I have no problem with the AR-15/M-16 family of rifles. I carried one in the USMC infantry during Desert Storm, Somalia, and as a contractor in Iraq back in 2004/2005. Was it the best caliber? No. The rifle itself was functional and reliable with a bit of care taken to maintain it. With that said, I would like to see a move to a newer platform for front line troops such as the FN SCAR, in the 6.5 Grendel, or 6.8 SPC calibers (I prefer the 6.5 Grendel).
With a barrel and bolt change, and follower changes for the magazines, the M-16/M-4’s currently in service can be upgraded for the new cartridge and supplied to rear echelon troops until the SCAR can be fielded. All of the M-16/M-4 rifles can then be broken down into parts (removing the full auto & 3 round burst parts and receivers)and sold to law abiding civilians through the CMP program.
With that said, I am going to take my AR out for some exercise later today after I vote.
I notice that some states close the bars during voting hours, but I have
yet to hear of gun ranges being closed. Hmmm. /grin
A much superior weapon is the HK-91. the 93 is the 5.56 version. Both are vastly superior to the M-16, because they are fully gas operated in a way that guarantees reliability. They vent spent gases through the chamber through grooves between the casing and chamber. This forces the casing to release itself from the chamber before the gases drive the bolt rearward. This eliminates the need for an extractor. The ejector is also brilliantly engineered.
I have seen demonstrations of this weapon being dipped in mud, mixed with sand and salt water, fired, dipped again, fired, and then buried in dry desert sand and immediately fired on full auto. And it never missed a beat the whole time. (Try that with an M-16)