02-18-2015, 08:40 PM
Triggers. The M16A4's and M4's current triggers will also be reviewed.
"Rule number one in marksmanship," said Layou, "is stay consistent."
Consistency offers accuracy from shot to shot. But the service's current trigger violates that cardinal rule with three distinct trigger pulls felt on a rotating basis. In other words, it takes a different amount of force to break the trigger the first, second and third time it is pulled. The fourth trigger pull is again, like the first. That is the direct result of the rifle's select-fire capability that allows it to be set on safe, semi-automatic, or three-round-burst.
This could potentially be one of the more expensive upgrades simply because it would require the most research and development. "No engineer has cracked the code," Layou said. That means the service would have to draft a requirement and then turn to industry to develop a new trigger group.
The other alternative Layou said, is to reconsider the three-round burst capability. Is it needed? Might a precision semi-automatic trigger with a smooth, consistent trigger pull be a better fit? Those are questions that will be answered in the year ahead.
Southpaws. The last upgrade being considered is retrofitting rifles for left-handed Marines. About 10 percent of Marines are left handed, said Parker. Those Marines already enjoy ambidextrous magazine releases and select-fire levers, but not charging handles or bolt catch releases. As a result, southpaws must manipulate their weapons more to perform basic functions. That costs precious moments in battle.
Ambidextrous charging handles and bolt catch releases are commonly available on the civilian market for less than $100 and less than $30, respectively. So while the change would only affect roughly 10 percent of Marines, it would be one of the easiest and cheapest upgrades.
Better ammo
The best rifle in the world is little more than an expensive club without the ammunition to match. So experts at WTB Quantico are working toward adopting the AB49 Special Operations Science and Technology 5.56mm cartridge as the service's standard round.
SOST rounds, adopted for use by Marines in the war zone beginning in 2010, provide better ballistics than standard A059 5.56 ball ammunition as the bullets travel from muzzle to target and have more devastating effects once they impact the enemy.
When striking a person, a SOST round leaves a larger primary wound cavity, meaning enemy fighters are likely to bleed out faster. Short of a direct hit to the central nervous system, that is the only reliable method of incapacitation, Layou said.
The plan is to continue using SOST rounds for deployed units, while using old ball ammunition exclusively for training and putting a halt to future purchases, said Maj. Devin Blowes, WTB Quantico's operations officer. Under that plan, the service would exhaust all current inventory of old ball ammunition within seven to 10 years. And at that point, all new purchases would be for SOST rounds, which would then be used for training and combat.
The service needs congressional approval to make the change, but Parker is optimistic, saying Congress has given favorable consideration to past ammunition requests. Given that SOST rounds provide better performance without additional cost, he doesn't foresee resistance from lawmakers.
Hollow-points. For pistols, the service will investigate the potential adoption of hollow-point rounds. Personnel at WTB Quantico recently visited the FBI's ballistic lab, also aboard Quantico, where they saw demonstrations of ball and hollow-point ammunition. Ball pistol ammunition, like that now carried by Marines into combat, failed to expand after hitting ballistic gel meant to replicate the human body. That means the wound inflicted is less likely to be lethal than hollow points, which expandand leave significant primary wound channels that result in rapid blood loss.
The adoption of better pistol rounds becomes increasingly important as Marines look to a future where they will be more likely to operate in highly urbanized littoral areas. Because of confined spaces in small alleys, rooms and halls, Marines could find themselves relying on pistols more than ever, said Layou.
Holster study
Top pistol experts will also consider new authorized ways to wear the Marine Corps' SERPA Level 2 Tactical Holster, adopted in 2011 and produced by Blackhawk.
One appeal of the holster is its modular design that allows it to be quickly moved from one mounting bracket to another on a belt, drop-leg holster or a MOLLE-attached bracket. But for safety reasons, it is authorized only for wear on the hip or thigh.
Despite that, some Marines in the war zone do wear holstered pistols on their chest because it is more convenient for those who operate in vehicles.
It can be difficult to access a pistol on your hip when in the confines of a vehicle. In some cases a Marine may not actually fit into a blast seat while wearing a hip holster, said Capt. Brian Basil, the headquarters company commander and marksmanship range and facility campaign plan manager at WTB Quantico.
While some specialized units, including Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, may also wear chest-mounted holsters, they are not generally authorized for wear in that location because drawing from the chest is similar to a "cross-draw," in which one is likely to flag their own arm and fellow Marines down the firing line with the muzzle of their weapon. That poses significant safety challenges during live-fire training, experts agreed.
There is no doctrine or institutional training on wearing the holster that way and it is not authorized, Pope emphasized, so it must be studied carefully. But he recognized that Marines are wearing it that way and that is why WTB Quantico intends to consider it under its "train as you fight" philosophy.
"Rule number one in marksmanship," said Layou, "is stay consistent."
Consistency offers accuracy from shot to shot. But the service's current trigger violates that cardinal rule with three distinct trigger pulls felt on a rotating basis. In other words, it takes a different amount of force to break the trigger the first, second and third time it is pulled. The fourth trigger pull is again, like the first. That is the direct result of the rifle's select-fire capability that allows it to be set on safe, semi-automatic, or three-round-burst.
This could potentially be one of the more expensive upgrades simply because it would require the most research and development. "No engineer has cracked the code," Layou said. That means the service would have to draft a requirement and then turn to industry to develop a new trigger group.
The other alternative Layou said, is to reconsider the three-round burst capability. Is it needed? Might a precision semi-automatic trigger with a smooth, consistent trigger pull be a better fit? Those are questions that will be answered in the year ahead.
Southpaws. The last upgrade being considered is retrofitting rifles for left-handed Marines. About 10 percent of Marines are left handed, said Parker. Those Marines already enjoy ambidextrous magazine releases and select-fire levers, but not charging handles or bolt catch releases. As a result, southpaws must manipulate their weapons more to perform basic functions. That costs precious moments in battle.
Ambidextrous charging handles and bolt catch releases are commonly available on the civilian market for less than $100 and less than $30, respectively. So while the change would only affect roughly 10 percent of Marines, it would be one of the easiest and cheapest upgrades.
Better ammo
The best rifle in the world is little more than an expensive club without the ammunition to match. So experts at WTB Quantico are working toward adopting the AB49 Special Operations Science and Technology 5.56mm cartridge as the service's standard round.
SOST rounds, adopted for use by Marines in the war zone beginning in 2010, provide better ballistics than standard A059 5.56 ball ammunition as the bullets travel from muzzle to target and have more devastating effects once they impact the enemy.
When striking a person, a SOST round leaves a larger primary wound cavity, meaning enemy fighters are likely to bleed out faster. Short of a direct hit to the central nervous system, that is the only reliable method of incapacitation, Layou said.
The plan is to continue using SOST rounds for deployed units, while using old ball ammunition exclusively for training and putting a halt to future purchases, said Maj. Devin Blowes, WTB Quantico's operations officer. Under that plan, the service would exhaust all current inventory of old ball ammunition within seven to 10 years. And at that point, all new purchases would be for SOST rounds, which would then be used for training and combat.
The service needs congressional approval to make the change, but Parker is optimistic, saying Congress has given favorable consideration to past ammunition requests. Given that SOST rounds provide better performance without additional cost, he doesn't foresee resistance from lawmakers.
Hollow-points. For pistols, the service will investigate the potential adoption of hollow-point rounds. Personnel at WTB Quantico recently visited the FBI's ballistic lab, also aboard Quantico, where they saw demonstrations of ball and hollow-point ammunition. Ball pistol ammunition, like that now carried by Marines into combat, failed to expand after hitting ballistic gel meant to replicate the human body. That means the wound inflicted is less likely to be lethal than hollow points, which expandand leave significant primary wound channels that result in rapid blood loss.
The adoption of better pistol rounds becomes increasingly important as Marines look to a future where they will be more likely to operate in highly urbanized littoral areas. Because of confined spaces in small alleys, rooms and halls, Marines could find themselves relying on pistols more than ever, said Layou.
Holster study
Top pistol experts will also consider new authorized ways to wear the Marine Corps' SERPA Level 2 Tactical Holster, adopted in 2011 and produced by Blackhawk.
One appeal of the holster is its modular design that allows it to be quickly moved from one mounting bracket to another on a belt, drop-leg holster or a MOLLE-attached bracket. But for safety reasons, it is authorized only for wear on the hip or thigh.
Despite that, some Marines in the war zone do wear holstered pistols on their chest because it is more convenient for those who operate in vehicles.
It can be difficult to access a pistol on your hip when in the confines of a vehicle. In some cases a Marine may not actually fit into a blast seat while wearing a hip holster, said Capt. Brian Basil, the headquarters company commander and marksmanship range and facility campaign plan manager at WTB Quantico.
While some specialized units, including Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, may also wear chest-mounted holsters, they are not generally authorized for wear in that location because drawing from the chest is similar to a "cross-draw," in which one is likely to flag their own arm and fellow Marines down the firing line with the muzzle of their weapon. That poses significant safety challenges during live-fire training, experts agreed.
There is no doctrine or institutional training on wearing the holster that way and it is not authorized, Pope emphasized, so it must be studied carefully. But he recognized that Marines are wearing it that way and that is why WTB Quantico intends to consider it under its "train as you fight" philosophy.
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