Troops left to fend for themselves after Army was warned of flaws in rifle

The Washington Times ^ | February 19, 2014 | Rowan Scarborough

[Timber Rattler]

Army Senior Warrant Officer Russton B. Kramer, a 20-year Green Beret, has learned that if you want to improve your chances to survive, it’s best to personally make modifications to the Army’s primary rifle — the M4 carbine.

(snip)

Warrant Officer Kramer has been dropped into some of the most ferocious battles in the war on terrorism, from hunting Islamists in the mountains of northern Iraq to disrupting Taliban opium dealers in dusty southern Afghanistan. He was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery in Operation Viking Hammer to crush the terrorist group Ansar al-Islam in Iraq.

The warrant officer said he and fellow Special Forces soldiers have a trick to maintain the M4A1 — the commando version: They break the rules and buy off-the-shelf triggers and other components and overhaul the weapon themselves.

“The reliability is not there,” Warrant Officer Kramer said of the standard-issue model. “I would prefer to use something else. If I could grab something else, I would.”

[ComputerGuy]

As I've said many times, the M-16 will always be a POS in my book. You couldn't give me one. I watched too many of my friends die on 881S because of it. I'm here only because there were lots of AKs lying around after the fight got going. The M14 was a little heavy and uncontrollable (for me) on full-auto, but I never saw one jam or malfunction, except for one old piece that would only fire full-auto. One scene I will always remember if of lots of NVA pouring out of a hidden bunker and being spotted by one of our M60 crews. The gunner laid so much fire down, most of the NVA ran back in the bunker. A bunch of them took cover in an area of elephant grass. The 60 soon jammed and a bunch of with M16s started pouring fire into the grassy area. The pissant .223 rounds simply could not penetrate the grass!. The NVA gave more than a good account of themselves that day. Armed with superior weapons and better leadership, they kicked our asses and took our names. I'd like to hear from actual combat vets who have used the 16 in combat, but those folks who have only range time or anecdotes to pass along are encouraged too remain silent.

[Slambat]

“Our military has rotted from the head down...I would not encourage any friend or family member to seek a career there in this day and age.”

All part of the plan. Now that the military is at war
with heterosexual and christian soldiers it wont be long
before it will be full of Obamas people. Do you think
Obamas people will have any problem firing on American
citizens?

[xzins]

7.62

Size, distance, killing power discussions aside, one of the major reasons for that, as I was always told, was interchangeability.

[KoRn]

I have multiple AR15s, and have yet to see one of them malfunction. Of course I get good quality mags/ammo and keep them reasonably clean.

[eartick]

When your baby cake AR platform has choked on green cased battlefield ammo my M14 will still be rattling them off down range killin stuff.....dead

[Justa]

5.56 green tips require 10” of bodymass to dump their energy. Shot placement is key. Not so much with the 7.62.

I’ll take the AR-style 5.56 any day. Great rifle.

Spray-and-pray typically isn’t possible with a 3-rnd burst until the chamber is hot, in which case it works just fine. If the firer is pulling the trigger so fast that the chamber heats up the weapon kindly obliges and goes full auto.

The AK-47 is the spray and pray weapon.

[Durus]

My AR doesn't use 5.56 but thanks and I'm not going to tell my AR you called her baby cakes, she would get pissed off.

The US Army, Marine Corp and Navy Seals (USSOCOM, JSOC, NAVSOC) have all chosen (independently I might add) the KAC AR10 over m14/m1-a variation. These guys can shoot whatever it is they want so it isn't a political consideration.

[Paladin2]

" If all you're doing is clearing houses, bring a shotgun."

AR-12.

[qaz123]

But now that everyone is coming out with .308 versions, in the M4 platform, not sure the room clearing/close quarters can be used anymore. The .308 has a lot more a$$ behind it, but the last time I checked, going door to door was a mans job. But the way they’re pushing kids thru basic these days, not sure how many qualify as men, as the PC monster has infiltrated.

However, my Noveske Leonidas is wonderful. 12” barrel in .308. Its a masterpiece.

[Lazamataz]

What is your opinion of the Plasma Rifle, 40 Watt?

I feel it is remarkably reliable, and extremely powerful... but atmospheric conditions can completely degrade its accuracy.

[edpc]

I don’t dispute the advantages the 7.62 has. In fact, you can get a .458 SOCOM to work with your 5.56 lower and magazines for some real CQ punch. The initial debate, however, was over the soundness or the AR family design an the effectiveness of the 5.56 round. My point was, at ranges within 250 m, I believe the 5.56 performs well enough to be regarded as something other than a hot 22LR due to its yawing, spalling, and fragmenting characteristics.

[redgolum]

I have an AR class firearm. Fun gun, shoots accurate, and is a great range gun.

I have also put in a lot of high dollar parts to get it that way.

But for a dirty environment, it wouldn't be my first choice.

[NFHale]

Direct gas impingement on the bolt face - It craps where it eats.

Go to a piston-drive upper receiver ala AK47-series weapons, and it runs cooler and cleaner and most of the reliability issue goes away.

Not a difficult fix; the uppers are already available, and they are a drop-in retrofit.

LWRC makes them, as well as other companies.

I don’t know why they wouldn’t go to that simple expedient upgrade.

Sort of on the order of going from the M1 Garand to the M14 service rifle.

[NFHale]

Wasn’t it a wrong powder issue in the early M16s?

[NFHale]

RE M14:
How similar is the Springfield Armory M1A to the M14? Other than the semi-auto only configuration, is there any other differences?

I have a late 90s vintage M1A, love it. Tack driver accurate, and enjoyable to shoot.

Have a AR as well, but I enjoy the M1A a lot more.

[DuncanWaring]

I challenge all of you to find ONE incidence in the history of warfare where commanders deliberately stationed their troops in a ‘fishbowl’, surrounded by high ground.

Dien Bien Phu?

[NFHale]

Wasn’t Khe Sahn ringed by higher elevation hills too?

[cherokee1]

Pardon for breaking in but I’ve trained with all of ‘em, and tested all of ‘em. I’m still a 30 caliber guy even if it means carrying a few less rounds. One of my favorite stories comes from the Pacific in WW II. The Japanese thot that palm tree logs would be fine for bunkers. But those ‘06 rounds snuck right thru over a foot of wood. .223 won’t do that. Tough learning curve for Hirohito’s guys. In today’s world lots or kinds of body armor will stop .223-—not so much for 30 cal which will at least butt-roll the target even if it’s wrapped in enough armor to stop the slug.-——And then there’s the dirty gas problem of the no-op-rod system-—just a bitch to clean at the wrong time.

[DuncanWaring]

It appears Khe Sanh had hills "near" but not "surrounding".

[NFHale]

Got it...

Woof, Woof, Brother Dawg...