SAW replacement

[Tenn870]

Just came across this article a possible replacement for the SAW, a IAW (infantry automatic weapon) m27, it is an HK416 with a heavy barrel and thats about it, check out the article and please explain why a squad, sorry "infantry" automatic weapon has a 30rnd mag ... I know they will probably give them 100, or 200 rounders but in the pics its got a 30 .. cool gun though check it out

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2010/06/07/m27-infantry-automatic-rifle/

 

[John Parker]

Try lugging a 17 lb (empty) SAW around the hills in Afghanistan for a while, and you'll understand why many would be happy to replace that with something lighter, even with a smaller capacity. Magpul is coming out with a 50 rd quad stack magazine, I'd bet money that the Marines will be picking those up to use with this new automatic rifle. The concept of the automatic rifle is nothing new...think back to the BREN, the RPK, and the BAR. All of which were and are very successful weapons.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

So its basically a Assualt rifle with a heavy barrel and a foregrip bipod.

 

[John Parker]

Basically, but with a heavier barrel and open-bolt as well, which will allow for better sustained firing than the SAW, albeit without the quick-change barrel and belt feeding.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Oh an open bolt, thats better than. I remember seeing the M16 HBAR prototype before, looked pretty cool other than like 2 prototypes exsist.

 

[Sam1911]

Already under discussion here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=532119

And in an older thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=474728