For you gun enthusiasts and soldiers, do you think the US army should replace the M16 and its variants with another weapon and if so, which one? I've heard that the M16 is a good weapon but is getting old and is unreliable in some environments.
2006-07-23 07:57:59 · 14 answers · asked by ? 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I never liked the m16, because of it's plastic stock. We used the m14 in Nam first at 11.34 pounds and metal butt plate, at close combat a horizontal or vertical butt stoke would kill.It's not like the movies , you do run out of ammo, that's when you fix bayonets and pray.
The army had them in 1965 but us Marines did not. I remember because they can all be automatic an entire Battalion was pinned down and had expired all of their ammo. A single Marine platoon ran through them and got them out.
The idea of automatic weapons is more so to keep them enemy ducking and when a head pops up, one bullet from a rifleman ends his existence. One shot one kill.
Today's technology is awesome and we should always be at the cutting edge. yes in should be replaced,
2006-07-23 08:12:50 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 16⤊ 5⤋
The biggest complaint from the guys in Iraq, regarding the M16, is it's stoping power. When theses guys (insurgents) do get hit, they don't always go down. The army and Marines are already using a higher caliber weapon on a limited basis. Certainly, snipers are using larger weapons.
I don't know models that well, but the latest version of a fully automatic weapon fires a 5.62 round, which is equaivalent to a 30 cal. round. Now, that has stopping power, also, it probably kicks like a mule. I'm sure someone on here will come up with some exact information.
2006-07-23 15:07:42 · answer #2 · answered by briang731/ bvincent 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is a good weapon there is a replacement cumming. I forgot what it is called. it shoots the same round, but it can shoot around corners. While you are on the other corner. Neat huh?
Its alot more accurate at 300 yards, and lighter. It is a better weapon. Its made to work better in the type of war we are now in. You need a smaller type of weapon for Urban war fare, Like going into buildings, Like what a SWAT team would do on TV.
The M_16 was good in the Jungle, but the time have changed to more city type of war. the weapon will be coming out, actually now, it will be in the hands of all soldiers by 2015.
2006-07-23 18:00:17 · answer #3 · answered by mike67333 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they want a shorter weapon. They been using more M4's which I think is a short but same thing as a M16.
It was really unreliable in the Vietnam war until they used updates, thats what was wrong in Iraq too, I think they got sand in them but they just fix the problem.
2006-07-23 17:35:19 · answer #4 · answered by NOVA50 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they should. In fact, they should have completed the transition to the M4 carbine, however the US military is already gearing up for the "next generation" of weapons. The M4 and its variants, along with the 240B (which replaced the M60) are great weapons. As the military prepares to transition to the "next gen" weapons, look at the tax portion of you pay check stub and think about the necessity of this. I have personally fought with the M4 and the 240B and they are great weapons.
2006-07-23 15:01:52 · answer #5 · answered by ironcityveteran 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the military should try and develop a caseless ammunition type to use in a new main battle rifle. The g11 program wasn't a complete failure, they could pick up from where they left off. One reason why the m16 was adopted was so the troops could carry more ammunition, with the caseless system troops could carry many more times ammunition because of the low weight.
2006-07-23 15:00:46 · answer #6 · answered by Black Sabbath 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, A lot already use a M4 Carbine (correct me If I'm wrong) that's the lightweight version of the M16...
2006-07-23 16:53:51 · answer #7 · answered by dutchprides 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a replacement under development. It's known mostly by the acronym OICW, or Objective Infantry Combat Weapon.
2006-07-23 15:06:44 · answer #8 · answered by Jay S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
had problems long ago , now its a fine rifle. it also depends on what youre shooting at , where youre at in the world too. m16 was good in jungle. m14 is better in europe theatre. no one rifle is suited for all scenarios. the 12ga is good too for some situations too. thats why there are different weapons in a squad; all these weapons are reliable if kept clean and oiled
2006-07-23 15:06:31 · answer #9 · answered by pahump1@verizon.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are already working on it, check out the below links for one of the proposed weapons that are currently in development, the XM-8.
2006-07-23 15:01:55 · answer #10 · answered by Charles D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
XM8?
Thats some new fangled gun that's supposed to be uber.
Or if you didnt know allready the guns from "Tom Clancy's: Ghost Recon" are actually real guns in development, so one of them could replace it too.
2006-07-23 15:02:08 · answer #11 · answered by Michael G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋