User Panel
Posted: 3/24/2006 8:26:47 AM EDT
Making the M16 on GI Factory (Military Channel) Tonight 8pm, 11pm, 3am
GI Factory - Episode 1 First we're off to the Ohio factory that takes the Humvee, and up-armors it to withstand bullets and bombs. Next we turn raw metal and plastic into weapons at the S.Carolina plant that makes the M-16. Finally we go to PA, to see modern helmets get made. military.discovery.com/tvlistings/episode.jsp?episode=1&cpi=114829&gid=0&channel=MIL I know it's been posted before, but just a reminder. |
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It was but no matter, in a world where people plan the next hour or two at most , it helps to remind 'em!! I hope they address some detail in the FN-USA builds. But hey, any footage of the manufacture of our beloved guns is OK. |
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Thanks for the reminder. God I love DVR's!
ETA - I often see those new Humvees heading out to our troops going down I75. Pisses me off when I remember that Clinton screwed us out of ever having a chance to buy one of those latter on. |
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Figures. I only get the basic Discovery channel, you know the one that does nearly all motorcycle shows.
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Just finished watching GI Factory. I thought it was pretty good and informative though I would have liked to have seen a little more info on the M16.
Unlike the "other" show that has a former Navy fighter jock for the host , the guy on GI Factory seems to be a little out of his element. I would not have guessed that he had been in the military. Just my .02 The show for next Friday looks interesting too! |
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9pm mountain; you do the math! Looks excellent, saw the first 2 minutes, will watch in a couple hours.
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I liked it! Thanks for the post, I'd have missed it otherwise!
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Pretty interesting show glad I watched, but if they could get R. Lee Ermey to host it would be much better. The kid did a good job just had no personality. Heck I even like the host from made in America better, John Ratzenberger AKA Cliff from Cheers.
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Thanks for the reminder! I just finished watching Shooting Gallery and Guns and Ammo TV. That will be a nice way to wrap up the night.
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Anybody notice the lady doing the final QC testing on the lower?
She dropped the hammer on the bolt catch. |
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I instant replayed the tivo a couple times to make sure I saw what I thought I saw |
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HercMech,
I wonder what it would take to get the GUNNY to host it? Boy,couldn't he add some charachter to the show ! |
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when they are shooting the m16 in the indoor range, the camera turns away and turns back for a second and there is a SCAR in the vise, you have to tivo it to see it. it's just for an instant
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It appeared to me that he knew more than he would let on. They are dumbing down the show a bit to make it appeal to a wider audience. 99% of the population has no idea about this stuff so they need to start with the very very basics. |
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Did it bother anyone to see that barrel "bent" into a straight condition? I guess that's how you meet the 4-6MOA military standard. It's a wonder that any of them shoot well.
Is that standard procedure for all rack grade makers? |
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Yup thats how they did it with the 1903's and M1's back in Springfield |
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I just watched that again w/TiVo and curious if you are talking about the rifle going into the "live fire" harness, or the one stacked upright? The one going into the firing rack looks more like an M240, or a M249, or it may well be the SCAR. Hell, they make all of them there. Good eye.
........ that was disturbing on a couple of fronts 1. first that little of energy can flex a barrel enough to change the accuracy as much as it did. 2. and the fact they are so casual about getting something to "pass" I suppose it happens in all small arms manufacturing plants. |
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I didn't get to see it, but what M16 manufacturer did they show?
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DAMNIT. I missed it....
Got the Tivo set to record Ep 2, but there is no repeat of Ep 1 in the next few weeks at least. |
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The FN plant in South Carolina. |
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That was a nice M16 segment of the show, I like FN's upper assembly jig and check fixture.
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Nothing I saw in the show about FN surprised me. I work with some people who used to be employed there as machinists, and have heard many stories about how it is a shithole.
Even though the host was a bit of a dork I like the premise of the show, as I also enjoy watching "Made In America" and "How It's Made". Neat stuff. Also in the picture above I don't think that is a SCAR, looks more like a M-240 or 249 which they also make at that facility. |
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That's clearly an M240. Man, I'd sure love to have some of those jigs. |
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I thought so to, but one poster above said he thought he saw a SCAR. I looked for one, that was the closest I found, hence the "?". Will correct.
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Great screen shots, 0100010
Those pix are from interesting points of the segment There was a part that showed the T-7075 lower 'blocks' being loaded into a machine (CNC?). I liked it since it illustrates the state of raw lowers when they are purchased by manufacturers. I noticed they already had the FN logo and some other markings as well. The point is that many have noted that CMT "makes" Colt lowers and other parts. The fact is that IF CMT does so - and I do not challenge that part - they simply provide the raw block to Colt or others who then machine them down to what we know as a Colt lower. It is this last process that separates the Colt (or other company) from the others (as seen in part by the lady QC'ing the lower). My comment is a long-winded and awkward explanation that just because the raw forging comes from CMT, does not mean the are all the same. In fact, far from it. eta: did anyone notice that many were installed with KAC rails? And it makes sense to do it at this point of manufacture rather than the Armory level, or shipping to KAC. |
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The US Marines have placed large orders for M16A4s with the M5 rail installed in the last 3 years. |
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So is Colt bending their barrels like that? Can't get past that.
Or, say, a Mike Rock OEM rack grade blank? Not match, but OEM. Or is Shaw making the barrels for Colt, then bending them? Or CMMG?? That has to introduce serious stress at that stage of the manufacturing process. And what does "fart from it" mean????? |
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Nope, those come from places like Anchor-Harvey. They come from a forge. CMT does machine work, they are not a forge. |
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One of those typos that spell-checker couldn't fix. I mentioned in my post that I suppose all small arms makers probably do the same thing. Not sure if your comments are sarcasm, a Colt swipe, or simply thought provoking. It is troubling. (the bending) Can you imagine how much force is needed to "bend in to spec' an HBAR is? Plus, the Gov't profile shown on the video flexed right at the "profiled area" - or where it has been turned down for the weight savings. I can imagine cases of field use that the barrel could experience at least that kind of force. |
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I liked how they had some super duper CNC laser to verify the external dimensions of the lower, but then used something straight out of the Khyber Pass to "fix" a new barrel they haven't even installed or fired. Yeah, I can't imagine why they were proud of getting 4 MOA...
If a new barrel is so bent you can't align the sights, maybe it should go in the 2nds or scrap pile. |
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Well, if they are pumping out 4000 M16's a month, thats about 130 to 200 rifles a day, depending on how many days they are open a week (east coast in my mind = union = 5 days a week). In order to keep up with production numbers of course they are bending those barrels instead of scrapping them.
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Judging from the eaglefirearms.net website, there are 2 types of full-length rail. The aftermarket "M5 Rifle RAS" (KAK #98065) that "Requires no gunsmithing" and the "Free-Float RAS, Long" (KAK #99266) that "Requires removal of barrel, flash suppressor and sight/gas block". It would seem the "No-gunsmithing" "M5 Rifle RAS" would be the better choice for future rail changes and swapping out damaged units. Which is the FN plant installing in the video? http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/187818/FN_M16-2.jpg http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/187818/FN_M16-10.jpg http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/187818/FN_M16-29.jpg http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/187818/FN_M16-4.jpg |
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can some1 host it? for those of us who don't have military channel =(
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