What, Exactly, Is The Deal With Colt?
BY Herschel Smith
10 years, 6 months ago
I published Colt: The Gunmaker Who Can’t Shoot Straight, and thought that would be the end of it. Today Janes published this.
Colt Defense have unveiled their new CK901 assault rifle, chambered in the Russian 7.62 x 39 mm cartridge, at Eurosatory 2014 in Paris.
Speaking to IHS Jane’s , a Colt Defense representative stated that the CK901 has been ordered by the Yemeni Republican Guard to replace their existing AK-47s.
According to Colt Defense representatives, the CK901 was designed for military customers in countries that use the AK-47, or AK-47-based rifles, and therefore still utilise, manufacture or possess large stockpiles of 7.62 x 39 mm ammunition.
The distinctive feature of CK901 is that it can be fed from all types of standard and non-standard AK-47 pattern magazines. Colt has thoroughly tested the rifle on all available steel or polymer magazines to assure reliable feeding of cartridges, the company stated. The company also offers the weapon with a US-made 30 round magazine manufactured by US Palm.
The CK901 is a gas-operated rifle based on the existing Colt Modular CM901 multicalibre (5.56 or 7.62 mm NATO) weapon family debuted in 2010.
The firearm uses the direct impingement gas principle with a rotary bolt locking mechanism. The weapon is equipped with a monolithic upper receiver, fitted with an upper and lower M1913 Picatinny rail and side rail attachment points.
I don’t like the 7.62 X 39 mm cartridge, but that’s a matter of personal choice. Frankly, if I were going to choose such a caliber for this type of weapon, it would be a 300 Blackout. In the mean time, I’m quite happy with my Rock River Arms AR-15, 5.56 mm. I’ll follow Eugene Stoner rather than Kalashnikov, and if I get another Stoner-style rifle, it’ll be a .308.
But even if you do like the cartridge, Colt has almost run itself out of business by sucking at the teet of government contracts, so much so that they lost all respect for QA in their product line, and jettisoned most products except what they were providing to the government. When is the last time you saw a Colt Python for sale at a reasonable price? As for that matter, have you forgiven Colt for dropping the manufacture of double action revolvers?
So if they can’t have the U.S. government contract for M4s, apparently they’ll go chase the foreign government market. How sad.
On June 20, 2014 at 12:59 am, Chris Carson said:
My favorite is the 9×39, the Russian Special Forces round. So good, in the silenced Vintorez sniper rifles. With the subsonic bullet, they can drop the guy beside you and you’ll never even know it.
On June 20, 2014 at 6:56 am, Leigh said:
So, basically they copied a Rock River?
http://rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=558
Leigh
Whitehall, NY
On June 20, 2014 at 9:41 am, Herschel Smith said:
Could be. I’m a fan of RRA, my rifle never having failed to function in any manner in something like 4000 rounds. But I’m not interested in 7.62 X 39. My next AR rifle will be .308. In the mean time, is it so hard for Colt to re-engage the American civilian market? Have all of the good gunsmiths who could work on revolvers died?
On June 21, 2014 at 5:02 pm, Borchardt said:
For the most part yes. The ones still alive do a good business tuning Ruger Vaqueros for CAS. They don’t need no stinkin Colt DA revolvers that get out of time faster than a cheap watch.
On June 28, 2014 at 12:05 pm, Leigh said:
Personally, I am kind of partial to Del-Ton. I don’t know what your thoughts are on DPMS, but they have a new platform out called the GenII.
http://dpms-gii.com/full.html
Essentially, they took a AR15 and reworked the mag-well and ejection-port to accept a .308. It still has the same size as a 15, and takes all of the accessories of a 15, but packs the wallop of a AR10. No more worrying whether this nick-nack-or-other is Armalite or DPMS specific. I find it quite intriguing myself.
OR
You could slide on over to http://ptr91.com/ and pick up one of their HK clones. Their new SCCR is going to be a limited release celebrating their move from CT to SC. The GI model, I find ultimately lust-worthy! I did have a G3 kit from Sarco, but the parts kit was just so much junk I sent it back. The PTR receiver in the kit was top notch though. It’s a sore subject – they screwed me hard, and still owe me money!
Have a great weekend, Herschel.
Leigh
Whitehall, NY
On June 23, 2014 at 11:24 am, Ergo said:
i wonder if they solved the bolt breakage at moderate round counts?
On June 23, 2014 at 7:10 pm, isaiah said:
Spelled “t-e-a-t” and pronounced “tit.”