step 8

5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload

If you’re reading this publication, you’re most likely familiar with the “speed reload,” sometimes called the “combat reload” or “emergency...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

Fact vs. Fiction 5 Myths Gunfight Survival lead

5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight

Standing Your Ground Castle Doctrine lead

Understanding Stand Your Ground Laws and Castle Doctrine

long distance shooting tips

Long-Distance Shooting: 5 Must-Know Tips For Spotters & Shooters

IMPACT Experience Events.

IMPACT Experience Events Redefine Your Long-Range Shooting Limits

Enhance your shooting precision skills in a course with Modern Day Sniper.

Sniper Skills: Taking Your Shooting Precision to the Next Level

Once you find a carry gun that works for you, get another for a spare. These “hammerless” S&W J-frame lightweights are M340 M&P with Hogue Bantam grips, top, and a M442 Airweight with Crimson Trace Lasergrips, below.

10 Commandments of Concealed Carry

self-defense myths can be dangerous

Self-Defense Myths that Could Get you Killed

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

The Dicken Drill is named for Eli Dicken who saved many lives in the Greenwood Mall

The Elisjsha Dicken Drill

AMMO SPOTLIGHT

Remington Ammunition Issues Recall Notice on 12-Gauge Premier Accutip Ammo.

Remington Ammunition Issues a 12-Gauge Premier AccuTip Ammo Recall

Remington Ammunition has recently discovered an issue related to its 12-Gauge Premier Accutip ammo and issued a recall notice. This...

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement

Tactical

  • tactical-life.com

Magazines

  • Tactical Life
  • The Complete Book of Reloading
  • Guns of the Old West

Facebook

  • Tactical-Life Facebook
  • Guns of the Old West Facebook

Twitter

  • Tactical-Life Twitter

Self Defense

  • PersonalDefenseWorld.com

Magazines

  • Personal Defense World
  • Combat Handguns

Facebook

  • Personal Defense World Facebook
  • Combat Handguns

Twitter

  • Personal Defense World Twitter

Shooting Lifestyle

  • BallisticMag.com

Magazines

  • BallisticMag.com

Facebook

  • Ballistic Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Ballistic Magazine Twitter

Alpha Lifestyle

  • SkillsetMag.com

Magazines

  • Skillset

Facebook

  • Skillset Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Skillset Magazine Twitter

Instagram

  • Skillset Magazine Instagram
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
  • Knives
  • Gear
    • Holsters
    • Optics & Sights
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Suppressors
  • Videos
  • News
  • Contact Us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.