i have to wonder why armalite (the first generation) couldn't move the AR 18. chrome gas piston, bolt and bbl bore, plenty of room in the reciever for crud to get outta the way. very little BCG contact with receiver during cycling. twin short stroke guide rod mounted recoil springs (think M3). field strips faster than any other GP systems i have handled. two stage, flip over sights, calibrated for real world ranges. good QD optic system. about 2" @ 100, with any decent M 193 ammo. near MOA, with quality ammo and issue 2.75X optic onboard. bud-o-mine who did 3 green beret tours in 'nam said same were highly favored over '16's by boots on the ground SF.
i will concede the folding stock and the action hinge bosses would need beefed before issue, and that the action pins are best replaced with anti-walk "E" clip units. i feel the same about AR 15 pins, though. but most any system will undergo changes before (and after) being accepted.
back then the tool steel (4340) sheet metal reciever and lower drew a lot of friendly fire from M15/16 purists. today's lowers are plastic. the reduced accuracy from looser BCG tolerances were also sited as unacceptable. but the unaltered M14's now used in the sand work quite well with similar capabilities.
a thought voiced from many of our troops returning from the sand is that kalashnikov's sloppy old AK's still go bang, even when neglected like a red headed step child by undertrained/undersupplied alpha romeos. suddenly, ole mikhail starts looking a lot smarter than when first viewed.
one has to take into consideration that the very loosely spec'd old M3 was the onliest SMG to ever pass the aberdeen proving ground's "mud, blood and crud" test. i will not argue that precise wartoys are needed in every unit, but the designated marksman position was created to fill that need. still, i feel 2X per unit would be more desirable.
as it stands now, the troops need a reliable weapon that can be made as short as a 14" M4 for entry/exit of vehicles, but without the velocity stealing short BBL that is now very problematic with the 5.56 round. they also need better accuracy than a typical 4MOA AK, but similar dependability.
IMO, a fairly accurate system that always goes bang trumps a superbly accurate system that fails to when NEEDED badly. at the astronomical costs of the iron currently being eyed to replace stoner's venerable '16, i think this weapon is still viable.
i confessed, and stand convicted of first degree thread robbery, and will now throw myself on the mercy of the court....
gunnie
) This one was 5.56, but 7.62x51 are beginning to ship this week, and that's the one I want to see. I may be able to afford one of these, and my heart's with the 7.62. Will have to wait till they hit the streets...
