According to law enforcement officials, federal agencies, and handgun control organizations, the assault weapons of choice appear to be the following (all models are semi-automatic versions):
AK-47—The Kalashnikov rifle, also known generally as the AK-47, was developed in the Soviet Union in 1947 by Mikhail T. Kalashnikov. Semi-automatic versions of a Chinese model—the Model 56—are currently imported into the United States, as are models developed by other countries. The Chinese AK-47 produced by POLY Technologies and distributed in the United States by PTK International, Inc., is 34 3/8 inches long. With a folding stock, the weapon has an overall length of 34 5/8 with the stock extended, and approximately 30 inches folded. The weapon can accept 20-, 30-, 40-, and 75-round magazines.[132] Semi-automatic versions of the AK-47 retail for as little as $300.[133]
AR-15A2—The AR-15A2, commonly known as the AR-15, is manufactured by Colt Industries of Hartford, Connecticut. It is the civilian version of the company’s M-16 machine gun. The AR-15A2 rifle has an overall length of 39 inches. The Government Model Carbine comes with a folding stock. Its overall length with the stock folded is 35 inches, 32 closed. In 1987 the company introduced the Delta HBAR, a sniper rifle version of the rifle. The weapon comes with a 5-round magazine, but can accept a variety of high-capacity magazines.[134] The AR-15A2 retails for approximately $680.
MAC-10, MAC-11—The MAC-10 machine pistol was originally developed by Gordon Ingram at Military Armaments Corporation (MAC) in 1969. Soon thereafter, the MAC-11 was marketed and subsequently semi-auto versions of both were developed. MAC went bankrupt in 1978. Currently, the rights for the MAC-10 are owned by a Stephensville, Texas, company which took the Military Armaments Corporation name. Manufacturing rights for the MAC-11 now belong to various corporate entities operated by Sylvia and Wayne Daniels of Georgia.[135] An ad placed in Shotgun News for the semi-auto 9mm M11/9 produced by the Daniels, describes it as “The Gun That Made the ’80’s Roar” and characterizes it as being as “American as God, Mom, and Apple Pie!”[136] The 9mm MAC-11 is 12.15 inches long. It comes with a 32-round magazine. The 9mm MAC-10 has a length of 10.5 inches with its stock folded and comes with a 32-round magazine. Both have threaded barrels for the attachment of silencers and barrel extensions.[137] The MAC-11 can retail for as little as $200.
RUGER MINI-14—The Ruger Mini 14 is manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. of Southport, Connecticut, and was introduced into the civilian market in 1975. With a folding stock, the weapon has an overall length of 37.75 inches, 27.5 with the stock closed. The gun comes with a standard 5-round magazine, but magazines have been developed for it that can hold up to 40 rounds.[138] The Mini-14 retails for approximately $330.
TEC-9—The 9mm TEC-9 assault pistol was originally developed by Interdynamics AB of Sweden and produced in the U.S. by F.I.E. of Florida. The original version, the KG-9, was easily converted to full auto and was subsequently reclassified as a machine gun by ATF in 1982. Soon after, the weapon was redesigned to sell as a semi-auto and reclassified the KG-99. Subsequently, a Hong Kong company bought the rights to the weapon from Interdynamics AB and a new company, Intratec USA, was formed in the United States to manufacture the weapon, now dubbed the TEC-9. In November of 1987, Intratec USA reorganized to become Intratec. Twelve and a half inches long, the lightweight TEC-9 comes with a 36-round magazine. The TEC-9M, a smaller version of the weapon, is 10.5 inches long. Both have threaded barrels so that they can accept silencers and barrel extensions. High impact plastic is used for the gun’s receiver, magazine well, and pistol grip.[139] Promotional material for the guns describe them as being “high-spirited” and “weapons that are as tough as your toughest customers.”[140] The TEC-9 retails for approximately $250.
UZI—Manufactured by Israeli Military Industries, the 9mm UZI was designed in the early 1950s by Army Major Uziel Gal. In 1979, a semi-automatic version was first imported to the United States for civilian sale by Action Arms of Philadelphia. The UZI semi-auto carbine has an overall length of 24.4 inches with its stock folded, 31.5 with the stock open and comes with a standard 25-round magazine. In 1984, the company introduced the UZI pistol, which has an overall length of 9.45 inches. In 1987, Israeli Military Industries introduced the Mini-UZI carbine, which with its stock folded has an overall length of 26.1 inches, 35.75 with the stock unfolded.[141] A 1988 Action Arms ad for the UZI exclaims, “When the going gets tough…the tough get an UZI. Whether for a backwoods camp, RV or family home, don’t trust anything less. The UZI Carbine is the perfect choice for the sportsman who wants unfailing reliability and top performance in a rugged, compact size.” With a kit that will allow the weapon to use .22 ammunition, the gun becomes “an inexpensive plinker.”[142] The UZI carbine retails for approximately $700, the pistol for $510.
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