November 3rd, 2009
Via Traction Control: US special forces prepare for additional SCAR influx
A total of 1,200 Mk 16 and Mk 17 SCAR weapon systems have been delivered to SOCOM to date, but FNH USA told Jane’s that it expected a larger order for around 20,000 weapons next year.
The expectation is that about 75% of them will be the 5.56mm SCAR-Light versions.
Here’s Murdoc trying out a SCAR-L at a demo in 2008:
Murdoc trying out the SCAR-L
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
You’re chicken wingin’ murdoch!
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Heh. I was just glad to keep it on target.
Didn’t do such a good job with the 7.62 model.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Speaking of feathers, let’s see Murdoc in action with the 7.62, or is that real feathers on that chicken wing.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm
As noted, I fared quite poorly with the 7.62. Luckily, I don’t have photos of that go at it. I had to go back and get another mag and wait my turn to try again. I did make the attempt, but we had to move on to the next range before I got back up there. Everyone was wanting the SCARs.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:45 pm
That was at the FN writer’s shoot at the 2008 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.
Not, not “shoot the writers.”
“Let the writers shoot.”
I think I’ve got a couple more photos from that, so I’ll go see if I look a little less fowl in any of them.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:12 am
As far as the weapon went, did you feel like you could make any kind of judgment based on your short interaction with it? I have an innate bias against polymer, despite owning a Glock, and I’m not sure I would want a battle rifle composed largely of it. Did it feel fairly rugged and rigid to you? Was it a decent weight, light enough to carry but not so light that it couldn’t buffer you against recoil? Balance front to back, or top to bottom? I really am curious, since I think that the way things are going with military rifle procurement, if someone finally makes the military dump the M16/M4 there’s a better than even chance that this will be the replacement.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Nanderbus: Take everything I say with a grain of salt due to my limited experience with select-fire weapons and my complete lack of experience in the combat zone, but the SCAR seemed solid. The stock is certainly beefier than an adjustable M4 stock. It’s not a lightweight, and I was all over the map with 7.62 on auto, but between those quick opportunities to fire it and from looking at it at shows, I do believe it’s up to snuff.
The balance thing is something I always try to look at, particularly when fifteen gadgets are bolted on to the front rails. The SCAR seemed fine to me, but I don’t think I’ve looked at one with any lights or bipods or anything up front.
As for the SCAR replacing the M16/M4, I think the SCAR would be a good choice but it’s probably too expensive to equip the entire Army with one. They need that money for electromagnetic hover tanks or some BS…can’t waste it on the troops.
I’m thinking that the Bushmaster ACR might be trying to position itself as a more affordable SCAR alternative for the regular Army.
November 4th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Thanks for the input. I have a feeling that by the time Remington/Bushmaster is finished, and submitted to any military tests, the ACR won’t be so cheap. Or FN USA will find a way to get their costs down to be more competitive. I’m just happy to see movement by manufacturers to advance the state of the art, even if the military isn’t interested. This is exactly why a civilian market is so important. All the civilian buyers are in effect helping to pay the R&D bill for the new technology that will end up benefiting our troops.