JamesNoBrakes

Far more accurate? Shirley you're not serious? (and for the record, I own an AR and love shooting it)

Mass produced rifle platform to mass produced rifle platform, the M1/M14 is more accurate and capable of long-range penetration.

Turns out that most engagements aren't at those ranges and that a M4 type weapon provides a lot more flexibility for a soldier, but "more accurate" for the AR?

And while the AR platform may have served a long time, the M14 was an evolution on the M1 idea, kind of like how the M4 is a variation of the M16, so if you want to compare apples to apples, compare the total time of the M1 and M14 and M4 and M16 to come up with a "how long each has served". M16s have become a rarity in our armed forces today.

jungle

M1- 1936-1957, not many issued until deep into WWII.

M14-1959-1967, dead end. By this time all major powers started to shift to more practical rifles and ammunition. Germany started in 1943, Russia in 1947.

M16 and variants- 1969 to present with no real alternate in sight.

There is a huge difference between what is practical and what is nice on a sunny day shooting at big black circles on white backgrounds.

All major powers, including NATO made the shift to more practical arms and ammo a long time ago.

Antiques are fun and interesting, but logistics and reality rule.

EasternATC

Can anyone explain to me how this really works? Presidential Executive Orders are not law. I understand he can direct Executive branch employees to do or not do things, but how does this direction really affect the lives of private citizens?

jungle

"United States Presidents issue executive orders to help officers and agencies of the executive branch manage the operations within the federal government itself. Executive orders have the full force of law[1] when they take authority from a power granted directly to the Executive by the Constitution, or are made in pursuance of certain Acts of Congress that explicitly delegate to the President some degree of discretionary power (delegated legislation). Like statutes or regulations promulgated by government agencies, executive orders are subject to judicial review, and may be struck down if deemed by the courts to be unsupported by statute or the Constitution. Major policy initiatives usually require approval by the legislative branch, but executive orders have significant influence over the internal affairs of government, deciding how and to what degree laws will be enforced, dealing with emergencies, waging war, and in general fine policy choices in the implementation of broad statutes."

rickair7777

This falls under trade sanctions/embargo, which falls under diplomacy, which falls under State, which falls under the Executive. It has the convenient (to the administration) affect of slightly reducing gun availability. But I'm sure this would hold up under a 2nd Amendment test since there are still plenty of non-russian guns available on the market.

LightAttack

There is no real difference between a M16 and an M4. Outside of barrel length, butt stock and fire control (trigger/selector), they are the same gun. M16s have become a rarity because we don't need a full length "battle rifle" - that's why it has evolved into the M4.

Comparing the M14 to the M4/M16, it is much easier to make the M4 a highly accurate gun. While you'll still find some guys shooting a M14 at national competitions, the M16 dominates all other rifle types. The M16 design has proven itself over 50 years. Any replacement for the M16 in the near future is likely to be only a caliber change - which is why we brought back enhanced versions of the M14 which were already in storage.

And most new US military rifles in .308 are beefed up versions of the AR15/M16 - i.e., the SR25/M110. Apples, apples, apples.

NotPart91

And here's for all my friends in Komiforniastan

BoilerUP

One of the issues that has been discussed at length is the 5.56's lack of effectiveness from M4s at extended engagement distances like those found in Afghanistan (relative to the urban combat seen in Iraq). The 14.5" barrel gives up too much velocity, putting less energy on target and getting the M855 bullet below its optimal terminal range. The advent of Mk262 addressed many of these issues...but the fact remains, a short barreled rifle is not optimal for those types of engagements as evidenced by deployment of the 5.56 Designated Marksman Rifle and the aforementioned 7.62 SR25/M110/SASS type rifles.

As good as the M16 platform has proven to be over a half century and numerous conflicts, I think the next step shouldn't be evolutionary but rather revolutionary, moving away from a .224 bullet into something 6-6.5mm and breaking free of existing mag length limitations.

Then again, Big Army never asked for my opinion.

What were we talking about, again?

jungle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJxtdAAo_bQ

Very well done vid on the manufacture of these magazines without OSHA help.

jungle