We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:56:28 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite. You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place... ********************************* Over at The Weekly Standard, John Noonan of Op-For asks a good question. Nice score, Noonan. CAPT H points us to GOPublius, where you can read Senator Clinton's famous vanishing senior thesis from Wellesley. The one that was buried by the school during the Clinton Presidency but has now surfaced again in time to give... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:39:28 -0600 Hmmm. I don't have a Galil, nor have I ever handled or fired one. I have handled, humped across hill and dale, and shot the G3. The G3 is too nose-heavy for my taste. Yep. Gimme my ugly-plastic-stocked M14 again. I've an interest in the P90, but I'm not sure that design would transition well to a 7.62-ish cartridge, since it stacks the bullets transverse to the line of fire. Hmmmmm. I've not handled a P90, nor have I been willing, thus far, to pony up the bucks for a PS90. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62897 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62897 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 06:58:11 -0600 Yeah, I read that the Galil works well, and is also heavy. There are times when heavy is nice to have and there are times when light(er) is better. Personally, I don't think there's a One-Size-Fits-All out there -- but in my particular occupation, I prefer something rugged (so it won't break if you look at it cross-eyed), compact (so it doesn't rattle around in the cockpit) that will hit what I'm aiming at and will knock down what I hit -- because that means whatever *he* was using hit what he was aiming at (my helicopter) and knocked it down, placing me in the situation of needing something that will hit what I'm aiming at and will knock down what I hit. And if my ride home is delayed, I want a boatload of ammo, just for the warm-fuzzy...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62895 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62895 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:24:45 -0600 And, yes, I have been drinking. I'll stop writing now. 'Nite, all! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62894 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62894 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 01:27:43 -0600 What I'm trying to say here, I think, is that we've known for about a hundred years just what is the right rifle cartridge for humans to shoot each other with, when warring against each other. Now just what is the optimum rifle for the crazy dangerous humans to use, to fire such cartridges at each other? That's a different question. Yeah, I read that the Galil works well, and is also heavy. Then there's the question of what to do about the crazy-dangerous normal people who may well make up 99% of the human race, but I won't get into that here. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62893 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62893 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 01:14:56 -0600 H3ll, just provide me 7.62 X 51 mm or .30-06 in 8 rnd clips and I'll bring my own next deployement. The (stupid) A2 is only a pound lighter than a Garand anyway. I'd actually be happiest with a G3 if they insist on buying European. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62891 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62891 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:38:06 -0600 Jim..you're killing me. LOL the Major will see you now. Please come back tomorrow. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62890 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62890 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:35:52 -0600 Hey, I'm not rigidly fixated on the number "7"! We could bring back the 6mm Lee Navy, a cartridge which was ahead of its time, shooting a heavier,farther-ranging bullet than the .223 anti-woodchuck projectile. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62888 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62888 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:33:36 -0600 Ahh, Jim B, ain't this Deja Vu all over again? Reminds me of what I've read about how we got the M-16 in the first place: The tests were rigged against it; that later became so obvious that McNamara [spit!] required its adoption anyway, without addressing some very real problems, and then there was using the wrong powder, and it really did need to be kept clean, and possibly wrong theories about wound ballistics, and etc. usw. and so forth. It was obvious to anyone of the meanest understanding, a hundred years ago, that some kinda 7mm cartridge is at the sweet spot of optimization for infantry rifles using smokeless powder. Britain was about to switch to that, but then there was this big stupid War and all, ..... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62887 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62887 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:13:15 -0600 Here we trap, shoot and/or poison vermin. There you give them rights. You are an odd people. Seriously if ANYONE tried that level of disrepect at a funeral here there WOULD be violence. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62886 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62886 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:54:46 -0600 Obviously we have found a better rifle than the M16 family however the fact that we already have M16's make it a superior choice. Or else it will be Lalalalalalalala I can't hear you. You can't see the Major when the Major is in. You can only see the Major when the Major is out. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62885 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62885 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:54:36 -0600 Dang, Chief, beat me to it! *And*, it has a bottle opener! And a wire cutter! And it's a dessert toppi . http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62882 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62882 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:06:25 -0600 PS...bummed I couldn't make the flag line with you this morning. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62881 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62881 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:03:43 -0600 "... drop to their level ..." The broom can sweep up the trash only if it's dropped to street level. It can not do so while being held in a lofty position above the trash. It may become soiled somewhat in its duties, but the broom itself does not become trash while being used responsibly. Only if abandoned and discarded in the street does it become the trash. John, thank you for being the broom today! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62880 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62880 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:55:32 -0600 Why can't our weapns aquisition people get somebody to "reverse engineer" an AK-47? *Somebody* already did -- utilizing the most useful features of it, anyway. They make some neat variants, too.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62877 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62877 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:41:27 -0600 John - I know what you are saying about dropping to their level ... but you didn't. Their level of vile spewing is something I don't think you (or any of us who treasure the Castle environment) could emulate, as it is entirely alien to us. A simple (and as Cricket says, subtle) bird is simply a statement of disgust. Don't feel bad. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62876 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62876 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:35:25 -0600 I'm going to ask a dumb question: Why can't our weapns aquisition people get somebody to "reverse engineer" an AK-47? It may have a few drawbacks in the accuracy department, but it's well known as the Timex watch of assault rifles. You just can't abuse them enough to cause a stoppage. Besides the paratroop model with the folding stock is quite versatile. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62875 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62875 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:09:19 -0600 You gave them the finger? I wouldn't have been as restrained. However, you didn't engage them in any dialogue, nor did you taint the air you breathe or violate your personal space by getting in their faces. Definately more classy. Must remember the subtlety of the bird. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62871 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62871 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:44:47 -0600 I hope they include the SCAR-L and Robinson Armament XCR in that test, along with Colt's SOCOM competition entry, and not just make it the M4 vs the HK 416. Actually, neither the HK416 nor the Colt product, being that both are basically piston-driven M4s, address what I see as the #2 and 3 design issues with the M4/M16-first, that 7 lug bolt (8 if you count the extractor) which is much weaker than other designs, and the narrower grooves are more susceptible to fouling/dirt, and second, the lack of space inside the receiver to allow any dirt/sand that get in there to move out of the way of the moving parts. But I suspect this will just end up being a way to get some 'compensation' for HK for the XM8 getting canned. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62870 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/hi_fires_2_aug.html#comment-62870 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:36:53 -0600