Gun manufacturers start lobbying war as DOD looks for M4 successor

Britain's Prince Harry fires a M4 at West Point.

WASHINGTON — For nearly a decade, Colt Defense went without a lobbyist. The legendary gun maker based in West Hartford, Conn., had an exclusive deal to provide combat rifles to the U.S. military and didn't need a hired gun looking out for the company's interests in Washington.

Times have changed. After buying more than 700,000 Colt M4 carbines, the Defense Department has started a search for the rifle's successor, giving Colt's competitors the long-awaited chance to break the company's grip on the market. So Colt turned to Roger Smith, a former deputy assistant Navy secretary-turned-lobbyist, to be the company's voice in D.C. His fee is $120,000 a year.

The move highlights the importance of a contest that is the Super Bowl and World Series rolled into one for the small arms industry.

Story here.

Here's who's looking to jump into this bidding war:

Colt

Heckler & Koch

Remington Arms

FNMI (subsidiary of Belgian armorer FN Herstal)

Smith & Wesson

I don't see why they would want to replace it. It works fine for me in Call of Duty.

replace it with the SCAR

m4 sux. ump is way better. or akimbo g18s

about time they got to replace that piece of crap, unless it's in a vacuum, the gun is more likely to kill you by blowing up in your hand.

I don't see why they would want to replace it. It works fine for me in Call of Duty.

gatorteen

about time they got to replace that piece of crap, unless it's in a vacuum, the gun is more likely to kill you by blowing up in your hand.

DoomZaW

Oh, so you've used it? I've never had an issue with my M4. Only pogues who don't know how to take care of their weapons did.

Fal. Reload's a beast

Eh. I have an AR-15 with probably 10k rounds through it and it works fine. I do full breakdowns and run patches through after each trip out though which i am sure a lot of people don't do.

I would like to see the Remington ACR get the contract.

While the M4 is extremely reliable if taken care of, it is definitely showing it's age.

I'm hoping Heckler and Koch win, because the 416 is an exceptional rifle. Not to mention it's far more modular than the M4.

about time they got to replace that piece of crap, unless it's in a vacuum, the gun is more likely to kill you by blowing up in your hand.

DoomZaW

You have no idea what you're talking about. You've probably never even fired the rifle.

While the M4 is extremely reliable if taken care of, it is definitely showing it's age.

I'm hoping Heckler and Koch win, because the 416 is an exceptional rifle. Not to mention it's far more modular than the M4.

airshocker

Agreed. Definitely would be my choice.

While the M4 is extremely reliable if taken care of, it is definitely showing it's age.

I'm hoping Heckler and Koch win, because the 416 is an exceptional rifle. Not to mention it's far more modular than the M4.

airshocker

The HK416 does look slick, and I remember seeing a special where they showed how jam free it could be with dirt, mud, and water on it. HoolaHoopMan

Yeah I also saw that special. We got to shoot it at a SWAT demo, I think maybe four months back? They did the same demonstration, put lube all over the bolt carrier group and dropped it in sand and then put it back in the gun. Fired without a hitch. Needless to say I wants one...

They should replace it with this. :P

Then get a few professional Russians to wield them.

They should replace it with this. :P

Then get a few professional Russians to wield them.

chessmaster1989

That shotgun is just boss - no recoil, I love it.:D

Definitely an Eastwood weapon.:lol:

They should replace it with this. :P

Then get a few professional Russians to wield them.

chessmaster1989

Why Russkies?

The shotgun is cool, though.

They should replace it with this. :P

Then get a few professional Russians to wield them.

chessmaster1989

I just hope colt finely gets around to making a new gun

ITS BEEN DECADES!!!

The M4 is my all time favorite gun but the base platform is definitely getting old. Like someone else mentioned, I see the SCAR being a front runner.

Not sure what we're supposed to discuss here. Hmm...good, I guess. The M4 is an old weapon system, and there are better ones out there. I'm pretty sure this is the longest the US Army has ever gone using the same rifle. Obviously, I'm considering the M4 as part of the M16 line here, which I think is reasonable.

I'm for the HK416. It's clean, reliable, and has the advantage of being nearly identical to the M4 in handling. Troops familiar with the M4 would not need re-training in marksmanship and tactical procedures.

[QUOTE="chessmaster1989"]

They should replace it with this. :P

Then get a few professional Russians to wield them.

MgamerBD

Not sure what we're supposed to discuss here. Hmm...good, I guess. The M4 is an old weapon system, and there are better ones out there. I'm pretty sure this is the longest the US Army has ever gone using the same rifle. Obviously, I'm considering the M4 as part of the M16 line here, which I think is reasonable.

I'm for the HK416. It's clean, reliable, and has the advantage of being nearly identical to the M4 in handling. Troops familiar with the M4 would not need re-training in marksmanship and tactical procedures.

Palantas

[QUOTE="Palantas"]

Not sure what we're supposed to discuss here. Hmm...good, I guess. The M4 is an old weapon system, and there are better ones out there. I'm pretty sure this is the longest the US Army has ever gone using the same rifle. Obviously, I'm considering the M4 as part of the M16 line here, which I think is reasonable.

I'm for the HK416. It's clean, reliable, and has the advantage of being nearly identical to the M4 in handling. Troops familiar with the M4 would not need re-training in marksmanship and tactical procedures.

Pirate700

You think that's old? The Browning M2 was designed in WWI.

Whatever happened to the XM8? Wasn't that supposed to be the successor to the M16/M4? If they're bidding on a weapons contract I'm guessing it didn't pan out :P

[QUOTE="chessmaster1989"]

They should replace it with this. :P

Then get a few professional Russians to wield them.

airshocker

Why Russkies?

The shotgun is cool, though.

Reference to this part of the video. :P

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="Palantas"]

Not sure what we're supposed to discuss here. Hmm...good, I guess. The M4 is an old weapon system, and there are better ones out there. I'm pretty sure this is the longest the US Army has ever gone using the same rifle. Obviously, I'm considering the M4 as part of the M16 line here, which I think is reasonable.

I'm for the HK416. It's clean, reliable, and has the advantage of being nearly identical to the M4 in handling. Troops familiar with the M4 would not need re-training in marksmanship and tactical procedures.

SpartanMSU

You think that's old? The Browning M2 was designed in WWI.

This thread needs more verge.

I think they'll going to go with H&K because of the 416. Improvement of M4 in everyway.

Interestingly enough, I was watching Future Weapons today and I seen the Magpul Masada. Looked extremely promising and extremely modular.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJhPMIVgF6c

[QUOTE="SpartanMSU"]

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]Correct, the M4 is based off the M16 platform. So it's essentially a 40+ year old rifle.

Pirate700

You think that's old? The Browning M2 was designed in WWI.

I was just saying we are still using an almost century old weapon system. So the M16 platform isn't really that old in weapons years.

I could of sworn the whole purpose for the scar was to be the successor to the m4. Maybe i'm wrong through. raiden509

Yeah I thought so too.. Furthermore I thought the main focus now was on shotgun technology seeing as much of the 21st century combat are in close quarters urban areas now..

Whatever it is I hope the round is a little bigger. Most of the time when I hear troops talk about the M4 their only complaint is that the 5.56 is too small. Of course I've never fired that particular rifle, let alone in combat.

Interestingly enough, I was watching Future Weapons today and I seen the Magpul Masada. Looked extremely promising and extremely modular.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJhPMIVgF6c

Mystic-G

It's actually in the competition as the Remington ACR

I was just saying we are still using an almost century old weapon system. So the M16 platform isn't really that old in weapons years.

SpartanMSU

The bow and arrow were in service for thousands of years. The heavy lance dominated the battlefield for hundreds. Weapon years aren't really the point. The M16 is old in assault rifle years, and in fact, is even old in US service rifle years. Most of our peers have newer systems. So yeah, it's old.

[QUOTE="SpartanMSU"]

I was just saying we are still using an almost century old weapon system. So the M16 platform isn't really that old in weapons years.

Palantas

The bow and arrow were in service for thousands of years. The heavy lance dominated the battlefield for hundreds. Weapon years aren't really the point. The M16 is old in assault rifle years, and in fact, is even old in US service rifle years. Most of our peers have newer systems. So yeah, it's old.

Yes but technology has gotten much better exponentially over the past century or so. So bow and arrow, swords, is not a very good analogy.

The M16 has had numerous updates. The M4 is a big leap forward form the M16A1 used back in Vietnam. I'm not saying it isn't old, but it's not thatold if you consider the updates.

I would never use an M16 though. Those things are like freaking muskets. Pogues looked so goofy carrying them.

While the M4 is extremely reliable if taken care of, it is definitely showing it's age.

I'm hoping Heckler and Koch win, because the 416 is an exceptional rifle. Not to mention it's far more modular than the M4.

airshocker

I'd say it may win. It's already in use by the special forces and some other branches of the US military (though I think in limited capacity) and quite a few armed forces around the world (mainly in Europe).

They should replace it with this. :P

Then get a few professional Russians to wield them.

chessmaster1989

SpartanMSU

Pogues look goofy in all things.