[chaos_5]

There is never enough CLP for a M16A2 in the desert.

[Jack Black]

The summary "is it perfect, no, nothing ever is" .. is a cop out. The question is "could it be made better" and, pehaps even "is it superior to the previous generation of weapons, the M-14", along with "is the cartridge adequate for the task at hand".

The answers are a) Yes, it could be improved, and should be. b)opinions differ, probably, yes, it's better. c)No. It's underpowered.

[NFHale]

Easy one...
go back to the M14 series rifles. Springfield now makes it in the SOCOM II (and other shortened) configurations - lightweight, synthetic stock, integral Picatinny rail set forward of the receiver for mounting optics/lights, short barrel with a wonderful compensator...MMMMMM. A lot less susceptible to dirt and grit, and it doesn’t crap where it eats like the M16 series rifles...

And it’s in man-stopping .308 caliber...one-shot drops, just like it’s WWII cousin the M1 Garand in .30-06 (although it doesn’t have quite the reach that .30-06 does).

Still...it’s formidable, potent, and a better weapon...IMHO