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Posted: 7/10/2015 5:07:02 PM EDT
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A few months ago I was issued at my department a M16 from the 1033 program. It is in great shape, well taken care of and shoots great. It does not have a forward assist so I assumed it was pretty old. A few Army vets around the department said they are M16A1s and probably were mainly used in basic training or sat in an armory. These guys used M16A2s when they were in.
I was curious as to the age and background of my M16 lacking a forward assist. I was confused at first because M16A1s did have a forward assist. I then found some more online resources. I compared the serial number and features of the rifle with these resources. My rifle is actually a Colt 604. 604s were used by the USAF. The USAF did not want the forward assist on their M16s . I have a 4 million serial number and I would say mine was built in the early 1970s. So it seems petty unique to use one of these. My guess is the 604s started to be phased out in the 1990s? The other cool thing is I happen to have a USAF .22 conversion kit with the plastic white magazine. It makes for a very fine shooting .22 rifle. Through the 1033 program we have some M14s. They are in working condition but very worn looking. The media has been critical of the 1033 program as if the DOD is giving police departments the latest flame throwers and bazookas. All antiques...we have not obtained any but you can also get a M1911 dated back to WW2. I would like to get my hands on one of the USAF S&W model 15 revolvers they used. I wonder happened to them? |
| We have some like that. They work well but are older style. At least a couple have newer 1-7" FN barrels though, IIRC. They aren't the latest and greatest but I would happily used one as a patrol rifle it that's what was available. I am under the impression that 1033 program items can't be sold off. |
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Quoted:
Yeah, no malfunction assist means not an M16A1 (Colt 603). The best thing agencies could do with the 1033 program is to sell them for profit. 1033 program guns are on loan from the DOD. They cannot be sold. In my humble opinion, these guns should be available for us lowly civilians to purchase thru the CMP, but we all know that will never happen. |
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Quoted:
The media has been critical of the 1033 program as if the DOD is giving police departments the latest flame throwers and bazookas. All antiques...we have not obtained any but you can also get a M1911 dated back to WW2. What got .mil bad press in the media was the selling of $200K MRAVs to PDs for $5K. And those are far from antique... |
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