Why The Military Is Moving On From The M16

Task & Purpose ^ | October 28, 2015 | By Christian Beekman

[Paul46360]

[Eagles6]

What they've done previously is to take the rifle apart and toss the lower receiver which is where the evil full auto magic is housed and sell the remainder as a parts kit. Just rebuild on hour own lower.

With this administration I'm sure they'll be destroyed.

[onedoug]

One of these days I'd like to add a good M14 to my collection.

Me too.

MPs & Molly and Dolly, Tam Ky, early 69. Too funny.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Thanks. I didn’t know those two problems. I remember there was always controversy about the small/ light bullet at high speed didn’t have enough stopping power. The old Pop Sci article mentioned problems w lightweight magazines causing jamming. Was the mag strengthened?

It was outrageous losing our men to bad weapon design.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I recall the puff piece criticism, too. I re-read it and found it to be somewhat honest about the jamming problem blamed on weak mags. They sure were not doing hard-hitting expose journalism.

Were you a Pop Sci reader? Couldn’t have been many girl readers at the time. It was my favorite mag from about age 10 to 18. First mag I ever subscribed to — I think the subscription was a Christmas gift from Mom & Dad. Dad was an mechanical engr and this was one of many things he did to set me off on the same path. He was really smart that way.

[Carry_Okie]

Were you a Pop Sci reader? Couldn’t have been many girl readers at the time. It was my favorite mag from about age 10 to 18.

I took the magazine from about 9-13. I loved it at first, especially "New Ideas from the Inventors," but I eventually tired of it because it was so formulaic and repetitive. High school was so demanding that I didn't have time for it. Loved the car reviews too (MoPar fan).

I think the subscription was a Christmas gift from Mom & Dad.

Same here, but I think it was my uncle. I ended up a mechanical engineer as well, a tinkerer. Now I tinker with biology. It's much more interesting.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[1966 Lackland AFB. Trained on the original M-16. No forward assist, no birdcage flash hider. Worked fine-then. Fell in love with the rifle.]

That rifle was better than the first lots of M-16’s issued to the Marine Corps and Army. It had a chrome plated bolt and bore. Later these features were added to all M-16’s.

[AndyTheBear]

Glad to hear the 7.62 machine guns are still in use. At the time I got out our mechanized infantry units were getting the 5.56 SAW machine guns.

Being big and strong sure makes a difference in hauling it and its ammo around. I think they gave it to me since I was 6.2"...

[FreedomPoster]

I think a lot of firefights in Afghanistan ended up being at long ranges, so the Marines went for relatively more 7.62 firepower with platoon MGs and squad designated marksmen with 7.62 rifles. Hopefully someone will correct me if that’s incorrect, but I don’t think it is.