M16EZ

Twilight: 2000 had the M16EZ.

The description from the Small Arms Guide is:

Early in 1999, the breakdown of civil order in the United States was evidenced by an increased demand by local civil authorities for small arms with more power and effectiveness than normally accepted police weapons such as revolvers and shotguns.

Initially, the two federal governments (Civgov and Milgov) responded with grants of small quantities of M16 rifles. As demand outstripped supply, it proved impossible to continue to supply the many local police departments and militias with new production M16 rifles.

Routine ordnance maintenance of small arms in the US Army inventory replaces barrels, bolts, and other small parts as they become worn out. Many of these parts are still serviceable, and can be used in weapons, but with a lower level of accuracy and safety. Rejected parts are normally sold for scrap metal in less critical times.

Milgov, anxious t o provide small arms to local governments, decided to produce the M16A2 kit for distribution to loyal civilian forces. It consisted of the following components:

0 One M16 barrel, bolt, and bolt carrier combination.
0 One set of basic trigger mechanism parts.
0 Several pieces of steel tubing and flats.
0 One set of plans and instructions for use in machining and assembly.

Local governments were expected to use local machine shop talent and supplies to manufacture auxiliary parts, stocks, and other components of the rifles. Using the plans provided, local forces arranged for the necessary parts to be manufactured, and the final weapons assembled. Civgov rapidly introduced a similar program for the local governments loyal to it.

Necessarily, M16EZ rifles vary in their quality and appearance, depending on the ability of the local manufacturing process. Many weapons have carefully finished wood stocks produced by militiamen during the long winters of the war. Others sport improvements developed by the local machinists: special sling swivels, winter trigger guards, and precision sights (often unable to compensate for the poor rifle barrels of the weapons).

In use, the EZ model was inaccurate, unreliable, and often dangerous to the user. But it succeeded admirably because it fulfilled its purpose. It retained the basic silhouette of the M16 rifle and lent an air of authority t o any force armed with it; the militia looked less rag-tag when it was not armed with deer rifles.

It used standard military ammunition and magazines, which helped resupply situations. During the cold days of World War III, it was the rifle that the average citizen saw in the hands of the local militia; it represented a calming voice of authority in the midst of hard times.

Reader Ygolonac sent this link to someone attempting to make their own M16EZ in the real world.

I will admit, I've thought about the idea more than once since I started assembling AR's.

But the gun that filled the Milgov M16EZ niche in my T2K game was a variation of the TRW Low-Maintenance-Rifle.  See also here.