Posted on 02/02/2011 5:04:42 PM PST by Pan_Yan
For the first time in almost 50 years, the U.S. Army wants to replace the standard rifle shouldered by hundreds of thousands of frontline troops around the world.
The service this week advertised its interest in a new weapon that would incorporate futuristic sights and other advances in rifle design and be able to handle improved ammunition.
The gun would potentially supplant the M4 carbine, a shorter-barrel version of the M16, the Army's main infantry weapon for decades.
Operations in Afghanistan—where troops often engage the enemy over long distances—have rekindled debate over the quality of the Army's standard-issue rifles and their reliability in dusty, primitive conditions. An Army report on a 2008 battle in Wanat, Afghanistan, cited soldier complaints about jamming and overheating M4s, in particular. Nine servicemen died in that fight.
Critics have also raised concerns about the range and lethality of the 5.56 mm cartridge of the M16/M4.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
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Another false start? We’ve heard this all before.
Oops, sorry for the double tap.
Because all these wizbang weapon systems you keep pumping out is really nifty, but as soldiers have been telling you for generations: They just want a weapon that works, period.
AK’s are fairly cheap.
AK’s are fairly cheap.
Up through the late 80’s the Marine corps would house your personal weapons in the unit armory. During the 1983 Beruit crisis I bought an HK91 that I hauled around. It was a good weapon.
Can I get an M4 for cheap, then?
;)
Looks to be based on eugene stoners design.
Why go with HK if they are copying Stoner?
Sure. Check back with CMP in 2048.
I’ve owned a HK91 since 1978.In 1991 I bought a Registered M16.If I absolutely knew for sure that I was going to be in a firefight,The HK is coming out of the gun safe.Along with the 1911A1.
They could just change the barrels and go with the 6.8 Grendel if they want range and lethality. They’d have to find a better and more reliable high volume ammo manufacturer than Alexander Arms though.
Agreed.
Army needs to go to the SEI M14 “Crazy Horse” or the SAGE Intl stock with M14s. M14 is my bug out battle rifle.
Rest assured, the Pentagon will find the most expensive and impractical way to do it.
There are so many truly stellar weapons systems out there off the shelf for reasonable prices for a need like this.
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