[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[parthian shot]

The real problem, most likely, is that our men can't shoot until they get 400 clearances. By that time the rats have scurried away!

[smokingfrog]

Here we go again....

The Army is doubling the number of 7.62mm weapons in the infantry squad, increasing soldiers’ long-range killing power in the wide-open expanses of Afghanistan.

[gunnut]

I think the bigger issue are the rules of engagement that don’t allow artilery and air strikes to be called in. You shoot at us with a mortar or light arms fire, we rain down artilery fire or call in the warthogs.

[mamelukesabre]

They just need longer barreled m16s with scope. The 556 nato round is just fine. Little more accuracy, little more velocity...that’s all that’s needed.

I’ve been saying for years they need to ditch brass cases and upgrade to high strength aluminum alloy cases and then boost up chamber pressures.

Then upgrade the recoil system with an oil filled system for really smooth shooting. Better compensators on the end of the muzzle would help too.

Bigger bullets is the wrong way to go, imo. More speed is the best solution.

BTW, 556 shoots further than 762. This article is not entirely honest.

[444Flyer]

Knowing Obama, he's supplied the troops with weapons according to his desire not to allow them to protect themselves. His ROEs reflect the same mindset.

[HighlyOpinionated]

Drop a BIG BOMB and quit using small arms.

This war should have been over a long time ago.

Just drop a bomb and let God sort it out.

Does anyone else wonder if 0bama doesn’t get some kind of perverse pleasure from the deaths of our Military? Maybe it’s just me.

[infidel29]

Unlike in Iraq, where most shooting took place at relatively short range in urban neighborhoods, U.S. troops in Afghanistan are more often attacked from high ground with light machine guns and mortars from well beyond 300 meters...

Is it any wonder why GWB opted for a change of venue in the War on Terror?

[R. Scott]

.223 varmit round vs .308 mankiller. Not much of a contest.

[Chode]

.308 there is NO substitute...