AR Question - Might seem silly

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Zygote991

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Just a question that has bugged me for the last few days, and I can just not find the answer. Original M16's have FA, then they went to burst. So the three position safety was FA, Single, Safe or 3, Single, Safe.

Was there ever a FA, 3, Single, Safe four position option out there?

Have know clue what the details are, just wondered.

Thank you all.
 
The first AR's were Semi Auto only. The AR-15 came out before the M-16. The the modes of firing are as you suggested, Semi, Full and burst. The 3 shot burst device was a late adaptation by the U.S. Marines and was a seperate internal few pieces. The Selector in either case had 3 positions only, Safe, Semi and Full, or Safe, Semi and burst. The burst was a stupid way to try to gain fire control and was a pain. If you only fired 1 round, you would get 2 the next time, 2 rounds, one the next time.

If you can find a copy there is a very good book on the AR series called "The Black Rifle" goes through all the development stages including the Canadian C7 and C7A1.

Scott
 
Zygote991 said:
Just a question that has bugged me for the last few days, and I can just not find the answer. Original M16's have FA, then they went to burst. So the three position safety was FA, Single, Safe or 3, Single, Safe.

Was there ever a FA, 3, Single, Safe four position option out there?

Have know clue what the details are, just wondered.

Thank you all.
Click to expand...
Yes, Colt experimented with a four position selector and some aftermarket kits were available, but from what I recall they were complicated and expensive and the concept never took off. Having four positions meant your rifle would need the selector stops milled off (or not have any to begin with).
 
I didn't know that Colt had experimented with the 4 position selector. Can't imagine how it would work, the 3 round burst option is complicated enough and I don't recall that 4 round selector being mentioned in the book I mentioned, the one I thought was the definitive work on the subject. As always, the more you think you know, then more you realize you don't know much!

Scott
 
It's funny that you mentioned a 4 position selector for an AR Zygote. I have done research and the only firearm that "has" a 4 position (but I have never seen one in real life) is noneother than the H&K MP5.
http://http://forcesmilitary.########.com/2010/12/germany-made-mp7-hk-ump-and-hk-mp5.html

Only a German could have invented something so well thought out. Well at least that's what I think the settings on the side are.

But yes, I can see the future of AR's have 4 selectors, safe, semi, 3 round burst and full auto. One day. I haven't seen an AR that has 4 selectors either.
 
EDX2308 said:
It's funny that you mentioned a 4 position selector for an AR Zygote. I have done research and the only firearm that "has" a 4 position (but I have never seen one in real life) is noneother than the H&K MP5.
Click to expand...

Not so. The Swiss Arms 550 and it's progeny (NOT what is commercially available in Canada) have 4 position selectors for Safe, Semi, Burst and Full.

German, yes, but not Deutschland German.
 
EDX2308 said:
It's funny that you mentioned a 4 position selector for an AR Zygote. I have done research and the only firearm that "has" a 4 position (but I have never seen one in real life) is noneother than the H&K MP5.
http://http://forcesmilitary.########.com/2010/12/germany-made-mp7-hk-ump-and-hk-mp5.html

Only a German could have invented something so well thought out. Well at least that's what I think the settings on the side are.

But yes, I can see the future of AR's have 4 selectors, safe, semi, 3 round burst and full auto. One day. I haven't seen an AR that has 4 selectors either.
Click to expand...

Why are there Tippmann paintball markers mixed in with the HK products on this "Military Blog"?
 
Several guns have four position selectors. HKs and the SIG 550 series as already mentioned, and I believe some experimental AKs too. I've seen it elsewhere on guns from around the globe. It's not common but it's not rare either.

When Colt came out with their Enhanced Commando many years ago (well before the current explosion of AR popularity) it had the 4-position selector. I'll see if I have a picture or some archived literature. I'm fairly certain it didn't become a regular catalog item probably due to lack of interest and/or complexity of the fire control group. Burst is really just a poor replacement for proper trigger discipline.
 
As promised.

M4Enhanced.jpg
 
That would definitely be something interesting to take apart, just to see why the mechanism is that much more complicated. Any ideas, why it became such a hassle to manufacture or maintain? Too many parts etc. How much more different could it be internally?
 
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