Camp Lejeune Marines Try Out New Rifle

Marine Corps News ^ | Oct. 2, 2003 | Lance Cpl. Adam C. Schnell

[Ex-Dem]

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Oct. 2, 2003) -- CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. From the days of Marines wielding muskets, to the current day fully automatic machine guns, weapons in the Marine Corps continue to change to accommodate the needs of battle. The Marine Corps is now adding a new chapter to the history of its service rifles.

For the first time since being chosen as the Marine Corps future rifle, Marines assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment here were issued and fired their new M-16A4 service rifles recently.

The M-16A4, the fourth generation of the M-16 service rifle, has been in the testing phase for the Marine Corps along with the M-4 carbine rifle more than two years. In August 2002, former Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James L. Jones decided to stay with the tried and true M-16 verses the M-4.

The Marines are looking forward to testing their new rifles out on the range and in the field, said 1st Lt. John M. Jones, executive officer for F Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.

Getting new equipment can be great morale boosters for anyone, but for a military unit receiving new weapons, they need confidence in using them in combat. Gaining confidence begins with training and some times this process is very long.

The rifle is a little bit heavier, but shoots the same as the M-16A2 we used in Iraq, said Sgt. Anthony J. Stewart, a platoon commander for F Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.

Every Marine must not only learn how to use the new features, but they also must fire the weapon enough so be confident with its abilities.

This new rifle is almost identical in appearance and firing using the same ammunition and existing attachments, like the M-203 grenade launcher. However, once removing the carrying handle the weapon is capable of providing a lot more potential.

Once the handle is removed, an integrated rail system is exposed. This system allows any optic, laser or night vision sight with a rail grabber to slide into place, said Cpl. Randy J. Dunkel Jr., noncommissioned officer in charge of the armory for Headquarters and Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines.

The new rail system is great because you can just take off the handle and put any sight on it, said Jones.

With the new advancement comes change in the way the rifle is stored in the armory.

Everything is going to have to change to accommodate the new rifles, said Dunkel. We're going through some changes right now to make storing the rifles much easier.

As the new rifles are being delivered the older versions will receive an inspection and sent to Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Ga., where they will either be destroyed or redistributed as needed.

The M-16A4 will be better to have in the long run, because in combat you can put on so many new pieces of equipment to make life easier, added Dunkel.

[ASOC]

Dont kid yourself - tho I retired from the Air Force, I still work full time, but am doing better these days - only working one job, down from 3. My own fault, they were a lot of fun.

[teeman8r]

i particularly like the key holder...

[neverdem]

Thanks for the little discourse on these particular terminal ballistics. Maybe the projectile could be redesigned to have the same terminal ballistics at a lower velocity or would that violate some Geneva Convention?

Congratulations for the patent. Any chance you could post a schematic design?

The M16 being what it is, especially requiring so much cleaning, I'm surprised the gov't is still staying with it. I hope your design can take at least half the neglect and abuse that an AK can endure.

Good luck in the search for funding. If I hit the lottery, I hope I can remember you.

[donmeaker]

folks who are interested, freep mail me an address to which you want me to send the weapon art work.

[donmeaker]

The firing pin in the M=14 used to pop out when the bolt went forward.... My buddies got jammed into his trigger mechanism.

It wasnt considered as accurate on full automatic as the old BAR, but if you cut 8 lbs out of a weapon, you get a lot more movement.

By the way, the German 7.62mm rounds have a thinner metal jacket, and yaw and fragment like the 5.56mm rounds. the US rounds have a thick jacket, and act like a solid. Because of that the US rounds will penetrate the spinal cord, if you can hit it, and stop the enemy instantly. the German rounds are more lethal, but slower to stop. In a short range bullet, guess which one I want?

[donmeaker]

Springfield arms uses essentially the same receiver for their M1A. For the selective fire feature, a portion would have to be ground away, but the M-14 was not effective in automatic fire anyways.


So the receiver is available on the commercial market.

[MHGinTN]

For a better look (larger viewing), here's the URL for the images.

[steveo]

self

[donmeaker]

"But the 62 gr. projectile is running out of steam at that range. "

"That cartrige should never have been used. "

The cartridge was actually optimized for patrolling. Compared to the 7.62, tremendous quantities of ammunition could be used, permitting continued action far from supplies. Patrolling is the major combat activity of soldiers where there is no continuous front.

The Stoner 63 weighed the same with 800 rounds as the M-60 weighed empty. Lethal in close quarters, the outnumbered patrol could conduct a raid, ambush, or fighting withdrawal with great effectiveness. The propensity of the enemy (any enemy, not just the Vietnamese) to mine the approaches to their position made assualts, where close range stopping power, or the ability to shoot through light cover, of far less value. US defenses depended far more on machineguns than on individual riflemen. My infantry platoon in the 70s had 36 men and 8 machineguns.