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Re: guns of the military

The military uses a dizzying array of firearms.  Just in terms of
small arms, you're talking about hundreds of models and variations in
current use, with much of the variety found in special forces.

The M16 comes in two versions, one semi/full-auto, and one
semi-auto/cyclic.  AFAIK, the Army issues only the cyclic one to
regulars.  Regulars equipped with full-auto rifles have a marked
tendency to burn through their magazines like headless chickens, and
this is to one degree or another due to the operant conditioning used
in basic training.  Not only is this a waste of materiel, it also
effectively disarms the soldier until he has reloaded, making him very
vulnerable.  Cyclic fire prevents the mindless mag burning, and also
encourages the soldier to actually *aim* - to think in a
target-centered (tactically sound) way rather than a weapon-centered
(tactically unsound) way.


Some key weapons in the US military small arms arsenal:

FN MAG58 family: M240, M240G, M240C
   7.62x51 chain gun, one ground and two vehicle-mounted versions -
   a good gun that replaces the sorry M60

the M14 family: M14, M21, and M25
   The M14 (firing 7.62x51 from a 20 round box magazine) is now used
   only in ceremonial and competitive settings, and was last issued to
   regulars in 1968 or so, but in its sniper variants it has seen much
   more recent use.  In particular, the M25 is still in use by the
   SEALS and was used by them in Desert Storm.  Some of the original
   M14's, and all of its M14E variant, were equipped for full
   automatic firing at 750 rounds/min., but the platform is not suited
   to this and many military versions are configured semi-auto-only.
   I imagine the M21 and M25 are set up this way.

   The M14 is a gas gun, like the M16 and unlike the HK guns, but it
   differs from the M16 by the presence of an "operating rod" that
   carries the gas energy from the barrel hole back to the action.
   This makes the design more complicated.

Stoner/Knight's Armament SR25
   Chambered in 7.62x51, the SR25 is in use as a replacement for the
   M14-based M25.  It has 60% parts interchangeability with the M16.
   Unlike the M14, M21, and M25, this firearm can be purchased
   commercially essentially in the same form as that used by military
   snipers.  It is a very accurate semi-automatic gas gun, and retail
   prices start around $2300 for a barebones rifle.  Accessories are
   outrageously overpriced ($120 for a 20 round box magazine??).

M40A1
   This is a bolt action rifle chambered in .308 winchester or, now
   almost invariably, .300 winchester magnum.  It is the standard
   sniper rifle in the Marine Corps and is outfitted with nice
   McMillan furniture.  The action is just the ubiquitous Remington
   700.  The semi-auto sniper rifles described above are not really
   primary sniper weapons, but instead are used by spotters (for rapid
   recovery takedown of threats, particularly countersnipers) and in
   niche apps (SF).  Snipers usually use bolt actions because they are
   easier to accurize, and because the one shot one kill methodology
   is a good match for them.

M2
   This is the venerable .50BMG (12.7x105 or thereabouts) machine
   gun.  it's a boat anchor, but by separating the gun from the tripod
   you can lug the thing into position.  It has a butterfly trigger on
   the back, and is belt-fed.  This is the most heavy-duty of the
   infantry machine guns.

M249
   Made by FN, fires magazine-fed (M16-compatible) or belt-fed 5.56x45
   at 725rpm (max).  It's the standard "squad automatic weapon" for
   the Marine Corps now.

H&K MP-5
   Little machine pistol for facilities siege (close quarters combat)
   and the like.  Shoots plain old 9mm handgun ammo, at 800rpm.

Remington 870, Winchester 1200, Mossberg 500, and Mossberg 590
   These 12 gauge shotguns are all in use in the Marine Corps.


Obviously I have skipped grenade launchers, mortars, artillery, and
missiles.  For those you'll have to go do some research on your own.


-douzzer