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WASHINGTON - As Sgt. Joe Higgins patrolled the streets of Saba al-Bor, a tough town north of Baghdad, he was armed with bullets that had a lot more firepower than those of his 4th Infantry Division buddies.
Once again, the US troops in the Middle East do not have the proper armament to match the requirements of their theater of operation! As a Platoon Sergent with the 4th Infantry Division in Viet-Nam, my weapon of choice was a Russian AK-47 assault rifle. The AK-47 fires a 7.62mm round, the same as the old M-14 rifles. The M-16 rifle introduced in Viet-Nam is a 5.56mm (.22 caliber) weapon. It did not have the "stopping power" of the larger 7.62mm round and would be deflected by twigs, leaves and shirt buttons! The AK-47 is a true "knock down" caliber weapon. The AK-47 rifle was so popular in Viet-Nam that it was easier to get ammo for the AK-47 than for the M-16 rifle!
US uses bullets ill-suited for new ways of war - Yahoo! News (broken link)
Once again, the US troops in the Middle East do not have the proper armament to match the requirements of their theater of operation! As a Platoon Sergent with the 4th Infantry Division in Viet-Nam, my weapon of choice was a Russian AK-47 assault rifle. The AK-47 fires a 7.62mm round, the same as the old M-14 rifles. The M-16 rifle introduced in Viet-Nam is a 5.56mm (.22 caliber) weapon. It did not have the "stopping power" of the larger 7.62mm round and would be deflected by twigs, leaves and shirt buttons! The AK-47 is a true "knock down" caliber weapon. The AK-47 rifle was so popular in Viet-Nam that it was easier to get ammo for the AK-47 than for the M-16 rifle!
US uses bullets ill-suited for new ways of war - Yahoo! News (broken link)
Yeah ok, we decimated Iraqs military & nobody can seriously stand against us. The AK 47 does not equal a 308NATO in any way, its a lighter bullet at a lesser velocity. At this point the M16 IS a tried & true weapon. Why ignore the fact that the Russians followed our lead by developing the AK74 that uses a 5.45MM bullet?
The biggest thing in our troops way is politics & the fact that theyre just spinning their wheels because there simply is no clear objective.
In 2006, the Army asked a private research organization to survey 2,600 soldiers who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly one-fifth of those who used the M4 and M16 rifles wanted larger caliber bullets.
A private research group says less than one fifth of the guys using the 5.56 wanted larger calibre weapons, not a large percentage at all. No mention of how many have ever actually used a 308 in combat or realize the logistical differences between the two other than knock down theory. Give them what they want & they will start crying about the extra weight & lesser ammount of ammo they can carry.
The m16 & m4 are the best infantry weapons ever developed for many reasons. Certainly there are trade offs but its been determined to be worth it for 50 some years now.
I've never been impressed by the 5.56 round or the m-16 (and semi-auto AR imitations). I'm almost half tempted to say it's about money not what's best, but some are convinced it's a great round. Some military officials, I suspect, would never want to admit they're wrong and therefore will never give in over this. Personally I'd go back to 30-06 in rifles and .45 in sidearms.
The M4 is miles above the AK 47 (and similar) in accuracy, durability, safety, etc. Also, you are talking about billions of dollars to change. Build a new one at 7.62? I doubt you'll see it. Too much weight.
I agree that down the road, the US may need to look at outfitting the average Soldier with more specialized gear for urban chores, and they're doing that now to some extent.
Remember just how big the Army is, how long the logistical tail is, and the need for a one-size fits most weapon.
first off I have seen photos of what a 5.56mm can do to a human body and it ain't pretty.
Thr age old debate of 5.56 vs 7.62mm or M16 vs AK.You will se experts and vets take both sides of the issue.
The M14 has been brought back into limited use for the designated marksman in a squad particularly because of the long distance shots in Afghanistan.
Soft targets with no armour would be better using hollow points but they are banned.
But most guys I have listened to prefere the M16/M4 rather than hump a 10lb rifle.And shot placement is what matters most regardless of the cartridge.
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As a Platoon Sergent with the 4th Infantry Division in Viet-Nam, my weapon of choice was a Russian AK-47 assault rifle. The AK-47 fires a 7.62mm round, the same as the old M-14 rifles. The M-16 rifle introduced in Viet-Nam is a 5.56mm (.22 caliber) weapon. It did not have the "stopping power" of the larger 7.62mm round and would be deflected by twigs, leaves and shirt buttons! The AK-47 is a true "knock down" caliber weapon. The AK-47 rifle was so popular in Viet-Nam that it was easier to get ammo for the AK-47 than for the M-16 rifle!
