Special forces gets the pulse rifle!

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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http://www.harrisoutdoorgroup.com/specialweapons.html

FNH USA Mark 16/17 SCAR rifle

I buy this magazine from time to time, and the cover had me sold this go round. With the addition of the grenade launcher, this weapon looks like the pulse rifles from the movie Aliens. After I got over the cool sci fi factor, the article was quite interesting. These rifles, according to the author at least, is a significant improvement over the M4 currently used by special forces. Also, up to 90% of the parts on both the 16 and 17 models are interchangeable. In the field, spec ops will also be able to quickly interchange barrels of various lengths. All kinds of improvements.

Just wanted to post for the cool factor. Any of our active duty members play with this yet?
 
silenthunterstudios said:
http://www.harrisoutdoorgroup.com/specialweapons.html

FNH USA Mark 16/17 SCAR rifle

I buy this magazine from time to time, and the cover had me sold this go round. With the addition of the grenade launcher, this weapon looks like the pulse rifles from the movie Aliens. After I got over the cool sci fi factor, the article was quite interesting. These rifles, according to the author at least, is a significant improvement over the M4 currently used by special forces. Also, up to 90% of the parts on both the 16 and 17 models are interchangeable. In the field, spec ops will also be able to quickly interchange barrels of various lengths. All kinds of improvements.

Just wanted to post for the cool factor. Any of our active duty members play with this yet?
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Inactive since 27 December 1953 .
Tried to download but all I got was the picture. Had computer savvier friends try to get in too . All failed.
Any other place to search ?
Thanks, Uncle Alan
 
Looks kind of like the OICW from HK or Alliant Techsystems .

Do a google searck on "OICW," and you should find some cool photos and info.
 
I think this was on Modern Marvels (History Channel) last night. Is this the one with the range finder and bullets that can explode at any given range? :eek: Talk about 'bad day in the fox hole'
 
Yep. That is what our wonderfully oversized government gave us for around $30 MILLION worth of testing! :rolleyes:

We basically have an M-16 with a gas stroke system, barrel change out capability, which is so important in the field before you enter town :rolleyes:, and finally, yes finally, an AMBIDEXTROUS SAFETY!

Wow! No replacement for the stock M-16 magazine, though. I guess they ran out of funding before they could look at redesigning that part.

At least we did come up with a better launcher, but $29 Million?

Also keep in mind that FN funded the design work, which makes the amount even more ridiculous.

IIRC, a lot of that money was spent on testing alternative cartridges for the new rifle. Do you know what we got for that amount in the way of new cartridges? We now have what is called the 5.56 NATO, and 7.62 NATO. :rolleyes:

This whole story reminds me of the time I sold that 1911 in 45 ACP in order to own every wonder nine EVER made. Now, I have sold every wonder nine I have ever owned just to buy another 45 ACP. :rolleyes:

Oh, well. I guess we all have our own stupid moments. Even if some of them last for many years.

But, perhaps they do have a better weapon now.

God bless those men and women in uniform, and we pray they have everything they do need.
 
Heavier and heavier, more and more specialised.

Probably half as accurate and effective as a Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield, No.1 Mk. III.

Can anyone say dinosaur?

maximus otter
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I was told that a lot of special forces guys opt to carry the M14.
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Some have the option; I had heard that M14 were reissued to the 82nd when they went back into Iraq. Now it seems they are going back to a dedicated marksman’s program and issuing a couple of M14 per squad. I would agree that the .223 is a bit light for the ranges in desert fighting.
 
If you believe the gun rags, a new assault rifle is getting adopted every year. The SCAR is one of many that have been called, none of which has been chosen yet. A couple of years ago the 6.8mm crowd was crowing loudly that their entry would replace the M16 based rifles. You can see how far that has gone.

As for changing barrels easily, who cares outside of unit armorers? Let's think realistically for a moment. You wear body armor and carry anywhere from 50-100 pounds of gear into the field. Would you carry another rifle barrel just in case you want to swap, or would you make do with what you have. Would you trade off ammo, grenades, water, or body armor for a spare barrel ot two?

I've also seen reports from Iraq that indicate that the vast majority of fighting happens at fairly close ranges. 77gr ammo works well at longer range, and crew served weapons or air support work even better.

You'll see M16 based weapons (M4s, SPRs, ultra short uppers, and HK uppers)in the hands of our troops for a long time after the space guns have faded from the cover of gun rags.
 
i dont see whats so special about that weapon. yeah btw 5.56nato is .223 and 7.62nato is .308 isnt it. its just the same. is therev really a need for new weapons like this i mean there are quite alot and you could spend some time finetuning one to perfection before starting over with a brand new one imo
 
Geraldo said:
If you believe the gun rags, a new assault rifle is getting adopted every year. The SCAR is one of many that have been called, none of which has been chosen yet. A couple of years ago the 6.8mm crowd was crowing loudly that their entry would replace the M16 based rifles. You can see how far that has gone.

As for changing barrels easily, who cares outside of unit armorers? Let's think realistically for a moment. You wear body armor and carry anywhere from 50-100 pounds of gear into the field. Would you carry another rifle barrel just in case you want to swap, or would you make do with what you have. Would you trade off ammo, grenades, water, or body armor for a spare barrel ot two?

I've also seen reports from Iraq that indicate that the vast majority of fighting happens at fairly close ranges. 77gr ammo works well at longer range, and crew served weapons or air support work even better.

You'll see M16 based weapons (M4s, SPRs, ultra short uppers, and HK uppers)in the hands of our troops for a long time after the space guns have faded from the cover of gun rags.
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By changing the barrel I don’t think they mean carrying a spare with you. Say your unit gets assigned to a month rotation in the city. You throw on the short barrel and run around in town, next month you are in the field and need to reach out. So you swap over to the longer barrel. Not sure I am sold on the practical application of it but it is an interesting concept.
 
Terry Newton said:
Yep. That is what our wonderfully oversized government gave us for around $30 MILLION worth of testing! :rolleyes:
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I'm sure there are much more ridiculous things the defense department is spending much more money on. At least this one could have some practical value. They could be spending it researching mind control or testing lsd on unwitting subjects.
 
Geraldo said:
As for changing barrels easily, who cares outside of unit armorers? Let's think realistically for a moment. You wear body armor and carry anywhere from 50-100 pounds of gear into the field. Would you carry another rifle barrel just in case you want to swap, or would you make do with what you have. Would you trade off ammo, grenades, water, or body armor for a spare barrel ot two?
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If there's a squad automatic weapon variant, then yes, a spare barrel or two could be vital, as would the ease of changing it.

Personally, I like the M16. I don't know if we'll get something new and improved, but I would like it to be both new AND improved if they ever bring it out- and not to look like that godawful OICW monstrosity.
 
SCAR has nothing to do with the OICW or XM-8. It was an entirely different project for USSOCOM for issue to Special Ops troops. SCAR-L is 5.56mm and SCAR-H is in 7.62mm. You can change from a long barrel to a short one for CQB work and back to a long barrel for long range work. Parts interchange easily. With the SCAR-H if you run out of 7.62x51mm ammo, simply by changing the barrel and using captured AK mags you can fire Soviet 7.62x39mm ammo.



Added: No it will not be replacing the M16/M4 Army wide as some sources have stated.
 
It's the feature story in the current Popular Mechanics OR Popular Science. Can't recall which 'though I read it yesterday.
 
I'm not that familiar with either the M16 style rifle or this new one, I had originally just posted for the perceived cool factor, I thought it resembled the rifle from Aliens. I'm ashamed to say that I don't as much as I should about rifles, and have learned a lot from the posts here. Thanks for the 411.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I'm not that familiar with either the M16 style rifle or this new one, I had originally just posted for the perceived cool factor, I thought it resembled the rifle from Aliens. I'm ashamed to say that I don't as much as I should about rifles, and have learned a lot from the posts here. Thanks for the 411.
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It’s got cool factor! Somewhere they showed a pic of the OICW next to a rifle prop from the movie Aliens for comparison. What troop wouldn’t want a rifle with 100 rounds magazine, 10mm case less ammo and a grenade launcher, all in a usable package. I think if you had troops involved in more of the design work as a reality check, we might even get weapons like that one day.
 
Lots of info at defensereview.com and such...

Seems like this is mainly geared toward Special Ops forces as an interim solution until the new weapons platforms (XM8, new cartidge, etc.) can be finalized. They wanted something that was available in a light and heavy caliber thus the SCAR-L(5.56mm) and SCAR-H(7.62mm) with a maximum of parts commonality. Another goal was increased reliability...thus the system seems to be a marriage of an M16-series lower with an FN-FNC(upper). Less maintenance and more reliable.

Last I read some test units were actually out there for in-field testing but HK had a very viable competitor that was an M4 w/ a new upper based on the HK G36 action. This system supposedly can be used as an upgrade to the current M4/M16. I read that this system was well-recieved but viewed more as a direct competitor to the XM8/OICW/etc.

I am no expert and this is all second and third hand info so please be gentle...
I may have some of the details wrong or misunderstood what I was reading.


I do know that the SCAR's are the featured weapons in the latest Ghost Recon game... positive of that! Maybe that makes me an expert since I waste so much time on that game. :rolleyes:
 
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