07-27-2011, 05:07 PM
I think the AR15's compact magazine profile is one of its biggest benefits, when considering who will primarily be carrying service rifles or carbines. Just loading out your kit for an AR/M4 versus an AK or an FN/SR25/M14 will illustrate quickly the implications of the individual soldier's load on the entire logistics chain in not only weight, but space. Also add in the benefit of being able to assume a much lower prone position than any other 30rd mag-fed assault rifle, as well as the compactness of such a weapon in trenches, bunkers, thick vegetation, vehicles, and urban areas.
Regarding Military experience: I have only walked in one set of boots in my life at a time, and there is a vast collection of usable experience being shared by very few veterans, as many guys may peruse a forum, witness streams of immaturity spew from countless keyboard commandos, and turn away quickly, realizing their input might be disrespected or their honor questioned by some pre-pubescent anonymous adolescent without a clue.
This is why I highly value the Grendel forum for the gentlemanly conduct, respect, and open sharing of experience without ego or fanfare. By no means do I speak from a pulpit of my military experience trumping logic or the experience of others. I can only relate my input from the context that I experienced usage of military small arms in dismounted Infantry and Airborne units in a broad range of duty positions and deployments, as well as my understanding of the big picture of TO&E, logistics, training, and doctrine. I still am learning more about these subjects as I continue to work in the security industry, and claim no special status above the next contributor to a discussion.
Regarding AUTO mechanisms in the M4(A1): The benefits are in the SEMI mode of fire more than anything, while providing certain units the discretion of using controlled burst fire by the user in the AUTO mode. If you have ever had the opportunity to feel the trigger of an M16A2 or M4 with the 3-round burst mech, you will immediately notice the difference in pull weights as the burst counter cycles through its varying notches against the burst disconnector (there are two separate disconnectors in a burst trigger mechanism).
For the hard-chargers in the isolated COP's in Afghanistan, the Taliban methodically reconnoiter their crew-served weapons and Command & Control structures, and target those with PKM and RPG fire with the initiation of the deliberate attacks they are known for against such outposts. (Their training comes from a former 10th SFG E-7 gone officer, who later went to the CIA and oversaw the comprehensive UW program for the Mujahaideen in Pakistan during the Afghan-Soviet conflict in the 1980's, so they are practicing US small unit tactics in very disciplined and well-planned operations.)
This elimination of crew-served weapons placed a heavy burden on individual riflemen, and attests to the resolve that these units have shown under extended engagements that no real small arms are designed to handle without barrel changes. If a SAW was subjected to the rates of fire these guys used, you would go through several barrel changes if you ran the gun by the book for sustained, rapid, or emergency rates of fire. The fact that they have repelled the attacks without being successfully overrun speaks volumes to the warrior spirit of the units in question. The next question in my mind is how would they have fared if riflemen had been armed with M14's, AK's, or some other rifle. AK's will actually catch on fire when shot in extreme high-volume. M14's with a .625 pencil barrel blasting 7.62...high volume...ouch!
Regarding Military experience: I have only walked in one set of boots in my life at a time, and there is a vast collection of usable experience being shared by very few veterans, as many guys may peruse a forum, witness streams of immaturity spew from countless keyboard commandos, and turn away quickly, realizing their input might be disrespected or their honor questioned by some pre-pubescent anonymous adolescent without a clue.
This is why I highly value the Grendel forum for the gentlemanly conduct, respect, and open sharing of experience without ego or fanfare. By no means do I speak from a pulpit of my military experience trumping logic or the experience of others. I can only relate my input from the context that I experienced usage of military small arms in dismounted Infantry and Airborne units in a broad range of duty positions and deployments, as well as my understanding of the big picture of TO&E, logistics, training, and doctrine. I still am learning more about these subjects as I continue to work in the security industry, and claim no special status above the next contributor to a discussion.
Regarding AUTO mechanisms in the M4(A1): The benefits are in the SEMI mode of fire more than anything, while providing certain units the discretion of using controlled burst fire by the user in the AUTO mode. If you have ever had the opportunity to feel the trigger of an M16A2 or M4 with the 3-round burst mech, you will immediately notice the difference in pull weights as the burst counter cycles through its varying notches against the burst disconnector (there are two separate disconnectors in a burst trigger mechanism).
For the hard-chargers in the isolated COP's in Afghanistan, the Taliban methodically reconnoiter their crew-served weapons and Command & Control structures, and target those with PKM and RPG fire with the initiation of the deliberate attacks they are known for against such outposts. (Their training comes from a former 10th SFG E-7 gone officer, who later went to the CIA and oversaw the comprehensive UW program for the Mujahaideen in Pakistan during the Afghan-Soviet conflict in the 1980's, so they are practicing US small unit tactics in very disciplined and well-planned operations.)
This elimination of crew-served weapons placed a heavy burden on individual riflemen, and attests to the resolve that these units have shown under extended engagements that no real small arms are designed to handle without barrel changes. If a SAW was subjected to the rates of fire these guys used, you would go through several barrel changes if you ran the gun by the book for sustained, rapid, or emergency rates of fire. The fact that they have repelled the attacks without being successfully overrun speaks volumes to the warrior spirit of the units in question. The next question in my mind is how would they have fared if riflemen had been armed with M14's, AK's, or some other rifle. AK's will actually catch on fire when shot in extreme high-volume. M14's with a .625 pencil barrel blasting 7.62...high volume...ouch!