Re: Marksmen issued better rifles in Afghanistan
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Battle a few things the AR system has over the M14/Garand systems
AR systems have true free float bbl system. To compare ARs of the 1960s with todays is not fair to older ones as rifles with free float bbls have far great shooting ability just like comparing a 1903 Springfiled with todays bolt action sniper rifles. Huge difference. The free flaoted bbl of the AR systems is why the M14 has all but disappered from National Match Comp.
M14s dont have free floated bbl and relay on pressure to get consistent shot to shot POI. That works fair at best. Free flaot is way to go.
ARs of today have excelent ability to mount a scope and do so solidly, thanks to flat top uppers. Old fixed handle ARs did not and where almost as bad as a M14 to scope. M14 scope problems have never been fixed because rec flexes too much. They have tried welding, multiple mounting points etc but nothing has ever been rock solid when it came to mounting a scope on a M14 </div></div>I get it tac but you're preaching to the choir and I own an example of practically each era, exception being a fixed handle AR but I do have an early Colt Comp HBAR with a flat top that isn't floated and the comparisons between each are enlightening.
I have a new LRT SASS and it rivals a bolt gun in accuracy without question...well...the bolt guys would question it but that's another arguement. I also just built an M1A and pretty much spared no expense. JAE stock, USO TPAL (which arrives tomorrow) and pretty much everything I could throw at it. Make no mistake they can be accurized but you surely need coin. I can get fairly consistent 1/2 MOA out of the SASS and 3/4-1 MOA out of the M1A (with a MK4/M3). The difference is that the SASS is far more consistent. To get the same consistency out of the M1A you have to be cognizant of barrel temp and even how long a round sits in a hot chamber before firing. In fact some have wondered (in disbelief) how I was able to get that type of accuracy out of my M1A and its largely because I also own an infrared camera, and have had the luxury of thermal testing.
Moving to the "middle child...the Colt, it's more modern than the M1A and older than the SASS, factory accurized, yet couldn't hold a candle to the M1A even <span style="font-style: italic">before</span> I upgraded it. The point here is just look at the progression of these platforms and consider the R&D both military and civilian, aftermarket support, and advances in manufacturing technology that's been thrown at the AR...hell this platform should be able to shoot around corners and differentiate friend or foe by now, yet what's been achieved is a little more accuracy, better consistency, and better ergonomics. All good mind you and I love them but to my earlier points...
1. The AR is not the giant leap forward its made out to be
2. The M1A from a performance standpoint is not as antiquated as its made out to be
So in the context of this thread which has become nothing more than a few manufacturers reps fighting over where my tax dollar is spent, I think we're all off base when it comes to what our troops need. If we weren't so hung up on fighting "pretty" wars, we'd likely find that existing weapon systems are quite good at what they do and older systems like the M14 can still shine. I respect KAC and others and I absolutely drool over their gear BUT those systems aren't the real answer to anything.
Not trying to make this political but you can't separate the two if you believe technology is the answer to political mistakes. If this were not true, Vietnam would have had a different outcome. After all we had the latest and greatest rifle.
I served in the gulf and my son is there now. Believe me when I tell you that if I had the slightest confidence that KAC's or whoever's latest gadget would bring him back safely I'd deliver it to him by canoe if I had to. But the truth is that he already has everything he needs, except a government that allows him to use it.
