The M16/M4's demons have surfaced again.

[Anlushac11]

Weapons failed US troops during Afghan firefight - Yahoo! News

The M-16 is IMHO a outstanding design and very capable weapon...when it works.

Due to the direct gas impingement system the M-16/M-4 is known to foul, jam, and flat cease to operate if not constantly kept clean, sometimes needing the aid of a armorer to repair jams.

2007 dust test

In the fall of 2007, the Army tested the M4 against three other carbines in "sandstorm conditions" at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland: the Heckler & Koch XM8 rifle, Fabrique Nationale de Herstal SOF Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) and the Heckler & Koch HK416. Ten of each type of rifle were used to fire 6,000 rounds each, for a total of 60,000 rounds per rifle type.[7] The M4 suffered far more stoppages than its competitors: 882 stoppages, 19 requiring an armorer to fix.

The XM8 had the fewest stoppages, 116 minor stoppages and 11 major ones, followed by the FN SCAR with 226 stoppages and the HK416 with 233.[8][9]

The Army was quick to point out that even with 863 minor stoppages—termed "class one" stoppages which require 10 seconds or less to clear and "class two" stoppages which require more than ten seconds to clear—the M4 functioned well, with over 98 percent of the 60,000 total rounds firing without a problem. The Army said it planned to improve the M4 with a new cold-hammer-forged barrel to give longer life and more reliable magazines to reduce the stoppages. Magazine failures caused 239 of the M4's 882 failures. Army officials said the new magazines could be combat-ready by spring if testing went well

The US Army killed the XM-8 program because Colt Industries lobbied Ted Kennedy who was a powerful and influential senator from Colts home state of Massachusetts to get the XM-8's apparently win cancelled. The US Army is now doing research to decide on a new infantry assault rifle to replace the M-16/M4.

In the meantime US troops are still dying.

Possible quick replacements are the FN-SCAR, the H&K 416, The Barrett REC-7, and the Bushmaster ACR.

IMHO the H&K 416 or the Barrett REC-7 give the fastest path to field a replacement.

But If I were to choose one I would go with the Bushmaster ACR, Formerly known as the Magpul Masada.

[Roaming East]

Old news but sad. Like ive said, the M16/4 family is a fine weapon when used in a particular environment, that being small Direct Action roles preferably in an Urban setting. Out in the boonies as a fighting mans stick? its a piece of shit. All the accuracy and 'works when it works' BS doesnt mean anything to the hundreds of dead soldiers with jammed rifles in their hands since Vietnam til today.

[Anlushac11]

IMHO Colt should go get F%^&*#D for producing a weapon that has gotten countless US servicemen killed.

I am curious to see how long Colt Industries keeps arms contracts now that Kennedy is not around to protect it.

IMHO the US military should either adopt the H&K M8 design in 6.8mm SPC or buy very large numbers of the H&K 416 upgrade kits in 6.8mm SPC.

I would also institute a program to convert the M240 and M249 to 6.8mm SPC.

Ideally my favorite is still the Bushmaster ACR/Magpul Masada as I feel it is the most advanced design and I really love the quick breakdown feature.