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In reply to the discussion: Semi auto, it wasn't an automatic weapon!!!! [View all]rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)I have since tried to find the article but havent been able to.
As I remember the Army refused to adopt a gun similar to the AR-15 that was so popular. But when they got enough pressure they developed their own version, the M-16. They changed a lot of the good characteristics with the rationalization that the gun needed to be universal and capable of being used in the Arctic and desert. This was while we were heavily involved in a jungle war. The AR-15 was designed to use a particular manufactures cartridge which pushed the slide (sorry dont know the proper term) back far enough to eject the shell and clear the breach of gases. The competing major cartridge manufacturer bribed the Army into using their cartridge which, turns out, didnt quite push the slide (?) back far enough to clear the breach of gases, which contained powder residue. The residue built up over time and caused jamming. The Army's solution, after soldiers were complaining that their fellow soldiers were being killed because of the guns jamming, was to issue cleaning kits.
I am far from being an expert and the above was from memory of an article I read approx 30 years ago. So take that into consideration re. the accuracy.