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M-16 and variants direct impingement compared to M-16 and variants direct piston system in extreme cold weather.?

I have an M-4 converted to direct piston. When I was an infantryman at Drum, I recall my M-16 locking up in ECW conditions. I learned to not use oil or very little Arctic oil but it would still lock up. This happened to all of us. We didn't take our weapons in and out of the cold (as we were light infantry and didn't have a warm area anyway). We learned that we had to fire our first two rounds at one-minute intervals and by the third round we would be good to go. Otherwise the heat from the discharges would expand the bolt and carrier too fast and lock-up inside the still constricted from the cold upper receiver.

Will the piston system alleviate this problem?

5 Answers

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  • 4 years ago

    Back when they were looking for a replacement for the M1 Garand they tested an update (the M14) and a Stoner designed rifle in 308. The Stoner lost and we went with the M14. Later, we wanted something to replace the smaller M1 Carbine and Stoner redid his design, set it up to fire the desired 223 and it passed and that was selected for the USAF and replacement for the M1 Carbine. Then a bean counting business manager name McNamara decided ALL the troops could use that gun. So the M14 was taken away from our front line troops and they were given the M16 Jam-o-matic. And it came with NO cleaning kits. And it jammed. No one knows how many troops were wounded or killed because their gun jammed in a firefight but hay, we saved a lot of money on ammo. Today they say all those problems are in the past but guess what, you still have to clean the Stoner designed guns a LOT more than those using a gas piston. I think you done good having yours converted.

  • 4 years ago

    Wow! Apparently none of you guys ever served in ECW with an A2. How bout someone with intelligence answer this question. And in case anyone actually has the gall to question my word, C Co. Mortars 1/87 IN. From 94-97. Vires Montesque Vincimus

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  • 4 years ago

    The only problems a converted M4 piston system really helps to solve is having too much money and a rifle that is too reliable.

    Fort Drum is home of the 10th Mtn Division and has the equipment and maintenance tools to fight in extreme weather conditions. I seriously doubt they have the problems you are suggesting.

  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    Mostly BS if you ask me.

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  • 4 years ago

    I'm calling bullshit.

    _____________________________________________________________________

    No, seriously. Bullshit. You claim that THE primary rifle of the US military can't be used unless you limit yourself to one round a minute in chilly weather to warm it up? And you explain it as interference between the bolt carrier and upper receiver?

    You actually went looking for the chemlight batteries didn't you?

    Dude.

    BS.

    Source(s): 25 years USAF weapons. Alaska, Korea, etc.
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