Marines on patrol armed with the M4 rifle. It may be the wrong weapon for the jobFrom Time Magazine:
The future of the standard issue infantry rifle used by American troops in Afghanistan is under review amid concerns that it is the wrong weapon for the job.
With its light bullets the M4 rifle lacks sufficient velocity and killing power in long-range firefights, leaving US troops outgunned by the Taleban and their AK47 Kalashnikovs and the old Russian SVD sniper rifle.
British Forces face the same dilemma but the Ministry of Defence said yesterday that there was no plan to review the SA80A2 rifle, which fires the same Nato 5.56mm calibre rounds as its US counterpart. “We constantly review all of our capabilities,” a spokesman said.
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My Comment: I have posted my comments on this story before .... but this Times article is from a British perspective, and the points they make are very valid.
Let's see, first - there's correct terminology. There isn't any M-4 Rifle. Instead, there's the M-4 Carbine (14.5 inch barrel length; rather than the 20 inch barrel length of the various models of the M-16 Rifle).
ReplyDeleteThe USMC has an enhanced 5.56 x 45 mm round to use with their standard M-16A4 Rifles (20 inch long barrels). Of course, those rounds won't much help any Army troops or Marines having to shoot with an M-4 Carbine.
As has been suggested elsewhere, perhaps the M-14 ERB is the solution to extended range engagements with the Taliban. Plus, there are several bullpup design upgrades to the basic M-14 which allow for Close Quarter Battle (CQB) operations by our troops.
Then, too - there is the highly advantageous 6.8 x 43 mm SPC round meant to replace the 5.56 x 45 mm round currently utilized in the M-16 and other similar assault rifles.
That's pretty much enough said to encourage discussion...
D. E. Reddick
Thanks D.E. Reddick for the input. I am learning about these things on a daily basis, and input from people like you only helps my learning curve.
ReplyDelete