Marine Corps finally adopts the M4 as its main rifle

Logan Nye
Mar 31, 2018 2:43 AM PDT
1 minute read
Marine Corps photo

SUMMARY

After years of “Will they, won’t they?” the Marine Corps finally made it official with their main squeeze, the M4 Carbine. It’s the new standard weapon for Marines, replacing the M16A4. <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media…

After years of "Will they, won't they?" the Marine Corps finally made it official with their main squeeze, the M4 Carbine. It's the new standard weapon for Marines, replacing the M16A4.


Photo: US Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy

Before officially adopting it, the Corps put the M4 through extensive testing with a new round, the 5.56mm AB49 Special Operations Science and Technology cartridge.

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"We found out that the M4 actually outshoots the A4 at all ranges out to 600 meters with the new ammunition," Chris Woodburn, the deputy Maneuver Branch head for the Fires and Maneuver Integration Division of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, told Marine Corps Times.

Because the M4 has already been deployed in units across the Marine Corps, the switch is expected to take place with very little cost to taxpayers. Units will report their number of rifles to Marine Corps Logistics Command which should be able to shuffle weapons between units.

The Marines believe they can equip the entire force with the weapon without buying any new units.

See the full story at Marine Corps Times 

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