This is an old wives' tale. The reason is weight. M16 was a smaller, lighter rifle than the M14. The M16's round is lighter than the M14, so you can carry more ammo.

As it is, weight was killing the average infantryman and still is. By the time you add up body armor, 35 pounds, rifle, 7 pounds, 7 magazines, 7 pounds, ACH, 3.25 pounds, so - that's 55 pounds and we haven't talked about uniform, boots or ruck, which can often get to another 35 or 40 pounds EASILY.

95 pounds is a figurative TON of weight (most don't carry it or don't carry it far, but still) even for a fit male of 225 pounds. And they want women to do that, right?

Now, double the weight of the rifle and almost double the weight of the ammo.

This post was edited on 3/5/18 at 5:44 pm

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Posted by Centinel

Idaho

Member since Sep 2016

43390 posts

Posted on 3/5/18 at 5:52 pm to Ace Midnight

quote:
This is an old wives' tale. The reason is weight. M16 was a smaller, lighter rifle than the M14. The M16's round is lighter than the M14, so you can carry more ammo.

I love me some M14. Beautiful weapon, great accuracy.

But I can't even comprehend having to hump that heavy sumbitch along with all the other bullshite we're expected to carry

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Posted by AUstar

Member since Dec 2012

17061 posts

Posted on 3/5/18 at 5:57 pm to Ace Midnight

quote:
As it is, weight was killing the average infantryman and still is. By the time you add up body armor, 35 pounds, rifle, 7 pounds, 7 magazines, 7 pounds, ACH, 3.25 pounds, so - that's 55 pounds and we haven't talked about uniform, boots or ruck, which can often get to another 35 or 40 pounds EASILY.

In Vietnam the soldiers didn't have body armor and didn't carry near as much stuff as soldiers do now. But you're right about the weight, it was a major design decision with the M-16.

Plus you must factor in that in 1965 the average soldier was a lot smaller since people didn't eat fast food every other meal back then.

My dad was drafted in 1965, did AIT in Benning in early '66. He said they trained mostly with the M-14 and then later switched to the M-16. He ended up carrying an M-16 (and an M-79 grenade launcher) when he reported to south Vietnam in summer of '66. He was 1st Cav (airmobile), so they traveled everywhere in Huey's. The lighter M-16 was definitely welcome.

This post was edited on 3/5/18 at 6:01 pm

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Posted by TigerFanInSouthland

Louisiana

Member since Aug 2012

28065 posts

Posted on 3/5/18 at 7:32 pm to Ace Midnight

quote:
As it is, weight was killing the average infantryman and still is. By the time you add up body armor, 35 pounds, rifle, 7 pounds, 7 magazines, 7 pounds, ACH, 3.25 pounds, so - that's 55 pounds and we haven't talked about uniform, boots or ruck, which can often get to another 35 or 40 pounds EASILY.

Don’t forget about your mortarmen, gunners, or assaultmen carrying even more weight.

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Posted by ShootTheDrakes

natty state

Member since Aug 2017

36 posts

Posted on 3/6/18 at 6:41 am to Ace Midnight

quote:
As it is, weight was killing the average infantryman and still is. By the time you add up body armor, 35 pounds, rifle, 7 pounds, 7 magazines, 7 pounds, ACH, 3.25 pounds, so - that's 55 pounds and we haven't talked about uniform, boots or ruck, which can often get to another 35 or 40 pounds EASILY

That 35 or 40 lb ruck that you can run all over Ft Bragg with turns into about 65 or 70 lbs in country

Also, I hate the 5.56 with a passion. Felt like bringing a knife to a gunfight a lot of the time. Luckily the majority of them cant shoot for shite.