November 24, 2003
PONDSCUM KILLERS
I've been very alarmed at the failure rate of the dogshit M-16 in combat in Iraq, and elsewhere. I'm no weapons expert, but I can remember talk of the poor quality of this weapon since the late sixties. Every story of a Bad Scene in combat always begins, "Well, the cocksucker jammed, and then they tore our asses up with the AK-47's..."
As I say, I'm no expert, but I know the M-16 is like a 5.56mm, or basically a .22 caliber, which is what Acidman shoots cornsnakes with, and if you lose your weapon on the battlefield you can't pick up a NATO member's weapon, because they all use the AK caliber rounds. But please read the Other Kim, The Expert Kim. THIS man has Good Ideas. Rummy, heed. That's the last order I'm giving you tonight.
Actually, the British SA-80 fires 5.56mm too..so, if you picked up one of thiers, the rounds should work...of course, the Brits hate the SA-80...
Posted by: Eric at November 25, 2003 8:06 AMThe NATO standard round is the 5.56mm x 45 as used in the M-16; the old 7.62mm x 51 round is now limited to machine guns like the MAG-58 GPMG. Former Warsaw Pact countries used the 7.62mm x 39 for the AK-series rifles, but these were being changed to a 5.45mm x 45 round. So if your M-16 breaks you might pick up a FAMAS, SA-80, HK-36, C7A1, ....
Cheers
Posted by: J.M. Heinrichs at November 25, 2003 11:27 AMJ.M.: You could pick up a FAMAS--always assuming the French bothered to show up. A dubious premise at best...
Velociman: There's been conversation about the OICW boondoggle, and the right tools for the right job, over at my place too.
Posted by: De Doc at November 25, 2003 1:19 PM