Sources inside the Marine Corps indicate that the Corps has bucked the other branches of the service and plans to continue and further the use of rifle length M16 family firearms. The M16A5 ACMR (Armorer Conversion Marksman Rifle) will be manufactured using components provided primarily by VLTOR Weapons System of Tuscon, Arizona, and this will be the largest contract ever taken on by the firm. VLTOR has previously been contracted to provide adjustable stock kits for the exist M16A4, and these kits have been well liked and highly sought after. The ACMR will feature a monolithic rifle length VIS upper receiver and a VLTOR M16A5 adjustable stock kit, which provides a buffer tube with seven, as opposed to the usual six, choices of length of pull and uses the existing rifle length buffer and springs. All VLTOR parts will be provided in a Flat Dark Earth finish, per USMC request. The M16A5 eschews the carry handle rear sight but retains a fixed sight in the form of a Lewis Machine and Tool sight that replicates the sight common the M16 family of firearms and has been used previously by forces within the Navy Department on the Mk 18 CQBR. As the name suggests, upgrading an M16A4 to M16A5 spec will be a task simple enough for an armorer in country, as the M16A5 retains the barrel, front sight, lower receiver, fire control group, bolt, bolt carrier group, gas tube, buffer and springs of the M16A4. As it lacks a heavy barrel, the ACMR cannot be considered a true precision rifle, but the newly free floated barrel coupled with either a Trijicon TA31 4×32 optic (first employed by the Marines on the new M27 IAR) or Schmidt and Bender 3-12×50 rifle scope increases accuracy by up to 35% on average in the hands of trained sharpshooter. Additionally, the monolithic upper substantially increases the accuracy and return-to-zero capability of night vision and laser aiming devices. The M16A5 kit, sans optics, costs the taxpayer $1200 per rifle. The Marine Corps goal is to upgrade 100% of the M16A4s assigned to special operations capable units by 2014 and 50% of all M16A4s in their inventory by late 2015.
Now apparently removed, anyone care to comment on this? $1200 for the new M16A5 if this turns out to be true.
I will be surprised if this actually goes through in any significant quantity. The article is rife with incorrect and misleading information, leading me to doubt the source’s credibility.
I’d be super pumped if the higher ups finally got us weapons that adjust. Anyone here try shoulder an m16a4 with an Imtv on? Not the easiest thing to do especially when trying to see through an acog on top.
I am always excited to hear these things. I will be interested in what comes from the Individual Carbine. Though I think they already have everything they can do, the SCAR, HK rifles, ACR, etc. Though I am probably wrong, however, what else are they needing?
The MTV was retarded and the Imtv ain’t much better, I got a hunting trip coming up next month with my uncle and they dumped this new high speed improved MTV on us. I was foolish to think they would have gotten us better gear. Although the frog gear isn’t bad.
Unless you are using an alternate armor system (unit depending) or the SPC, yeah. Luckily I was never saddled with one except for some training, and even then it was a mess.
The dick-flap and ass-panel are useless. They get in the way of everything, and will oocasionally bunch up under your nethers when diving into position. The added protection is not worth the weight, especially considering that the panels aren’t sufficiently armored to stop much more than a psychopathic mosquito.
I like the A5, have it on my primary instructor gun, think it would be great to see retrofitted to the Corps’ guns.
I have never used an VLTOR upper, so I can’t really give an opinion.
A friend had me try his ballistic codpiece. Not sure who made it, but he told me (to illustrate how garbage they are) to go prone as quickly as possible. When I did it, the dick flap (I really love that you called it that.) went forward too soon, like it was just freely floppin’ around (lol) and when I went prone it… stabbed me… kinda. It was suck.
Does that happen with the MTV?
(I’ll stop thread drifting now. But ballistic weiner plates have always seemed pants-on-head retarded to me.)
From what I’ve heard the VLTOR A5 is the only collapsible stock assembly the USMC has tested that has proven to be as reliable as the A2 fixed stock assembly. Reliability is one of the big reasons the Marines have not fully adopted the M4 in general.
The biggest complaint you hear from ground Marines is that the A2 stock is just too long, especially so if your of smaller stature or if your donning body armor. It’s good to hear that they are listening to the feedback and actively looking to fix the shortcomings.