[myknowledge]

Proposed replacements for M4 / M16 assault rifle

FN SCAR

Barrett M468

Heckler & Koch XM8

FN F2000

IMI Tavor TAR-21

Remington ACR

Which rifle would you select as a replacement for the M4 / M16?

I'd go for the Remington ACR.

[MrPiper]

If the issue were put to a vote, the troops would vote for a rifle using a short-stroke system (like the XM8, SCAR or H&K 416)

Forgot the AK47 in the list...... pinged to later read after work.

[BellStar]

OK! So whats the hold up. Yesterday would have been soon enough than that's just me.

[Terpfen]

Just adopt the freaking FN SCAR or ACR already. I favor the SCAR, but the ACR may be more politically friendly.

[Brass Lamp]

The Robinson Arms XCR is not in your list and is, I think, one of the more practical choices. Besides, these are all revisions of the AR-18, the patents to which long ago elapsed. All these manufacturers are just proposing their own innovative twists to the old Stoner concept for proprietary reasons. Instead of rewarding any one of them with a $2000/rifle contract, we should just offer them the opportunity to get in on a $500/rifle contract for new AR-18s.

[flowerplough]

U.S. Army Agrees That The M-4 Sucks
Strategy Page ^ | November 25, 2009

The U.S. Army has finally addressed years of complaints about the M-4 and M-16 assault rifles. The M-4 is a short barrel M-16, and has become very popular with the troops.

---

Huh? The Army (brass) officially disses the M-16 variant M-4, but the troops themselves want more of ‘em? Huh?

[DuncanWaring]

The army and marines both decided to stick with their current weapons, rather than adopt an easier to maintain weapon, like the XM8 or H&K 416, because of the billion or so dollars it would cost to switch rifles.

Here's an idea - recoup a lot of that "billion or so" by selling the old rifles via the CMP.

Tell the ATF to sod-off.

[Armedanddangerous]

A buddy of mine was able to shoot the SCAR recently. He’s a writer for a major shooting magazine. He said the SCAR was extremely accurate, but too heavy, and the charging handle was on the wrong side.

This is a guy who has his own HK 416 too, so he knows what he’s talking about. He said the SCAR could be tweeked to be a fantastic battle rifle.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

In dusty places like Iraq and Afghanistan, you have to clean your M16 and M4 rifles constantly, otherwise the combination of carbon (from the recoil system) and dust in the chamber will cause jams. The army and marines both decided to stick with their current weapons, rather than adopt an easier to maintain weapon, like the XM8 or H&K 416, because of the billion or so dollars it would cost to switch rifles.

It's a sad reality of history that we just don't seem to have many wars in really nice places. I mean yes, the Japanese bombed Honolulu and the Nazis did a little street fighting in Paris but by and large wars tend to be fought in places with severely depressed real estate values. (One reason why some of us in California are rather nervous these days.)

But OK, here's a plan to get over the one gigabuck price tag for a new infantry weapon:

As I understand it, the M4 is a fine little carbine as long as you don't need to live with it in the dirt and mud for extended periods of time. Just make Class 3 licenses as simple and inexpensive to get as a C&R and sell the M4s to people through the CMP at a price comparable to that of the new wonder weapon that gets issued to the troops.

[Lockbar]

From the original story:

"The 416 looks like the M4, for the only thing that has changed is the gas system that automatically extracts the cartridge after the bullet has been fired, and loads the next round."

Ummmmm, isn't that what any "self-loading" rifle like the M-16 or M-4 already do? Pick up a fresh round from the magazine after each shot and load it into the chamber? The gas piston thing might be an improvement, but the rifle overall function isn't really changed, is it?