Email from Iraq

[billt]

It's no deep, dark secret that the M-4 has had serious functionability problems in Iraq. Google "M-4 rifle problems" and you'll get the phone book, along with enough fireplace reading to keep you busy until late Spring. The 5.56 MM cartridge is suspect also. If it wasn't you wouldn't be seeing so many M-14's coming out of mothballs, and in such high demand. The 9 MM NATO round is being dumped by many of the Special Ops. guys in favor of .45 ACP's in various flavors.

An average size Mule Deer has a Cardiovascular System much the same in size and function as an average adult male, and is just about as hard to kill. In several states it is illegal to hunt deer with a .223 because it simply doesn't have enough soup to reliably get humane kills. So it shouldn't come as a shock when we use what is basically a varmint round in our military weapons, we're going to get soldiers griping, and wanting more powerful weapons. The crux of that E-Mail translated much the same.   Bill T.

[fightingquaker13]

It's no deep, dark secret that the M-4 has had serious functionability problems in Iraq. Google "M-4 rifle problems" and you'll get the phone book, along with enough fireplace reading to keep you busy until late Spring. The 5.56 MM cartridge is suspect also. If it wasn't you wouldn't be seeing so many M-14's coming out of mothballs, and in such high demand. The 9 MM NATO round is being dumped by many of the Special Ops. guys in favor of .45 ACP's in various flavors.

An average size Mule Deer has a Cardiovascular System much the same in size and function as an average adult male, and is just about as hard to kill. In several states it is illegal to hunt deer with a .223 because it simply doesn't have enough soup to reliably get humane kills. So it shouldn't come as a shock when we use what is basically a varmint round in our military weapons, we're going to get soldiers griping, and wanting more powerful weapons. The crux of that E-Mail translated much the same.   Bill T.

Amen Brother! And if we can afford one billion dollars a pop bombers, we can certainley do better than the M-4 or the bastard child of the Garand for heavens sake. I mean, I know JMB and Kalishnakov are dead and all, but I reckon if the DOD waves some money around some bright spark might just step up to the plate. I'm not smart enough to have the solution, but I am smart enough to identify the problem and say we need to fix it.
FQ13 who would not be above talking trades with you Bill

[twyacht]

With current ballistics from the 6.5, or 6.8, or even the 7.62x51(.308), which have flat out better ballistics than the 5.56, why is the "same ol', same ol'" 5.56 still standard military issue?

I'm not bashing the AR's, despite their initial problems as well in Vietnam, they have their place as a combat rifle, and in history, however, if evolution and technology can make a more effective combat round, we should be all over it.

Regardless of the OP email, which I read some time ago, it doesn't matter, the crap over there is the same crap. We are just better at figuring it out.

I agree the 5.56 is still a good round, but the 6.8 is better, and the .308 has been there and done that effectively.

just my .02 cents, and wanting to believe our soldiers have the best available. NOT a "cost analysis" bureaucratic decision.

[2HOW]

With current ballistics from the 6.5, or 6.8, or even the 7.62x51(.308), which have flat out better ballistics than the 5.56, why is the "same ol', same ol'" 5.56 still standard military issue?

I'm not bashing the AR's, despite their initial problems as well in Vietnam, they have their place as a combat rifle, and in history, however, if evolution and technology can make a more effective combat round, we should be all over it.

Regardless of the OP email, which I read some time ago, it doesn't matter, the crap over there is the same crap. We are just better at figuring it out.

I agree the 5.56 is still a good round, but the 6.8 is better, and the .308 has been there and done that effectively.

just my .02 cents, and wanting to believe our soldiers have the best available. NOT a "cost analysis" bureaucratic decision.

On that note I read the sniper rifles are being retro fitted to 300 Win. Mag because the lapua would be too costly, but they are refitting the stocks for adjustment and putting a flash hider on them at least.