[genefromjersey]

A few threads up ahead, there was a report from Afghanistan -based troops, suggesting the M4 was unreliable, because it was almost impossible to keep clean.There were also problems with the SAW (squad automatic weapon).

Time to break out the "old" 7.62 mm M-14's, and come up with a 7.62 BAR.

Re-organize the squad into 3 four man fire teams-one BAR un each team.

[demlosers]

A few threads up ahead, there was a report from Afghanistan -based troops, suggesting the M4 was unreliable, because it was almost impossible to keep clean.There were also problems with the SAW (squad automatic weapon).

Yeah I know, that's my post also. It did rate a 89% confidence level wil the troops who were asked to assess the weapon. But, as one soldier pointed out, “If I did not have so many opportunities to clean [my M-4] I’m not sure how reliable it would have been.”

[Redleg Duke]

There was an M-14 BAR, the M-14E2. I carried one and it was good...almost as good as the BAR.

The more I read and remember, the more I think we ought to reactivate the M-14.

One dirty little secret. The M-16 was adopted over the M-14, not so much for the reasons reported, but for the main reason that in the mid-60s, we had ceased being a "Nation of Riflemen" and the kiddies drafted from the big cities couldn't handle the recoil (kick) of the M-14 and were boloing on the range. The M-16, nothing but a .22 Long Rifle on steroids, didn't kick the kiddies so much and they were qualifying with it...but not becoming riflemen.

End of rant.