Posted on 08/25/2010 7:55:57 PM PDT by smokingfrog
An unconventional Belgian assault rifle is emerging as the favorite of U.S. special operations forces looking for more firepower to turn the tide in Afghanistan.
The Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle — also known as SCAR — is intended redress the shortcomings of the M-4, an updated version of the M-16 which has been in service since the mid-1960s.
The U.S. military's workhorse rifle did well in Iraq, where much of the fighting was in urban settings. But its light rounds have underperformed in Afghanistan, where the Taliban tend to rely on deadly long-range fire.
An Army study found that the M-4s 5.56mm bullets don't retain enough velocity beyond 1,000 feet (300 meters) to kill an adversary. NATO commanders say U.S. firepower cannot always respond adequately to Taliban sharpshooters firing from 2,000 to 2,500 feet (600-800 meters).
The SCAR, manufactured by Belgian gunmaker FN Herstal, fulfills a specific special operations forces requirement for an easily modifiable rifle that to be used for both urban combat and for extended-distance shooting.
This called for a unique modular system accommodating not just the two main Western rifle calibers — the L-model for the light 5.56mm rounds and H-model for the heavier-hitting 7.62mm rounds — but also barrels of lengths in both calibers.
Many of the components can be interchanged between the two models. Both versions also allow soldiers to quickly replace their barrels to deal with a changing tactical situation.
Martin Fackler, a U.S. ballistics expert, said the SCAR-H round enjoys a clear advantage at long distances because the lighter 5.56mm bullets slow down significantly after about 400 meters (yards), sharply reducing their ability to inflict serious damage to the target.
"(In contrast) at 1,000 yards the 7.62 bullet is still traveling at over the speed of sound," Fackler said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Well I bit, I thought you were one of those trolls. So you got a laugh out of me when you confessed to tweaking them.
It has all the nice features.
I wonder how reliable they are?
I have read quite a few reviews of DSA rifles and they are very good. I want one of their STG 58 Austrian FALs. It has new American barrels and I think Steyr receivers.
12 lb.!
You got a vehicle mount for that thing?
AR-10
Thank you for you and your family’s long service record. I agree with you in that a good bit of wood never hurt a rifle! I have always been partial to 30-06, 30-30 and especially, especially... .303 loads on fast sequences in the old SMLE bolt-actions... Then again, I am younger, stupider, and I never had as much time at the civilian range as you, so I like a BIG kick!
So we are back to a variant (seems inferior in bbl length) of the M14/M1A? This is not new. It is like getting rid of 0bamacare!!!
Thats it! Been to alot of sites and seen plenty awesome toys that I sure as hell can`t afford, real pity.
Size matters :)
The M14 was born.
~~~
Still the best Battle Rifle there is IMHO,,,
Go prone in a sandy area and never missed a beat,,,
1500 yard reach,,,
Cuts a .308 hole down through the bushes and trees,,,
Yes,,,It’s heavy and the ammo is heavy,,,
Big Boy Gun...;0)
Looks like a really weak and vulnerable bipod arrangment to me....too many little frickin’ set-screws, coat-hanger wires and wingnuts that would bust up in a hurry.....and what are those, little push-on rubber feet? Nice touch in the photo, by the way.....in a basement on carpets..... about the only place it would be reliable.
http://thedisease.net/?ejaculate=library&your_poison=Firearms%20Schematics
Page down to the model 59 schematic and click link.
Me, too, even in semi-auto.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/M14_afmil.jpg/300px-M14_afmil.jpg")
M14
Ma’chelle’s boys shootin’ for lobstah & buttah
do we have a winnah?
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