But the early M16's did definitely have problems, at least in part due to Colt propaganda which told the army the rifle would never need cleaning (wrong!),
Actually Colt told them (us) the rifle would require "less cleaning". And they were in fact correct. We (US Army) changed the powder specifications after the fact... the new powder was extremely dirty, this combined with inadequate training and a procruement screw up (cleaning supplies) led to the problems. So we really can't blame this one on Colt, it was our own fault.
Of course, the army has now effectively admitted that the 5.56 is not as good as it could be, by going to a 6.8mm which will, it is hoped, be better.
NO, that is not even being considered... this entire huge "internet commando rumor mill" about the 6.8 and 6.5 Grendel is the most rediculous piece of fallse information I've ever seen.
These cartridges
ARE NOT being tested, evaluated or otherwise considered as a replacement for the 5.56. The next generation service rifle WILL be using the 5.56 ammunition.
The XM8 will replace the M16/M4 platforms and it has been designed to use the 5.56. The only remaining questions are contractural on who is going to produce it, HK or some other contractor who we select.
The decision would have already been announced but for HKs attempting to change the terms of the production rquirements under pressure from the German Govt.
We require the weapons to be manufactured in the USA... the German Govt is pressing HK to demand they be allowed to build them in Germany... that's not going to happen....
The Army owns the production rights and has spent 40 Million dollars developing and testing this system. Once we formally adopt it we can have Colt, Armalite or whoever we want to manufacture it thus. We want HK to manufacture the weapon because we know they can do it right because they've been involved in all the development (that we've paid for)
HKs patents are moot, as we'd have to agree to let them produce it otherwise, which we've told them is a deal breaker...
Sorry for the long post, but I get more irritated everytime I see something like this posted.... where do people come up with this crap? (not you... the folks that start and perpetuate this stuff)
We're not going to spend $40mil developing exactly what we want, and change at the last minute because a couple "wildcatters" think they've solved all of our problems in their backyard......
You've got a small number of people trying to sell something and give it some "mystique" by either insinuating or flat out lying about the DOD has some interest in what they're doing, that "hush hush" special ops guys are using it in Iraq...
It just isn't so...