Reply With QuoteI still think this is a bad idea...
USMC M27 to be fielded
So I tried a search, but M27 and IAR were both too short to be included which made it hard and looking around I couldn't find this yet posted, surprisingly.
http://www.military.com/news/article...placement.html
The Marine Corps will field its new, lightweight auto rifle this fall to five combat battalions preparing for war-zone deployments.
Commandant Gen. James T. Conway gave Corps officials the green light in April to issue approximately 450 M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles, enough to replace every M249 squad automatic weapon in four infantry battalions and one light armored reconnaissance battalion.
The limited fielding is a final test to find out if the Heckler & Koch-made weapon performs as well in an operational environment as it has in testing, said Charles Clark III, who oversees infantry weapons requirements at the Corps' Combat Development and Integration office at Quantico, Va.
"The battlefield test will be a verification of what we have already established through extensive operational testing," Clark said. "We want to get a user assessment prior to full-rate production."
I still think this is a bad idea...
I think it has potential, once a larger capacity magazine and possibly an interchangeable barrel are incorporated.Originally Posted by Arnie100
That's not potential... that's a new weapon system and magazines suck when firing full auto. Thumb down!
Larger capacity magazine seems a must. I mean, they've been mucking around with squad automatic weapons since the BAR in WW2 and the conclusion has always been "more ammo for sustained fire".
How are they gonna do that with what is essentially a heavy-barreled rifle?
I really have my doubts about this as well. That being said, an armchair ordnance geek like me is in no position to second-guess the guys who do the real deal every day. And I must admit, this concept is similar to the Russian RPK in significant ways, and I do not see the Russians dumping that weapon because it lacks an interchangeable barrel. I just hope that this works out for the best.
It has been said before and will be said again before the day is done. But we tried this with the L85/LSW combination it didnt deliver enough fire to surpress and it took two campaigns in Iraq and Afgan to eventually convince those holding the purse strings that we needed a belt fed section weapon. This of course ended up being the LMG or M249 as the USMC is replacing. I can appreciate the desire to lighten the load and increase speed of movement but I just wonder if it wont cause casualties in practice. I really hope not.
guys its pretty obvious they are only calling it an IAR to sneak piston rifle procurement past congress.
M60
next?
The HK416 was recalled because of extended-use carrier tilt damage.
M27 would seem to magnify the issue...
If the USMC wants to go HK - then they should just go for the MG43!
Direct Impingement still has my vote over off-axial piston impacts to the carrier of an AR platform.
AR piston technology still needs a few more years to be perfected.
Last edited by He219; 07-02-2010 at 01:08 PM.
Why MG4?? Either stick to the SAW (which is just as good as the MG4) or take the IAR (in order to sneak into the piston movement)....
Ive never had so much as a hiccup from my 416 but to be honest we put hundreds rather than thousands off rounds through them. I wouldnt like to use it in a support role or for suppression. Im assuming they will use something other than the Harris bipods we use though.The HK416 was recalled because of extended-use carrier tilt damage.
M27 would seem to magnify the issue...
If the USMC wants to go HK - then they should just go for the MG43!
Direct Impingement still has my vote over off-axial piston impacts to the carrier of an AR platform.
AR piston technology still needs a few more years to be perfected.
Hmmm....we've effectively completely ditched the L86 now in favour of the minimi. It seems the USMC are choosing to go the other way. Not sure why though.
Give me a GPMG and spare barrel any day of the week.
well the weapon seems very nice but your getting a heavier rifle not sure how long it will last as does'nt appear to bring anything extra to the fight
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