Posted on 02/21/2026 5:09:07 PM PST by thegagline
The United States Marine Corps has decided to retain the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle for its close combat formations rather than adopt the Army’s M7 Next Generation Squad Weapon rifle, a Marine Corps spokesperson confirmed to Task & Purpose.
“The Marine Corps will retain the M27 for our close combat formations as it best aligns with our unique service requirements, amphibious doctrinal employment of weapons, and distinct modernization priorities, while ensuring seamless interoperability across the Joint force and with coalition partners,” the spokesperson said in an email to the publication.
*** The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, based on a Heckler & Koch design, was first deployed by Marines during combat operations in Afghanistan in 2011. Originally introduced to replace the M249 squad automatic weapon, the rifle evolved into a standard infantry weapon after Marines expanded its role across rifle squads
*** The Army’s M7 rifle represents a new generation of small arms built around a 6.8mm cartridge intended to provide increased range and improved lethality compared with the long-standing 5.56mm ammunition used across much of the U.S. military. ***
Despite the Army’s adoption of the new weapon system, questions have emerged regarding aspects of the rifle’s design. An Army officer presentation at the Modern Day Marine exhibition in Washington, D.C., raised concerns about whether the M7’s 20-round magazine capacity provides sufficient ammunition during combat engagements.***
(Excerpt) Read more at defence-blog.com ...
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5.56 vs 6.8mm
More firepower and a larger magazine?
Thompson.
.45 Cal.
Available with a 20 or 30 round magazine or 50 or 100 round drums. I think a slower rate of fire, as well, so trigger happy folks wouldn't run out as quick.
Have you Fired a Thompson?
Special Forces should hire you as a consultant. You know more than they do. 🤡
The current Sig M7 product improved version is lighter than the M27, has much better performance and it is designed from the ground up to be suppressed.
It probably is not the right rifle for general purpose issue but it should be considered as a DMR type application.
The real solution the military's rifle dilemma for next gen is something along the lines of a Geissele chambered in 6mm Max, combined with a mix of Sig M7 DMR rifles.
Just go back to the M14. Lighten it up a bit and let her rip!
The M27 is basically a piston AR. The M7 is much heavier, and the proprietary ammo it fires is expensive as hell to produce because it is a 2 piece cartridge case. The marines made the right choice.
CC
The idea of a Thompson being standard issue...just wow.
The US almost adopted the FN-FAL in 7.62x51.
The 1st Marine combat unit to Guadalcanal landed with 03’s. Army had adopted the Gerand M1. As casualties to the marines mounted they were reenforced by Army troops with the M1’s. As Army casualties mounted the wounded left with 03’s and miraculously the Marines had M1’s. They adapted, improvised, and overcame the Japanese. Wasn’t long till US Caliber 30 M1 rifles were adopted by the USMC. Rather devastatingly according to Eugene (Sledgehammer) Sledge “With The Old Breed”.
Fairy tale. USMC adopted the Garand in March 1941 - but not for infantry. Next time either do a little research or start your fable with, “Once upon a time...”
Love the discussion and all the history... Now realize the current Commandant, Eric Smith, that I served with in Afghanistan knows that he poisoned the entire US Marine Corps with a deadly COVID vax (he was ACMC at the time) that is causing a huge spike in deaths and cancer in the Marine Corps. He wasn’t in on it, but he knows dark forces in our Government literally poisoned the entire US Armed services with a deadly experimental and illegal vaccine mandate (Thanks SECWAR)... because I have told him. Look up U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Theresa Long, MD and Navy Lt. Ted Macy. The DMED data proves it out... so before we go off into some other post 911 psyop to complete the plan of Paul Wolfowitz who never did anything other than get service members killed... I highly recommend you educate yourself on how the current Commandant was complicit in poisoning the entire US Marine Corps and how some people need to hang after quick legitimate trials. He can do that... and all the former Marines will smile and love him... HOO RAHHH... Can you handle the truth? Otherwise it is all Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee types of cowards who have exactly one constituency... You know they work for the Albert Bourla types with dual citizenry who poison humanity then “Hyde” behind their tribe and claim they are being persecuted while they commit crimes against humanity. (Not putting any animosity on “thegagline”, just using your post as an opportunity to get some folks who will read this to get their heads removed from their posteriors...) I am a little short on Hoo Rahs... while the current group of cowardly leadership of the Marine Corps refuses to engage the enemy that killed more Marines and US service members in the last 20 years than any other group... Bonus... The group that pushed the vax... they got this ball rolling back in 1998. Again... can you handle the truth? Building 7 didn’t kill itself.
Piss of. The marines went ashore at Guadalcanal with 03’s.
I’ll be here all Week Folks...
Try the Briskit and
Tip the Waiters!
I will submit to you a small concession the USMC was a bit tardy getting the M1 to all its troops by August 7 1942. So there were some there in limited numbers. Below is a small historical account:
“the The Marines indeed had the ability and rifles available to have fully equipped the infantrymen of the 1st Marine Division with M1s had they so chosen, and the added fire power would have been quite welcome against the Japanese banzai charge. To that regard, there are photos of a 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment (3/1) fighting hole with an M1 Garand resting outside on the day after the Battle of Edson’s Ridge. 3/1 was never issued M1 Garands, leaving the most source of this rifle by unknown means within the 1st Marine”
Having said the above comment. Write “fairy tale” on a post card and shove it up you ass. Thanks in advance.
My Dad, who was a Marine on Guadalcanal, told me the same story when I was getting ready to head to Parris Island in 1951...
So I personally know it was true...
Shooting and maintaining an M1 during 1947-1948 gave me a great advantage when we got to the range during boot camp...
All the histories of the Marines on Guadalcanal I’ve read refer to their ‘03 Springfields, and obtaining Garands from the Army types who eventually landed.
The Marines published an excellent series of folio histories of their Pacific island battles.
From “First Offensive: The Marine Campaign for Guadalcanal by Henry I. Shaw”
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48807
we have this passage:
“Its way cleared by Scott’s encounter with the Japanese, a really
welcome reinforcement convoy arrived at the island on 13 October when
the 164th Infantry of the Americal Division arrived. The soldiers,
members of a National Guard outfit originally from North Dakota, were
equipped with Garand M-1 rifles, a weapon of which most overseas
Marines had only heard. In rate of fire, the semiautomatic Garand could
easily outperform the single-shot, bolt-action Springfields the Marines
carried and the bolt-action rifles the Japanese carried, but most 1st
Division Marines of necessity touted the Springfield as inherently more
accurate and a better weapon. This did not prevent some light-fingered
Marines from acquiring Garands when the occasion presented itself. And
such an occasion did present itself while the soldiers were landing and
their supplies were being moved to dumps. Several flights of Japanese
bombers arrived over Henderson Field, relatively unscathed by the
defending fighters, and began dropping their bombs. The soldiers headed
for cover and alert Marines, inured to the bombing, used the interval
to “liberate” interesting cartons and crates. The news that the Army
had arrived spread across the island like wildfire, for it meant to all
Marines that they eventually would be relieved. There was hope.”
“Have you Fired a Thompson?”
___________________________________________________________
I have, and it’s a rush. It reminded me of opening a fire hose nozzle each time I pulled the trigger.
Great weapon for 1927. Not so competitive a century later.
My dad was 82nd airborne. He just missed Korea. I learned about M1 thumb and currently have a Gerand that serial numbers too April 1943. The stock has the armory Commander Cartouche and it shoots fine. The marines as a whole were behind the army because the 1903 was and is a great rifle. They figured it out and caught up fast in WWII. According to the old guys I worked with that served during the war. Liberating food, booze, etc was not uncommon, nor limited too the Marines. I also met a Marine mortar man who landed day three at Iwo Jima and survived the battle to his own amazement. One old army guy I worked with until I went into the Navy walked across Italy, the other guy across Europe, the old Tin Can sailor with us was dodging kamakazi attacks off Okinowa. I have been fortunate to have met some really great soldiers. None talked about the battles or killing. They just regaled my dumb ass high school kid self with stories about liberating food, booze, and bars. And apparently on Guadalcanal M1’s. Regards to you and your dad.
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