Still More Bad Press For The M-4

[Kramer]

The first M16s were also issued without cleaning kits. This was because McNamara claimed they were self cleaning too.

That was about the time the self cleaning ovens came out! LOL

[gold cup abuser]

I believe that was Robert McNamara and his wiz-kids. The same people who thought they knew better than army ordinance when they were told the chambers needed to be chromed and they ignored A.O. and quite a few troops paid the price. The first M16s were also issued without cleaning kits. This was because McNamara claimed they were self cleaning too. Other troops picked up AKs and used them.

Not quite right...

When the AR was first issued it was designed around a different propellant, twist rate and round weight. The propellant used did not block the gas system and the original loading was doing what it was designed, that is keyhole when it hit the target and produce traumatic wounds.

Then came the Army Ordnance Board.

For them the round and rifle was not accurate enough, so they changed the propellant to what is used now, had the barrel twist rate changed to make the round more stable. That is what they said publicly. Most thought this was an attempt to sabotage the rifle and have the Army go back to the M14 which THEY chose.

When this mod was issued out to the troops in Vietnam that is when the deification hit the osculation..

Colt sent teams to Vietnam and found out the new propellant was causing the problems, and the lack of maintenance kits and instruction was not helping the troops in the field. Cleaning kits and a comic book were issued to the troops and then it began to work.

The russians in adopting their AK74, took M16's and the original ammo and used that as inspiration for the design of the 5.45x39 round. Since they only wanted a rifle that would work they did not monkey with the ammo, propellant and used a proven design. The result was a rifle that was good at the 300 meter mark and produced the traumatic wounds that the original 5.56round was supposed to make.

[Kramer]

When the AR was first issued it was designed around a different propellant, twist rate and round weight. The propellant used did not block the gas system and the original loading was doing what it was designed, that is keyhole when it hit the target and produce traumatic wounds.

The original propellant for the ammo loaded in the states was extruded powder, a hotter cleaner burning powder. The replacement powder for the ammo loaded for overseas was ball powder, a cooler burning pwder that left carbon residue.

IIRC the original twist was 1:14

[billt]

http://randywakeman.com/USArmyM4NationalDisgrace.htm

This is a good article with a lot of links. Covers a lot of ground. Bill T.

[SCBaldr]

Thats a bit if an eye opener and no mistake.

[billt]

Thats a bit if an eye opener and no mistake.

Randy Wakeman is a very knowledgeable guy, and has authored a lot of very informative firearm articles. Bill T.

[JEEPMAN]

yet your building one

[Legion_Prime]

Uhhhh, you DO realize this thread is nearly a year old and the poster you are replying to has since been banned right?

EPIC SA FAIL

[King 5.45]