re: Soldiers Hate the M4 and M16. The Pentagon Is Finally Doing Something about It.

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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.

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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.