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View Full Version : ? on replacement issue circa late 80s...


ramairthree
06-17-12, 09:02
the first unit I was in had .45s, M16A1s, 90mm RRs, M60s, and A1 based CAR-15s (653s I believe)

After I had been in a couple of years our 1911s got turned in for M9s,and the A1s for A2s. The Carl Gustav was also introduced as a test to be a future replacement for the 90mm. The MAG was not being tested there as a 60 replacement yet nor were 60 updated variants used.

We got the new ammo for the A2s, and the guys with the A1 CARs were keyholing just trying to get a 25m zero.

I was talking with an old friend the other day, and how much weapons and gear changed in the past then years compared to before that came up.

At some point, before M4s came on line, there was supposed to be a A2 based CAR-15 Commando replacement for the 653s.


Does anyone remember or have SME knowledge what that model was? Were they 733s with 1:7 barrels? The barrel profile allowed 203 or 870 attachment.
jtb0311
06-19-12, 23:15
The Colt model 723 and 727 both had 1/7" 14.5 barrels. The 733 has an 11.5" barrel.

I was in the USMC in the 90s, and my battalion was the first in the FMF to field the M-240 - we got them in the summer of 1995.
ramairthree
06-20-12, 14:48
Thanks, I am not sure which of those models it was.

First tried the Mag58 when I was a 60 Gunner back in 87 or so, it was what the Dutch Marine Commando guys had.

I did not like it.

But at the end of the day, the 60 is like an an old car with a carb, or a hand watch- you had to keep it tuned, maintained, and wound or it would not work.

Great gun with good user service and lots of training, not a great gun for most units.

If I won the lottery I would buy one in a heartbeat though.
jtb0311
06-21-12, 15:51
In the USMC we had M60E3s. They had a forward pistol grip and were a little lighter than the Army version. When our machine gunners first got the M240, they disliked them because they were heavier and they actually had to use the T&E more because, being brand new, the barrels were far more accurate than the M60s we had. At the time, our gunners most often shot off of tripods.