doesn't make sense.......

[Evil Monkey]

As I understand it, in the US military (either Marines, Army, or both) the doctrine behind the marksman rifle is to engage targets at longer ranges than assault rifles but still be able to operate with the rifleman in CQB.

Let me get straight to the point....

How can you do CQB with any rifle that has a telescopic sight on it? Isn't it a little too slow to acquire a target at CQB with a telescopic sight? Or are the marksmen taught to just point and shoot when entering a CQB structure?

http://www.gun-world.net/usa/m16/m16dmr.htm

That site shows that the SAMR are equipped with telescopes whereas the SDMR are primarily equipped with ACOGs. I'm guessing the doctrine of the marksman participating in the assault/CQB is more dominant in the Army rather than the Marine Corps?

All these weapons, configurations, variants, purposes, doctrines, etc. Why couldn't it just be like a video game where you have only 6 types of weapons that can do everything, the pistol, SMG, shotgun, assault rifle, sniper rifle, machine gun.

 

[Chiseler]

This is not doctrine....

...I just know how we do it. With our DM's (Designated Marksmen), they've got the SAM-R's (Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle). But they're a little clumsy for entering a house. So ours also carried a shotgun (20 in. Mossberg, 6 rd. mag) in addition to the SAM-R. Yep, two long guns. Kind of awkward. Now, the thing is, our DM's hardly even kicked in doors. They were almost always the support element. If we needed them, then we called them up, but mostly they would provide overwatch. A lot of our guys gave their shotguns to our docs (who were kicking in doors) who could use them better. Of course, the doc in my squad was a crazy little guy who had eight or ten mags for his 9 mil, and that's all he used.
One thing I've seen that I like the concept of came from Trijicon. That ACOG is a pretty good piece of gear. In CQB, we shoot with both eyes open. You can't really see through the scope, but you do have that glowing reticle. So when the red dot goes on the targets center mass, pull the trigger. Takes some getting used to, but it'll work. One thing I've seen is a reflex sight that piggybacks on top of the ACOG. Haven't used it personally, but I've seen a few over here and the guys that have them love it.
Hope this helps.

 

[elmerfudd]

I find that a low powered scope is faster than iron sights. There's nothing to line up, just put the crosshairs on the target and pull the trigger and if the magnification is 3x or less, (preferably less), it's pretty darn fast.

 

[HorseSoldier]

You can shoot two eyes open with even an old-style TA01NSN ACOG without the fiber optics (or at least I don't have any problems with it). Takes a tiny bit of practice to get used to it, and then you're in business. The fiberoptic equipped models are much better for that sort of thing, but you can run pretty fast even with just the basic NSN reticle.

Or go faster by putting a J-Point on top. ACOG with J-Point is a pretty good all around (0-600m) optic, though the Elcan Specter may have it beat (or maybe not -- ACOG/J-Point does not require thowing any levers to go from four power to zero mag red dot).

 

[Oohrah]

The three previous responders have it exactly right. All Marines are trained
riflemen. Specialized weapons just make things better. Low power glass
or just dots are much quicker with the use of both eyes, as no front rear
alignment is needed as with open sights. Everyone I have talked to loves
the options that are available