Comments on: No More M4 — USMC Adopts H&K M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle

By: John Nader

John Nader — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 00:43:49 +0000

When I was in the US Army I started out with the M1 Garand and then the M14. I have owned and have substantial experience with a number of military rifles including the M1, M14, FAL, CETME and G3 copy, AK, AR15 (in 5.56, 6.5 Grendel, and 6.8 SPC).

While I loved the M1 and M14 and not the delayed roller CETME and G3, my favorite is clearly the AR. The caliber needs to be the 6.5 Grendel and the barrel length needs to be 18 inch. The 6.8 is better than the 5.56, but not as good as the Grendel.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 20:05:36 +0000

Thank you GeneD. Echoes of our experience.

Pat B. They have changed the 223 bullet multiple times since 1975. It still is sub-optimal.

Fred. Go and look at the 280 British and compare/contrast with your statement.

By: Pat B

Pat B — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 16:20:17 +0000

IF there’s a problem with the .223 it’s with the bullet itself.. But that probably won’t be changed.

By: Fred

Fred — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 23:01:01 +0000

Personally, I am not a big fan of the LR-308, AR10 etc. The are big, heavy, kick hard, lower capacity and the controls are all heavier to operate. Pigs!

By: GeneD

GeneD — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 20:46:17 +0000

In polite response to those who chose to be critical of my opinion regarding the 5.56 / M-16/ M-4 : It is based on 26 months in Vietnam , Republic of . The happiest day of my two + tours was being transferred into a Unit where I could carry the weapon I chose . If you don’t understand the in-effectiveness of the 5.56 in heavy jungle foliage , please be courteous enough to consider why one would prefer a .30cal , rather than criticize un-justly . My preferred weapon “In-country” was a SKS . It had a longer barrel than a AK , making it more accurate to a longer range , and I had .30cal Hit & Kill power in average combat range . 12-20 meters . The weapon performed better in the conditions of the Highlands , than a 5.56 would . And the ammo was lighter than .308 . Lot better choices in quality available fire-arms today for Airborne “grunts” / Rangers than fifty years ago .

And if memory serves my tired old a&& , wasn’t most of the rest of the planet using AK’s / SKS’s , and Mosin-Nagant’s while we were going to the 5.56 . And the European’s and African nations were adopting the FLN and dirivites in .30cal . Always thought the 6.5’s & 7mm were over-looked . Remember children ; Mr. Stoner designed that weapon in .308 …Not 5.56 . The beaura-crats in the “Swamp” forced that change to be made . If you’ve ever spent any time with a LR-308 , you’d be askin why they changed it . And for the record , my field base-load was a average 60-65 pounds , plus a PRC-25 ?

By: KMart

KMart — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 23:59:28 +0000

I read Defense News Early Bird Briefs every day and have not seen anything mentioned about replacing the M249 with an H&K. Not saying this is not fact.
On something like this change, Military Times, Marine Corps Times or some other military publications would have let this slip out. This announcement has caught me off guard.

EDITOR: This has actually been in the news for quite some time. Here is August 2017 report in MARINE TIMES: “Marines are on track to replace nearly all M4s in every infantry squad with 11,000 M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles from Heckler & Koch. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said earlier this year that he wants the rifle in the hands of every “0311” rifleman in the Corps. Marines began fielding 4,000 M27 IARs in 2010 to replace the M249 squad automatic weapons, but that later shifted to also replace the M4.”

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 21:23:46 +0000

Of course, if you criticise the 223 for being inadequate (mostly because it is), the immediate response is to say 30 cal.

Since all the research since the end of the Boer War has been in the 6.5 – 7mm range, it is worth reminding readers of the ongoing efforts to field a 6.5mm cartridge as the standard military round. See https://www.military.com/kitup/2017/10/lethality.html for example.

Just remember the US crushed the 280 British/7 x 43mm in the early 50s in favour of the 7.62 then ditched that in favour of the 5.56.

By: Old school

Old school — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 03:17:44 +0000

The whole point of replacing the old BAR (1918) was because it had no quick change barrel. Unless this barrel magically cools down faster than other metal barrels I’m sure the marines will find out the hard way it’s not cut out for the job. Adding a beta mag to my AR does not make it squad automatic weapon.

By: germ

germ — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 03:10:21 +0000

And for what it’s worth for you arm chair Generals go to Camp Perry and see how many .30 cal are shot in the President’s 100.

By: GEN Blackhead

GEN Blackhead — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 02:59:52 +0000

Love how the wannabes complain about the 5.56.