The world, pretty much, has agreed that the M-4 platform is the way to go. And with much gnashing of teeth, we have agreed that 5.56mm is the preferred caliber. But is it the best?
So, last evening, Mr Garabaldi, and I were discussing assorted things, to include World War One German merchant raiders. Cause that's the life of a gun blogger, folks. It ain't all hot chicks and free guns.
Ah, sorry, I digressed there for a minute. So, AR's. Legos for men. But is 5.56mm the best climber for Joe's weapon?
In short, yes and no. I think it would be just fine if issued in a rifle length platform. Or issued with something other than 62 grn semi armor piercing bullshit developed for an impossibly stupid requirement against a threat that no longer exists in the original form.
I'm a big proponent of a rifle, rifle I say, in 5.56mm shooting 77grn Sierra MatchKings in a barrel with 1/7 twist rate. Because fuck you and your man dress, Haji.
But that doesn't run well surpassed. And it's really hard to move around in a Up-Armored Humvee with a damn musket. 18 year old PFC Mack can attest to that fact.
So, maybe we need a platform with something like an 11.5 inch barrel shooting .300 JDJ (SCREW YOU REMINGTON) for room clearing urban environments where we are either vehicle mounted or fast roping out the side of a Blackhawk. Oakleys not included.
And damn. What if we are fighting some Iranian trained insurgents wearing surplus Russian body armor in Syria. Then that old 6.8 SPC II seems mighty fine. And you will never convince me that a Barrett REC-7, shooting 115 OTM, with a KAC Masterkey underneath isn't the best weapon ever devised since John Garand got around the Army not wanting a detachable box mag.
The AR platform is pretty damn effective. And thanks to its modularity it can be tailored to any situation that arises.
But unfortunately, the DOD seems to think the pistol is where Joe and Jane should have modularity. And that's the dumbest damn thing done in the name of jointness since Robert Strange tried to make the F-111 a carrier based interceptor.
And hell, at the end of the day, 55 grn M193 out of an 18" barrel is pretty damn devastating on soft flesh. Maybe we should go back to that. And do away with that dumb ass three round burst while we're at it.
Thanks for stopping buy.
Hey Mack.
ReplyDeleteI was never a huge fan of the 62 grain green tip, I always thought the 55 grain M193 has been killing communist since the 1960's still did a stellar job. I did like the upgraded M16A2 but they should have left the giggleswitch on it rather than the 3 round kill joy. To me any decently trained soldier can control the burst rate and it was just the ordinance department being a dick, kinda when they screwed with the original M16 trying to sabotage it during trials and changing the powder from stick to ball because that is what they liked and not what Mr. Stoner designed the Rifle to run on. I was an early fan of the rifle before many other people were because of the modular properties(before I even knew what modular was, LOL) It truly is Lego for shooters. And after talking to you, the platform is so modular and adaptable to whatever you want to use it for. You were mentioning stuff I haven't heard of and I thought I was pretty current...dang. Shows I gotta get out more. I did enjoy talking to you and I did learn a lot and you gave me ideas for my Next AR build...Plus another book ;)
Come for the gun content. Stay for the books. Oh, and do yourself a favor. Google 6.5 Grendel
DeleteI agree on so many levels here! The 3 round 'burst' was an 'easy' solution to a training issue. Luckily, they are starting to refit our current batch of M4 variants with the proper giggle switch.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the modular pistol concept for the Big Army is idiotic. I would love to see a company armorer be ok with switching out frames and such to tailor it to the individual Soldier. Not going to happen. All the extra parts will get stuck in a box deep in the armsroom never to see the light of day. The units that would have the option to tailor theirs aren't planning on switching over to them due to better options. And lastly, how many units getting these actually have a use for their sidearm? Apparently I have things to say about this topic...
Been saying the same thing ever since they annouced SiG won the MHS contract. The M-17/18 is like the JSF of handguns.
DeleteLet’s not get into the M17/M18 kerfluffle because every fan boy in the country will show up mouth breathing over how Glock was robbed or they should have brought back the 1911 or some such idiocy.
ReplyDeleteI’m a big fan of modularity since I can’t afford the room full of purpose built guns I want. So, give me a nice AR lower and a selection of uppers, a Glock 22 with spare barrels in 9mm and .357 Sig and let me call it a day.
Honestly.I think the taxpayer would have been better served if they just gave everyone a Glock 19. Or kept the Beretta and let anyone who wanted one buy an M-45A1.
DeleteOh, and .357 SiG only belongs in Swiss/German steel guns.
I seem to recall an Army general saying something pretty close to those exact words not long before the powers that be declared Sig the winner of the trials.
DeleteY'all go ahead and argue... I'll be on overwatch with my M-24. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAwwwwww, .308's so cute on overwatch.
DeleteI liked my M68 rifle or M256 musket for those duties.
*grumble grumble* An M-24 gets in the damn way in the back of a Brad or a Stryker.
DeleteAnd Mac, if I could have used an Abrams when I ever I needed fire superiority, I'd either be Chief of Staff or in Leavenworth.
Look into complete uppers in 7.62x39mm Russian (the AK-47 round). They make the AR-15 a very useful proposition in areas where that round is common: and having been shot twice with it, I'm here to tell you, it stopped me both times! It's also handy to have such an upper if you run short of 5.56mm. ammo. Russian 7.62 short is still fairly easy to come by, and its price hasn't risen nearly as much as the smaller round.
ReplyDelete