soldiers losing lives due to M4

DoD is both an animal which devours and a machine which grinds.  Either aspect precludes rapid change of direction, especially for something as complicated as the primary battle weapon.  THEN, Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR's) must be taken into consideration.  Change has been suggested, even initiated a number of times, but the good ole FARs always come into play.  Is the M16/M4 ADEQUATE??  If the answer to that is "yes", which is has been for a long time, then upfront costs and life-cycle costs come into play.  Do you have an inkling of the cost incurred to replacing the main battle rifle for the entire force, standing up the ammunition supply chains, parts, spares, introduction to the "force", training, manuals, etc?  That life-cycle cost is staggering and is why, even with a number of perceived and demonstrated deficiencies, the M16 has been modified over time and not replaced.  Easier and cheaper to stick with status quo.  There are a number of things which must occur to establish the "ADEQUATE" requirement, but many of them fall upon the individual soldier and training and are therefore intangible and discounted.  (you get the "well, the rifle would be just fine if you could get the soldiers to perform proper maintenance"). 

KB your right on the fore front with why things are the same. What burns my biscuts is the Tavor could be built in the same facilities as the M-4 and the M-4 componants could be adapted to a modified version for our troops. Yes there would be parts no longer needed but thats better that a total wash. I hate that dollars are considered above lives but it is part of this country's dark side. Not because the dollars aren't there but because there is some need to study swamp gas in the marshlands.

 Unemployment in this country is hovering at about 10-15%. Manufacturing is down everywhere you look so why not turn over to a war time enviroment and start making weapons for our troops that work.

Originally posted by Kickboxer My suggestion is spend some time actually writing letters to your "congressmen".  Get all your family to, make it a family thing every week, get all your friends to, STAND UP and BE HEARD.  Our silence is our defeat and our death...   If congress cannot hear you 5x5 over the noise of the minority liberal/socialists, you will get what they want...

Originally posted by SamC What do you guys think of the Sig 556 and how does it compare to the AR family of rifles? http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProduct.aspx?categoryid=35  Sam

I did not read all the postings but I read the initial one...