The Army is looking for a rifle to replace the m16

[94Winchester]

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Army is interested in replacing the M16/M4.

Army Sets Sights on New Rifle - WSJ.com

Since there are former military personal on the forum I was wondering what they think the rifle should be or what features it should have. Should the new rifle be a battle rifle or an assault rifle?

[NomadPilot]

These stories have been running off and on for years. Big Army isn't going to change its main rifle for at least another 15-20 years. Especially with the drawdowns coming, there's not going to be any money for "nice-to-have's." The combat for the foreseeable future is going to be largely MOOTW and MOUT, so I say a compact, accurate, carbine will best fit the bill. It needs to have a Pic rail for QD optics - from Aimpoints to scopes to lasers and NVD. Kinda like the M4.

[SOUTHPAWSHOOTER10]

They already have a replacement. It's called the m14...

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by SOUTHPAWSHOOTER10

They already have a replacement. It's called the m14...

+ 1

It is still the finest assault rifle made and if it were used /brought back it would change things
in Afghanistan.

The military has bought up all of the tooling , so they must be considering to use it or keep it
from everyone else.

For close combat, a shorter more compact rifle is better, but at any distance the m 14 would be my choice.

As usual our government wants to re invent the wheel.

J E CUSTOM

[nfhjr62]

Saw on the web at the shot show a company in calf. has a 50 cal. bulpup coming out in several mounts with the recoil of a 30/06

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I'm a huge M14 fan, but I see it more as a stop gap than anything else. The ARMY is going to replace the M4 its going to happen its in the works.

That said there is nothing wrong with the M4/M16 platform they are running now that will not or is not being addressed by the carbine upgrade program.

[silvertip-co]

...took em long enough.