What would you Change the US Assault rifle to

[68'chevelle]

What would you change the current US military assalt rifle to,
I would change it to the M1918A2 B.A.R. in 30-06 with a 30 round mag, a selector switch, and a scope rail.

 

[damien]

Yeah, the soldiers would love to carry that.

I think the soldiers have already endorsed a change: AK-47.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

Yeah, the soldiers would love to carry that.

Well yeah! It only weighs 3 or 4 times as much.

Not including ammo weight

 

[Outlaws]

I would change it to the M1918A2 B.A.R. in 30-06 with a 30 round mag, a selector switch, and a scope rail.

A useless firearm today. Way too big, way too heavy, a 30-06 in full auto cannot be controlled by hand, and 30-06 ammo is way too heavy.

 

[2RCO]

I can tell you this not the plastified XM8.

 

[GunTech]

AK-5?

Half M16/half AK with a rail system.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Sorry?

Are we talking "form of the platform" or the calibre?

Or both?

I'd stay with the basic AR platform, although there's some argument for going to a piston upper rather than direct gas.

And then there's the 6.5 Grendel, which (IIRC) has great ballistics and serious punch.

 

[Shadow Shock]

H&k G36

 

[armed85]

I'd like to see the current M4 with a 6.8mm SPC upper.

No additional transition training and can use the same magazines and same lowers.

The M16 or AR platform is here to stay and changing the upper is the only thing that makes sense from a logistical and training standpoint. Upgrading the iron sights to an EOTech type sight as standard issue would make sense as an evolutionary step as well (many of these new weapon platforms have fancy sights).

An M4 with a 6.8mm SPC upper would be a very deadly weapon. An M4 with a 6.8mm SPC upper and an EOTech type sight as standard issue would be an extremely deadly weapon.

There is no weapon available that is so much better than the M16 or AR platform that is worth the expense of transitioning. We're going to have to wait for something really new to take hold. A gun firing caseless ammunition might be the next evolutionary step. Maybe lasers. Who knows?

Switching to a new weapon platform in the middle of a war is historically a bad idea.

 

[Shadow Shock]

Sure it wouldn't be worthwile to switch to a completely new system. But this is a "What if?" thread. Just imaginary. However, I do agree with you, if they wanted to get a new weapon, a 6.8 M4 would be the most logical thing in my opinion. However, I would go with the ACOG 4x instead of EOTech

 

[68'chevelle]

They could switch from .223 to 6.8 or even the 7.62x39, in the AR, It's still the light weight gun with a bigger caliber since they already make the AR in those calibers it wouldn't be that hard to swap the guns out, and it's not much heavier. Can any body find the ballistics for both 5.56, 6.8, and the 7.62x39.

 

[JKimball]

I think Robinson Arms XCR has good potential, if it had a manufacturer that could support on that scale. They are making it available in 5.56 NATO, 7.62x39, and 6.8 SPC.

The FN SCAR also looks pretty good. It comes in 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO.

XCR

SCAR-L and SCAR-H

 

[Blackbeard]

Phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range.

 

[Evil Monkey]

AR-18

Just as light as an M16 if not lighter and is a little bit simpler in design and manufacturing. It's also alot cleaner due to its short stroke gas piston system. Let's keep carbon and heat away from the internals.

 

[Slinky]

+1 for an AR conversion kit implementing better sights and a larger calibre.

Though I'm curious to see how the XM8 may have turned out had it been fitted with more traditional(non-melty plastic) furniture.

 

[Crunker1337]

I say an AR-15 based 6.8mm rifle. Should use gas-piston though, like the POF rifles and the HK416/417.

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Change it to the M4 or H&K 416 chambered in 7.62x39.

That would probably make logistics far easier when you can actually use the weapons cache of your enemy in a pinch.

 

[Hauptmann]

Another vote for Robinson Arms XCR. All extruded aluminum receivers for long service life and strength, floating barrel for good full auto cooling, no tools needed for disassembly, heavy duty bolt design, M4 accuracy, better reliability than the M4, not as finiky about dust and dirt as the M4,........well it can basically do everything the M4 can do only it can do a lot of things better.

Want a heavier caliber? How about 6.8 SPC, 7.62x39, or 6.5 Grendel which are all possible in the XCR. A .308 version of the XCR is in the works as well.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I think the AR format is ok, and so is the 5.56 mm round.

I would however use 20" barrels as much as possible, and make carbines a special issue.

I would also switch the projectile to a heavier bullet like a 75g BTHP.

 

[Ian Sean]

a 30-06 in full auto cannot be controlled by hand, and 30-06 ammo is way too heavy.

Never fired one huh? I had a rare pleasure to rip through a few mags with a BAR, not bad, fired it from the hip, quite controllable....I would not want to be the poor sucker carrying it all day though.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

An AK-16! It would have the poor selector lever and lefty-friendly bolt of the AK, but the tight tolerances, anemic caliber, and direct gas impingement of the M-16.

No, those XCRs and the SCAR looks promising. Who knows, maybe troops will eventually be packing those KelTec .308 bullpups (with a designated tactical wheelbarrow crew to carry the ammo).

 

[elmerfudd]

The XCR in 6.8 would be my choice as well.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

The XCR looks like it may be a real contender if there is a push to change the standard battle rifle again. It's multiple caliber swapability as well as quick stock-barrel length changes would be pretty handy when issuing to different types of soldiers. A folding stock and short barrel for vehicle crews, a long barrel in .308 and full stock for designated marksmen, a current M4 type telescope stock with short barrel in 6.8SPC for MPs and other building-clearing type soldiers. The possibilities are endless.

Although, I would like to see how the XM8 would have done if the tests had been completed and not canceled. The XM8 also had some of the same customization options as the XCR, though not as many. I think a lot of the dislike of the XM8 comes from either the fast-track closed selection process that almost went through, or from old timers who still can't wrap their minds around polymers in firearms. Sure maybe the wrong type of plastic was used in the prototypes, but that is an easy fix: use the plastics that we already know work and can stand up to the heat.

Besides that, the XM8 just looked beyond neato, and I would buy one today if it were legal/they were available

 

[Chrontius]

If we're going to 7.62, may I propose the Kel-Tec RFB?

Or perhaps bring back the SUB-16? All the muzzle velocity (and BLAM) of a much bigger rifle, with better handling.

Actually, someone mentioned the XM-8 and its problems with melting barrel shrouds. There is an excellent, simple solution to that - issue everyone grenade launchers. Seriously. All steel, and they offer the ability to do all kinds of crazy crap to mess up enemy ambushes.

I'd honestly love one of each for my collection.

 

[plexreticle]

Ar-10 in .243