AR-15/M16: The Rifle That Was Never Supposed to Be.

The Gun Digest ^ | July 16, 2012 | Christopher R. Bartocci

[mad_as_he$$]

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.

[PapaBear3625]

The Pentagon and the Department of the Army cost the lives of a lot of troops because they didn’t follow Gene Stoners Specifications.

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 rifle’s 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 weapon’s 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, Olin’s 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 don’t feel so good.”

[truth_seeker]

I believe my uncle’s first tour in Vietnam was in the late 1950s.

Then one or two more tours, after that.

[Chainmail]

Then you knew that we were there a long time...

[Chainmail]

Thanks, Buddy.

[Dead Corpse]

I’d use a lot of words to describe an AK, “Accurate” isn’t among them...

[editor-surveyor]

Yes, that is why I said “official lie.”