"Most of these items are 1-2 generations behind in sophistication or currency of current deployed kit" True, but I was just giving examples. But, the only rifle I'd possibly trade for my AKM (or AK-74M) would be the G-36 [....and I just cannot say no to the L1A1 SLR :-( ], and I'd much rather bet my life on a PKM than on an American M-60. The op. record of well maintained MiG-21/23 is very good, as I'm sure you'd concur, and the T-55 is just as good as the M-48 but it is more reliable and robust. Actually, it is the better tank on account of its sillouete and armour distrubution. The S-300 series SAMs are a very fine piece of hardware, nobody will argue with me, and the 2S7 and 2S19 are some of the finest artillery pieces ever made (like I've mentioned before, I prefer 152 to 155 on account of its bigger, heavier shell). I also have a special place in my heart for the 2S1. An AMPHIBIOUS self-propelled 122mm howitzer, I'm sure you can find a use for it in any motorised rifle division. If you want to get in to MLRS, the crude BM-21 is very effective when deployed in batteries, and the BM-30 is without peers, cost effectiveness-wise. Und so weiter

Just as a side note, I was in a small gunshop in Mannheim in Germany last week. I almost fell over at what could be bought over the counter and with minimal controls. The anti-gun lobby in Oz would go absolutely nuts. I saw an almost perfect copy of an M4 and a G36 for sale for 69 euros - configured to fire soft pellets. If you pulled it out in Hoddle St or Oxford St every one of Victorias finest (or the Rum Corp in NSW) would be braced and yelling "put the gun down, down on the ground, put your arms out wide - now!". They were superb knockoffs. The handguns ko's were amazing in attention to detail. If it wasn't so anal in Oz I would have bought the M4 back. It was even decked in triple picatinnys! I'd have to disagree on the issue of howitzers though. I'm a bigger fan of south african kit than russian in that respect. I'm not going to argue on tanks, thats M_G's province, although I suspect you won't get many backers for the bog stock M-60's.

"I saw an almost perfect copy of an M4 and a G36 for sale for 69 euros - configured to fire soft pellets." >>Wipes drool off the screen and keyboard now<<<

I grabbed some brochures just to remind me how lucky germans can be, Examples: Walther Nighthawk with compensator, optics 175E Walther Top Point II, with optics, 69E Walther Tactical spotlight (portable) 14E M4 lookalike. Optics 69E G36 lookalike. Optics 89E AK74 lookalike. Optics and compensator 99E sigh, I'll be back there in 2 weeks time, putting my snotty face and sticky hands all over the glass cases again. ;)

Ummm, I hate to break it to you people but I can find a semi-auto version of a G36 for maybe $600 bucks in Shotgun News here in the U.S. I already have semi-auto versions of the M14, FAL and AK. You know, the real bang bang version- no soft pellets. If you are game enough to get the relevant permit you can own a real G36 (though that will be expensive). Full autos are generally in excess of $1K at the low end, and rare stuff gets really bad. Had an acquaintance try to talk me into going the Class III route some years ago. buzzard

The new gun laws in Australia preclude anyone having milspec weapons and semi-autos. Even airguns are banned here without the relevant permit. That basically restricts it to cattle station owners, farmers, sporting shooters, professional shooters (feral shooters etc...) Hence why the excitement at these items. I lost a perfectly good FN-SLR to these daft gun laws. Now we look at guns in windows when we go overseas - or look at 6 colour pictures instead. ;)

I know about your gun laws. You have my sympathy. I had a buddy in grad school back in the mid 90s who was visiting from University of Wogollon(sp?) down under. He was from a ranching family and we had tons of fun talking gun stories over beer. Truthfull, I was just bragging. I am well versed in the sorry state of gun laws in the rest of the world (except Switzerland). buzzard

Boris wrote: "I've heard that the ballistics computer and laser range finder can be changed in field, is that true?" Yes, that is true. Theoretically you can pull the turret in the field, although I've never seen it done, or heard of it being done, but it is theoretically possible. Now, I have to admit, I like the AK series of rifles better than the M-16. The PKM vs. M-60 machinegun is a bad example, since the US is replacing, or has replaced, the M-60 with the M-240 (Belgian MAG whatever). In other words, in some instances I will agree with you, in others I won't. I think, however, that the US readiness and availability rate speaks for itself, across the board. Especially in our decade plus of fighting in the Middle East, which is an environment just as harsh, in its own way, as the steppes of Russia. If your kit can stand up to the Saudi and Iraqi deserts I think it is in good shape for almost anywhere except maybe the jungles of the south pacific.

"The PKM vs. M-60 machinegun is a bad example, since the US is replacing, or has replaced, the M-60 with the M-240 (Belgian MAG whatever)" I could have sworn that many American Hummers in Iraq still have the M-60. The only thing the M-60 has over the PKM is the cartrige, I don't particularly like rimmed rounds. No arguments about the M-240, it's a fine weapon and has a few advantages over the PKM (eg. rate of fire), but I'll stick to my MG-3, thank you very much :-P

Boris wrote: "I could have sworn that many American Hummers in Iraq still have the M-60." To the best of my knowledge the US Army will eventually replace all M-60 LMG's with the M-240, although they may not have completed the entire weapons block yet. I'm not sure when it is scheduled to be completed. As for the MG-3 vs. the M-240 (MAG 58?). That's a matter of personal preference, I don't think there is a clear winner between those two. Arguably the two finest LMG's in the world today.