M4 to face new rifles in dust-chamber test

[CommunityEditor]

Yielding to congressional pressure, the Army will conduct a test in August to see if the M4 carbine soldiers take to war is the most reliable weapon available in sand-storm conditions.

The test will compare how the M4 performs against a select group of newer, more compact rifles when exposed to a “dust chamber” at the Army Test and Evaluation Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., said Col. Carl Lipsit, project manager for Soldier Weapons.

“This would be like standing in a [dust storm] for 30 minutes and shaking off your weapon and firing it,” Lipsit said. The test, estimated to cost $500,000, is slated to last five months, he said.

This is the latest round of contention over the M4 carbine since Coburn began questioning the Army three months ago about its plans to spend $375 million to purchase M4s through fiscal 2009. Lighter and more compact than the M16 rifle, the M4 is more effective for the close confines of urban combat. The Army began fielding the M4 in the mid-1990s.

Coburn’s office called Geren’s decision a good first step, but “Congress needs to pass legislation to ensure that an open competition actually occurs that puts the best rifle in the hands of our soldiers,” Hart said.

To that end, Coburn’s office will introduce an amendment to the fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization Bill to require the Army to hold a competition, Hart said.

Army weapons officials at Fort Benning, Ga.’s Infantry Center — the command responsible for determining soldiers’ weapons needs — continue to argue that the M4 carbine meets the Army’s requirements and see no reason to replace it.

“Coburn’s goal is to provide our soldiers with the best rifle at the lowest price to taxpayers,” Hart said. “His amendment will ensure that the Army selects a rifle based on a full and open competition, not old habits, convenience or any other parochial interest. Forcing our soldiers to use 1960s equipment is like forcing a football team to use 1960s equipment — it might still work, but in many situations newer equipment is preferable.”



Full article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20..._rifle_070715/

[invisibledecoy]

sadly, not very well... i'm a huge fan of Heckler & Koch, but i almost think this test is going to be a little unfair... i do realize however that this test does not determine what weapon they will use, its only one to determine how well it stacks up compared to newer designed models of firearms... but still, i'd still like to see a few more american manufacturers designs involved

but, i'm gonna say its about time they began to conduct testing! i'm hoping this will lead to further testing for a more reliable firearm