Pssst, guys...
Posted on 11/15/2005 2:32:39 AM PST by holymoly
Pssst, guys...
Itty bitty bullet bump
While the Garand is a fine rifle, I prefer the M14.
I think the XM8 in 6.8spc would be a great choice. I'm surprised it's taking so long.
However, the M16/M4 are still very viable systems.
HALLELUJAH!!!
"I prefer the M14."
As do I. Love that rifle.
BAR with armor piercing ammo is fine for shooting a door way through a cinder block wall in about two seconds.
Why not just rechamber it for 7.62x51 NATO?
Not for the kind of battles our troops are engaged in. The 5.56 is fine for European theater warfare, less so for urban combat.
Troops in Iraq regularly report that while shooting at cars that run checkpoints that 5.56 rounds fail to penetrate sufficiently to stop the car.
Additionally, troops in Afganistan report that shooting an enemy at 500+ yards with a 5.56 often ends up with the target going down and then getting back up.
5.56 is fine for an area denial weapon, ie keeping the enemy's head down while riflemen move into killing positions. It's not so fine as a primary infantry rifle.
Let's put composite stocks on the M14 and issue that as the primary rifle until we get something better.
The reason we went to 5.56 was more ammo-per bag, and lighter weight. I still think those are important. The 6.8spc is a decent balance I think.
I hadn't heard it being shelved either.
I checked the Early Bird this morning - nothing there. This might be a latrine (nice wording) rumor.
As reliable a killer as the M14 was -- there were problems.
It was too long for close quarters and heavy undergrowth.
It was too heavy.
The 7.62 ammo to feed the piece, was also too bulky and heavy.
Ten 20 round magazines were a load -- and you still had to carry at least one belt for the M60.... LOTS of weight.
The redeaming value, was that you could reach way out and put the deadly touch on Charlie - and one round properly placed was sufficient....out to better than 600 yards.
At that range, Charlie's AK47 was a spray and pray piece.
Semper Fi
You got that right, the bullet is the most important design.
The 5.45mmx39mm Soviet is probably the one I'd start from if we were going to go all new cartridge mode. Base it on that.
I was talking to a colleague who was in Vietnam, and handled both the M14 and M16. He told me the M14 was a far better weapon. He called the M16 "Mattel" from all the plastic.
I've shot a semi-auto M14, and it is very nice. Kicks pretty good though, and the weight again.
An updated M14 like Sprinfield's SOCOMII would be pretty good. I'm just used to the AR/CAR15 style.
I'm curious to see what the military will end up doing.
He also has a close-quarters battle, bobbed version of the M-107/M-82 .50-cal. rifle.
The drawback to a weapon like that in an urban scenario being that, if you miss, or even if you don't, there's a possibility that you accidentally bag Grandma four houses away.
Did someone say, "overpenetration"?
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