With Cyberdyn Systems wide selection of military hardware, you'll always be on the winning side!
See the complete line of light and crew served armament at www.cyberdynsystems.com/military.
Posted on 11/01/2015 9:46:25 AM PST by re_tail20
The M16A4 may soon retire. This week, the Marine Corps announced via internal memo that the M4 carbine will become the primary-issued rifle in infantry and security units, as well as replace the M16 rifle in supporting training schools by September 2016. Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller approved the change, which was first proposed to the previous commandant, Gen. Robert Dunford, according to Marine Corps Times. This decision falls in line with the Army's phased transition away from the M16 over the past few years. The M16A4 is on the outs simply because it is outdated, and here's why:
Fixed stocks no longer make sense for an standard-issue infantry weapon.
The fixed stock is a holdover from Cold War-era weapons design that doesn't fit with other changes in training and equipment. The M4 retractable stock allows for an adjustable length of pull, helping troops with different body types to maintain good shooting fundamentals when they shoulder their weapon. The increasing use of body armor has underscored this, as comfortable length of pulls change once one dons a plate carrier or other protective system. Finally, the M4's stock makes it easier to stow for transport; this is an important feature for vehicle and aircraft operations.
The 20-inch barrel isn't needed anymore.
One of the biggest differences between the M4 and the M16A4 is the barrel length: 14.5 inches versus 20 inches, respectively. The M16A4's longer barrel allowed for a higher muzzle velocity and a longer effective range; conversely the shorter M4 barrel limited its performance in both categories. But improvements in ammunition design have enabled the M4 to close the gap with its longer forefather. The Marine Corps adopted a new 62-grain, 5.56 x 45 mm Special Operations Science and Technology round. The SOST round is designed to...
(Excerpt) Read more at taskandpurpose.com ...
Hmm. I have carried A1, A2, A4 and M4/M4A1, as well as a few boutique models.
My choice would be the A4 plus a good adj stock set up. Keep the ballistics of the 20 inch bbl, get the flexibility of the adj stock and enjoy better performance with better new ammo ( SOST or 855A1).
The Canadians saw this and now use the C7A1-exactly what I described above.
For those who want a larger caliber-okay. but with modern bullet and propellant design, the 556x45 is quite capable nowadays (however, 55 grn ball from a 20” bbl, is still quite a good performer against soft tissue at mid range).
A 6mm or maybe a 6.5 mm in the AR15 platform could be a good upgrade-the 6mm Hagar or 240 Tomahawk pushes 105 grn match bullet at nearly 2900 fs from a 20inch bbl.
Remember, as my tagline states, -no free lunches for the dogs of war.....
Love my FN FAL, but then I’ve never had to tote it day-in, day-out.
roger that. Although I prefer my M1A, when it comes to distances of 500 to 800 yards (which is as far as I can shoot accurately) my AR-10 outshoots the M1A. At least with me behind the trigger it does.
Here's the answer. The M-16 is too big for the women that the military plans to put on the front lines.
I prefer a 6.8mm Stag Model 7 with scope.
Definitely, but I don’t see them doing that on a large scale. Didn’t they bring back the M-14 for some units in Afghanistan?
I’ve read two full threads on this and I think you are the first to mention women. As soon as they talked about different body shapes and trigger pulls, my first thought was women in combat.
Upgrading to 6.8SPC would only require purchasing new uppers. It would seem like a no-brainer, but 7.62x51 is already in the supply chain I guess.
I like your proposed set up. I would like to see the 6.8 SPC case stretched out a few more mm then mated with a piston rifle similar to the SCAR-L (with a larger mag well obviously), 18” barrel, and side folding stock.
This would give the advantage of having bullets in the 115 to 135 grain range being driven at a decent velocity. The M-16/M4 magwell restriction really limits the 6.8 from being much of an improvement.
The M-14 was the VN era weapon that used 7.62.
With Cyberdyn Systems wide selection of military hardware, you'll always be on the winning side!
See the complete line of light and crew served armament at www.cyberdynsystems.com/military.
“The fixed stock is more durable...”
What are they going to use now to butt stroke people?
Precisely.
I thought the M16 in 7.62 was an M-10, or something like that. I know the civilian version is an AR10.
Not really sure where a highly mobile infantry is going to be shooting en masses at 800 yards?
IF ... the M16, M16A1, and M4 are an outdated design, then why in the world is everybody who loves this ‘frame design’, clamoring to ensure they have at least one in their lineup of personal firearms?
I am one of those odd ducks. I had my hands on one for three years in SouthEast Asia, and do NOT want to soil my hands, by holding one of that frame design series, ever.
For the sake of argument, i have had bolt-action rifles in the past, too.
I will be more than satisfied with a good ol’ cowboy lever action, in either any of the rifle or revolver caliber chamberings.
I’ve sworn off being an octopus with firearm in one tentacle, and magazines in the others, tossing them in or out with the rapidity so many semi-automatic gun instructors have demonstrated as ‘normal’.
Yeah, but can a girl heft it?
Alice was the pack. LBE (Load Bearing Equipment) or TA-50 is the belt, suspenders and other accoutrements.
At least that's what I remember.
Technically speaking, “ALICE” was the whole system: All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment, which included the pistol belt, suspenders, ammo pouches, etc. The field pack (medium or large) were just components of the entire system.
Don’t ask, don’t drill.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.