Yahoo isn't impressed by the M-16

Yahoo reports on the "death" of the M-16a2.

It's a pretty decent article until...

Although the M16A1 "” introduced in the early 1980s "” has been heavily modernized, experts say it still isn't as reliable as the AK-47 or its younger cousin, the AK-74. Both are said to have better "knockdown" power and can take more of a beating on the battlefield.

They're actually referring to the a2. But I find the experts' claim to be highly dubious. The AK's are more reliable but the 47 (More specifically the AKM. Most non-74 rifles are AKM's or a myriad of AKM-clones) don't have better "knockdown" power at range.

I'm glad to see that people are capable of pointing out the obvious downsides to different types of firearms (IE a shorter barrel yields less range and muzzle velocity) but it the whole thing just comes off as really negative and anti-American technology.

Like:

Instead of the M-16, which also is prone to jamming in Iraq's dusty environment, M-4 carbines are now widely issued to American troops.

Uh... an M-4 will jam just as much as M-16 will because...

The M-4 is essentially a shortened M-16A2...

The statement about the M-4 being full auto is also erroneous. The M-4a1 is full auto.

Finally, the OICW is dead. For now. Army Times recently reported that the technology simply isn't there to make a rifle that meets all the criterion. They're just going to use the M-8 in the mean time.
They haven't archived the article yet, but once they do I'll post it up.

Shame about the OICW, the technology on that rifle was just awesome.

Heh. It was okay... It just weighed about as much as a SAW, that was it''s problem.
The F-2000 is FN''s answer to the OICW. It''s all that and a bag of chips, supposedly.

Now the OCSW (Objective Crew Served Weapon) that''s an awesome weapon.

"Reaper81" wrote:

The F-2000 is FN''s answer to the OICW. It''s all that and a bag of chips, supposedly.

It''s worth it for the Diversion Cameras.

Damn it, I knew we couldn''t get by the F-2000 without someone bringing up Sam.

I''m giving serious thought to picking up the Five seveN pistol when I return from Bosnia....

Or an MP5.

The Five seveN is perfect for shooting out light bulbs. And smacking people over the head.

I''m glad to see that people are capable of pointing out the obvious downsides to different types of firearms (IE a shorter barrel yields less range and muzzle velocity) but it the whole thing just comes off as really negative and anti-American technology.

I got the same vibe from TechTV''s Future Fighting Machines. They always list the American tanks, planes and helicopters as being middle of the road on the list (like 3 out of 5).

A year ago or so, my brother in laws and I went to a shooting range in PA that let you rent either a fully auto M16a1, Tommy Gun, or MP5 (silenced). Of course, we picked the MP5 silenced.

Wow. Fully auto, silenced. That thing was fun as hell to shoot...

"Eightball" wrote:

A year ago or so, my brother in laws and I went to a shooting range in PA that let you rent either a fully auto M16a1, Tommy Gun, or MP5 (silenced). Of course, we picked the MP5 silenced.

Wow. Fully auto, silenced. That thing was fun as hell to shoot...

You didn''t go with the Thompson? I''m disappointed.

Yeah that was the second choice. But it didn''t come with the gangster style drum canister, just the 20 round clip, and the kick of the .45 round is supposed to be pretty intense on the tommy gun.

But come on. A fully automatic, fully silenced weapon? How Ghost Recon is that??

The Thompson Model 1928 (Often associated with ''30s gansters) is the only model that really used the drum. According to Ian Hogg, the Marines nixed the drum magazine because it was to noisy to use on night patrols.
The Thompson M1 (the SMG of the US Armed Services) was the model that moved the bolt charging handle to the side of the weapon (as opposed to the top) and went with the 20rd. box magazine.

Boy... if it had been me there, I would have really been torn between the Thompson and MP5. I probably would have went with the Tommy just because I could get my hands on an MP5 way easier.

Eightball, was the MP5 the model with the integrated silencer or a snap-on? If it was the integrated model, then I definitely would have went with the MP5.

If you guys ever get the chance to fire an M240B (or FN-Mag for you Europeans ) I highly recommend it. It as though god himself made a crew served weapon and then blessed every bullet shot from it. Honestly, there''s nothing like knocking down targets at 800 meters (targets you can barely see) but knowing you''re shooting the sh*t out of them from a weapon that was just zeroed by somebody else and you quickly re-adjusted the sights. (My point is that after the SAW, 240, and the M-2 .50 the M16a1 just wouldn''t do it for me.)

Maybe it''s just me, though.

Integrated model...it was a close call. Of course the kid next to us (probably 15 years old) was accompanied with his grandma. Firing the M1 Garand grandpa brought back from Europe, and the German Mauser he brought back with it...

Now the Garand was one loud damn gun...

Somehow the ''ping'' at the end of a clip always seems louder.