This is assuming that all of the logistics, retraining, and of course budget issues have already been taken care of. Fresh slate for a new standard infantry rifle. This acquisition is with the long term in mind, meaning that it would need to perform adequately in any environment or future war zone.
Which optic would you equip it with? What other attachments would you want as part of the package? Any thoughts based on combat experience are of course much appreciated.
Went with the 11.5”. I would put a T2 on it and supress. Great overall size with acceptable ballistics for a 5.56 gun at 11.5”. While i love my SR15, having this system in an SBR would be excellent.
Upon reading the entire question…this is for infantry…I would defer to the below length…it would be better suited for general use.
Well I was going to go with a 14.5” or 16” SR-16 (depending on ammo used and desired MV), and pretty much everything Furryballer just said. So I’ll just go with what furryballer said.
I would have to go with 14.5" or 16", with 16" being the one I’d lean towards. I don’t see a reason to equip Infantry with 11.5" barrels, especially given the gamut of environments (and the subsequent ranges needed for each) that regular grunts could encounter.
Sorry for being off topic but are there any real world data of the SR-16 performance on the field? I don’t know of any major military organization officially adopted the SR-16.
I’ll never advocate an LPVO for widespread military use. There are far more Soldiers that don’t understand the Aimpoint than those that do, and it really can’t get any easier than a CCO.
True, but then again there are plenty of Marines who grasp the concept of an ACOG to good affect. As long as we’re waving magic wands here, I’d make sure Pvt. Snuffy got good range time with really experienced instructors who can actually teach the ins and out of using that LPV optic, along with more solid training in actual rifle marksmanship.
I went 16 in SR15. I really like the well hated ACOG with RDS on top or off set. If on top , off set irons. And what other goodies the boys need. Lasers VFG…
After you have everything from 10.3 MK18 to 20 inch SPR, the 16 is a good compromise.
I went with the 16" SR15. Reason why is overall reliability combined with a good balance of effectiveness and compactness using standard FMJ ammunition. I almost went with the 14.5" option but I’m still a little skeptical of the 14.5" middy reliability in extreme environments especially cold weather performance and a service rifle adopted by the U.S. military must be able to operate reliably world wide due to the expeditionary nature of U.S. military operations.
Exactly, issuing LPVOs w/ current COTS type mounts to general forces would be an absolute shit show. I’ve heard horror stories of soldiers who cannot grasp how to mount, or use a CCO correctly (mounting them impossibly low, w/o the needed spacer). If LPVO’s were issued they would have to be configured something like a VCOG, or the mount/rings would have to have a keyed interface with the rings so that they cannot be mounted wrong. Even with that, LPVOs have eye relief that has to be accounted for.
Maybe my confidence in grunts is higher than it should be, but I find it hard to believe that people could be that stupid and helpless. And obviously boot camp and training exercises would incorporate education and training on any new optic. LPVOs, if enough time was given on how to properly find DOPE, would increase the standard infantryman’s battlefield effectiveness far more than a different caliber or barrel length.
I’ve had Soldiers that didn’t know they had to turn the CCO on. Not infantrymen, but the two stupidest people that I’ve ever met in my life were at OSUT so I wouldn’t put it past them.
14.5 SR-16 Mod 2. As a general issue infantry weapon that needs to be appropriate in a wide variety of environments, the 14.5 Mod 2 is probably the best rifle put into production to date.