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Originally Posted by Peregrino
It's not the weapon, it's the man using it. And, unless I missed his point completely, I think that was where NDD was going from the beginning. Even swords, axes, and knives are still legit weapons (spent yesterday at a local SCA event  ). After all - isn't that the rationale behind the 21 foot rule? ..... But we ALL know how GIs bitch about everything they've ever been issued - and yet somehow they still manage to do the job despite the supposed "shortcomings" of the aforementioned "defective" equipment. (The newer stuff does make a fair "Mexican Match" though.) Just hoping to clarify the issue a bit - Peregrino. |
Peregrino and NDD:
True -- the man using the weapon makes a difference. However, history has proven that there are limits to how much a man can make that difference. The Japanese lost WWII because of this belief. We won, not as much because our guys were any better, but because we had better weapons. A semi-automatic rifle verses a five shot repeater that -- during WWII -- was already twenty five years obsolete.
One thing I have found kind of weird about the Joe's is their acceptance of equipment that is prone to failure. The M-4, M-9, and rebuilt M-16A2 in that order of numbers of failures to function in one way or the other. The guys clear the malfunction and shoot until it does the same thing again. I honestly think that most of them simply accept that weapons will fail to function. It is kind of frustrating but there is a real ugly part of this too and it deals with laziness by "armorers" and a real broken logistical system.
Well, certainly I would take a Garand if that was the most modern weapon available. You better bet I would rather have a Garand than face someone with a sword or knife. Given a choice between an 0-3 and a Garand, I would take the Garand. Given a choice between an M-14 and a Garand, I would take the M-14. Given a choice between the M-14 and an M-16A1, I take the M-16A1. Between the A-1 and A-2 and I will take the A-2. Between the A-2 and the M-4 -- I will take the A-2. Between the M-4 and an M-14? I have more trust that the M-14 will function than an M-4. Between a issued Garand and an issued M-4? Not really sure. One thing for sure is I would rather bet on an M-4than a rock or sword. I can always throw the M-4 at the guy when it fails to function and grab up a rock.
Gene