Posted on 12/30/2016 8:06:14 AM PST by mad_as_he$$
IN MARCH OF 1965, the first U.S. troops landed in Vietnam. They were carrying the M14 rifle, chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO (M80 Ball) cartridge, which had a detachable 20-round magazine and was capable of semi- and full-automatic fire. The military soon learned the M14 on full auto was extremely difficult to control; most burst fire was ineffective.
As a result, many M14 rifles were issued with the selector levers removed, making the rifle effectively, an M1 Garand with a 20-round magazine. The M14 was accurate but heavy, weighing nearly nine pounds, empty. As U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War escalated, our troops encountered North Vietnamese as well as the Vietcong carrying the Soviet-designed AK47 (Avtomat Kalashnikova model 47), chambered for the 7.62×39mm Soviet cartridge, and had a 30-round magazine. The AKs light recoil permitted controllable, accurate full-auto bursts and American troops began to feel outgunned. The United States needed its own assault rifle and needed it fast.
During the early 1950s, ArmaLite, a division of Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation of Hollywood, California, was working on a new assault rifle. The chief engineer was Eugene M. Stoner (19221997), described by many as the most gifted firearms designer since John Browning. His first attempt to create a new assault rifle was designated the AR10 (ArmaLite Rifle model 10).
(Excerpt) Read more at gundigest.com ...
Appreciate the information. I know a guy that will read this thread and catalogue it along with others. I have heard a version of that story that varies in that it was our arty that took out the storage building for a trade of two cases of beer.
They disobeyed Stoner's specs for powder, and used powder from Olin instead of the specified powder from Dupont. My suspicion is that some procurement officers had too cozy a relationship with the established vendor.
From The Rifle That Was Never Supposed to Be:
Procurement of the ammunition is one of the main factors in the rifles performance early in the Vietnam War. The initial ammunition used by DOD was made to Armalite/Colt specifications that called for IMR 4475 propellant.The weapons reputation for durability and reliability was based on this ammo/extruded propellant combination. However, the military wanted to standardize propellants and the propellant used in the established 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge was Ball powder manufactured by Olin Corporation. So, when ammunition was ordered, Olins Ball powder was used for the new 5.56×45mm M193 Ball cartridge. Both powders created the desired 50,750 psi.
Ball (spherical) powder reaches its peak pressure significantly faster than extruded IMR powder. Ball powder generates larger amounts of carbon residue that clogs the gas tube and barrel port, causing the firearm to malfunction. The most serious malfunctions, during the early use of Ball powder, involved extraction problems and a significant increase in the cyclic rate of fire. Despite having this information, the Department Of Defense still approved use of Ball powder.
Gene Stoner was approached by Frank Vee of the OSD Comptrollers office after the package was approved and asked what he (Gene Stoner) thought of the use of Ball powder. Stoner asked, Why are you asking me now? Vee said, I would have felt better if you would have approved the package. Stoner replied, Well, now we both dont feel so good.
I believe my uncle’s first tour in Vietnam was in the late 1950s.
Then one or two more tours, after that.
Then you knew that we were there a long time...
Thanks, Buddy.
I’d use a lot of words to describe an AK, “Accurate” isn’t among them...
Yes, that is why I said “official lie.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.