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The popularity of a particular rifle or pistol is based on the US Military. When the US Army was armed the .45 Colt model 1873 revolver and model 1873 trapdoor 45-70 cal rifle...the civilians wanted them. When the Army went to the 45 auto (ACP-Automatic Colt Pistol) and the 30-40 Krag rifle...the civilians wanted them. When the Army went to the 30-06 the civilians wanted them. Then the .308...then the 5.56mm...

Well, prior to the Vietnam War the US Army was armed with the standard WOOD and STEEL constructed M-14 service rifle (to a civilian it's identical to an M1 Garand except the magazine sticks out of the bottom and the wood stock doesn't reach near the muzzle...and they can't notice the shorter .308 breech from the '06 breech unless they study the receiver up close). AFTER the Vietnam War the Army adapted the PLASTIC and ALUMINUM (barrels steel though) M-16 Assault Rifle...yes...the civilians want them too.

Therefore: AFTER Vietnam: Rifles (pistols & shotguns) went synthetic. The 1960's seemed to have a love affair with aluminum...must have been a new toy back then...Four NEW machines were fielded in Vietnam all or mostly constructed of aluminum: Swift Boat; Sheridan Tank; A-7 Corsair II jet fighter bomber; and the M-16 Assault Rifle (Called the Jungle Rifle back then).

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13y ago
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