DISQUS

JackandBlood · 2 months ago

Ya I'm starting to lose a bit of faith in this site (which I loved cuz it shows off cool gadgets and im a mil-history enthusiast). But the format is drastically different And. Between this apparent shift in AR operation love, and the the ambiguities of "Dragon" bodyarmor, which had once been a hot topic for DR, im thinking new management, proponents of the status quo.

Kev · 4 months ago

While the M4A1 has its strengths (particularly in modularity), my personal experience with the AR-15 family has been rather disappointing. On the range, I've tried three different AR's--one from DPMS, another from Bushmaster, and one from Colt itself. All three of them jammed within the first two magazines. The Colt had the most catastrophic failure, and had to be taken to the shop to be fixed. Even after it had been cleaned and repaired by the gunsmith, I still encountered frequent jams. By contrast, the AK clone I used performed flawlessly.

Perhaps I'm just an unlucky person, but I have serious doubts that the DGI system is really all that it's cracked up to be. There are plenty of highly accurate piston-operated assault rifles out there--look at the SIG 550. As for the issue of piston movement distorting accuracy, you may be interested in the AK-107's balanced operating system.

DefRev · 3 months ago

Kev, would it be possible to get a contact email address for you? I'd like to touch base with you on something regarding your post (nothing bad, I assure you), if that would be possible. If so, please contact me at defrev (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thanks,

David Crane
Owner/Editor-in-Chief
DefenseReview.com
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com

tacticalsquirrel · 3 months ago

kev i think you are the problem..not the rifles.

Kev · 3 months ago

@tacticalsquirrel: In a way, I wish that were the case...I initially wondered if I was simply not operating them properly, but even when I was supervised by people with far more AR experience with me, I still had the exact same problems.

Don't get me wrong, I think that AR-15s/M16s/M4s are good weapons if you keep them in tip-top shape...it's just that I worry about what happens when conditions are less than ideal.

Tucker · 4 months ago

Only once in the history of the US military have we changed primary small arm without changing caliber and that was a major system change from bolt action to semi-auto (and the M1 Garand was not originally designed for the .30-06). Changing from the M16/M4 to a 5.56mm piston gun that offers limited improvements at best is a waste of resources. Having carried M16 based rifles for eighteen years now I have no real complaints. If I have any problem it is with the ammo we are issued that is geared primarily towards punching armor and less then optimized for disrupting tissue

DefRev · 3 months ago

Please see reply above.

weaponsandammunition · 3 months ago

If what I read is true about the SCAR weapons - then they will do very well in battle, I hear they perform better than any previous riffles that industry has made and they also have a more manageable recoil impulse, this will make all the difference when firing under pressure.

Tim L · 3 months ago

I can understand your desire to speak to a wide variety of experts about M4's and it's more modern replacements with regards to the use of these weapons in the field as they would have valuable insights into the issue, but my first reaction of reading this report was that Mr. Noveske and Mr. Roads do have a vested interest and would be partisan to say the least with continuing the status quo. Not to say that their input is not valid but it may be rather biased considering that they have significant financial investments into these matters.

JackandBlood · 3 months ago

Look im a civilian with little experience. Hell all i've shot is a glock 17 a friend and I rented at an indoor range. But what i've read in Not a good day to die worries me. In Operation Anaconda, a small group of recce SEAL team (Mako 31) encounters a Dshkm position. They engage the target. Two of the 3 that are in direct contact have their guns (M4s) jam after the first shot. Its only by the virtue of the 3rd SEAL's marksmenship that 3 of the 5 enemy are eliminated. AC-130 eliminates the two retreating Al-Quida. I could give a tuppanny fuck about new ammunition or calibers, but as a taxpayer, and one who appreciates the work of our men in the field, I want our regular infantrymen to have the BEST POSSIBLE GEAR. It does not matter if they are the 'mere' riflemen, they are Americans and deserve the best.

James Wu

JackandBlood · 3 months ago

And i dont hold a '100% minimal, unquantifiable improvement' as a reason to discount whats in the interests of the common rifleman.

crisemurray · 3 months ago

The real reason for SCAR was ownership of M4s that USSOCOM was using, "Big Army" didn't always like the unauthorized modifications or untested attachments that USSOCOM guys were putting on their weapons; so USSOCOM decided to get their own gun. Anybody with "Special" in their unit name doesn't need a rifle, they haven't won a gun fight in over 40 years without air support. Give them cool hats, sunglasses and a good radio, because at the first sign of enemy activity they're going to call for air support anyway. Give them a pistol to fight off drunk hookers.

Name · 3 months ago

I have several DI and piston setups and have tuned them all. Not a single issue past break in. The SCAR might be great but I find it hard to believe we need a new system. For my money the Colt or LMT are the way to go.

Hibuke · 3 months ago

The author clearly has a biased opinion. I've served with an Asian Army which still uses the AR15/M16 and we encounter problems every single day even out on the range, after METICULOUS cleaning. Whatever the case, the HK-styled solution is ideal... I agree with Kev; *IF* the AR/M16/M4s are kept in tip-top shape *AND* (this is my input) fired on single *ONLY*, you'll have quite a fine weapon..... *BUT* these two factors that *CANNOT* be guaranteed out in the field, in combat when the SHTF.......

At best, the AR/M16/M4 is a good SWAT/Paramilitary weapon, but by no means whatsoever is it capable nor should it ever be considered a full-combat weapon that our soldiers are depending on with their lives and, heck, yours and mine on the line!

proinfidel · 2 months ago

I think your reporting of the SCAR, and HK416 breaking down in the field, without your knowing that for a fact is very unprofessional. I might as well just read the National Inquirer for my defensive weapons info.
I always considered your site a great source of information, but that was in the past, and I do not think I will be reading your rumor pages any more.

captadrianadrianalexandrino · 2 months ago

First time reader and so far am very pleased with the sight. As for me the only major problem that i have feaced with my ar platform (S&W mp15) has been feeding problems with the use of magpul magazines.

Name · 1 month ago

I have a 11.5" M-16. Gas port is at .087".Bolt and carrier were first polished before coating with nickel-teflon(this makes a big difference).Upper receiver was polished with fine rubbing compound but not coated with nickel-teflon.Using the flat wire recoil spring from Tubbs ( ISMI spring i believe) and Advanced Armament rate reducing buffer.Works great with or without suppressor.The polished and coated bolt&carrier wipe off very easily.Will have to try the gas buster.

Name · 1 month ago

I have a 11.5" M-16. Gas port is at .087".Bolt and carrier were first polished before coating with nickel-teflon(this makes a big difference).Upper receiver was polished with fine rubbing compound but not coated with nickel-teflon.Using the flat wire recoil spring from Tubbs ( ISMI spring i believe) and Advanced Armament rate reducing buffer.Works great with or without suppressor.The polished and coated bolt&carrier wipe off very easily.Will have to try the gas buster.

akfisherman1969 · 1 month ago

I will address several of the comments below, as well as the original. To all of you who support the AR-15/M-4 series rifles over the SCAR, I have one question. When is the last time you ever smoked someone at 10-20 feet? From experience, I will tell you, there are reasons that Special Operations units carry both an M-4, and a side arm. The M-4, although a good rifle (many little brown guys have met their match with this weapon), has it's limitations. As a long time SOF shooter, I got to play with the MK17 today for the first time (SCAR-H), and I will say, that it was "spiritual event". The gas-piston operating system versus the gas-impengment system is not even a real comparison. Piston wins hands down for reliability and durability in combat conditions. My only bitch with the gun was that the selector lever was a little short for my Irish thumbs (kind of reminded me of the MP-5 in this area), and the selector was kind of sloppy. While moving, most of us have our thumb on the selector, full-time, in order to ensure that our gun is safe until we have identified a threat. With the SCAR, if you aren't over 6 feet tall and have ape thumbs, you will have to totally re-learn your muscle memory. Over all, I give the SCAR two thumbs up. I would place the MK17 heads and tails above the M4 and M4A1 due to the fact that it takes a lot more dirt and carbon to cause malfunctions, and that I have personally put up to 10 rounds of 5.56mm M855 (standard issue) into LBGs at as little as muzzle to chest, and they take forever to plant their faces on the floor. The 7.62 MK17 will not need multiple shots, it does the job in a few shots. (Oh, and to those who think that I just don't have good shot placement, you obviously haven't shot a bunch of man dress wearing zealots. Unless you hit the brain stem, or the spine, don't count on them dropping. Rule of thumb. Shoot until their face hits the floor, then add two more.

bacsi · 3 weeks ago

Lots of good men died in nam because of the fouling problems inherent with the sorry M16 design - 50 years later it's still the same sorry design. Chopping the barrel off and calling it a M4 is ludicrous on its face - barrels and ammo have to be matched. Billy Boy Clinton completed the farce in the name of Mother Earth by destructing the ammo with the change from lead to titanium... the Only thing the M16 ever had going for it was the round - hit someone in the arm or leg it would turn the muscles to mush and rip it off if it hit a bone. No one survived two solid shots to the chest with a M16 in nam, but I've treated troops who survived five AK rounds in the chest. Now there are more cases of bad guys continuing the fight after repeated solid shots to the body than I can recall. For urban house to house warfare the M4 is a joke, it can't penetrate walls and a whole squad of M4s can't even stop a Toyota sedan. For war fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan it is another joke - no hitting power at any range, much less alone at what is encounter in that terrain. I'll take an M14 any day of the week, and if I have to do something serious I'll get a BAR, and at my side will be strapped a Colt 1911. The War-Industrial Complex got our number a long time ago, boys: worthless Colts, FNs, HKs, and Berattas... John Browning's ghost must be having a fit.

11bravo · 2 weeks ago

As a soldier, the politics that surround the choice of the best weapon for our troops is disgusting. I am not sure who's pockets the people at Colt have lined, but it seems to be working. The gas-piston system seems to be the only way to go due to reliablity. I don't think it really matters if Colt Defense makes it or not, but there seems to be other companies out there that can compete with Colt in the production of upper's for today's M4 lowers. Every red blooded patriot proclaims that we need to give our troops the best equipment and weapons available, but we've been using the same rifle (based on the same design without any major changes) for the last 40-50 years. Come on lets practice what we preach.