Comments on: One Good Case for Earmarks: HK416

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:33:10 +0000

Why not retrofit all M4s with a gas piston Kit, Bushmaster and a few other companies make them, it would solve the problem with the action, bolt, bolt, carrier, and chamber from getting as fouled. The hot gas dries out any lube put on the bolt and carrier causing it to bind up. I think these kits would be the best solution, they are cheap and readily available, and are a “drop in fit”. A weapon can be retrofitted in less than 10 minutes.

By: KJB

KJB — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:24:07 +0000

in early 80’s used to get new 45 mags, i got to test all new mags since there were QC problems with italian mfgr(too long, hung slide) the command should have left those weapons in their troops hands and fought with anyone that tried to remove them, those troops must have felt some protection by having those rifles. there had to be some desire to get them and issue them. that is the real problem, command not standing up for its troops. most contract ammo is mfgr’d offshore, how much is mismatched bullets and powder. if you shoot heavy round with hi burn rate powder the barrel is going to get hotter than it was designed for, this was prime cause of jamming in early M16 issues(VietNam combat).

By: Charles R. Ross

Charles R. Ross — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:10:41 +0000

Gentlemen: Really enjoyed the M4 discussion, but… the bottom line for those who forgot, or were too young or not born, the problem of M16/M4’s inadequate stopping power, and severe tendancy to jam in use has been around since the first issue of the matel crap in 1966/67.
American soldiers regularly died then due to defective rifles and ammunition, and what really is scary, are still dying to keep defective combat weapons in service and corporate profits up.
Field tests in vietnam indicated a much higher reliability of gas piston/operating rod systems over throwing frequently dirty gas directly into multi piece bolts. But I guess someone in procurement owed a buddy at colt a big favor. I pray that their kids or grandkids are amongst the casualties of the M16/M4.

By: taurus1911jd411

taurus1911jd411 — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:10:48 +0000

I got to say my favorite carry is a Taurus 1911 with a few wilson combat mags,m4 with brand new custom RIS rails, an ACOG scope,and a surefire flashlite not to mention a (BM42) balisong,SOG Trident Tanto,KA-BAR fighting knife,and a Benchmade model 670.

By: Dwayne Stanislowski

Dwayne Stanislowski — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:13:08 +0000

We live in a day and age where we DO NOT know where the magazines were made.…We DO NOT know where our ammunition is made…The only thing we can trust is some pencil pusher bought thestuff at the best rock bottom price he could find. I believe we should restore trust. The best rifle in the world will not fire garbage. Just like the computer folks say GARBAGE IN?GARBAGE OUT !!!! I read a few years back where ammunition was bought from TAIWAN. This was done because the deadbeats in the GOP thought it was more important to cut corners than spend a few bucks hiring people to wprk at the arsenals in the USA. This insanity has to stop. There is a massive conspiracy under way in this country since Ronald Reagan was president to drain the wealth out of the middle class. It has got to the point now that it has imperoled the soldiers on the battlefield. I don’t think the democrats have done much to help the military or the middle class either since 1980.It is SHAMEFUL that this generation will be poorer than the one before it. This is not how America is supposed to work. All the evil in weapons and ammo can probably be traced back to some fatcat slimeball that is trying to replace democracy with the same royalty we got rid of 220 years ago.I want to know how many magazines and how much ammo issued to the GIs today came from 3rd world countries. What is wrong with spending money in the USA and let American citizens build our war making materials? When I was in the military we could be shot for making deals with China. Now I am beginning to ssupet we may be getting our ammunition from there. When did the Communists stop being Communists.? We need to protect our soldiers,airmen,aand sailors if we are to remain a free country. We need to keep our ability to equip our military IN THE USA.regardless of what some sneaking little fatcat rat might have to say.I guarantee these rats never spent time in the military nor will their children.

By: Dwayne Stanislowski

Dwayne Stanislowski — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:37:22 +0000

I carried the Armalite M16 for 5 years in the USAF. I shot on the rifle and pistol team for my security squadron for 3 years. I attended AZR training where we got in a concrete pipe with a manhole cover on it at 6 am and fired until high noon. We took our steel pots and scooped the brass out beneath our feet,ate a box of C rats and fired until 5 pm. We then marched to a cleaning area. Stripped our weapons down, tossed them in some hot kerosene and brushed them off,then dumped them in a tray filled with hot oil. The next morning at 6 am we got back in the pipe. This went on until one could show his ffflight cheif he could hit a helmet target at 3oo meters 18 times out of a 20 round magazine. This was one of the few times we actually loaded 20 rds. in a 20 rd. mag. Most of the time the 20 rd.mags were stored with 18 rds. I don’t ever remember having my rifle jam in 5 years. I was careful not to cook the barrel. In a firefight in full auto the barrell can heat up dherry red and cause it to warp and loose temper. At this phase the weapon will fire a rd. with it sat on safe. It cooks them off. If you ever heat a weapon to this stage.…get rid of it. The Armalites did not have forward assist either.

By: JIMMC62

JIMMC62 — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:46:42 +0000

Gave you who want to an email so you can cuss me. It isn't Sen. Coburn who's the S.O.B. The Marines have a long history of going into battle with the best rifle available. Your being short changed! I sure cannot discount the job you have done with what you've had. Discounting all the propaganda litereture furnished with the Armalite rifles you have from Colt Armes, and looking at preformance and ballistics they don't match the BS info to promote sell them to the military. I was the one who encouraged the challenge to prove it in "real field conditions." I knew ahead of time that the M16 and M4 could not pass the test I proposed. The gas piston is a unique idea, but until someone comes up with a way to keep that 3/16th bleed hole clear it isn't field ready. U.S. weapons prior to the M16 could work in the sand, mud, dirt, snow, fished out of a river, etc. and only stopped working when they didn't have amo. My hat is off to you who've adapted and made it work. For the comment about the Marines I saw in here, it may interest you to know there were some who accused the Marines of "exicuting insurgents" because of the head shots they were making... When that's all you have to shoot at and you lack penitration (or have the reports of insurgents taking up to four and five body hits where the round just passes through) you have to adapt. We have some 6.5mm and 6.8mm rifles now that will put the target down when hit. I am not looking to weight you guys down. We were ignorant knuckle dragers I guess. We started with 30.06 and went to 7.62 and knew no other. We did know that they'd always work and they would deliver a kill out to 800yds. Never heard of anyone having this climb problem doing full auto either - guess that is part of the Colt sales BS cause it wasn't fact. Here is a tide bit for any of you with an itch to mess around and access - the IDF does a mod on the AK's where they move the rear site to the back and get an acurate rifle out of it...

By: P.J. Busche

P.J. Busche — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:29:36 +0000

When is the U.S. Army going to get smart and finally replace 5.56mm caliber rifles as basic standard for infantry weapons? Any varmint-caliber rifle is not sufficient to protect and defend our own military forces. The 5.56x45 NATO has served us for 40 years; it is long overdue to be replaced. I love all of the H&K weapons, but even the best 5.56mm caliber weapon is insufficient. Go to at least .257 (6.35mm) caliber or larger for some respectable power.

By: 1Scrappy1

1Scrappy1 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:00:20 +0000

WR, you make no sense dude, this article is just that, commentary. Get a life, or get your balls back from your wife.
breechblock,dude, calm down, there are plenty of 7.62’s for the marines to be shooting with if they can’t hit with their issue rifles or would rather shoot the AK. Understand this
Marines are not forced to do anything,
Marines do what must be done.

By: breechblock

breechblock — Fri, 23 May 2008 04:38:58 +0000

It still boils down to the 5.56 fd vs. the 7.62. Marines are forced to put at least 4–5 rds. in every jihadi terr. to put his ass down for good! We need the shock & knockdown of at least the 7.62 area. This is Bullshit!!!