An interesting read about the M16 and M4

[oneyeopn]

I just read the article and there is a lot of information here and some of it answers questions asked by some of our members.

M-16 Still Hot Enough for Marines | | Conservative News, Views & Books

Read it if you have time

 

[GMC man]

now that was a great article and it shows the philosophy differences between marines and the army. I would like to add neither is better then the other just we both have different jobs hence the philosophy differences.

 

[Engine49guy]

Nice article except they didnt really replace the M14 with the M16,

They kinda semi retired it

Then brought it back into service when they realized

That the little M16 ...Sometimes

Needed his more powerful older brother to help out when the going got tough

and he wasnt up to the task

 

[TangoFoxtrot]

Correct me if I'm wrong , but didn't the government (D.O.D) just issue a new contract for 300 million rounds of some new and improved version of the M855 ammo for the M-16?

 

[oneyeopn]

I did read that @ military.com!
I was under the assumption that only specialized forces were using M14, but I could be wrong.

 

[Silversmok3]

I don't trust military surveys. I've seen enough to know that honest replies are typically discouraged, as a stat saying 50% of members think the M-4 is unsat can impede "Da Kernels" ambitions for a window seat at the Pentagon.

I was never a frontline operator, but after 200 rounds my issue M-16A2 started jamming and failing to feed on the qualifying range.Why is it that Mikhail Kalashnikov is alone in understanding that the guy on the ground isn't fighting in a clean room?

 

[smithman 10]

M-16 vs. M-4

Never having been in combat I hesitate to add my 2 cents but it seems like standardizing on one weapon has been an obsession of the Army ever since WWII, according to articles I've read.

WWII infantry weapons: Garand, BAR, carbine, tommy gun, grease gun plus 1911s and various revolvers.

Next the do-everything M-14 to replace the rifle, BAR, carbine and submachine guns so I have read.

Now it's the M-4 basically and the M9 pistol. Seems like you can carry this one-size fits all idea too far - and that's why they had to bring back the M-14.

Again, I defer absolutely to those who have used these various weapons in combat and know a heckuva lot more than I ever will.

I'd be interested in hearing what forum members who are combat veterans think about the weapons they have used.

 

[oneyeopn]

I have read that the Marine Corps is looking at bringing back the 45acp and I applaud them. A long time ago the service pistol was a .38 and in the war in the Philippines against the Morro's, they would chew some plant that contained a drug and then tie off their extremities and would charge and the service pistol of the time wouldnt even affect them. They then went with the 45 1911 if you shot an enemy combatant with it, they stopped and sometimes went backwards. It was the service pistol when I was active duty and I loved it. Still do. When I read that the Military was going to the 9mm I was shocked. I own 2 9's one a carbine and one a pistol, they are alright. For home defense I own a 45acp, I know what it will do. I hope they change back.

 

[Dragon88]

Correct me if I'm wrong , but didn't the government (D.O.D) just issue a new contract for 300 million rounds of some new and improved version of the M855 ammo for the M-16?

M855A1

I was under the assumption that only specialized forces were using M14, but I could be wrong.

"Specialized forces" have much better options than M14s.

Google M14EBR-RI.

 

[rojodiablo]

Correct me if I'm wrong , but didn't the government (D.O.D) just issue a new contract for 300 million rounds of some new and improved version of the M855 ammo for the M-16?

Yeah.... but I would not really call it an 'Improvement'. It's far more expensive, less accurate, and it runs very gigh pressures that are going to lead to shorter life on chambers and barrels. From the testing already done, it tears thru a barrel in about 1/2 as many rounds as the regular m855 ammo.

 

[gunfighter48]

All of this reminds me of the F-4 Phantom. They didn't design it with any guns because dog fights were a thing of the past. Missiles were all you would need in the modern world. Migs over Nam taught them that they still needed guns on jets!!!!

Same with guns, all you'll ever need is the M16/M4 that is until you need to reach out long distance and really touch someone. Now the M14 is making a comeback. The Barrett 50 BMGs are more popular than they have every been. There's not much else that can reach out 1.5 miles and do the damage that the 50 can. If the brass would only listen to the end user, the grunt in the field, they would waste a lot less money and the troops would be better served. But there's not much chance of that happening!!