Re: Major Revamp Possible For M4 Carbine

**CingularDuality** · 11-25-2009, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by DrakenViator

My understanding was that the AK-47 used a gas piston design, and is considered to be the 'cockroach' of the modern battlefield.

Oh, yeah, I was talking about the AR platform gas-piston designs... The modularity of the AR platform is truly awesome. Fitting a gas piston into that rifle cause the bolt carrier to tilt just enough to beat up on the buffer tube. A different design could certainly fix that issue, but it might make an entire swath of aftermarket accessories incompatible with the redesigned rifle...

**Sabre_Tooth_Tigger** · 12-26-2010, 12:39 PM

**Acreo Aeneas** · 12-29-2010, 12:23 AM

Wait...I thought the HK416's incorporated most of these proposed changes? Wouldn't it have been cheaper to adopt the HK's after their current contract of M16/M16 variants expires?

(That round counter would be nice if it were also visible to the user. Guess it would be too much to hope for?)

**KoopaTroopa** · 12-29-2010, 12:29 AM

It's cheaper to convert the existing platforms than it is to purchase (and field) entirely new rifles for the whole United States military.

**Acreo Aeneas** · 12-29-2010, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by Gill

It's cheaper to convert the existing platforms than it is to purchase (and field) entirely new rifles for the whole United States military.

These wouldn't be entirely new rifles. There probably would be next to no retraining required as these changes doesn't change the overall operation of the weapon. As for converting the existing platforms, I'm not sure it would necessarily be cheaper compared to just replacing the current stock of M4s with new receivers and barrels.

**sordavie** · 12-29-2010, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by Acreo Aeneas

As for converting the existing platforms, I'm not sure it would necessarily be cheaper compared to just replacing the current stock of M4s with new receivers and barrels.

New receivers? Both upper and lower? Why would you change either the entire upper or lower receiver or the barrel if you just want to convert to a gas piston design? None of that's necessary.

Is it cheaper to replace your entire computer if you want to upgrade one part?

**Wicks** · 12-29-2010, 07:51 AM

Re the ak. Part of the reason it is so rugged is ironically the extremely loose manufacturing tolerances. Basically all the crud just falls out of it apparently lol.

Most western arms manufacturers operate to much stricter tolerances hence the higher failure rate.

**Jorge.PT** · 12-29-2010, 11:13 AM

I don't understand why people compare a rifle designed during the WW2 with the materials and machinery available in the URSS at that time, with a more advanced rifle designed in the 60's with polymers, composite materials and more precise machinery available.

At best the comparison should be between the AK47 and the AR-10.

**Skud** · 12-29-2010, 01:40 PM

Because I'm willing to bet that 3/4 of the opposition uses an AK variant.

**N.B. Forrest** · 12-29-2010, 02:28 PM

The best improvement they could make regardless of platform would be to go with a larger caliber round. This is something the guys in the field have been wanting since Vietnam. There's a reason so many M14s have been pulled out of mothballs and upgraded over the past few years - particularly for places like Afghanistan.

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