The INSAS 5.56mm Rifle- A Technical Treatise

[kanwar76]

CC,

I can't say more than what members have already said about your post. Its awesome, please keep posting these gems and be around.

-Inder

[MoA]

The bakelite on the AK's and clones are plasticky too. But are better feeling bits of plastic.
Thankyou for confirming that the INSAS is indeed a piece of junk.

I will stick with my Vz thank you.

[msandhu]

One thing that i still cannot understand is the choice of bright orange color on the gun.. isn't it supposed to be more camouflaged ??
MSandhu

[Sakobav]

Msandhu

Because orange can be seen in the dark (sic)..I agree but who knows how these hacks work or why does Army put up with this toy..they are quite vocal about other DRDO products yet this one hey have grudgingly accepted.

Its a cost thing and also reflects how well does this company understand end users needs

[timmy]

CC: thank you so much for adding words and pictures to the INSAS subject. I have often seen this weapon discussed here, but now I can appreciate the discussions intelligently, now that I understand the rifle. I would offer this observation:

Rs 15,000 at a 20:1 exchange rate would be $750. During the late 90s, I understood Saddam Hussein was buying AKs from the Russians at ~$400 to $450, the same weapons that the Russians were selling to everyone else for $100, the same figure quoted in this thread. I've also heard of the Romanian cut rate weapons (and thanks for the Chinese price!). Anyway, Even if one wanted to support a national arms industry for strategic reasons and even if one wanted to also reap a social benefit with defense expenditures (something that the "World powers" did with battleship construction in years gone by), it seems to me that a premium of $650 over market price and even a premium of $200 over what embargoed and sanctioned Saddam Hussein was paying sure seems to be a hefty price tag.

It would seem an especially grievous price to pay when the quality level is below what might be expected from other sources, despite the hefty price tag of the INSAS.

Anyway, thanks for the description and pics, CC!

[cottage cheese]

Thanks timmy (and everyone else for the kind words)!!

Time and opportunity allowing, I'll try to present a study of the innards of the INSAS, and if possible, equivalent rifles.

I'll try a similar study of the INSAS LMG as soon as i get the time to do so. In spite of its weight, I'm beginning to feel the INSAS LMG with folding stock would make a better battle rifle- very comparable to the Galil...

Forgot to mention, the INSAS bayonet is a 1:1 clone of the AKMS one.

regards,
cc

[shooter50]

Interesting and informative post for the uninitiated but terribly blinkered. The INSAS needs modifications and a few refinements but it is definately not junk!!! It is slightly overpriced but remember importing a few AKs or other assault rifles at lower prices is irrelevant when our requirement is close to two million !!
Best Wishes

[cottage cheese]

Interesting and informative post for the uninitiated but terribly blinkered. The INSAS needs modifications and a few refinements but it is definately not junk!!! It is slightly overpriced but remember importing a few AKs or other assault rifles at lower prices is irrelevant when our requirement is close to two million !!
Best Wishes

...Which is why AK's are imported in tens of thousands and at times even hundred's of thousands.... it's certainly relevant when hundreds of crores change hands properly or improperly in hammering out such deals...

regards,
cc

[nagarifle]

it is good to be loyal to ones own, but not for wrong reasons. INSAS is carp and thats that. being loyal with treason as like cutting your own throat.

[timmy]

I think you have a point, Richard. Following a non-aligned path in foreign policy was the right thing, but inflexibility over this point led to the retention of the SMLE in 1962, instead of getting the rights from FN. This ended up having to be done anyway, but after a severe lesson had been learned.

[m24]

So, what our soldiers have in their hand is a bulky, overweight tub of mixed fruit jam that tastes like shit. There was a time when Indians were considered masters in weapon creation. I guess we lost that gene pool.

Thanks CC for the post and Jonah for the video.

Regards

[advitiyas]

Wat a review "cottage cheese" Sir,

I am so much impressed by the depth of your knowledge in gun history. I am little disappointed by the INSAS rifle from the beginning as they never looked beautiful like M16 or AKM or MP5 or FN FAL. Somewhere I was reading about the 1911 pistol and the writer noted a strange co-incidence that all the successful Gun/rifle in the history, looked very beautiful and attractive. INSAS have a very strange looking furniture and as you mentioned the metal finishing is not attractive. As you mention the rivets also look bad.

Recently, I saw a 0.32 revolver from IOF and a desi Sixer (made in Bihar and held in Delhi by police). The IOF revolver looks so crude in front of the sixer. incidentally the sixer has a marking "Made in USA" so clear that even police cant believe their eyes. I have fired an IOF revolver and it looks very smooth. But again it doesn't look attractive.

Again, I want to thank you for such great review and photographs.

Best regards
AADI

[cottage cheese]

Now this is bizarre... http://www.hindustantimes.com/Oman-army ... 34688.aspx

[Sakobav]

CC

WOW Knew that Oman has had very close relations with India and also the defense forces interact a lot but this is surprising unless Indians just donated some...now IOF can claim another Customer and beat the chest ..the darn show goes on...

[m24]