Weapons fail US troops during Afghan firefight

The Woodward Report ^ | October 11, 2009 | Richard Lardner

[gandalftb]

It doesn't matter, impingement or piston. The issue is that as the barrel wears, a furrow starts to occur before the gas port that starts to allow excessive gas pressure and carbon into the gas tube.

There gets to be so much gas that not all is vented and it causes the chamber to reopen, causing the double-feeding. There are pressure regulators available that end this problem. The exact pressure is fed to the recoil and the rest is vented, very smooth firing.

[gundog]

It's a "lowest bidder" thing...

When the lowest bidder is FN Herstal, quality is not an issue.

[Rodebrecht]

Unfortunately, FN couldn’t go lower than Colt.

[omega4179]

Definitely.
Why do “They” always qualify M16 is a great weapon with “if properly maintained”

at what point do we throw the pos out after 44 years of people telling the troops to maintain it better???

[Copernicus]

Why do “They” always qualify M16 is a great weapon with “if properly maintained”

Or as we used to say " Do you trust your life with a weapon that comes from the factory with a "forward assist"?

Best regards,

[gundog]

FN makes a lot of our M-4’s and the 240’s and 249’s.

[omega4179]

I blame McNamara for this problem.
M16M4 are a front wheel drive cavalier in a world of SUVs

They shit where they eat.
The mag has to be just right.
The ammo has to be just right.
The cleaning and lube has to be just right.

An Ak can be cleaned and reassembled blindfolded in 3 minutes flat with an oily rag and 2 patches. It takes 20 minutes and several q tips , a tooth brush and chamber brush to clean a poodle shooter.