[Criminal Number 18F]

The M16 use to have full auto and then they took that away so they could make more money developing another squad automatic weapon. Jive arguments that the troops fired too many bullets were used. ( Fire discipline is a taught skill, not one to be limited by technological limiters.)

Yes, yes, yes. The M4 the poor bloody infantry gets has the retarded 3-shot (or sometimes 2-shot or 1-shot, sorry bout that) burst mechanism that was thrown into the M16A2 as a way to eliminate the need to "waste" ammunition in training soldiers in fire control. In specific situations full auto is useful -- at close ranges, and in achieving instantaneous fire superiority as in a meeting engagement or counterambush. So SOF got the M4A1 which along with a couple of other tweaks has the auto-fire mechanism of original M16/M16A1 vintage.

Now that the Army has decided that other troops deserve rifle training too, this abortive burst gadget seems destined for the scrap heap. Ordnance and Quartermaster guys may try to resuscitate it, but in this iteration of the Army the combat soldiers are driving the train. (That will be good news for the Marines, who often get stuck with whatever the Army cooks up, for good or for ill. Marines are great troops, they deserve the best, too, not hand-me-downs).

Some HKs used to offer burst as a fourth choice on the dial (the others being safe, semi, and auto).

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[supercat]

Some HKs used to offer burst as a fourth choice on the dial (the others being safe, semi, and auto).

One thing I've wondered about: would it be practical or advisable to design a rifle with a trigger that worked like an electric typewriter's "X" key [push lightly for one strike, mash for automatic?] I would think that in a surprise situation, it would be difficult to flip a selector lever in the heat of the moment, while applying an extra 5 pounds or so on the trigger would be easy if not automatic.

[in the Arena]

That will be good news for the Marines, who often get stuck with whatever the Army cooks up, for good or for ill. Marines are great troops, they deserve the best, too, not hand-me-downs

The M16A2 is a Marine Corps development. The A2 sights, longer butt stock and heavier barrel while great for match shooting really don't lend themselves to instincitive combat shooting...but they are better than this short barrled plastic carbine.

From the article they reference fighting from vehicles and how hard it is with an M16/M4. I think they are mixing apples and oranges with their arguments. If they are mounted troops, arm them with the appropriate weapons. But if these are infantry troops being transported then arm the damn vehicle with a heavy weapon(s), put the troops on a gun truck .

The advantage of the shorter profile of this weapon is lost once the troops dismount and take to the field. This is not an infantry rifle. Where's the bayonet lug ? Did the military remove the requirement to mount a bayonet ?