[jospehm20]

I have to say that I think that is BS. Stoner designed the AR-10 in 7.62 NATO with a direct gas system and later Armalite scaled down the rifle to 5.56mm to make it the AR-15. The AR-15 is a fine weapons system. One of the reasons the Army dropped the search for a new service rifle is because AMC did a survey and over 90% of the troops really like the M-4/M-16 and gave them high marks. I guess AR-15s are the most popular platform going because they have so many disadvantages. BTW, here is an interesting quote for you. "Because Armalite has sold Stoner's patent for direct gas operation to Colt, the Stoner Weapons System used a piston-operated gas impingement system, though Stoner himself believed direct gas operation was the ideal method for firearms."

[jospehm20]

I forgot to add the link for that quote: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/eugene-stoner/

[PugetSoundSoldier]

From FR itself:

The Army is considering a major redesign of the M4 aimed at making the weapon shoot cleaner and longer — at high rates of fire... Replacing the direct-impingement gas system with a piston gas system.

Anyone who's put a few hundred rounds through an AR-15 in a relatively short time, and done the same with a gas-piston weapon (gas piston AR conversion or AK) will tell you about the massive difference in crud in the chamber. It's not subtle. And it's why the US Army is looking for a replacement with a gas piston.

[Mr Rogers]

“AMC did a survey and over 90% of the troops really like the M-4/M-16 and gave them high marks.”

I would have given mine a high rating as well...but of course, I didn’t make it off the FOB (at 49, no one wanted me with them!).

Might make more sense to talk to the folks on the front lines. Folks who stayed on Bagram or the large FOBs shouldn’t count.