During the Vietnam war the US military began to replace its primary infantry weapon the M-14 with the M-16.

Was this a mistake?

Or was this as I will argue an effort for the military-industrial-congressional complex to forever profit from the development of needless and ultimately sub standard and worthless "improvements" which has still not ended.

Or perhaps a lowering of standards in order to compensate those who just can't hack it? A process whose deadly end result is being played out now in Iraq.

I'm wondering what's wrong with the M-16.

I know it was promoted as "self-cleaning" which was a load of shit, and i also know that its range is not hugely awesome. But i thought that, from what i've seen and read, that it is a rather sturdy weapon good for urban and jungle fighting. I know that the ones with the higher-capacity magazines had a tendency to jam too. But still, which assault rifles would be better in terms of all-round effectiveness/price/reliability/capacity?

I'm not for or against it, i just wanna know what's wrong with it.

Rich.

But still, which assault rifles would be better in terms of all-round effectiveness/price/reliability/capacity?

F88 Steyr AUG

Heh, yeah i knew that one dude, but i doubt that the Americans are gonna use weapons designed in Austria as their standard issue assault rifle. They always go for ones that are designed and made at home.

Steyr's are bloody awesome though aren't they! How much would they cost each?

Rich.

Amazingly, in the Lithgow factory in Australia, a little over $200 a pop for the government.

That is bloody unreal!!! oh God i wish i could have one...

Rich

That's the beauty of the government owning the company that builds them isn't it.

I still prefer AK's to M-16's, F88's or any other assualt rifle. Reliability and firepower is what i would need.

Yeah, AK's are pretty good, but like i said above, America's only really gonna use a rifle designed by them isn't it.

Rich.

Aks are very durable and reliable weapons. But it is very Inaccurate over long distances, thats why the Vietcong in the Vietnam War waited for our troops to walk right on them until openning fire.