Marine Corps to Replace M16

[Rick]

Okay, it's with the M4. I'm in no position to comment on this but it strikes me that we often change platforms for future actions based on current requirements. You watch, our next battle will be fought in open country where longer range is needed. It's a Murphy kind of a thing I guess.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/stor...--m4/30145257/

[hunter63]

Military Intelligence
Jumbo Shrimp
Postal Service
Ford Escort GT

Oxymoron's

[kyratshooter]

Iraq and Afghanistan ARE open country with ranges out to the curve of the earth!

Our military has gone 100% mechanized and the shorter M4 is handy inside a vehicle.

[finallyME]

In Iraq I was a truck driver....wish I had an M4 instead of an M16

[kyratshooter]

The M4 with 14 inch barrel and collapsing stock is a full 10" shorter than the M16.

But, true to government form, rather than unscrew a barrel and buffer tube and install the shorter barrel and stock, they are opting for complete new rifles.

An M16 can be converted to an M4 in less than 30 minutes. Faster than that if you are using a complete upper.

And due to the full auto feature of the M16, the rifles will never be sold on the surplus market. They will probably wind up in the hands of ISIS or a Mexican cartel and the sales get blamed on American Gun dealers and gun shows.

[Seniorman]

" ... And due to the full auto feature of the M16, the rifles will never be sold on the surplus market. They will probably wind up in the hands of ISIS or a Mexican cartel and the sales get blamed on American Gun dealers and gun shows.

Yes, and our Illustrious Master can call it "Faster & Furiouser."

S.M.

[Winter]

It's a terrible article. It's layman terms at best.

The M16 hasn't been used in 40 yrs.

The USMC has been using the M16A2, M16A3, and M16A4 for the last 20 years.

The difference in 400m accuracy between the A4 and M4 is what you would call "operationally negligible".

The optics on the A4 and M4 actually increase the users hit percentage vastly more then longer sight radius and longer barrel.

[kyratshooter]

They did mention that it was the M16A 1-4 they are replacing. It is down toward the end of the article.

And since this magazine is written mostly as a communication between the Corps and the families of Marines there is no wonder it is written in "laymen's' terms", since it is aimed at laymen.

[finallyME]

Reading the article, I can't find anything new.
Infantry Marines already use M4s. All this does is to give every Infantry Marine one...well, unless you have another weapon other than an M16A4.
The Corps already has enough M4s in inventory. They won't be buying a whole lot of new ones.
All the A4s are going to the non-infantry. This will probably replace their ancient A2s.