Ragnar Danneskjold
Member
Not sure it it means anything to anyone here, but I'm a soldier in the Army right now, and I much prefer the M4 to the M16 AND the M14. To me, a smaller weapon and more rounds is better. I'd hate to lug around a larger heavier weapon and/or run out of ammo faster. Yes maybe the M14 is better for designated marksmen taking longer range shots with bigger rounds. But the average soldier firing his rifle is doing so in the streets and inside houses, and using suppression fire. Not across big battle fields and entrenched positions. And when I'm doing MOUT, the smaller M4 fits the bill nicely. Trying to run and gun while doing house to house fighting with a heavier longer weapon while carrying less rounds would be a disaster.
The old WWI and II idea of each solider staying in a fortified position taking single aimed shots at the enemy who is also in fortified positions is long gone. Maybe if we fight another nation like China or Korea it will be more pertinent. But right now, that is simply not how the fighting works. Lots of rounds in a short period of time at short ranges while you and the enemy are both moving is how wars work right now. At the M4 does this job much better than a big heavy wooden weapon. Weapon choosing should be based off what works in the war your are fighting, not sentimentality or out-dated doctrine. The M4 or other smaller, smaller caliber polymer weapons are what works for the vast majority of soldiers right now. Firing nine 5.56 rounds and getting 2 hits is much better than firing one 30.06 round and missing.
The old WWI and II idea of each solider staying in a fortified position taking single aimed shots at the enemy who is also in fortified positions is long gone. Maybe if we fight another nation like China or Korea it will be more pertinent. But right now, that is simply not how the fighting works. Lots of rounds in a short period of time at short ranges while you and the enemy are both moving is how wars work right now. At the M4 does this job much better than a big heavy wooden weapon. Weapon choosing should be based off what works in the war your are fighting, not sentimentality or out-dated doctrine. The M4 or other smaller, smaller caliber polymer weapons are what works for the vast majority of soldiers right now. Firing nine 5.56 rounds and getting 2 hits is much better than firing one 30.06 round and missing.