Marines Set Sights On New Basic Rifle

San Diego Union-Tribune | August 8, 2002 | Otto Kreisher

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[RobRoy]

It's the 21st century, for crying out loud. They should all be packin a death ray!

[Shooter 2.5]

Calling the usual suspects.

[Shooter 2.5]

The question I have is that since both rifles are flat tops, are they going to issue the removeable handguards or optics?
Putting an ACOG style sight on the rifles would be a step forward. ACOG's don't have a lot of magnification but the multiple crosshairs are configured to the .223 at the different ranges.

[Stand Watch Listen]

It's the 21st century, for crying out loud. They should all be packin a death ray!

Hmmmmmmm...FYI...

Microwave Weapons May Be Ready For Iraq
Source: Aviation Week and Space Technology; Published: August 5, 2002;
Author: David A. Fulghum

"E-bomb" may see first combat use in Iraq
Source: New Scientist.com; Published: 08 August 02;
Author: David Windle

[Travis McGee]

Issue them with flat tops with BOSS rail systems installed. Then you have 4 mounting surfaces which retain zero around a free floating barrel.

Oh, and while they're at it, change the caliber to .243.

[xsrdx]

Related thread already posted Here

[eno_]

I NEEEED that microwave weapon for the speed traps in Connecticut.

[Shooter 2.5]

Yes, let's take that step backward so we can have a better rifle. Ironic, isn't it? We have to go back to 1953 to get the rifle that the troops should have been issued in the first place.

If what that other poster said was true, and I don't doubt it, the AR-10 failed because of the barrels. Since that's an easy fix, we should be able to issue an AR-10 flattop with an ACOG sight with the BOSS system. I forgot, you and I don't make the decisions.

As an added note, I asked my son if he was still having trouble with the mags, and he said no. Everything is working perfectly. It's nice to see someone hitting a target half the size of a man at 375 yards away, standing up, 80% of the time.

[xsrdx]

The question I have is that since both rifles are flat tops, are they going to issue the removeable handguards or optics?

Both candidate rifles would have the modular capability to accept the full range of optics, sensors, designators, flashlights, death rays, pistol grips and such that are currently fielded with the Army Modular Weapons System and the Navy's SOPMOD kits for the M4.

They consist of the Knights Armament Rail Accessory System (RAS) and a host of configurable goodies you can hang all over the gun, from the ACOG NSN and Aimpoint COMP M scopes to IR laser designators, IFF devices, flashlights, night vision gear, etc.

The packages are popular because they are mission tailorable, and you only have to buy the parts you need for the job at hand.

M4 SOPMOD

[Eric in the Ozarks]

That's one mean looking piece.

[Squantos]

Agree on all cept the caliber. Look into a .30 +/- caliber such as the 7.62x39 that can be adopted/modified/created/devised to special ammo such as the .300 whisper for supressed operations and a .30 caliber sabot with .224 dia heavy VLD rounds for long range high velocity or the basic hard hitting,full house 7.62x39 style rounds for CQB. Three types of rifle ammo w/ one short general issue weapon. Yeah , I know ,......less ammo more weight, yada yada yap yap.......More PT, drop and give me twenty ect ect....

With the reed knight rails as Travis suggests, the flattop and a Ops Inc supresssor (available if needed), M4 and a 203 mounted (low enough to clear the supressor if left on accidently) I'd be darn happy if I was up to my @ss in grenade pins and armed in such a manner.

Change for change sake sucks. Change for improvements sucks money. If it ain't broke, spend some of that coin on ammo for range time. Quality, supervised range time stressing fundamentals of marksmanship developing memory-matic skills that should be second nature for times when the fog of war is upon ya versus the really poor marksmanship training that is just blowing smoke (fog) up the trainiee's @ss by telling em they are "awesome riflemen".....

Stay Safe !

[Travis McGee]

That rail system is far inferior to the BOSS. It is attached between the front ring and the front sight, and loses zero as the barrel heats. The BOSS is screwed to the flat top receiver and does not touch the barrel, resulting in no loss of zero for the sights, and no barrel deflection as it heats. The four ultra rigid lightweight picatinny rails of the BOSS form a super rigid alloy barrel shroud and mounting system without touching the barrel.

[Travis McGee]

BOSS bump.

[Shooter 2.5]

I tried to do a search on the BOSS system and couldn't find it. Can you tell me who sells it.
I don't need one, but I'm always curious about the new toys out there.

[Britton J Wingfield]

One problem with the M4's shorter barrel was lower bullet velocity, which kept the 5.56 round from producing the massive cavitation that it does at high velocity. This means less trauma and knockdown power with FMJ rounds. Neat rifle, though.

[Stand Watch Listen]

FYI...

Browning Owner's Manuals -- BOSS (Ballistic Optimizing Shooting System)

[Shooter 2.5]

Browning's BOSS system calibrates the barrel harmonics to help the bullet's accuracy.
I can't seem to find the BOSS rail system that Travis was writing about. I think I've seen it but I don't know who makes it.

[Paul Ross]

BUMP! Peace through superior firepower.