Quote:
Originally Posted by G5_Todd
we had the collapsible stocks and short barrels on ours, and used the nutsacks... i think its odd that you have to take extra measures with this weapon so it doesnt accidentally go off and kill everyone in your gun truck...the only thing that makes this weapon bareable is having those three items with it...
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Yeah, the twist-collapsible stocks are total garbage. I liked the M4 ones better. I had my guys keep the old clubfoot fixed stocks until the M4-style stocks became available in 2006. The full stock is actually useful for shooting (durable, provides solid cheek weld) and I find it more comfortable to carry than the folding stock given the sling attachment point difference. The pathetic ring placed right in the way of the feed tray cover releases and rear sight... what genius came up with that? Obviously not anybody who has to fight with the gun. The aluminum ring vs. steel hooks thing used to kill me, too.
100 round nutsacks were crucial to carry comfort (at one point each guy had three: one in the gun, two in pouches), as well as silencing the plastic drums with taped cardboard. I can't stand the SAW rattle that people put up with in country. It's like they forgot about E1 shit like noise discipline and jump tests.
I didn't really get the point of the short "para" barrels that everybody was fighting over. It looks cool, but is dangerous when mounted in a turret behind a chicken plate, ya lose the extra couple inches of accuracy (sight radius, rifling) as well as muzzle standoff, and seemed to be more flash messy (moon dust everywhere) for leapfrogging due to the blast it throws. If real life was like the movies, the short barrel would have made more sense.
I fail to see how the SAW is unsafe... or less safe than any other MG (M240B, M60D). With the SAW, you leave the belt tray'd with the bolt forward... safety off... cock and fire when appropriate. It's idiot proof and recommended for 90% of situations in the politically correct GWOT where negligent discharges are feared more than a convoy ambush. None of this half-cock bullshit, don't ride with it loaded inside a vehicle, etc. My guys were never to use their safety on the 249 unless they had actually been firing it or were directed to do so by some idiot fobbit NCO in order to keep the peace. We're not gun shy.
What issues did you have?