Quote:
Originally Posted by Spitzer
As for the US needing a new rifle, well it is my opinion that they do, many countries have moved on to newer designs, I think its time for the US as-well. The XM8 was a good choice, unfortunately it has been scrapped.
The soldiers need a rifle they can take out into a dusty battlefield for months and still function with minimal jams.
|
Why do we need a new issue rifle? At the quantity we order, nothing short of a quantum leap in effectiveness is worth our time to switch.
Many rifles are marginally better than M-16/M-4, but none offer enough of an improvement to warrant a wholesale switch.
It's not just the cost of the weapons themselves. We have to change our training, spare parts stockpile, set up a new logistic network to support the transition, and you have to train the guys in the field on a whole new system and discipline. For every dollar the weapon itself costs, it probably takes $5 behind to scene to support the switch.
All of these hassle for what? Maybe a few percentages of extra reliability? And that's only if the weapon is lightly maintained. The effectiveness of the round is the same. The effective range of the weapon is the same. Not really worth the cost.