06-10-2011, 07:19 PM
JASmith Wrote:Some of us are overdue for a read or re-read of Pork Chop Hill by SLA Marshall.
Roger that. When one contrasts their experiences using the M-1 Garand with the Iraqi Freedom weapons reliability discussions, the improvement in weapon maintainability becomes more evident. There are no weapons, not even knives or clubs, that will continue to function over time and in adverse conditions unless proper maintenance is applied.
The short book reveals several other insights that can help folks better understand how far we have traveled -- or not -- in doctrine, strategy, and tactics.
There were some pretty horrendous reports about the M1 Garand when the Marines ran a series of battlefield suitability tests on it in comparison to the 1903 Springfield, stating the Garand's unacceptably-low reliability, sensitivity to beach sand in the action (still true of the Garand/M14/Mini-14), and an overall disdain for a semi-auto rifle's feasibility as a service rifle.
I have yet to see one single mechanical device with more than 2 articulating components that can hold up to the environmental extremes of Middle Eastern Sand Storms.
As far as the AR family needing meticulous cleaning, I would say otherwise. It really needs just a thick layer of great lubricant like Slip2000. You do not need to obsessively remove the carbon from the operating parts by any means, unless you run high volume with a suppressor. There's a great article on a BCM AR that they ran to over 31,000 rounds (3x the bolt life), and it ran almost 100%, save a misfire or two IIRC that was ammo-related. They only barely brushed off the caked carbon 2x throughout that process, and just kept lubing it with Slip2000.
You actually get a better gas seal, the more carbon builds on your gas rings, and I have yet to see a bolt that would not go into battery because of excessive carbon fouling. I've seen plenty of bolts not going into battery because of lack of lubrication...
LRRPF52