an A2-esque rifle with commercial AR-15 handguards (they're too thick compared to the actual A2's) and an A4's upper receiver and i guess small parts. don't think too hard on it. every rifle is an AK or AR-15/M16 , all handguns are glocks, et c to some people. so an AR-15 full-length rifle with a carry handle and handguards instead of rails is an "A2" from the distant before-times of 1982.
Good point. It is just a "A2", don't think hard on it, you're paying 600 bucks for it, nor thousands for a 100% accurate clone.
Ruger had the model 44 carbine in .44 mag which feeds from a 4 round tube magazine.
Yes they did and it was cool as fuck:

Basically a massive Ruger 10/22, but with a tube mag.
The coolest rifle on the market right now has to be the Cosmi Rigato though, it feeds from a 5 round tube magazine in the butt stock. Its got a cool and complicated action. its expensive, starting at 11k last i looked. it comes in
.45-70 and .444 marlin.
its one of the few surviving janky 1st/2nd generation semi-auto guns around so its weird but it just works and its been in constant production since the 1920s.
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Here is the forgotten weapons video on the Cosmi shotgun which works the same way as the rifle.
I want one but my wallet knows just by looking at it that a boutique semi auto 45-70 is too rich for me lol.
Pairs perfectly with a pink polo shirt and some beige slacks.
Damn straight.
might not be his choice. a lot of old military M16's or AR-15's were purchased by or given to law enforcement agencies nationwide and given how modular they are, they're just some new parts (complete upper, a collapsing stock) away from having an "M4". especially for agencies that would rather put that money to something else like training, additional officers, less than lethal gear, body armor, et c. a cheap aluminum quad rail and grip might be enough to get the job done well enough that it's not worth more money.
Probably what happened. Personally I like that he's just rocking it completely stock. He could mount a scope on the handle, completely possible, but nope, he's just like, "fuck technology, irons baby". May just be because of his PD like you suggest, but idk, it warms my heart those old rifles are still getting use.
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I found out Smith offers 8 shot 357 magnums, notably the 327 series. That is officially in 1911 with 8 round mag territory, holy shit.

Way too much, though they're using shit like scandium and I think titanium in the frames to keep the weight down, since they used a 44 magnum frame to get the capacity. Smith, I'm begging, make one in the $999 ish range, just all blued steel, nothing fancy other than 8 shots, it'd sell like crazy.