US infantry weapons?

They switched to it because it doesn't have as much recoil and muzzle climb as the .308 (7,62x51mm) does, meaning that you can use the full auto mode more often, and fire more then 2-3 rounds at a time, although that is pretty close to the amount of rounds that you actually fire with the small caliber weapons (5,56/5,45mm).

No, I meant why did they switch from a round that would stop an enemy with one shot to one that would stop an enemy with 2 or 3 shots? You save weight in ammo with the smaller round, but you use twice as much ammo to achieve the same result.

Aimed fire is always better than burst fire. I have found that the M1A is not the recoil monster it is reported to be, and that the AR-15 isn't any lighter than the M1A.

I don't like the switch either if I was on the field I would like to have the heavier and more powerful slug then having to shoot my enemy twice instead on just firing once.

cav ur right ,it doesnt matter how many rounds u have if they dont do the job.
umm cav have u felt the kick off the 7.62 ?
to me its really nasty imagine that at close range.

The reason they switched from 7.62 to 5.56 is because most infantry engagements are under 200 meters, in which the 5.56 is a good stopper.

The 5.56 frags under 200m from the velocity, making big wounds.

[edit on 16-7-2004 by Kozzy]

devilwasp
sure have felt the kick, every time I go to the range. it is actually not so bad from a CETME. the thing is, things like that dont matter durring a fight, your not thinking about it. you will either duck or return fire. it dosnt matter what type of weapon you have in making that decision. what does matter more is if those hits you score will make your chance of living for the next fight any better

I really think it is more important that the soldier be comfortable with his weapon, no matter what comes out of the end of it. practice reflex fire. whatever weapon you use, make it an extension of your body, a natural feeling asset to your form. and listen to the old guys who have been there, done that. you can talk about your ideas all you want, but those of us who have been there remember which ideas were right.



[edit on 16-7-2004 by cavscout]

but a 7.62 would kick ass at 200. hell we fire cadet rifles that use a 7.62 and they rip a hole in the target from 300 all the way to 600 but the fraging bit on a 5.56 would be effective as well.
the kick on the 7.62 sure as hell knocks me back when i fire it.

it really depends alot on the weapon you are shooting, but if my wife can shoot the cetme, them im sure you can (at least i hope so if you want to be a snake eater)

the 5.56 sure will do some damage, if given a chance. the steel core rounds we had in Iraq take to long to fragment, and on the skinny Iraqi they often didnt, just a strait through hole. both the 7.62 nato and 7.62x39 begin to tumble well before a 5.56 will fragment. The whole point is that most of the guys i talked to over there, myself included, would have prefered a 7.62 nato battle rifle to the m-4

yeah i can understand that man.
umm what u mean by "snake eater"?

Snake eater haven't heard that in a while snake eater usually refers to spec ops I think delta force or navy seals but spec ops never the less

devilwasp, it originaly meant special forces. not spec ops, but true green berets. it has come to mean more recently any hardcore lightfighter whos job is tough enough that he is likely to eat bugs, snakes, lizards, and rats to stay alive. pretty much anyone whos job requires REAL survival training.

example: Rambo was a snake eater, westpoint is not

yeah but tend not to eat snakes but actually the ration packs we get given cause there ok.
and we like to eat sheep and such not snakes but i suppose if ur desperate.

The Russian 7.62 doesn't fragment at all, it passes right through, the only good thing about it's wound profile is that it penetrates deep. This was shown in Vietnam and ballistic gellatin tests.

The 7.62x51 needs to be driven to 3000 feet per sec to fragment, it does this out to 500 meters I think.

Originally posted by cavscout
devilwasp, it originaly meant special forces. not spec ops, but true green berets. it has come to mean more recently any hardcore lightfighter whos job is tough enough that he is likely to eat bugs, snakes, lizards, and rats to stay alive. pretty much anyone whos job requires REAL survival training.

example: Rambo was a snake eater, westpoint is not

Never said I was. Unless I decide to join the rangers if I want to but your nor a snake eater either so I wouldn't be talking.


[edit on 17-7-2004 by WestPoint23]

west point he is a type of SF, a scout, the ones that are paid to go ahead and find things and to sometimes to cause a little havoc while their there.

[edit on 17-7-2004 by devilwasp]

No he is not and sorry but uhh...devil we don't call them scouts they are called FO forward observers and recon not scouts


[edit on 17-7-2004 by WestPoint23]

west point a forward observer is a long titled name for a scout. what do scouts do? observe what do FO's do ?observe.
they are the same thing.

foward observers call for artillery but scouts recon ahead and do not call artillery.

wow, lots a bad info there. FO are artilery branch, they actually work for the artiler guys, and dont realy do recon, we do the recon for them, and they opperate off of that info.

infantry mortars often have their own call for fire guys as well

what I am is MOS 19delta. my official job title is CAVALRY SCOUT, not a forward observer. my training certificate from knox says "recon speacialist".
Our job is to provide forward recon of the enemy, terrian, obsticles or anything else that may be usefull to the comander. we are his eyes and ears.

My MOS actually has more combat tasks than any conventional warfare MOS, to include infantry. we also have more than rangers. this is not opinion, it is an actual fact. In our 16 weeks of OSUT (we dont go thrugh BCT, the 8 week basic training) we learn everything from C4 demolitions, mine and bobytrap laying and dismantling, how to drive and fire bradley fighting vehicles, mk19 grenade launchers, m203 grenade launchers, m250
50 cal machine gun, m240b machine gun, advanced hand to hand, advanced combat first aid, survival training, ect., ect. Our OSUT is one of the few initial entry trainings left that does not have women trainees or drill sgts.

oh, and yes calling for arty is a big part of our job. Mostly what we do is sneak way forward of any friendly forces in small 2 to 4 man teams, set up an observation point on a hill, and look for enemy to report and call for arty fire on. we also do recon on routes, and area recon.

so basicly our job is for a few of us to sneak into enemy held territory and peek around without getting caught. we are a jack of all trades. they attach us to infantry units, armor units, combat enginers, basicly we can work alongside anyone, or as a stand alone fighting unit.

so yes, i am an actual, honest god SCOUT. My job is to do RECON, and I have ACTUALLY ATE A SNAKE IN THE FEILD.

Performs mounted and dismounted navigation. Serves as member of observation and listening post. Gathers and reports information on terrain features and enemy strength, disposition and equipment. Applies principles of excape and evasion. Collects data for the classification of routes, fords, tunnels, and bridges. Performs dismounted patrols. Employs principles of cover and concealment and camouflage. Assists with construction of light field fortifications, laying and removal of mines, and emplacing demolitions. Performs dismounted patrols. Requests and adjusts indirect fire.

according to about.com, this is part of what we are suposed to be doing fresh out of basic usmilitary.about.com...


The Cavalry Scout is the commander's eyes and ears on the battlefield. When information about the enemy is needed, they call on the Scouts. They are responsible for reconnaissance and you will learn about various weapons to include explosives and mines. Cavalry Scouts engage the enemy with anti-armor weapons and scout vehicles in the field, track and report enemy movement and activities, and will direct the employment of various weapon systems onto the enemy.

this one is from goarmy.com www.goarmy.com...