Bobarino
member
I don't have a scanner and i didn't find the article on the website but a friend subscribes to Army Times and on page 12 of the most current issue is a story about testing the M4 against other rifles. its long so i'm not going to quote the whole thing verbatim but i'll hit the pertinent points.
-the Army, "yielding to congressional pressure" will conduct tests in August of the M4 carbine in the Army's "Dust Chamber" to see if its the most reliable weapon available for the troops.
-the tests were requested by Sen. Tom Coburn (R) OK, and the Senator threatened to hold up the confirmation of Peter Geren as Army Secretary if the tests were not conducted.
-the tests are supposed to simulate being in a dust storm for 30 mins, shaking off your weapon and firing it. its estimated that the tests will cost $500,000.
-Coburn began questioning the Army's plan to spen $375 million on M4's through FY 2009 citing "longstanding reliability problems" and asked the Army to consider newer and possible better weapons.
-Coburn is to introduce an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill to require the Army to a competition for a new weapon. the amendment could go before congress this week.
-Army weapons officials at Ft. Benning's Infantry Center maintain that the M4 is fine and sees no need to replace it.
-the M4 will be pitted against the H&K 416 (which has been fielded by the Army's Delta Force since 2004, and the Army's Asymmetric Warfare Group states the article), the H&K XM8, and the FNH's USA's Special Operations Forces CombatAssault Rifle aka, the FN SCAR.
-Colt has two piston operated versions of the M4 but Army Officials haven't decided whether or not they will be included in the competition.
-ten samples of each weapon will fire 6,000 each for the test.
-results will be reviewed by Infantry Center to determine which, if any weapon might replace the M16/M4.
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a sidebar in the article also outlined testing done with M16's and M4's in the dust chamber to compare "light lubrication" vs. "heavy lubrication" on the bolt assembly of the rifles. dramatic increases in reliability were noted when the bolt assy. was "heavily lubricated" vs. "lighty lubricated". 60,000 rounds were fired and the M4's failure rate went from 9,836 with light lube to 678 with heavy lube. the M16 showed similar results with 2,124 stopages with light lube and 507 with heavy lube. this test lead to a change in weapons maintenence guidance that Army units are practicing in Iraq and Afghanistan states Col. Carl Lipsit, PM for "Soldier Weapons". similar tests with heavy vs. light lube will be included in the dust chambers testing that will include the M4, FN SCAR, XM8 and 416.
so there ya go. the Cliff's notes version.
Bobby
-the Army, "yielding to congressional pressure" will conduct tests in August of the M4 carbine in the Army's "Dust Chamber" to see if its the most reliable weapon available for the troops.
-the tests were requested by Sen. Tom Coburn (R) OK, and the Senator threatened to hold up the confirmation of Peter Geren as Army Secretary if the tests were not conducted.
-the tests are supposed to simulate being in a dust storm for 30 mins, shaking off your weapon and firing it. its estimated that the tests will cost $500,000.
-Coburn began questioning the Army's plan to spen $375 million on M4's through FY 2009 citing "longstanding reliability problems" and asked the Army to consider newer and possible better weapons.
-Coburn is to introduce an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill to require the Army to a competition for a new weapon. the amendment could go before congress this week.
-Army weapons officials at Ft. Benning's Infantry Center maintain that the M4 is fine and sees no need to replace it.
-the M4 will be pitted against the H&K 416 (which has been fielded by the Army's Delta Force since 2004, and the Army's Asymmetric Warfare Group states the article), the H&K XM8, and the FNH's USA's Special Operations Forces CombatAssault Rifle aka, the FN SCAR.
-Colt has two piston operated versions of the M4 but Army Officials haven't decided whether or not they will be included in the competition.
-ten samples of each weapon will fire 6,000 each for the test.
-results will be reviewed by Infantry Center to determine which, if any weapon might replace the M16/M4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a sidebar in the article also outlined testing done with M16's and M4's in the dust chamber to compare "light lubrication" vs. "heavy lubrication" on the bolt assembly of the rifles. dramatic increases in reliability were noted when the bolt assy. was "heavily lubricated" vs. "lighty lubricated". 60,000 rounds were fired and the M4's failure rate went from 9,836 with light lube to 678 with heavy lube. the M16 showed similar results with 2,124 stopages with light lube and 507 with heavy lube. this test lead to a change in weapons maintenence guidance that Army units are practicing in Iraq and Afghanistan states Col. Carl Lipsit, PM for "Soldier Weapons". similar tests with heavy vs. light lube will be included in the dust chambers testing that will include the M4, FN SCAR, XM8 and 416.
so there ya go. the Cliff's notes version.
Bobby
