Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1536266
FIREARMS finishes, you'll want a competition- -tuned rifle that can shave millise- conds off your splits. But those are specialized beasts, built for pure performance – think Formula 1. What we're seeing now is more like a surge of love for the Humvee of the gun world. These military-grade AR-15s – think iconic names like the M16A1, M16A2, M16A4, M4, M4A1, XM177E1, and Colt 733 – are the real OGs. They're simple, purpose- -built carbines, all about getting the job done as a reliable, if a little rough-around-the-edges, fighting tool. And that's exactly why they're grabbing the attention of more and more shooters. They've got that raw, military vibe, no fancy frills, just pure, unadulterated functiona- lity that you can spot a mile away. Ever notice how a plain-Jane M16A1 can turn more heads at the range than even the fanciest civi- lian AR decked out with all the Guc- ci gear? I think it's the iconic silho- uette, the unmistakable shape of a true military firearm like the M16 or M4. Plus, let's be real, these things L et's be honest, lately there's been a serious buzz around those "classic" military-sty- le rifles, especially the M16s. It's like everyone suddenly remembers how cool those no- -nonsense, battle-pro- ven desi- gns are. Original surplus M16s are vanishing faster than free pizza at a range day, and more and more companies are catching the wave, rolling out "retro" or "classic" line up. Some, like the folks at FN Her- stal with their Collector Line M4, are even giving us civilian versions of the real deal they send to our tro- ops. A cloner's paradise? So, what's the big deal with these "retro military classics"? I reckon it's because we've hit peak perfor- mance "tacticool" and "race" AR- 15 overload. Don't get me wrong, if you're chasing those podium