Army Report: GIs Outgunned in Afghanistan

Politics Daily ^ | 04/2/10 | David Wood

[neverdem]

Only this long to figure out that the 5.56 mm M4 carbine & M16 rifle aint cutting it? You can take some satisfaction that the 7.62x39 mm rounds used in the AKs that jihadis carry are not full power rounds either, unlike the NATO 7.62x52 mm rounds fired in the M14 rifle and the M240 Medium Machine Gun. Does anyone have idea about how many M14s are still in the U.S. inventory?

M240 Medium Machine Gun

[Perdogg]

awgeez

[GreyFriar]

The only M-14s still in the Army inventory are probably those in museums and with units like the Old Guard which uses them for ceremonial purposes. Most of the M-14s were probably destroyed after they were fully replaced by the M-16. Most likely new production line would need to be created to begin manufacturing them again..

[Mr Rogers]

I’m trying to imagine the accuracy of an AK-47 at 500+ meters...do the bad guys ever hit anything?

FWIW, I suspect the ranges also depend on what part of Afghanistan you are in, but 500+ meters is a LONNGGG way for an Afghan to try shooting.

[oneolcop]

Send some more M-1A’s over. Heavier to carry, but good out to longer ranges.

[Thane_Banquo]

But I’d rather be hit with the 7.62x39 than the 5.56 pea-shooter. Are there any Western bloc assault rifles (i.e. not machine guns) that fire the 7.26x52, besides the M14?

I remember one of the Delta operatives in Black Hawk Down in Somalia preferred the M14. We never learned the lesson from Mogadishu that 5.56 is not an acceptable round for military purposes.

[Thane_Banquo]

Oops, meant I’d rather be hit with the 5.56 than the 7.26x39.

[Wolfie]

Naturally, seeing as how our defense budget is dwarfed by that of the insurgents.

[50cal Smokepole]

If our guys need M110s, then give them to them. $8,000 /weapon? Chickenfeed compared to Ø's spending.

[oneolcop]

Actually, Springfield Arms still makes semi-auto versions, the M-1A. I just bought one for my son. And there are still M-14’s in inventory in some obscure warehouse somewhere, I’m sure.

[Paul46360]

It’s Bushs’ fault!!!!!!!!!!

[Frantzie]

M16/M4 in those valleys are useless.

McNamara still killing American troops as he roasts in hell.

[Riodacat]

It'd be reasonable to expect it to take 3 or 4 years before we realize that the enemy is hitting us before we're hitting them, but 8+ years does seem a bit excessive.

[Riodacat]

Better yet if the m110’s are built here. We can stimulate the economy and the enemy at the same time.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

$8000 for a sniper rifle? Hell, I could take any off the shelf Remington 700 tactical and put a Leupold on in and be out the door for 2 grand and shoot the wings off a bumblebee at 500 yards.

[BooBoo1000]

Damn Mouse Guns, get a call into Ronnie Barrett Fast/

[Perdogg]

The HK-417 is 7.62mm but the Bundeswehr doesn’t use it, they use the 5.56mm

[GreyFriar]

You’d rather be hit with a 7.62? Me, I’d rather be shooting a 7.62 than a 5.56 at you, providing you were the enemy. Especially since the famous tumbling M-16 round isn’t made any more, or I don’t think it is.

[Perdogg]

The Israelis use the 5.56mm the Chinese use the 5.6mm and the Russians use the 5.45mm

[EGPWS]

There is plenty of M-1A's.

I have one and they are the same as the M-14 to the point that my M-1A came from Springfield with a military M-14 tear down manual.