What does it say about Army Marksmanship when they test fire SNIPER RIFLES at 250 and 400 yards? When I was in Boot camp we had to qualify at 100, 200, 300, and 500 yards with a standard issue M-14. A sniper is worth his salt if he can't hit the target at least 750 to 1000 yards, especially with a scope.
Perhaps you missed the point. This was a demonstration day for journalists, not a full on weapons test. Many of these systems have been in combat zones for over two years.
I fire a mounted M2-.5cal and can imagine the trauma of shouldering one. The largest I shouldered was a Weatherby .375 mag elephant gun and it will put you in a daze.
I was at Aberdeen twice, 1948 as an ROTC officer candidate, school and we fired all sorts of old and new weapons - many stories - . And again in 1952 in Company Officers School. I went to Korea and served as XO of the 30th Ord HM Co. My grandfather was a Sgt. in the 3rd Illinois Reg. and was one of the 13 EM in the regiment wounded in Puerto Rico in the Spanish- American war in 1898. He told me stories of firing at 1,000 yards and qualifing with his Krag-Jorgenson (sp?) and I remember handling some of the shells he kept. Correction, thrice. Several years ago I was in a golf tourament there with my son and granddaughter and was the oldest Aberdeen participant, and I'm still young. Loren J. Hov 02210313
I to was a little puzled at the 250yd sniper rifle testing. The M110 being based on the Stoner gas system(?) and "minimal bolt craching"(?) I am surprised. We just managed to get the first true test of the Stoner's system. Having the test done in and under the conditions as they exist in the field under combat conditions. The test pertained to the M4 variant of the M16, which got included in the testing. The Springfield Mk16 SOCOM and Heckler & Koch HK416 did well. The M4 and M16 failed as a reliable combat rifle, and that aparently the Army still tried to control. Does this sound like a combat test: Exposure to "extreem dust" for 30 minutes then test fired 120 rounds. Wipeed down and lubricated every 600 rounds. Full cleaning every 1200 rounds. With their best attempt at a coverup, steril, closed test, and being able to stop every few rounds to strip and clean them they still couldn't pass the test. What will be interesting now is seeing what happens... Do American troops go into harms way with the best we can give them or do we continue to use what they have now? If we change, do we buy Made in U.S.A. or purchase overseas?
