Poll: Replacement for the M16?

[Luigicheater]

Although, if they had laser rifles, enrolment in the armed forces would probably double overnight...

Haha, wow, I didn't think my first post would be about this, but...

Use of lasers in warfare is against the Geneva conventions. The technology for laser rifles actually exists, but nobody is going to use it any time soon because they would have the entire world at their throats in an instant.

 

[Silent Eagle]

First campare the M-16 to other guns from the last decades. Basic actions of these weapons havent changed,we use them to kill the other guy and thats all theyre is to it. the M-16 has a marvelous recoil operating system,it throws the recoil straight into your shoulder after it slows it down some,which further maintains accuracy. When you fire one cartridge your still aiming at the target you fired at,not somewhere else like most guns do.
Fire arms combat has hardly changed at all since they first made guns. Your overall goal is to kill the other guy when fighting with guns.

Has anyone noticed alot of new guns kinda look like the M-16 or the M-4? That's because it uses the some of the best design elements.The HK416 that new 6.5mm Grendel just to name a couple out there!

And don't bring up the AK-47,it's easy to manufacture thats why every terrorist can get one from any third world country that practically gives them away..
Sure it's got stopping power but what are you going to do when you got full-auto accurate suppression fire from an M-16 on your ass? Die that's what! Even with Kevlar!
The AK-47 is an outdated weapon,it's really just for sport now.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Although, if they had laser rifles, enrolment in the armed forces would probably double overnight...

Haha, wow, I didn't think my first post would be about this, but...

Use of lasers in warfare is against the Geneva conventions. The technology for laser rifles actually exists, but nobody is going to use it any time soon because they would have the entire world at their throats in an instant.

Hi! I saw you were new, so I'd like to welcome you to the escapist!

We don't like low content or offensive posts, but you seem nice so I don't think that's an issue. You also figured out how to quote people, which is great. I've seen people with hundreds of posts not know how to do that.

I'd recommend that you join some user groups, like this one. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Aardvarks-Anonymous] It's a pretty odd group, but funny.

Also, I also suggest you get an avatar. Here's a good place for them. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/The-Avatar-Store-New-and-Second-Hand] What you do is join the group, and then ask for one you like, make sure to say thank you. They have a little thing about how to get on, in case I'm not being specific, I've never got one from there.

Have fun!

OT: Until there's some kind of radical new design I think the M16 is here to stay.

 

[GloatingSwine]

Sure it's got stopping power but what are you going to do when you got full-auto accurate suppression fire from an M-16 on your ass? Die that's what! Even with Kevlar!

Someone doesn't understand the concept of suppression fire.... Suppression fire is not designed to kill people, it's designed to make them keep their heads down and not shoot back so that you can get closer to them to kill them by shooting properly. It is by definition not accurate beyond "somewhere in the general direction of dudes".

Also, you know how long an M-16 will fire on full auto? (even the ones that will, the A2 and A4 variants don't even have full auto on the selector) Four seconds. That's how long you get. That's why you get box fed SAWs like the M249 specifically for the purpose of delivering suppression fire. (and why the new "machine gun" the US Marines have ordered is nothing of the sort, a machine gun with a 30 round magazine... No, you've just ordered a rifle without going through the political circus that is rifle procurement in the US Military)

The AK-47 is an outdated weapon,it's really just for sport now.

You'd think the "47" would give it away. The gun is from 1947, anyone using an AK-47 is using it because they come from a third world shithole and can't afford a real rifle.

 

[TerribleAssassin]

The AK-47/74 duh...

NO YOU HAVE TO BE RANK 70!



In all seriousness, keep the M16, it took the Viet Cong out, and it's probably took more people out than I can be bothered listing.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Please also take into account that if your rifle were to become the next standard our soldiers

In some areas of the US military the M4 has already replaced the M16A4 as standard issues, which was a cost saving decision (and a bad one as M4's suffer faster wear from the shorter stroke piston).

The SCAR-L/H is already replacing the M4 and M21 as a special issue weapon, but it is too expensive for general issue.
The Marines are in the process of replacing their rifles with Heckler and Koch M27s, which is essentially based off the M16/M4 but with HK's own short stroke piston that is far more reliable than Colt's. It also doesn't have the tendency to explode in the event of a barrel obstruction like M16s can do. That was announced last year and is tentatively dated as being complete by 2014.

The XM8/29 OICW project has been cancelled entirely. The rifle istelf was a H&K G36 internally, but with a different plastic frame to differentiate it, the G36 is reliable, but itself is a design almost 20years old now and technology has moved on.

H&K have since made the 416/M27 line which has identical controls to the M16 but with the greater reliability and safety I mentioned above. It's probably going to be adopted as a replacement for M16s as it is fairly cheap, identical to use and an improvement in all other aspects.

As far as adopting a new type of ammunition, a new cartridge is unlikely to happen as Nato has agreed on standardised rounds, so forcing the adoption of something other than .223 or .308 is unlikely.

 

[fix-the-spade]

In all seriousness, keep the M16, it took the Viet Cong out, and it's probably took more people out than I can be bothered listing.

Wait, no it didn't. The Viet Cong pushed the M16 all the way out of Vietnam and into the sea, in fact, they're still in control of Vietnam to this day (by another name).

 

[RobCoxxy]

It would already have been replaced by the XM8 had the test weapons the Army was given began melting in desert conditions.

All plastic guns are lightweight, yeah, but prone to melting.

 

[Cabisco]

Have some of our upgradede Sa80s, no really they are quite kickass now. As far as I can make out the m16 is a decent weapon, so i'd say just take the time to find a really good replacement instead of making a rash decision to regretting it, like we did with the original sa80

 

[Not-here-anymore]

Here in the UK we use the L-98 series. Single-shot, have to cock it after each shot, but a very good range and easy to use and maintain. Easy to strip down, too. I trained with a cadet version when I was in the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) in school, RAF section, and it was so easy to handle. It's a modified version for cadet use of what the British troops use in the field out in Iraq and Afghanistan and wherever, though I'm not sure how long it's been in service. But surely, for all countries, weapons should be recycled and a new version or a more advanced weapon be made available when new technology is developed? Upgrades can only get you so far, eventually as the technology changes military forces need to change with it, right?

Ah, the RAF section... Happy days, even if I couldn't shoot for shit. (Well, comparatively. Anyone can use a rifle; it's not particularly difficult)
The flying was fun though!
I'm fairly sure that it's just the cadet version of the L-98 that's single shot and needs cocking each time - the military version can switch from semi-automatic to fully automatic.

 

[MattyDienhoff]

The M16 hasn't been replaced because none of its potential successors improve upon it enough to justify the costs involved in replacing it.

There's also the fact that it doesn't really need replacing.

 

[Wintermoot]

if its in use for 60 years it basicly means it easy to use and reliable stuff like this and computers are entirly different

 

[Downfall89]

It was replaced by the M4 already.

Yeah, I thought it was? Because the M4 is lighter or something?

 

[gh0ti]

Here in the UK we use the L-98 series. Single-shot, have to cock it after each shot, but a very good range and easy to use and maintain. Easy to strip down, too. I trained with a cadet version when I was in the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) in school, RAF section, and it was so easy to handle. It's a modified version for cadet use of what the British troops use in the field out in Iraq and Afghanistan and wherever, though I'm not sure how long it's been in service. But surely, for all countries, weapons should be recycled and a new version or a more advanced weapon be made available when new technology is developed? Upgrades can only get you so far, eventually as the technology changes military forces need to change with it, right?

Ah, the RAF section... Happy days, even if I couldn't shoot for shit. (Well, comparatively. Anyone can use a rifle; it's not particularly difficult)
The flying was fun though!
I'm fairly sure that it's just the cadet version of the L-98 that's single shot and needs cocking each time - the military version can switch from semi-automatic to fully automatic.

The Cadet version has the gas parts removed, which is why it functions as a bolt-action. The cocking handle is also much larger, so that children can operate it with their right hand, meaning they don't have to support so much of the weight of the weapon when cocking it/performing safety drills. The military version also (usually) has a SUSAT scope attached, rather than iron sights.

 

[Sacman]

The AK-47/74 duh...

NO YOU HAVE TO BE RANK 70!



In all seriousness, keep the M16, it took the Viet Cong out, and it's probably took more people out than I can be bothered listing.

wait the M16 caused the most deaths to Americans in that war because it kept on jamming... something that doesn't happen to the AK...

 

[sansamour14]

i find it weird that the army always has to go with something that is extremely easy to use as if assuming ppl that join are idiots id prefer and extra week in training with a weapon that may have more features that might just save my life and the m16 or m4 has proven to not be the most reliable weapon in the world especially in the environments we are using it in

 

[Major_Tom]

Yeah, they should have done it years ago, and with something that doesn't use the direct impingement. Also, bullpup would be nice but Americans are too conservative for that. Oh, and one more thing: Stop making forward assists - they are useless!