The AR15 is an excellent civilian weapon, especially if it receives the care and maintenance one would normally gives a target or hunting rifle costing so much. But as Theo says this was a supply and maintenance unit that didn't expect to have to fight and their weapons didn't get the cleaning a front line unit would have given. The fine desert sand jams up the M16/MP4 and what she describes does not surprise me. A more disciplined unit might have spent the time riding in the trucks making sure their weapons where serviceable, but thats more a leadership problem then fault of the individuals (appearently some individuals did clean their weaons because they did function). Bottom line is that the M16 rifle was NEVER a good battlefield weapon and no amount of tweaking or adjustment will overcome the basic design flaws. Its a precision tool being used in an improcise way.

Also as Theo states the FN FAL is a much better weapon as it takes into account that the battlefield is a somewhat dirty place and has tolerances built in to allow for it. The AK variants will function under the most extreme conditions but leave a little to be desired in terms of accuracy. In the situation her unit was in the AK would have been more then suitable given the close range action (from the accounts all fighting was less then 100 yards).

 

A comment about the AR15's of the world. I have trained extensively on such weapons, and have them in my quota of weapons that I teach defensive use of.

The weapon is not particularly well made, unless you want to pay well over $2,000 for a version made by a non contract company. The lesser priced versions are very similar to the military version with much the same problems. On the range, with no stress, and no sand, dust, dirt or water, I have known 2 out of 10 AR 15 cease to feed accurately on many occasions, where the 'assist button' was necessary to load the weapon. I bought a Bushmaster to take the training for the AR 15, and was not impressed with the way it was made, or the tendancy to loose sight accuracy. I passed the necessary training, converted the gained knowledge to work with my FN's and sold the Bushmaster to somebody who knew of my problems and didn't mind. Obviously not someone who has ever relied upon a weapon to keep breathing.

I do not doubt that there are some of you reading this who have accurate and reliable AR 15's and would disagree. This is, of course, your prerogative and we will happily agree to disagree. However the fact is still evident that the M16 and clones are an unreliable weapon that should NEVER be seen anywhere where lives depend on them. I cannot imagine how many brave and terrified servicemen have died with the disappointment of a jammed weapon on their minds. In many fire fights, with extreme use, no FN I was issued with ever jammed, misfired or broke. That claim cannot be made for any M16.

About the AK47 and clones. Though regarded as an inaccurate weapon, I have found it to be a very reliable adequate weapon, provided you resist the temptation to only change the selector one click.. Full Auto on an AK is a blast, but you can't hit anything with it. The gun leaps about and slaps the breach and hits somewhere different every shot, even when in a vise.. Not good for accurate shooting, but full auto is for terrifying the enemy, not for hitting things. I suppose it is used mostly to waste ammo..

Put me back in action (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE) give me the choice of weapons, and I will not even consider the M16.. I will take my FN's out of mothballs, get the other ejector block, and safety sear, and have the best operating NATO weapon back in action.

The only disappointment I have in getting older is that I have to figure out what else to do - having been in uniform for so long leaves you kind of empty when they don't want you anymore.

Theo

 

How long was ya in the military old man?

 

Theo- you ever shoot the FN-Fal full auto (in combat of course)?

I've heard they are a bear to control.

Your right though, I love mine...

Primary home defense weapon for when they come over the wall

 

Am I being accused of being an old man.. Cool, first time ever....

I joined in 1964, as a junior. I left in 1993 as an worn out heap of junk..

During which time I managed to see action in every conflict world wide from 1968 - 1993.

I have often fired the FN FAL on the third click.. Full Auto on any weapon is more difficult to control than single shot, but the FN is not much worse than the American weapons of the same caliber. If you want a difficult to control in auto weapon go for the Russian general purpose stand gun, can't remember the make, and fire that thing from your shoulder - it uses the long 12mm round, and leaps about like a mad dog. The British GPMG in .50 is a painful brute to go full on too.

Theo

 

30 years huh? you joined the military almost 20 years before I was born....you be an old man who shot alot of guns....and I still think your preferance in handguns stinks... unless you have since decided that a Taurus is a good gun?

 

BTW- I though Jessica Lynch did a great interview.

She's no great hero- but she never claimed to be.

She will go far in life.

 

How anyone can claim the the sig sauer pistols stink is well beyond me. Regardless of how good, bad or worthy a Taurus is, it will NEVER compare to a precision made weapon like the German made Sigs... There is no movement in the slide of a Sig, the rails are the full length of the receiver, the tolarances are tight, but not prone to jamming, and they are stainless steel. (I have the German made guns, not the aluminum Swiss ones.)

Theo

 

Haha, I will always takethe Taurus, but then again, there are personal reasons behind that...

 

bigmattxxl,
That is an almost direct quote out of the book "Steel My Soldiers' Hearts," written by my hero, Col. David Hackworth. It was a great read and he said over and over in the book that the M16 was not at all reliable, however, I have heard from dsome of my Marine brethren that they have gotten better over the years. As for the Baretta M9, law enforcement all over the country tout it as the worst weapon on the market. They have experienced firing pins popping out, breeches jamming for no reason, springs flying off. I mean, these guys have nothing good to say about it. They make us use them in the navy, as watchstanders. When I last qualified on it, I had one of the clips fall apart in the middle of a timed shoot- cost me 5 easy points, as it was the three yard range!! I'm no gun expert, but I believe the military- especially the guys getting shot at- should have the best weapons available, not the cheapest!

STU

 

Sounds like maybe they should have spent more time cleaning their rifles over there then playing games. Ours were cleaned every time we had down time. I cleaned my M9 probably whenever I wasn't driving or checking the dug in positions to make sure they had food, water, and was updated on the current situation. Never had a problem. The desert will eat these things up if they're not taken care of. I can see them all jamming. I'd still take a M16 into combat, they only had so many for us to take, so the expert pistol guys were asked to take the M9's.

 

When I was into 9mm's, I had a Berretta and never had a single jam after thousands of rounds.

The slide being pulled off forward by bad guys would be reason not to use it, but as far as reliable- it was better than most.

Personally, the only handgun I will ever buy will be a .45 from now on. Everthing else is a .45 wannabee

 

i have an AR15- only times its jammed was; from a faulty magazine, and 2 bad rounds. the rounds were "varmint" rounds, they had a flat tip that caught the bore and the bullet pushed into the casing, never jammed with other ammo.

i also have a H&K USP. Expert .45- i love it as much as my AR15. it has NEVER jammed, but ive only put @ 1000 rounds through it, where my AR15 goes through about 400-500 rounds per month.

 

Right on with the .45. The 9mm is an alright round but unfortunatly it doesn't have the stopping power of the .45. So what if you can carry 13+1 in a 9mm if you have to use 3 to do what 1 .45 will do.

 

The M16 isn't my first pick of weapons either but we did learn out here in the desert that there are a few tricks to keep it going. First and formost is to get all the oil off and out of it, any oil in the receiver or on the bolt just sucks up sand and it jams. And whenever you can wrap the receiver to keep out the dirt. And I don't know how many bad magazines I found at the range, the lips of the magazine get sprung a little and two or three rounds at a time will feed up and jam.
The AKs biggest claim to fame is that almost any modestly equiped machine shop can make them and if you invest in a CNC TIG welder and a good stamping mill you can really crank them out. And a monkey could figure out how to put one together, and yes it was designed to operate even while being poorly maintained. I kinda like the Isreali Galil
its an AK that they redesigned and adopted. its better built and chambers the 5.56 (.223)