Posted on 09/26/2003 1:38:23 PM PDT by 45Auto
I was approached by a person the other day who asked me if I had such a big dislike for the Colt M-16 issued by the military, what weapons did I like? Well after a quick answer and some reflection I believe I have the answer.
First let me say that when the U. S. Navy sent me into combat on the river patrol boats in Vietnam, they issued me what I consider the greatest military rifle ever made. It was the M-14 in 7.62 MM NATO (.308 Caliber) with four magazines and ammo. This rifle had a selector switch that would cause it to fire full automatic if need be, however it controlled much better in the semi-automatic state. I still believe that this rifle is the best ever. I would like to see a down-sized version in the 5.56 MM (.223 Caliber) also built for the military. They could also put the synthetic stocks on it for keeping the weight down. Then our troops would have a great weapon for combat that would work and keep them alive and well defended.
Now let me say as a Gunners Mate most of my patrol time was setting behind the forward twin 50's. These were the .50 Caliber Browning Machine Guns mounted on the bow of the boat with the old air craft mount used in the bombers from WW II. I just can't say enough about this great weapon. From all the reports we are getting from our current conflict this is still one of the greatest weapons used by our military. Mr. John Browning was indeed a genius of weapons design. His military and civilian weapons are still some of the best ones over 100 years after he built them.
Another weapons system that we had favor for during my time in combat was the M-79 40 MM grenade launchers. They worked very well from our delivery vehicles in the water. We also got a Honeywell belt fed grenade launcher for these rounds after we were in country for some time and they were great. At our top speed we could put a grenade about every 40 feet on the land with them. We made good use of these weapons also.
As our job was to stop and search boats during the daylight hours we were also issued side arms and shotguns. Some had Smith & Wesson model 10's in .38 caliber and some had the 1911A1 .45 caliber semi-automatic sidearm's. I liked the 1911A1's the best. The shotguns were the old military pump action Ithica's in 12 Gauge. They were great shotguns and held up real well.
The other weapon we had on board that everyone liked was the M-60 Machine gun. What a great weapon. We learned that if you put a C-Ration Can on the belt feed side so the belt would feed over the can that this weapon would just keep working and working. It punched out those 7.62 MM NATO rounds with no problem, and was very devastating to the enemy. This weapon could be held like a rifle or fired from a mount and was very versatile for use on the boat. We all agreed it was one of the best we had.
Now I should say that we were also issued three Colt M-16 rifles with each boat. They were there and we used them for warning shots more than anything. They were kept real clean and worked most of the time. We learned that you could only put about 17 or 18 rounds in the 20 round magazines to keep them working good. Most others and I were not impressed with them.
So that kind of gives you a run down of why I still have strong feelings about what we are sending out troops into combat with. I know that some people got upset when I run down the M-16's and they have that right. My opinion is not just mine and is shared by many people today. I feel that our military made a mistake when they were forced into accepting this as the primary weapons system for our troops. Perhaps in the future we can get something that will be much better. Like I said I think the M-14 down sized to handle the .233 round something like the Ruger Mini-14 with a better barrel would be just the ticket.
God Bless America. God Bless our Troops still in Harms Way.
If I could have just one rifle to last me the rest of my life it would be one I foolishly traded off. It was a 1903A3 Springfield. It was made by Remington and appeared unfired when I picked it up in Garden City, Kansas back around 1985. The barrel was stamped 1943 and that rifle would shoot like a house on fire.
I recall reading many years ago when some writer, (it might have been Cooper) said he liked the M14 better than the M16, but then recalled that his old sargeant thought the 1903 Springfield was better than the Garand. He figured military men always like the old ones better.
Now that I think about it, one of the reasons the Germans didn't go to automatic's earlier was that Hitler was very fond of the 98 Mauser he used in WWI.
I have a WWII binocular made in 1943 by Westinghouse that can compare in every way with my Swarovski except perhaps brightness. If it had multicoating and was new it might even be better.
I sure hope that guy was OK.
No obvious blood on that shattered stock.
If we can drop 80 Million a piece on a Raptor then keeping a Mountain/Desert/Artic rifle (M1A/M14)in 30 caliber range AND a Jungle/Forest region rifle in a kinetic caliber....... should not be a problem.
If we have to have one service rifle, 6.5 is my choice for new and improved and 7.62 nato for tried and true. As to the action and material. I am a fan of titanium and scandium for calibers with low recoil. I am of the opinion that if a basic service rifle is built in the 4 pound range unloaded without accessories and 7 pound range with grenade launcher, optical sights and two (2) 30 round magazines "snapped" togeather ala new HK mags or maybe a redi-mag setup that IDF devised topped off with a web/neoprene sling.
I would like to see modern versions of the 40MM low velocity grenades revamped into a 20 or 25MM dual purpose round using exotic explosives, a crow frag warhead and capability to punch 4 inches of steel plate.
As to the magazines. I'd like a shorter magazine so the rifle could be properly fired from a prone position. A wider mag and mag well would still allow at least 30 rounds but I personally would really like to see 40 per magazine.
Also a magazine should be "disposable". With modern materials, phenolics and spring set myths busted a pre-packaged and loaded magazine packed and issued in crates with seven mags to a bandoleer and 18 bandoleers to a crate. Thus a crate would resupply a basic 9 man squad.
As to durability, jamming and cleaning/servicing a standard service rifle. Make all moving parts and bearing surfaces in the receiver stainless steel witrh a ceramic coating to preclude the need to keep lube or other CLP-POL product on a weapon. I currently have a 1911A1 that was "coated " by a company in Houston TX that does race engine parts. I talked one of the employees into taking my detail stripped 1911A1 and coating every single part.
After reassembly (a real big itch as the tolerances were a bit less with added thickness of the coating) I use it in IDPA once a month, fire about 50 rounds thru it in competition and about 400 a week thru it in training and maintaing proficiency . It has never jammed, stove piped or failed to feed. My detail cleaning of that handgun is semi annual. Weekly range sessions call for just a wipe down from a canook "rusteprufe" rag and a dry clean rag. Ceramics is the sh*t I tell ya. Very kewl as I have experienced it.
Stay Safe , Just some of my wish list for a service rifle.........:o) .
...can't afford the top, but the common folk variant is my next choice of handgun. gotta have a Wilson myself :o)
Other than this, I was fine.
My chest looked about the same. I had to have surgery to have a piece of the cartridge removed from my breast bone.
To preserve the fact that Eakers are tough, here is a pic of me an hour later shooting left handed.
Tough enough indeed!
People would be shocked if I revealed yer true identity Madaonna.
Crap...... I meant to hit preview, not post!!!!
Seriously, I am amazed that ya'll know so much. I'll never catch up. I will continue to try.
One rifle for all is like trying to fit all Marines in an Xtra Small set of utilities.
There should be a general issue rifle, but there is room for more.
The ceramic plating is a novel idea. Is it anything like chromium bore lining>
I just love my M1A. I have had it worked on by ROBAR out in Arizona and a buddy of mine a fmr SEAL sniper gave me a "dream list" of upgrades he would suggest that ROBAR perform all of which I had them do. Then I topped it with a 3X10 Shepherd range finding scope. I can fire a three round group that you can cover with a dime at 100 meters. I have hit man/deer sized targets with the group about the size of a coffee saucer at 800 meters. For sure the gun is capable of doing better than I can shoot.
The proprietary coating from ROBAR known as NP3 allows me to shoot the piece filthy and it just stays smooth as butter and able to clean it with but a wipedown of a gun cloth and no additional lube. When the bearing surfaces rub against each other, the NP3 sheds molecules and this makes the gun effectively "self lubricating." WOW!
After the M1A/M14 I'd say the nod goes to the FN/FAL. For a belt fed critter, the M60 E3 is good, but I'd rather mount a MK 19 40mm on a vehicle for sheer firepower, range and versatility.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
And replace the gas system and he knows what he's talking about. Whoever this guy is, I believe everything he says.
You found a good article, 45.
Another home run. The M1 had disposable "magazines". They were called clips.
The principle is the same. If a nation can arm men it should be able to make reloads convenient.
If it can't, well maybe a foreign army of occupation can straighten out their industrial capablilities.
Madonna out !...........Stay Safe !
All a person has to do in order to screw up a Mini even worse that it is, tighten the 10-32 screws on the gas block. You will find out that is the reason some Mini's can't hit a pie plate at 50 yards. If Ruger had only copied the M14's gas system and used a barrel band, this wouldn't have been a problem.
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