[Gunz]

Anyone know if all the cleaning and lubinigi the 115+F heat and sand in Iraq and Afghanistan helps the Beretta or Colts?

What about the AR rifles? Compared to the AK rifles?

Anyone hear anything about the SIGs or such used by the military troops? Any jams or malfunction problems?

[Peter M. Eick]

115f, aaaahhhhh Autumn, when the weather cools off and the sun is low in the sky. I am sure 115 would feel like a cool breeze right now.

When I was in Qatar we were working in the gulf near shore and it was routinely hitting 45 to 48C on the back deck of the ship. My guess is that would around 125 or so. One time the thermometer measured 51c, but I am not sure I believe that. Even though it was in the shade, there was just to much metal around and I think it was radiated heat.

Not sure about the guns, company rules precluded carry over there.

[Lone Star]

My son has served in Iraq as both a soldier and as a private security contractor.

His issue Beretta M-9 worked fine, but he insisted on Beretta or Meg-Gar magazines. Some cheap contracted magazines have weak springs or other defects, and have caused jams.

His other pistol was a Browning Hi-Power. It did fine.

Between the two handguns, he shot eight enemy, and believes that all died. He wasn't always able to check the bodies, due to being under fire.

He also had good luck with an M-4 carbine and with a H-K MP-5 SMG. As far as I know, he had no problems with these, except that at 200 meters range, the M-4 had trouble punching through a 55 gallon oil drum (empty) to kill the terrorist using it for cover. Switching to armor-piercing ammo finally did the job, but he thereafter favored a H-K G-3 7.62mm rifle for longer range engagements.

By the way, the 9mm had no stopping power problems, assuming center or high thorax hits on human targets.

Lone Star
P.S. He did carefully maintain his weapons. Some don't, and they experience some jams.

[heysox]

Good buddy of mine was in Iraq and Afghanistan numerous times with SF types. They all used STRIKEHOLD for cleaning/lube on allweapons. Dries to a dry film and doesn't attract fine sand. Cleans and lubes very well. In fact, they all chipped in and had some cases shipped to replace issued CLP. Not a personal endorsement, not an employee, just passing on info pertinent to the query.

[C-grunt]

We use Strikehold in my unit. it works like a charm. it lubes well and doesnt atract dust like CLP. good maintenance is a must here if you dont want malfunctions during the bad times. Strikehold also doesnt get gummy after prolonged firing.

[Onmilo]

There are some Iraq after action reports available online thatcover some of the issues the soldiers are having with personal and crew served weapons.

In brief, the full size M16A2 rifles tend to perform better than the carbines, especially when ranges exceed 200 meters, duh.
Reliability has been fairly good and excellent when unit commanders insist on proper weapon maintenance.

The M9 is not used to terribly much but when it is the gun is doing the job.
Soldiers would still perfer a larger caliber in their personal handgun but actual results show this to be more psychological than based on an actual and critical need for a larger caliber.
Magazine issues are being worked out and the faulty magazines are being phased out and replaced as fast as logistics can provide original equiptment manufactured magazines.
The soldiers would like to see light rails and tritium sights made available on Beretta M9 series to improve the weapons ability to be used in all conditions and I agree.

M60 machineguns are still out there and they still suck.
M249 squad automatic weapons are quite popular for their firepower but show some durability issues in heavy day to day use.

FN M240 General Purpose machine guns are well loved by those who have them, they work well,are easier to maintain than an M60, and the parts durability issues are very minor with these guns.

MK36 automatic grenade launchers are appreciated but quite a few issues have surface with Mounting techniques, the mounts aren't holding up as well as the weapons.
There is a lack of suitable sighting equiptment and there are very few grenade options available.
The soldiers feel this weapon could be much more effective if better sights and more choices in ammunition could be made available for the system.

Shotguns are being used.
Generally guards are carrying standard Mossberg Mils-Guns, 8 shot, loaded with commercial 12 guage buckshot, 2 3/4".
Squads have shotguns available for door breaching and launching CS Gas shells.
These are almost always cut down, both in barrel and stock, 11 and 12" barrels and pistol grips are very common.
Again standard 12 guage shotshells, bird and buck are used for door breaching and CS gas shells are available but scarce and hoarded for really neccessary use only.

Marines are getting and using the new Bennelli shotguns and MeuSoc 1911 handguns but I haven't found any non-classified reports on the effectiveness of these weapons as yet being available.HTH