what is the standard us military assault rifle?

10 Comments

1. GunnyC says:

   November 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm

   Standard is the M-4/M-16; the M4 being a variation of the M-16. They were looking at changing both the rifle and the caliber but have not done that yet. The M-a6 and M-4 both are considered assault rifles because they are select fire, meaning either single shot or automatic (even if restricted to three round burst more then one shot per per trigger pull is automatic) and despite the US redefining the term "full sized cartridge" the 5.56mm is not a full size or full power cartridge. The definition of an assault rifle is that it has select fire capability and uses a less then full size or full power cartridge; a Main Battle Rifle uses a full size/power cartridge and is semi-automatic, last MBR the US had was the M-14 in 7.62mm NATO (7.72×51).
2. Tom O says:

   November 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm

   http://world.guns.ru/assault/as61-e.htm it might be one of the ones from this website looks like a new version.
3. adm_twister_jcom says:

   November 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm

   I think the XM-29 is supposed to be coming into use sometime soon.
4. Red 7 says:

   November 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm

   Nope, the army is still using the M4 and M16. Some special units do use other types of weapons but the main weapon is still the M4 and M16. There is no way DoD or army is going to change the contract. Too much invested in the program now. To change out would require new Program of Instructions for training the troops with new weapons. Too much ammunition in the system to change and that would be costly. Parts, magazines, other equipment would need to be replaced. Along with politics between the defense industry and major players in Washington and the Pentagon, it is not going to happen.
5. schofield m says:

   November 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm

   m16 i think
6. bouncakdog says:

   November 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm

   well i can tell you that they tested it against the ak-47 , and basically the ak-47 is more powerful , and esier to use , thats all it has on out m16/m4’s ours are more accurate less recoil , and tighter grouping , and when i say more accurate i mean like our you can shoot on semi or auto and you will get straight gunned down by one of the beze’s but the best thing about our rifles is their designed so that when they shoot sum1 it will usually just wound them wich is better than killing them because then who ever we are fighting has to cary that man and tend to him wich makes more people vonurable to getting shot by us , lastly if we wanted any other kind of rifles we could have them so i can asure you that we wudnt have these rifles if they werent top of teh line
7. Meghan says:

   November 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm

   In basic training, they teach you how to use the M16. while I wouldn’t neccessarily call it an assualt rifle, it is the standard rifle the use. Once you get to your assigned unit, you usually switch to an M4. Most people use the M4 during combat deployments.
8. commander_713 says:

   November 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm

   It’s still the M16A2. The army had a project to replace it with the XM8 but it got canceled. The HK 416 is a possibility, because it looks just like the M4, only it doesn’t overheat, can fire even when buried in sand and soaked in water, etc. It’s the perfect rifle.
9. bombtech13 says:

   November 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm

   It’s the M1 Garand.

   Wait, are we talking about now??
10. Paint B says:

    November 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    the M4 and M16 assault rifles… i do hope we get the H&K 416 the have better knock down power