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Army Sets Sights on New Rifle
Wall Street Journal ^ | February 2, 2011 | NATHAN HODGE

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 ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: army; banglist
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To: wtc911

Get the MD arms drum for the saiga 12.

That will take care of urban zombies alright.

They were $75 before the Tucson thing.
$120 now


61 posted on 02/02/2011 6:13:34 PM PST by mylife (Opinions: $1.00 ~ Halfbaked: 50c)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Nice. I thought long and hard about my 7.62 battle rifle. I chose the AR10T primarily because I am extremely familiar with the AR style platform but also because I felt that the AR10 met my primary needs more so than the typical competitors (precision accuracy). Unfortunately, I haven’t even had a chance to run any match grade ammo through it yet. This summer I intend to work up the optimal load for it and see what it can do.


62 posted on 02/02/2011 6:14:25 PM PST by RC one
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To: Joe 6-pack

Oooooo..... I’m liking that. What is it?


63 posted on 02/02/2011 6:16:31 PM PST by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
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To: wtc911

Saiga 12 is what I have for home defense.

push the bolt release and go


64 posted on 02/02/2011 6:17:16 PM PST by mylife (Opinions: $1.00 ~ Halfbaked: 50c)
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To: Lee'sGhost

M1 carbine.

Excellent for close quarters


65 posted on 02/02/2011 6:18:32 PM PST by mylife (Opinions: $1.00 ~ Halfbaked: 50c)
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To: Lee'sGhost

It’s a tricked out M1 carbine.


66 posted on 02/02/2011 6:19:30 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack

LOL! I got that. I’m wanna know where to get one? Who makes it? Or is it a custom job.

Thanks.


67 posted on 02/02/2011 6:20:29 PM PST by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
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To: Joe 6-pack

The M1 carbine gets a lot of ridicule for lack of power, but it was perfect for its role.

Its light, it points quick and delivers the goods.

Heck its fine out to 100 yds for deer hunting.


68 posted on 02/02/2011 6:22:11 PM PST by mylife (Opinions: $1.00 ~ Halfbaked: 50c)
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To: RC one

I think the main problem is that no one will ever be satisfied no matter what rifle we field. It will be too heavy or too light, not powerfull enough, kick too much, hard to control on full auto, shoots too dirty, too hard to keep clean, too fragil, not accuate enough, too complicated, too simple, ect, ect.
I had no problem with my M16a2. Out of the 4 years I was in the Corps I qualified expert every time and I always made good money @ 500 meters.(Marines are not Soldiers:-)
Sure, you had to keep it clean if you were in the sand, and carbon would get all in the bolt and it felt like a toy(compared to an FAL or M1 or HK91 or M14) but it always did what it was suppoed to as long as I did my part. I think the last thing we need now is another billion or 2 or 3 dollar investment into an imaginary problem. The M16 family does have a draw back or 2 but you can have perfection, unless it is a gun from God.


69 posted on 02/02/2011 6:22:36 PM PST by DirtyPigpen
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To: headstamp 2

That guy Cortez? man, he is messed up.

He isnt dealing with the stress well.
I tend to do the same thing, try to smile it away.

It comes out at really inappropriate times.


70 posted on 02/02/2011 6:26:12 PM PST by mylife (Opinions: $1.00 ~ Halfbaked: 50c)
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love my dad’s M14...use it to take down deer and elk.


71 posted on 02/02/2011 6:26:32 PM PST by ak267
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To: DirtyPigpen

It’s like cars and women, Everyone has an opinion.


72 posted on 02/02/2011 6:27:16 PM PST by mylife (Opinions: $1.00 ~ Halfbaked: 50c)
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To: RC one
I looked long and hard at a couple FAL variants and the M1A, but opted for the Armalite for many of the reasons you cited. If I were out shopping right now, I'd have to take a serious look at one of these...

Kel-Tec RFB 7.62 Bullpup

73 posted on 02/02/2011 6:28:42 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: DirtyPigpen

BTW. no offense to soldiers, but you are correct.

I had the pleasure of fielding with the marines.
They are sharp and they are decision makers.


74 posted on 02/02/2011 6:29:19 PM PST by mylife (Opinions: $1.00 ~ Halfbaked: 50c)
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To: Joe 6-pack

You gotta love that for close quarters.


75 posted on 02/02/2011 6:30:22 PM PST by mylife (Opinions: $1.00 ~ Halfbaked: 50c)
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To: Lee'sGhost
I made it :-)
76 posted on 02/02/2011 6:30:30 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Sweet.


77 posted on 02/02/2011 6:32:13 PM PST by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
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To: omega4179

That “toy” has done quite well over the past 10 years. It served those guys well, and it served me and my guys well.


78 posted on 02/02/2011 6:32:54 PM PST by Future Snake Eater ("Get out of the boat and walk on the water with us!”--Sen. Joe Biden)
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To: Pan_Yan; headstamp 2; omega4179
And he is now at their home base in Italy - engaged and still has that wonderful smile - they just had a big formal ball for the 1735d -
and, thanks to instant posting on FB - I have wonderful photos of him and his beautiful fiance and Sal Giunta in their uniforms and bow ties - and her in a lovely gown. All with big smiles.

I haven't watched the Academy Awards for decades, but will have to this month and root for RESTREPO to win the Oscar!

A short clip of my grandson making the 2-hour, straight up climb up the mountain to the little firebase, RESTREPO, that they pickaxed out of the mountain. Fortunately, this climb, he didn't come under fire on the open mountainside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6-3I9JHllc&feature=player_embedded

79 posted on 02/02/2011 6:34:16 PM PST by maine-iac7
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To: Pan_Yan

Too bad they won’t surplus and make all of the M16s/M4s and related gear available for civilian sale, after semi-auto modification of course. Would it not be just awesome to buy an AR for $100 or so?!?! Millions of GI Mags and lots of accessories too!!

I’d expect 0bama would have all of the rifles melted down, or given away to Syria/Iran before he would let us buy them....


80 posted on 02/02/2011 6:34:22 PM PST by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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