Posted on 11/02/2015 8:26:38 PM PST by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
U.S. Marines are largely supportive of their commandant's decision to drop the M16 rifle for the M4 carbine as the standard infantry weapon.
The U.S. Marine Corps will officially recognize the M4 carbine as the standard weapon for infantry personnel beginning in September 2016, following the approval by Commandant Gen. Robert Neller. The move has been welcomed with optimism from infantry. Sgt. Jonathan Ferriera, a mortarman with 1st Battalion 8th Marines who used the M4 during his deployment in Afghanistan says "it's about time."
"The M4 holds every quality that the M16 does: everything an M16 can do, the M4 does better," Ferriera told the Military Times.
Ferriera went on to add that the only advantage he saw with the M16 is the rifle's superior firing range capability, with the M16 having an effective range of 600 yards compared to 545 yards for the M4. However, the superior mobility of the smaller-sized M4 makes up for the difference, Ferriera says.
Military analysts point to a number of reasons for the switch. The M16 is considered a legacy weapon for the Marines, equipped with technology from the Cold War era. Task and Purpose reports the M16's fixed stock and 20-inch barrel no longer have a place in the modern warfare. By contrast, the M4's retractable stock allows for adjustable length, allowing for the warfighter to adjust the weapon to their body type.
Other features such as the M16's three-round burst have been deemed irrelevant and wasteful. The M16A4 will still be issued to non-infantry units and used for training purposes.
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
That was pretty indecent.
I really like the M16 due to its maximum range, but the M4 is also good.
As I recall nearly 60 years ago we fired the M1 at 1000 yards the 30 cal carbine we went to 500 yards.
....in which case you’re not going to want an M-16 anyway. You’re going to need a caliber starting with a 3, minimum.
250,000 rounds to kill a.......... They have been using more ammo for cover fire for years. The only person I ever heard of the aimed were a friend of mine and a group of men that were around this LT who had holes all around him. He stood up,
A piston AR does not impact External or Terminal Ballistics
It is what cycles the rifle, doing so in a cleaner way.
Some say this makes the rifle more reliable
but it does not improve Bullet performance
Horsecrap. Obviously no one on here has ever seen what an M-16 on fully automatic can clear out a half grown rice field.
I would consider full-auto to be wasteful, the three-round burst is a subdued full auto capability that is the only capability I wish that the AR15 had...
I think the idea is when you are not in a situation where you need full auto troops tend to leave in on three shot. If you have time to aim, one shot should do. Most of the time the other two miss anyway. But I could be wrong.
I guess the SOST ammo was supposed to address the ballistic deficiencies of the shorter barrel. Don't know if it did.
It's really more of a submachine gun with decent range so it's a very good urban and CQB weapon.
Properly supported by a larger caliber mix of weapons its a good thing and the FN SCAR H is perfect for that role.
As a stand alone , general purpose weapon its not the best choice for the Marines due to its serious limitations.
That’s the rifle I stake my life on. It’s heavy; the ammo is heavy and with a bayonet, really bulky in close quarters. Yet, that wasn’t a problem in WWII, especially in Europe.
M-1 Garand performed even in the Chosin Reservoir, using axle grease for lubrication. Better range and accuracy than M-14; no heat problems and the M-14’s boxy magazine didn’t help. The Johnson might have been a better alternative than the M-14, semi-automatic or LMG versions.
“I really preferred the larger M14” I’m with you. I kept my 16 clean, but it jammed anyway as the ammo had to be cleaned also!
“n 1969, I used the M14 in basic training, then the M16 in infantry. Other than weight, I really preferred the larger M14. Even though the M16 had smaller ammo, the guys were blowing thru it pretty fast. Kinda like spray & pray. The M14 required more aimed shots.”
You punched some old memory buttons. I was in Vietnam 65 ~66, Army. And, we would make fun of the Jar Heads for still using WWII/Korean War weaponry and equipment. While the Army was converting to the M-16 they hung in to the M-14, were still flying Korean War era choppers, driving M-38 jeep instead of the M-151, etc. there was a joke going around that “Jar Heads don’t use nothing that don’t leak hydraulic fluid. All in good humor of course :) surprised I can still recall all this stuff....
“As a stand alone , general purpose weapon its not the best choice for the Marines due to its serious limitations. “
I’ve seen current day pics of Seals carrying a chopped version of the M-14. Also, a side note, it seems a lot of special op’s guys still pack a modern version of the 1911. Just saying.....
Marines have only one issue rifle and Marine doctrine is based on marksmanship and organized around the rifleman
The M4 is not the best fit to Marine Doctrine
What is driving the Marine Corp decision is the huge civilian market where competitive pressure has created an innovation and development industrial base which has evolved the M4 configuration to a high degree of refinement and customization
The Marines intend to let their soldiers use the American AR -15 aftermarket to configure their weapons to best suit their needs and to leverage the use of the huge American AR industry to keep the chronically underfunded Marines on the cutting edge of rifle and optical sighting development
That is a major breakthrough in procurement philosophy.
Winner!!!
The Mini-Thirty is a great weapon too - the newer ones far more accurate - weird - lost both my Mini-14 and Mini-Thirty in a capsized boat too..........
Yup. Good friend a Marine sniper in Desert Storm, later in Quantico improving the Marine sniper rifles significantly, then building all Marine and Army competition rifles (and a few for some Generals who wanted custom rifles). Most .308’s.
Later worked with Winchester designing new FBI sniper rifle, also a .308.
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