So with SOCOM adopting the FN SCAR rifle, the USMC sticking with the M16A4 and the US Army canceling the XM8 project ("This action has been taken in order for the Army to reevaluate its priorites for small caliber weapons, and to incorporate emerging requirements identified during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Government will also incorporate studies looking into current capability gaps during said reevaluation."), what does everyone think is next? Something in 6.8mm? A return to 7.62mm? Sharks with frickin' laser beams on thier foreheads? It seems a real possibility that 5.56mm is finally on the way out.
Adrian
If the grunts in the field have their way: 5.56mm and 9mm would be out today with the M-16, M-243 and the Beretta.
The following article appeared in TIA (The Intellectual Activist) --
A Marine reports from Iraq
by an anonymous Marine
Hello to all my fellow gunners, military buffs, veterans and interested guys. A couple of weekends ago I got to spend time with my son.... [He] spent seven months at "Camp Blue Diamond" in Ramadi, a.k.a. "Fort Apache." He saw and did a lot. The following is what he told me about weapons, equipment, tactics and other miscellaneous information which may be of interest to you.
Nothing is by any means classified. No politics here, just a Marine with a bird's eye view's opinions.
• The M-16 rifle: Thumbs down. Chronic jamming problems with the sand over there, which is like talcum powder. The sand is everywhere. You feel filthy two minutes after a shower. The M-4 carbine version is more popular because it's lighter and shorter, but it also has jamming problems. Marines like the ability to mount the various optical gunsights and weapons lights on the picatinny rails, but the weapon itself is not great in a desert environment. They all hate the 5.56mm (.223) round. Poor penetration on the cinderblock structure common over there and even torso hits cannot be reliably counted on to put the enemy down. Fun fact: Random autopsies on dead insurgents shows a high level of opiate use.
• The M243 SAW (squad assault weapon) .223 cal: Big thumbs down. Drum-fed light machine gun. Universally considered a piece of s***. Chronic jamming problems, most of which require partial disassembly. That's fun in the middle of a firefight.
• The M9 Beretta 9mm: mixed bag. Good gun, performs well in a desert environment, but everyone hates the 9mm cartridge. The use of handguns for self-defense is actually fairly common. Same old story on the 9mm: bad guys get hit multiple times but are still in the fight.
The replacement for the M-16?
SOCOM M1A Review
Posted on M14/M1A Firing Line by "PapaFoxtrot:"
I just bought a new SA Socom 16, even though I tried to do a prudent amount
of research on the functional reliability of this rifle before buying, and came
up with few answers. It was a true impulse buy, which usually I regret. Not in
this case.
While I have earned a reputation for being a tough customer who
pulls no punches when I have been sold substandard goods, I will also give
credit when due. And in the case of this SOCOM, I am well pleased in almost
every single respect.
What I did since purchase: headspaced and lapped a new TRW bolt,
replacing the SA repro bolt shimmed the gas cylinder painted the stock earth
brown installed a Badger Ord op rod spring guide removed the scout rail,
replaced handguard (THIS is a rifle born to have irons. No glass, no batteries)
Here are my observations after a few days of ownership and a few
hundred (completely trouble-free) rounds:
The guys I bought it from are very cool, so they let me look
under the hood and pull the stock before deciding. Based upon the discovery of a
100% mint TRW trigger group and an excellent/mint USGI 1960's production SA op
rod (very tastefully etched "SOCOM 16") I bought it.
A pricey piece, at $1530 out the door. Ouch.
Sights - very nice, even with the super-fat front tritium post,
it is nearly like an H&K sight picture, which I like. My first shot out of
the box was 10 ring, dead point of aim....it was actually zeroed! (Though the
overall accuracy was not exceptional by any means, it possesses acceptable
practical accuracy and power.)
Handling - amazing. Extremely fast, secure, compact. Beautifully
balanced. Just sweet.
Functioning - 100% trouble free. Consistent feeding,
firing, ejection. (NOTE: I did not even fire a single round with the original
bolt, so I can not comment on ejection or roller related issues on this rifle.)
Recoil - soft as a 147 grain feather, but faster than standard
Noise - the standard M1A goes "boooooom", and the SOCOM goes
"BANG!!!"
Practicality - after zeroing off the bench at 100 yards (which
was easy for a change), I shot this rifle almost exclusively from the standing
position, quickly engaging multiple targets from 15-50 yards. BIG grin. I
will guess that most SOCOM owners will actually carry this rifle in the field,
and shoot from field or "tactical" positions much more so than with any of the
standard length rifles.
Pros:
handling, handling, handling!
apparently more quality control than anything else I have from SA
GI components
a valid concept after all (high-powered, maneuverable, kickass carbine)
serious fun factor
Cons:
no chromed bore! Too bad...could have been a great all-weather, long barrel
life rifle
$$$
the GI elevation knob is a tired repark, but not a major flaw.
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