Posted on 02/17/2017 1:54:33 PM PST by Brad from Tennessee
Last week, the U.S. Marine Corps released a Request for Information to manufacturers enquiring about their capacity to produce 11,000 more M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles. This stoked rumors that the Marine Corps is looking to replace its M4s with the M27, which were first sparked last November when 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines was equipped with the M27 instead of the M4 during pre-deployment exercises as an experiment.
The RFI for 11,000 M27s could indicate a possible push to replace the M249, which continues to be used by weapons platoons. However, I believe it is more likely that the Corps is simply looking to add more Infantry Automatic Rifles to its inventory. Currently, Marine infantry battalions typically have over 80 Infantry Automatic Rifles distributed at the fireteam level. Just 11,000 new rifles will not re-equip the riflemen of the Corps’ 32 infantry battalions, but it will enhance their firepower and perhaps pave the way for future orders. . .
. . .The M27 is based on Heckler & Koch’s gas-operated, piston-driven HK416. It has a free-floating 16.5-inch barrel to improve accuracy and cooling. The M27 feeds from standard 30-round or PMAG magazines; however, high-capacity magazines are a future option for suppressive fire. The IAR is issued with a Trijicon ACOG optic and a bipod for both precise accurate fire and suppressive fire. The Corps is also experimenting with suppressors for M27 and other small arms systems. In Afghanistan, the M27’s greater range, accuracy, and rate of fire were found to enhance Marine patrols, which had previously relied on M240 medium machine guns and designated marksmen to return longer range enemy fire effectively. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at taskandpurpose.com ...
It seems counter-intuitive to me that adding more moving parts to a rifle will make it more reliable.
If it helps, imagine replacing millions of soot particles with a single rod.
Thanks.
Sticking with the 556 NATO. Ugh.
Field strip and clean an M-4 then a mini 14 then get back to us on that.
Didn’t they also recently issue a RFP for the new Sig pistol with interchangeable barrels for different calibers? Thought I heard something about that but can’t remember from where.
Anything that reduces operator cleaning time is alright by me.
Heard / saw same....9mm and 40mm?
Heard / saw same....9mm and 40?
Edited
why are we buy foreign weapons?
Yer welcome. I like it. It looks smoother than the ratcheting piston on my AK>
Why change? There are countless billions of rounds in circulation and millions of standard magazines. 5.56 has proven reliability and lethality. Adopting some niche caliber doesn't seem practical for the military.
Better comparison. Field strip and clean a standard AR15 and a SIG516 (or similar), and report on what you find.
Mini-14 is an interesting machine, but there are piston rifles that more closely compare to the AR15/M16.
What happens when the gas inlet to the piston gets clogged?
Would you loan me a SIG516 so I could run a few thousand rounds through it? ;-)
7.62 NATO wouldn’t be a niche caliber.
The ones we use will most likely be made here.
Anyhow, as an Ordnanceman in the Navy, I can inform you that foreign components are everywhere. British wing pylons, Italian wheels, French sonars. On and on. We build to export and every country that buys them wants a piece of the action. Ain't globalism grand!
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