9 Apr 02

>From another active-duty friend, currently serving overseas, on the subject of infantry rifles:

"I share your concerns about the current trend toward small-caliber ‘battle' rifles. Time and again we've seen the requirement to shoot through things, in order to get at the bad guys on the other side, go unmet with our issue rifle and ammunition. On those rare occasion when we're asked, we keep pressing decision makers to fix this forty-year-old procurement mistake.

Unfortunately, the current craze is to ‘fix' these failings by strapping countless gadgets onto the existing M-16, converting it into a ponderous, floundering, clumsy clunk. We would rather them simply admit their mistake and field a suitable rifle and caliber that can meet the challenges of fighting in a wide spectrum of military environments. We Americans need a genuine, thirty-caliber rifle."

This is just one of many similar notes received on this subject.

/John