[GunGeek]

The US Army has said they have no interest in the Marine's M27 rifle, and they are moving ahead with the next generation weapons that will feature case telescoped ammunition with the ability to defeat ceramic body armor beyond 600m.

If the M4's in service are still in good serviceable condition, then this is probably the right call. If they are worn out after 17 years of war, then perhaps this isn't the best idea.

Sadly the Army has been ready for the next generation weapon since the day we adopted the M16 over 50 years ago. So it will be interesting to see what the future holds.

Ballistically speaking, something will have to be done, and done soon. Because cheap, readily available body armor is showing up more and more on the battlefield, and our 5.56 can't penetrate it.

US Army Will Not Buy USMC M27, Sets Course for Next Generation Squad Weapon, Cased Telescoped Ammunition - The Firearm BlogThe Firearm Blog

 

[shep854]

Like you said, they've been running down this blind alley since the '50s--even though they have repeatedly slammed into the wall at the end. It must be nice to have essentially unlimited (taxpayer) funds to spend.

 

[William R. Moore]

The Marines led the M16A2 development and adoption. You expect Big Green to willingly follow the Corps twice? Plus there's tradition, triumphing over progress for XXX years.

 

[DavidE]

They seem to be constantly angling for the plane to pursue an uber future technology which they figure will not be deployed any time soon, rather than what can be built from what is on the shelf right now. That seems to have been the plan since Land Warrior.

 

[GunGeek]

They seem to be constantly angling for the plane to pursue an uber future technology which they figure will not be deployed any time soon, rather than what can be built from what is on the shelf right now. That seems to have been the plan since Land Warrior.

I'm not sure I have issues with the plan or not. If we have good supplies of M4's that are in good condition, then I'm totally cool with waiting it out with the M4. However, if it's getting time for new rifles, then perhaps that's not the greatest idea.

The next generation rifle has a serious body armor issue (as does the M4...or ANY rifle for that matter). None of the current AP ammo will penetrate level IV body armor...and that armor is getting cheap...and showing up frequently on the battlefields.

The new tungsten core ammo will penetrate that armor, even out to combat ranges of 500m or a little more. But a couple of problems with using tungsten...

1 - We don't have significant supplies of tungsten. The big producers of tungsten are China and Russia. So our ability to create a patent supply line of ammo to sustain a war is questionable at best.

2 - The Army's new XM1158 Advanced Armor Piercing round is a little pricey at $13.00 per round! No, that's no typo; you read that right. $13.00 per shot from a round that doesn't have "Nitro Express" at the end.