The Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle

[@trebuchet2604]

I was getting out of the USMC just after we adopted the IAR, as a Sergeant, I was privileged to be able to play with it. It's a great asset to the infantry squad, but you'd be a fool to think that any squad leader in 2013 wanted to give up the 3 SAWs he had.

[@sr25jd]

Colts Defense is the Best…I’ve learned so much watching your videos ThankYou ..

[@10mmenjoyer]

Colt IAR has been selected for Singapore recently

[@calciumoxide3385]

I think that doesn't make sense at all. STK's U100 (specifically MK4) was considered the best IAR at that time (I'm not saying HK416 is bad). U100 MK8 was out couple years ago and I don't understand why Singapore army gave up U100.

[@kevinp5325]

Just to clarify: the h&k m27 IS NOT replacing the m249 saw; rather it’s complimenting it. The USMC has been enough small arms fights to recognize the merits of a dedicated machine gun with a removable barrel. Unit commanders still have access to the saw’s and will issue them as per mission requirements.

[@nuclearjanitors]

Lmao dude all marines are getting 416s

[@kevinp5325]

@@nuclearjanitors nope, the IAR's are being issued out to SAW gunners and other select personnel on an "as-needed" basis. The USMC still has M249's in its armories.

[@nuclearjanitors]

@@kevinp5325 shut up boot

[@mh3225]

We have to keep in mind that SAWs are still very much around in USMC armories and is issued at the company commander's discretion, and that a Marine rifle squad usually rolls with an M240. I think the USMC is trying to get back to its roots and eliminate the bloat that GWOT produced, the USMC became a second Army. If we look at what the USMC is now acquiring for the infantry (gucci light PPE, new comms, suppressors for everyone) theyre trying to be a lighter, more agile force again. The corps has been doing a lot of raid and VBSS packages as of late. When I was in afghan our CAAT plt (mounted) used IARs and the line companies used a mixture of saws and IARs, assault teams having a SAW was kinda cumbersome and the guardian angel/ outer cordon would have a 240 anyway.

[@jankaas4504]

The dutch marines have the diemaco c7 loaw as a saw and the MAG as mg, realy the same and they are orientated towards raiding (all inf batalions are renamed to raiding squadrons) but its a completely other beast as the usmc. Thanks for the weapon input!

[@kilo0151]

You hit it right in the nail brother. I’ve always brought this point up whenever people argue M249 vs M27. People have gotten so accustomed to the war on terror and many branches and military groups have strayed away from their actual mission. As much as it hurts me seeing the Marines go away from these combat deployments we have been fighting for the last two decades, it’s still the correct thing to do. We are an amphibious force. Light-weight shock troops. Patrolling around the desert with 35 lb LMGs and 90lbs of gear is not what we where designed to do. I always brought up this point when I was in. If the US wants us to become just another Army, then by all means give us more gear to carry. But once the day comes when we’re going to have to storm beaches again, good luck trying to even make it past 100 meters of sand with a fully loaded SAW, 60 lb assault pack, and 40 lbs worth of armored plates, Kevlar, and gear. I 100% stand behind the USMC switching over to the IAR. At the end of the day that’s why we have our rock eating 31s. Keep em fed and they’ll make a wall made of lead!

[@superfamilyallosauridae6505]

Machineguns for Machinegunners. 249 in the squad, rather than attached to the squad, never made sense

[@mh3225]

​@@superfamilyallosauridae6505 The SAW is a machine gun. It made plenty of sense as its a superior belt fed platform with better range and a better cartridge. I wasnt stud and I had no problem lugging a bravo around, let alone the new lima, and the superiors offerings from knights and HK

[@superfamilyallosauridae6505]

@@mh3225 The M249 SAW? Superior cartridge? Better range? Not off a tripod. Belt fed is superior when you have somebody helping you load, not on an individual basis. Unless the entire firefight ends before you have to reload. The M240B, which it sounds like you're thinking of, is not the SAW. The SAW is in 5.56, the GPMG M240B is in 7.62. The Knights 7.62 machineguns are not machinegunly machineguns, and aren't meant to survive an M240's firing schedule. That's not what they were designed for, nor what they are. Do you mean the MG4/MG5 family from HK?

[@danielhess39]

As an Infantry Marine who served two OIF tours in 2007 and 2009, the Marine Officer Corps always had a misconstrued fascination with the Browning Automatic Rifle from its duty in WWI, WWII, and Korea. The combination of elevating the BAR to a godly status and the advent of piston ARs casting doubt in Eugene Stoner’s original design gave us the expensive mistake of the HK M-27. When all the enlisted grunts wanted was more M-240s, or the Mk46 or Mk48. Many of our SAWs were old jam-o-matics. Thank you for the awesome review and knowledge!👍🏼

[@Mr.Schitzengigglez]

Stoner 63 is still the answer you are looking for.

[@attackhelicopter2473]

Same, Had they only increased the dwell time and lowered the extraction pressures that gun would of been golden. I can't wait until @SmallArmsSolutions goes over one :)

[@T_D_B_]

Knights LAMG is the modern equivalent. Amazing gun.

[@myusername3689]

T D B The LAMG is a mix of the ultimax and stoner. Both were designed by either stoner, or people who worked with stoner.

[@theimmortal4718]

Nowadays, I'd say the FN HAMR is better

[@ogukuo97]

Interesting enough, the Singapore Army just adopted this weapon to replace its Ultimax 100 light machine guns.

[@COLT6940]

Singapore army selected Colt IAR to replaces Ultimax 100.

[@TheOtherFagola]

US Armament Corp is selling these beautiful uppers. Too bad they’re 2,295 USD so it’ll be awhile before I could get one.

[@TheOtherFagola]

Jim Beam Your profile picture gives me confidence.

[@jillvalentinefan77]

@Jim Beam Very true. I'd go with the belt loop so you can Rambo it up on the range preferably a private one.

[@unholyrevenger72]

Marine Corps should just ask Knights Armament to make the LAMG Select Fire and make that standard issue. Belt Feds for everybody

[@bbconrad92]

All my buddies loved the HK. It shot well on the range also maintenance was much easier. I would be vary interested in trying this colt to see how much better it is.

[@mightbewrong161]

A dane here. We use the diamaco lmg in our version of the national guard. Although here its called the LSW (light support weapon). The way I heard it. When it got issued to the danish troops in Afghanistan. They did All they could to get their hands on their old machineguns. (the m62 in danish nomenclature. Guess everybody else know it as the german m42)as they needed. Something for longer range and in 7.62mm.It is currently only used by rear echelon guard units. (along with the m60e6) its a very good precision weapon. But as a support weapon. Its really lacks alot. Good video!

[@williambasilone]

Good review and a fresh perspective on a gun not many folks know about. Colt seemed to deliver on a dedicated "automatic rifle" but I suspect the main reason the Corps rejected it was because they didn't want to replace just their M249's, but instead wanted a single weapon that could perform as both an automatic rifle and as a standard infantry rifle, and now they even consider the HK416-derived M27 suitable as a DMR, and perhaps the HK offering proved adequate at all those things, while I can see the Colt IAR having issues as an infantry rifle and as a DMR. In the same vein, while having an automatic rifle definitely offers less firepower for the individual compared to a belt-fed automatic, the Corps' new concept of "every Marine an automatic rifleman" makes their adoption of an IAR more reasonable. With an IAR you have a lot more flexibility with where you can place your firepower compared to a squad with only three SAW gunners.

[@GRAFITTI000]

Well said. I remember reading about the 2/7 Marines who tested the IAR. The ideal setup they found was to have two fireteams with IARs and one with SAWs. Seemed like a pretty neat squad organization. The tradeoff with the current squad organization of all IARs seems to be weight. Everyone is now carrying a 12-13 pound rifle, pretty unwieldy. My personal opinion, they should have have just upgraded their M4s to M4A1s with free floated barrels and better triggers, adopted one of the IAR contenders and given them to one auto rifleman each in two of the fireteams in the squad, then keep the belt feds in a third fireteam.

[@grunt2926]

My BN replaced it's 249 in 13. I only got to play with it my last few months in. I say keep the SAW and replace the M4s with the 416.

[@williambasilone]

@Reaper5.56 Xx The Fight Light MCR would not have qualified for the M27 program since it is primarily intended as a belt-fed weapon. There has also been little official testing of the weapon that I have found, so I have my reservations as to its reliability and durability compared to the FN Minimi or even something like the KAC LAMG, which comes from a more reputable company. It may very well be a great gun, but so far I have found little actual evidence to support that claim. At the very least, the HK416 is known and proven to be a reliable and durable rifle.

[@williambasilone]

@@GRAFITTI000 That would be an interesting way to set up a sort of "hybrid" squad, but I think it would lead to an even greater reduction in firepower than what the Marines had previously. The whole point of equipping everyone with IAR's is to provide everyone with the ability to be an automatic rifleman in a way that you cannot really achieve even with an M4a1 with a SOCOM profile barrel. Although the HK M27 is certainly a heavy gun, you're getting a level of durability that does outclass an M4a1. Whether those VERY few times where an M4a1 will catastrophically fail while an HK M27 will not is worth the increased ~2.5 lbs of weight is up to you, but personally I never found the M16a4 (which supposedly is about the same weight as an M27) all that bad or ever even hindering handling (except for MOUT stuff what with that 20" barrel). Also, something I forgot to mention in my original comment was that the Marine Corps has plans to put suppressors on all of their guns, and for this application a piston gun actually is better. I think a better squad setup, and one I suspect the Marine Corps will eventually adopt, is to replace all M16s and M4s with M27s and M38s and either keep the 249s or replace those pretty old and beat up guns with a lighter, newer, and more modern 5.56 beltfed gun like the KAC LAMG.

[@dillspec5566]

Another badass review, I’ve been a Patreon supporter since the beginning, and I love the work that Chris and Heather is putting out. Great information

[@ronstrzelczyk789]

Good video ! I agree with the points you made.In WW II,and Korea we had the BAR trying to function as a automatic rifle/squad MG. The BAR was a great weapon ,but 20 round magazines not so good. our military then went to belt fed squad machine gun's ! Now many year's later our Marines are now using a disguised IAR (BAR ?).Many years ago General Custer personally found out the weaknesses of the trap door single shot Springfield carbine.Do we ever really learn ?

[@Trumplican]

i love that he correctly calls it internal piston

[@DanK1977]

I think that a part of the reason that the USMC went with the HK over the Colt had a good deal to do with Colt's history of failing to provide the rifles in the quantities ordered in the time required. This has been going on since the late 90's with Colt. It got so bad at one point we had rifles wearing the Bushmaster logo on the receiver. The USMC also has a large number of their M4's and M16's that have been manufactured by FN for this reason as well. Colt was just unable to keep up with the demand and I'm sure this would have been taken into account with any decision on the new weapons system. Additionally the M27 transitions much more easily into the role of being a standard issue rifle for the infantry than the Colt LMG which I think was the point all along to the IAR trials. Today the M27 is becoming the standard issue rifle for all infantrymen in the Corps and I'm sure this was in the minds of the planers. It simplifies the logistics side of the equation by having commonality of parts. None of this is to bash the Colt system. I've never gotten to handle one personally and I'm sure it's a solid product. And yes, I still feel that dropping the M249 in favor of the IAR was a mistake. Even though it's about the least ergonomic LMG ever created. Going out the hell hole on a Helo with that thing strapped to your body was a nightmare. But the volume of fire it could provide was outstanding.

[@markmcintosh7095]

HK uses piston not gas operation. I see no reason for the m4 and m16 not to be perfect by now. Put a politician and general in a fight and see how long it would take to get a high powered cartridge and a gun that doesn't jam or malfunction.

[@muwuny]

British army did the opposite, adopted the LSW and then quickly replaced it with the Minimi. The RPK works for Russia because they issue PKMs everywhere.

[@bev8200]

Just remember, no rifle has beaten this rifle in trials.

[@boygonewhoopdataZZ]

POF 😂

[@rockerdude8000]

I would like to point out what the point of the iar was as a marine infantryman. we wanted to replace all the m16 and m4s but couldn't get the funding. So we said new squad automatic that's cheaper and we got the funding. Also the m4a1 socom didn't exist. we still had 249 in my unit and we still use and train with them that was in 2017.

[@rogermcbadlad2812]

rockerdude8000 M4A1s have been around since 1990s.

[@googlepissoff5776]

It’s still retarded to continue the program AFTER the M4A1 was developed

[@deejay1534]

It’s the marine corps. As committed to them as I am, they’re still the same branch that adopted a 7rnd 1911 over an HK45 so it’s unsurprising the top brass wouldn’t think more before making the decision

[@deejay1534]

Sh0t yeah I’ve noticed more and more Recon guys running G19’s, but that being said we just began to adopt the HK grenade launchers which I like many other are not fond of

[@winstonwright8374]

At about 4:50 he talks about the USMC using A4s. My cousin was a squad lead and got out two years ago. I asked him basically the same question. Why the A4 over the M4A1? He told me it was the round to kill ratio. They where using too much ammunition and killing either the same amount or under in rare cases. I know it’s anecdotal, but I mean I trust my own cousin lol.

[@TheOtherFagola]

Glad you did a video on this. I’m hoping for a dedicated Mk23 video.

[@jazon9]

Heat sink is neat. I like this concept.

[@soylentgreen7074]

If I’m not mistaken, colt’s very very first machine gun was the John Browning designed 1895 ‘potato digger machine gun.(if you don’t count the gatling gun)

[@SmallArmsSolutions]

Soylent Green I am referring to history of M16 platform

[@soylentgreen7074]

SmallArmsSolutions i know, i was curious if the 1895 was the very first. More of a question. I wouldn’t try to correct you on anything that has to do with the m16 platform. I don’t know as much as you there.

[@Rhethion]

I've often said our M4A1s could be flexed into an automatic rifle role very easily in the inevitable event the 249 had a malfunction or a reload. NCOs and officers with their textbooks shoved really far up their asses wouldn't have any part of it. The damned thing is select fire for a reason.

[@JG54206]

I’ve never served or fired an actual full auto capable M4, but I’d agree. Even if you end up damaging the barrel to the point where it needs replacing when you get back to wherever that’s a possibility, if it saves your life and gets you out. I’d guess that even after 5-6 mags dumped straight the gun will be very hot and the groups will have opened up quite a bit… but it would probably still be accurate enough for combat out to a moderate range.

[@superfamilyallosauridae6505]

@@JG54206 remember a decade+ ago when an M4 went through 600 rounds after the SAWs and 240s went down in a terribly located outpost in afghanistan and we won and people shat on the M4 for it? lmao

[@JG54206]

@@superfamilyallosauridae6505 I remember being a young kid and hearing all the people talk about the M4 and the internal piston system being inadequate and obsolete. Here we are 15+ years later and the top operators in the US military still mostly use the same internal piston system.

[@superfamilyallosauridae6505]

@@JG54206 The guns with the gas system problems, hilariously, are the external piston guns, which beat themselves to death with M855A1 and even moreso suppressed in the USMC with the M27. There's a thing called underslide. Basically, it's designing your gun so that the bolt doesn't start to unlock until a little while after the gun fires, to let the chamber pressure drop. Dwell time is a related term but generally harder for people to understand, and just a part of it, so it's a virtually useless term. In the internal piston guns, the entire gas tube is the underslide. It takes time for the gas to travel literally 180 degrees back the way it fucking came and get back to the bolt carrier. This lets the pressure drop in the chamber. In short stroke gas piston guns, literally all of that underslide is removed. As soon as gas reaches the gas block, the piston is pushing the carrier back. Now, just like the M16, there's a teensy weensy bit of room for the carrier to go straight back before the bolt starts turning and unlocking, but that was intended to let the carrier get pushed rearward by the bolt piston in a DI gun before the force of unlocking started being applied. For all intents and purposes, there is no underslide, so the gun unlocks immediately. With the extra barrel length of the 16.5" guns, the barrel stays plugged by the bullet longer because it hasn't exited until it's gone twice as far as the gas block. Chamber pressure stays higher longer. M855A1, not much of a pressure increase, but the powder burns slower, so chamber pressure again stays higher, longer. The M27 isn't gassed for this round, it's unchanged since 2011, so the enhanced HK bolts in this gun actually wear out faster than bog standard M4 bolts with the same ammo. With non-flow through KAC NT4 suppressors, the same thing happens again. Pressure is higher, longer. M27s are beating themselves to death nowadays.

[@JG54206]

@@superfamilyallosauridae6505 I agree. Like I said I was a young kid at the time and bought all the crap right up. Not saying that a short stroke piston isn’t a good system… just there’s nothing wrong with the internal piston. I’ve realized there’s a reason why our top tier units run it even though they have access to other things.

[@Phantom8589]

Unfortunately Colt had an image problem at the time of the testing and USMC wanted to to stear clear of the Colt name is my humble oppinion. While Colt had the best weapon there was nepotism at play and people wanted the HK name regardless of outcome so I belive what happen was they ask for write up and threw them in the Shredder when the grunts gave their honest feed back and it didnt match someone's pride so... Decisions were made outside the outcomes is what I heard from friends that were apart of the testing they almost all picked Colt follow by FN but a Person of Rank wasnt having it and was a HK fanboy.

[@pistolperrynoya9469]

Thats awesome! Should be standard civilian issue!

[@Dragon_W0LF]

This Rifle is what the Army should adopt

[@sqike001ton]

the thing with this is its great as a support to the belt fed machine guns you set your belt feed mgs up in a position to cover an attack and them the auto rifles are mixed into the regular rifleman there goal is to give cover the belt mgs cant and also to cover the belt feeds as they advance in a defensive role the auto rifle is set to support a flank or generally cover the belt feeds ass or a blind spot they work great as a support to the belt feeds which can then be in a bigger caliber so replace your saws with IARs but add a few 240bs to the squad/platoon provide the fire of a gpmg

[@kichigaisensei]

Once the military gets exoskeletons for the soldiers weight won't be an issue and every foot solder will be issued an M2.

[@richardpowell4281]

Until an EMP renders the suits useless. Especially when it comes to the Marine Corps you've gotta always think If had to quickly grab a magazine and toss it to someone so they can use it in almost any scenario, what would I want?

[@kichigaisensei]

@@richardpowell4281 Military-grade exoskeletons would need to be EMP protected. HAHAHA. In any case, I wasn't being serious. Honestly, tho, I think the use of an EMP is stupid. Why not just nuke your adversary? If your EMP didn't totally incapacitate them, you'd be in for a retaliation...the real thing.

[@ajcastellon5903]

This is all irrelevant at this point becos the microgun (a carry-able minigun) is ready for production and use....

[@stevencohen1311]

Politics in a military small arms contract? Nooooo you don’t say

[@albiecho03]

the HK was a good rifle to have as an 0311 but like the m416 its just an over engineered rifle that didn't actually solve anything

[@trentmorrison6074]

I kinda have a thery that yhe marines was looking for an excuse for a external piston over internal and thats the only real reason why they adopted the m27. The m27 had multiple problems like the parts falling off. Bipods breacking. I heard from i think TFB.

[@stevekrilich3040]

Great attention to the details Chris and Heather. Another good video.

[@raydon14ify]

Fascinating history, very interesting, very informative.

[@lostronin380]

I didn't see the point of changing from a belt fed system weapon to limited magazine system either🤔 . I also felt it appeared like a firepower reduction. Nice video, so much detailed information. Thanks.

[@SmallArmsSolutions]

Agreed

[@thomaskwei9119]

Now you need to do a video on the HK M27 IAR. Shame you can’t get your hands on a FN SCAR IAR.

[@Candroma]

Its a shame they moved the ordinance museum from APG to Ft. Lee. I get why they moved but I still miss having it here.

[@NeilJason-fo6kb]

Came back here about Singapore Army adapting this. Big deal!

[@chriskerwin3904]

An idea.. You're making the assumption that they actually wanted an "IAR" and weren't just using this as test program to adopt the HK 416 as the new infantry rifle without calling it that?

[@godemperormeow8591]

Stoner: *develops the most overpowered rifle* Military: "Not enough plastic."

[@theimmortal4718]

The IAR that seemed the best to me was the FN HAMR

[@tiiiimmmmmm]

With hindsight, it looks like the Marine Corp IAR program was just a backdoor way to replace all their M16s with 416s.

[@wayartio]

Fantastic history and presentation! Thanks again, very interesting !

[@romes9465]

The marine corps has a philosophy and a mantra of marksmanship and a emphasis on accuracy and will prioritize single shot accuracy over simple volume of fire like the army. Once the corps started getting a influx of money it began making these changes even if it meant putting the firepower at the squad level at a real disadvantage compared to the enemy.

[@kurtstergar1042]

Brother I agree with you about the M249. Why get rid of it? I'd rather have the 200 rd drum in a 249. 100rd mag in a AR platform on full auto goes quick.

[@Chriszlaststand]

I always wondered why ceramic or TBC coated gas tubes were never developed. I worked in the aerospace turbine engine industry for 25 plus years. Some special engine combustors we're coated with thermal barrier coatings. What are your thoughts?

[@Wabaanimkii]

Could it be because the gas tubes are usually designed to pop before the heat gets high enough to damage the barrel? kinda like a shear bolt. it's a safety precaution. a lot cheaper and easier to replace a gas tube vs a whole barrel . I know it's an old comment. necropost from heck.

[@GIboy1990]

I have a VLTOR stock on my M1a. its a good, comfortable stock

[@nemisous83]

i think people misconstrue why the Soviets dropped the RPD for the RPK it wasn't because they found belt feds overkill for the squad level entity. Its because the RPK was MUCH less expensive to produce and was over 80% parts compatible with the standard AKM also each fire team had one RPK and every squad had a PKM so it made the RPD redundant. How ever the M27 isnt either of these, neither is it cost effective or easy to maintain from the field armour level. Also since the M27 only feeds from 30 round magazines its effectively a heavier M4A1. I think a better alternative would have been a belt fed AR upper that has a quick change barrel that can also accept AR magazines similar to the Fitelite MCR which can do everything and is about the same weight as the M27

[@Dr_K545]

Great video, been looking forward to this one!

[@joquin4618]

D K love that Reticle as thumbnail.... might put an acss on mine too! 😝

[@robh2907]

Love Colt history, great video...

[@nickknox.]

Another solid video! Thanks!

[@fusionacupuncture9837]

Please do the Mossberg 590! You make top notch videos sir.

[@mystyle_jm8997]

As for the word IAR known as "Infantry Automatic Rifle", its certainly a new concept name for a Rifle that combined the role between LMG/SAW and select-fire Assault Rifle that still firing a 5.56x45mm Intermediate Cartridge right?

[@SmallArmsSolutions]

All the IAR is a heavy barrel M4 basically. In this case with a heat sink for better suppressive fire. But limited in the same way as the standard M4 with a magazine. With similar durability for the M4A1 SOCOM barrel carbine.

[@mystyle_jm8997]

As for what you said about the "Limited in the same way as the standard M4 with a Magazine" as if you're referring to a 30 round Mag, I still highly doubt the USMC are still researching and looking for any alternative high-capacity magazine such as Magpul or Surefire 60 round Mag for 1 or 3 IAR Gunner for long-term suppressing fire without any spring issues and jamming.

[@waynelabeaud7945]

Thanks for the Intel bro.... Great presentation, as usual

[@johnchristopher20]

I hope you can tell us why the heat is maximum near the front sight base. Why not make the M203 attach forward of the sight base, add a JP type radiator behind it, and make the barrel thinner beyond the sight base? If nothing else, it would please SOCOM.

[@mdfroman2235]

The narrowed area behind the gas block is just where the rear "ears" of the M203 receiver need to clear during initial installation. The actual attachment points are at the barrel nut in the rear and on a skinny area forward of the front sight base with an FRP busing.

[@chuck5822]

I've heard that they never really intended to adopt an automatic rifle. They just wanted to backdoor adopt the HK416 as their main service rifle. So they played fast and loose with the requirements in order to assure it winning the contract, then over time they could just make it their main service rifle. Any truth to that?

[@williambasilone]

That seems to be the case as far as I am aware. The Marines have already adopted the M27 as THE standard issue rifle of the Corps, and by all accounts that was their intent from the beginning.

[@joshualance6005]

Yep that's exactly what they wanted to do to was so expensive it was rediculous I could build the same rifle for 700$ instead they paid 3000 dollars a unit. Now army is coming up with a new 6.8 rifle and Marines might be stuck with hk's

[@FXIIBeaver]

@@joshualance6005 marines aren't paying 3k a rifle.

[@ChucksSEADnDEAD]

@@joshualance6005 "new 6.8 rifle" - I've been hearing that for probably 15 years now.

[@timothydeleon1534]

@@ChucksSEADnDEAD What do you think of the XM5 NGSW?

[@MooreFishing-ky3wq]

Chris I have an early M4A1 upper receiver without the cuts , so they exist .

[@dirtysanchez2k]

Thanks for these excellent detailed videos. I love em. Appreciate your work

[@justanotherinternetexpert7743]

That looks like its really controlable!

[@AKlover]

Would have gone 18 or 20 inch barrel and added a two shot burst function. Surprised magazines have not been a huge issue with these.

[@chrischiampo7647]

I Would Love to Have Been Issued This Rifle As Is In The 1 Tested With 4 Position Selector 👍🏼

[@Heretic123456]

The HK rifle was a normal rifle and that was just what the marines wanted.

[@PeterYi]

Yeah, I feel like the tender made manufacturers think that the Marines wanted a LMG AR type, however, it looks like the Marines just wanted to distribute firepower within the squad with a good, normal rifle.

[@magellanstravels]

Hk fires from an open bolt on automatic

[@bluecaptainIT]

@@magellanstravels lel, absolutely not true

[@juansimon5802]

@@magellanstravels no it doesnt

[@flyoverbassin8959]

@@magellanstravels I believe that was Knight's Armament submission for the same program.

[@connerlongmire6831]

I can't remember where I heard this but the reason why the USMC purchased the HK M27 IAR over the Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle is because one of the Marine Generals who made the final call, had a shady deal with HK. That general basically received a kick back for selecting the M27.

[@nuclearjanitors]

Yup

[@AllPainNoGains]

Nice intro music.

[@bludmakesgrassgrow]

Needs a rail-integrated bipod instead of that gripod.

[@brentsauer]

The rate of fire for the IAR is pretty incredible. Runs like a sewing machine.

[@JorgeOrtizIII]

Is it possible that the USMC just wanted a 416 over an M4?

[@nuclearjanitors]

Yeah the iar program was always there to backdoor 416s

[@Elvis68spec]

Go Colt! Badass Rifle!

[@stevecochran2677]

Nice rifle, it looked very controllable.

[@weedXD38]

Solid Review!!! As Usual!!! Thanxs...

[@SK-bu1ft]

Chris, do you feel that the Hughes amendment has somewhat stifled domestic MG iteration and development?

[@Tounushi]

so a step back to the BAR, basically. I thought rapid rifles ("pikakivääri," our military term for the class) were mostly retired after the second world war...

[@Tounushi]

@@noth606 Perkele, älä mainitse KvKK:ta.... Saatanan romu puri liipasimen kautta joka laukauksella harjoituksissa. Käsi puutui hauikseen asti. Mut ampumatehokkuudeltaan tietysti sillä pidemmälle pääsee, kun piippu on pidempi. Vaikka vain 6cm eroa on... Yleensäkin aseen tappava etäisyys on paljon pidempi kuin sen tehokas ampumaetäisyys. Fysiikkakin sanoo, että 45° kulmalla pisimmälle pääsee, vaikkakin ilmakehä ja sääolosuhteet vaikuttavat siinä kohtiin...

[@tomacton6718]

good review. love our two colt socom barreled uppers. but hey, shouldnt the gas tube burn /blow out before the barrel?

[@SlimRhyno]

Another fantastic video. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experience. Take care.

[@andrewscott8892]

What do you think about whathad been said that the Marine Corps is using this as a get around to equip all marines with new rifles( not m16s)

[@Adam-zi5se]

The USMC is using HK M21 IAR , not the colt

[@troyweatherford2428]

They're using the HK 416, not the Colt

[@rayraygalvez1]

First of all amazing review, I’m barely coming across what the IAR history is, In 4:58 talking about the 6940h whats the grip attached to the handgaurd?

[@SmallArmsSolutions]

Grippod

[@rayraygalvez1]

@@SmallArmsSolutions I mean the dark earth ribbed grip, looks like an oversized rail cover, can’t find it whatsoever, gripped is cool too

[@SmallArmsSolutions]

@@rayraygalvez1 that was made on a plastic modeling tool. Never produced

[@rayraygalvez1]

@@SmallArmsSolutions ohhhh gotcha, thanks man I was looking everywhere for it, looks cool

[@PeterWolfe2012]

I was just watching your HK MR762 video. Watching you reassemble the gas system reminded me of the enclosed gas system of the Taiwanese T91's and makes me wonder why no one else encloses their piston and springs. Isn't an exposed spring over piston rod system just begging for unreliability issues in dirt or mud?

[@SmallArmsSolutions]

PeterWolfe2012 could not agree more

[@PeterWolfe2012]

@@SmallArmsSolutions Just seems so obvious to me; as person who saw pictures of M16's in Vietnamese mud, drug some through mud myself and has watched the Mud Test videos posted by InRange TV. Of course, I'm the guy who saw the heat sink barrel nut from Patriot Ordnance Factory and wondered why every military user who anticipates full-auto or sustained semi-automatic fire doesn't include something similar matching their chosen barrel and every rifle they have. Surely, the extra weight is negligible compared to added capability. If the aluminum doesn't cost enough to "properly" bolster budgets; they could always get even more thermal conductivity and save a little weight by buying titanium.

[@PeterWolfe2012]

@@SmallArmsSolutions BTW, thanks for the excellent video on the Wolf A1 uppers. Your video was a deciding factor in my wanting one. I have never owned an AR but would not mind having a reliable one just in case I ever need one. After finding out how many home invasions involve three. four or even more assailants and how often they wear body armor, (just common sense if you're going to be breaking into people's houses), I wouldn't mind having something more effective than a pistol. Maybe I will in time.

[@23GreyFox]

There is no issue. There never was one.

[@ortiz11039]

I don't mind the hk but the price of the 416 is insane. I'm sure both perform really well.

[@Mr9Guns]

I think they would have made sense if they had a quick change barrel.

[@lkjh00on89]

Great video, as always.

[@otisnelson3860]

never had bad luck with beta c mags. how ever id never drop one and the dummy rounds would kindof get out of order and had to take them apart to fix them all the time. they alwayse seem to feed how ever from what ive seen as long as you maintained them well. it is how ever tedius

[@hairydogstail]

The best SAW would have been Stoner86/Knight light assault machine gun that has constant recoil..It could be made to use a belt, magazine or both and actually work..The incredible thing about constant recoil is the same cycle rate occurs no matter the pressure of the ammunition/ within reason..The M249 would not work reliably with magazines because the weapon would cycle too fast using the magazine.. It would out run the spring in the magazine..It needed an adj gas block for it to work with magazines..The new Tango down MK3 magazine claims to run reliably in the M249..

[@SmallArmsSolutions]

This was not spec for belt. They wanted their machine gunners not to be targeted. They should have just kept the M249. The KAC, not seen any test data

[@codebebop]

Shooting like a boss!!!

[@T_D_B_]

would love if you could do a full LMG video with teardown

[@SmallArmsSolutions]

Will be out within the next week or so

[@samuel88andrews]

I am wondering when colt will go out of business. They lost 2 US contracts recently for the IAR and the M4 to HK and FN if memory serves, and I would imagine that would be extremely bad for business.

[@justanotherinternetexpert7743]

I thought colt and fn split that contract?

[@samuel88andrews]

@@justanotherinternetexpert7743 idk man like I said "if memory serves" and I have a bad memory for anything useful

[@justanotherinternetexpert7743]

@@samuel88andrews i am not sure either thats why i was asking!!!! Lol haha! Sounds like we both have memory issues!!! Lol

[@samuel88andrews]

@@justanotherinternetexpert7743 #twinzies

[@joshualance6005]

E.l. No I'm pretty sure ur right now fn makes most of our m4 and they make the saw,they also have the scar. Both were contracts colt lost to fn alone. Then there is the new sig rattlers that colt lost the same contract also. Also fn makes the ma duece also it used to be made by American companies like saber defence

[@georgekontalexis8436]

Please do a vid about the adcor a556 elite! And also please make another vid about the colt 703!

[@ThuanNguyen-ei7xs]

Back to the Vietnam war I had a chance to used the M 18 with mounted grenade launcher M79. I haven’t seen or heard any articles about it, can you explain for me please. Love to see the history of it. Thanks.

[@KenshiroPlayDotA]

@SmallArmsSolutions : What were roughly the group sizes in semi-auto and full-auto with the Colt IAR ? Thanks

[@aequitas8749]

It looks like that rifle barely has any recoil.

[@londonjolly9174]

9lb 5.56. Same as a 5.56 Arsenal SLR with proper gassing, the gun doesn't move

[@jermsmason2082]

I think the IAR is a genius concept. You say the squad would lose firepower because of not have the belt fed weapons, true, but everyone who had an m4 now has more firepower. Does it balance out? idk, haven't done the testing. But one thing that is a huge advantage is you can have 2 or 3 people in an LSW role, and you can have them firing at an enemy position from two angles, and you can have fire on more than one target. Not to mention they can use a DMR type roll in an instant if need be, where the m249 could not do this.

[@Dies1r4e]

He is speaking as one that has never walked with the 22 pound beast that is the SAW. Give me that IAR any day, reloads faster, puts down similar firepower, and as you said if you follow the russian example you double the number of people in the unit with LSW role....tada you have more effective fire, with longer sustainability, for less weight and hassle.

[@Dies1r4e]

@Reaper5.56 Xx if you have FOUR medium machine guns set up in a static position ambush you having a belt fed LMG is not going to help you out of that situation. only air support or close in artillery or other combined arms would dig you out of the that hypothetical hole. I am highly skeptical that anyone carried 50 20 round magazines or 34ish 30 round magazines into the jungle on a long range foot patrol (I have walked said patrols). you are talking between thirty and forty pounds of JUST ammo. maybe back in Vietnam when you were not humping around a plate carrier and other supplies, and if you where going out for a few hours and didn't have to carry much of anything else sure. In practical fighting terms a 22 pound machine gun (with only a 100 rounds loaded in it), or say a 20-21 pound gun with a nut sack on it, is not fun to hike with, it dwarfs the weight of an M1 Garand and the ammo carried for said 13 pound gun was about 136 to south of 200 rounds. Long and short put on all the gear your average infantry man has to wear and walk around for a day....you will understand why weight matters.

[@user-rs1fo2dd9b]

it seems like the colt IAR is using a carbine length gas system. since the barrel is 16" long, it requires a separate independent bayonet lug separate from the gas block. wouldn't it have been better to go mid length gas system, and use a gas block that also has a bayonet lug underneath, to use 1 part instead of 2?

[@mdfroman2235]

Nope, mid-length gas system doesn't have the oomf needed to be reliable with the H3 buffer required to prevent bolt bounce caused by that high mass heavy barrel even at sea level on a warm day. You'd need a huge copper shaving gas port (.090") for a midlength to push an H3 buffer on a moderately cold day much less freezing temps at high elevation.

[@user-rs1fo2dd9b]

@@mdfroman2235 huh, i didnt know that. thank you for the good info - didnt consider need for H3 buffer for full auto use.

[@T_D_B_]

Very friggin cool, but Knights LAMG is still my dream MG

[@tengu190]

Why did the Ultimax and Ferfrans LVAR fail the IAR program?

[@joelcreel6081]

If those were equipped to half of all squads, would that be better than one M-249 per squad, or however they are issued?

[@psp1921tsmg]

Should just adopt the ultimax as the new saw.

[@AKlover]

The American RPK.

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

I see you too are a man of culture.

[@timothydeleon1534]

>The American RPK >Made in Germany Seems legit

[@hendrickotto103]

Great as always; many thanks ! Could one find an image somewhere of how the heat sink is attached to the barrel in order to get a sufficient interface surface, plse ?