Every Marine is a Carbineman: USMC may switch to M4

Guns.com ^ | July 28, 2015 | Max Slowik

[tumblindice]

That’s right, conditions should dictate the choice.
I read in a Patrick Sweeney book on the Automat Kalashnakov that the Soviets had their own fairly new AK74 `poodle shooter’ for the Afghanistan fighting, but troops favored the old 7.62 caliber. Spetsnatz liked the 40 round mags, cheap Chinese chest canvas bandoliers and sneakers on their feet.
Due to long distances they also liked the Dragunov 7.62X54, some fitted with membrane silencers.
Of course they got bounced out because they were vodka swilling communist swine.

[PapaBear3625]

The military needs to stop thinking of one rifle and start thinking about using weapons appropriate to the battlefield. One theater might call for a carbine, another might be more suitable for a longer range 7.62 rifle.

I agree. One possibility is an improved AR-10 in .308, as a companion to the M4.

At one point, the US Army was evaluating a pair of rifles: the Heckler & Koch HK417 rifle in .308, and the very-similar HK416 in 5.56.

[Jewbacca]

“Get rid of that crappy bullet.”

Israel makes a 5.56 with a 77 grain bullet that the USA has been purchasing from IMI. Much better.

[Romans Nine]

I have a M1A and it is by far my favorite rifle. The .308 is a fabulous round good for almost anything that needs to be killed.

For most modern combat situations the 5.56 is a much better suited round. I guarantee toting around an M14 with 250 rounds vs. a M4 with 250 rounds is night and day different. Clearing houses and buildings is much better work with a M4.

The major problem with the military is politicians not weapons in spite of all their (politicians) efforts.

[Big Red Badger]

556 , 308 or 45

pick the correct tool for the Job !

[archy]

The 6.8 would solve nearly every problem.

It'd require all new magazines. Try 7,62x40 WT.

[archy]

carbine length barrels make it even crappier.

Actually, the Brits are right happy with their new L119A1 version of the M4, made in Canada, and with a 16-inch barrel instead of the 14.5-inch barrel of the M4.

The M855 *green tip* ammunition used in the M4 was of course originally intended for use in 20-inch barreled M16A2s. And, when fired from the shorty M4 14.5-inch barrel, makes exactly the same *icepick* wounds that the M193 ball ammunition used in the M16A1 did when run from a 10.5-inch barreled XM177E2 or *CAR-15.*

Those who fail to remember history are doomed to repeat it. And of course, the more things change, the more that they remain the same.

And the Israelis are using a 14.5-inch barrel on their new Tavor bullpup rifles. Sad, but at least all they'll need will be a barrel change, simple on the Tavor.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Have to research the 7.62x40. Must be a little lighter than the blackout. Still at 2350fps there will be a fair amount of drop. The 6.8 is better than half the difference.

[archy]

Have to research the 7.62x40. Must be a little lighter than the blackout. Still at 2350fps there will be a fair amount of drop. The 6.8 is better than half the difference

Go here for a start. You can run bullets as light as the 85-grain pistol bullet for 7,62x25 Tokarev, all the way up to the heavy bullets for subsonic .300 whisper suppressor loads, as pioneered by Lee Jurras and JDJ.

Also handy: a 7,62x40 WT round won't drop into a 5,56x45 NATO chamber; the .300 will if the bullet gets pushed into the case. Trying to drive that .308 bullet down a 5,56 bore is not conducive to keeping all the lugs on the bolt head.

If you REALLY want velocity, try a 71-grain .32 ACP bullet in the .300 or 7,62x40WT case. I used to do this with the .30-06; the bullets turn inside-out at very near 4000 FPS. I also played with 40-grain *asprin tablets* out of the .30 back in the days; ricochets were not much of a problem.