Rifle/sub question

[V4NT0M]

Is an FN P90 a suitable weapon for a sentry guard? Was having a discussion at lunch today (I know, random), but I don't think it is - even despite the piercing characteristics of the round. It's a PDW, not even a full sub-machine gun.... Surely a normal rifle would make much more sense? Otherwise a simple AK wielder could just pick you off (their 500m+ to your 200m range). I know it is used by a lot of SWAT and MP, but then the weight and size are much more advantageous.

Or am I being dumb?

Surely they would go for cover before getting "picked off", it's a defensive role is it not? Hence the enemy would have to come to you anyway, I'm also guessing there would be some backup on hand should the range be a problem.

OMG. Just imagine police/guards with akimbo P90s.

Only teal'c can pull that one off.

 

[Aod]

AUG HBAR would be a good choice short bullpup rifle so its easy to carry and shoot with and it will put some serious power down on the enemy. but the RPG is a damn good choice, ain't no one gonna walk away from one of them things

AUG HBAR's are over a meter long and weigh a tonne, making them unsuitable for dynamic CQC use. Additionally, bullpup weapons are very difficult to reload quickly.

unless you meant a regular AUG, in which case your suggestion is somewhat less ridiculous, but the issue of reloads is still highly pertinant, as is the fact that as a bullpup weapon, it can only be fired from one side, which makes firing around right corners for right-handed weapons is very difficult.

For a sentry (depending on surroundings, nearby civi's etc) I'd go for an AR-15 or an HK53.

I'm leaning more towards the HK53

HK53? that weapon is A: HEAVY, made of 96% steel, and B: Not even in production, and C: unreliable because of the shortness of the barrel, oh, the muzzle flash is blinding and the report is deafening.

AR-15 is a whole platform of weapons spanning thousands upon thousands of possible configurations, but assuming you meant something with a 14.5" barrel (M4 length) then i'd say that it's a good choice but a little long for urban environments.

But that's a good choice rifle for the job. But what do I know!

the L85 and L86 series of weapons are completely rubbish for everything other than medium-long range target shooting, they're unbelievably heavy, frighteningly unreliable, amazingly hard to reload and as i said about the AUG, can only be fired from the right shoulder, but unlike the AUG which will just burn you if you fire it from the wrong shoulder, the L85/6 will break your cheek

 

[setter]

The aug is fully ambidextrous, often seen members of the irish defence forces using a left handed version.

Also on wiki.

The rifle is fully ambidextrous.[3] It can be configured for use by left-handed shooters by simply changing the bolt for a left handed one with the extractor and ejector on opposite sides, and moving a blanking cap from the left ejection opening to the right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steyr_AUG

 

[Aod]

The aug is fully ambidextrous, often seen members of the irish defence forces using a left handed version.

Also on wiki.

The rifle is fully ambidextrous.[3] It can be configured for use by left-handed shooters by simply changing the bolt for a left handed one with the extractor and ejector on opposite sides, and moving a blanking cap from the left ejection opening to the right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steyr_AUG

no, only the FN P90 and F2000 are fully ambidextrous, they can be used in either hand with no modification.

taking the rifle apart, and inserting a brand new bolt every time you want to change hand does not make it "Fully Ambidextrous"

 

[The Mad Rapper]

Wasn't even talking about a sniper - as you're screwed even if you have a .5 cal machine gun. But, an SA80 can lay down accurate (albeit weak) fire from 650m away. An SLR can match that distance with power.

WTF are you on about? There's nothing 'weak' about fire from what used to be named the SA80. Of course the SLR has more hitting power, the round is far bigger. Compare like with like perhaps?

 

[V4NT0M]

The aug is fully ambidextrous, often seen members of the irish defence forces using a left handed version.

Also on wiki.

The rifle is fully ambidextrous.[3] It can be configured for use by left-handed shooters by simply changing the bolt for a left handed one with the extractor and ejector on opposite sides, and moving a blanking cap from the left ejection opening to the right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steyr_AUG

That's something you have to configure though, not exactly going to happen in combat.

The P90 uses a downward ejection system meaning that it doesn't matter which side you're shooting from.

Edit: Doh beaten to it.

 

[Strife212]

Wasn't even talking about a sniper - as you're screwed even if you have a .5 cal machine gun.

You aren't, the world record shot was done with a .5 cal machine gun I'm sure

Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock (Vietnam war) – He held the record of longest confirmed kill at a distance of 2,250 m (2,460 yd) (made with a scoped M2 Browning machine gun) for 35 years until 2002.

 

[setter]

Ahh i get what you mean now, i was thinking of individual left handed soldiers who would have their weapon issued to them, then configure it to suit, i guess this was the idea for the introducion of the case deflector on the ar15/m16/m4 series rifles, to prevent spent cases striking a lefty in the face.

 

[Gaijin]

Anyways it doesn't matter what gun you have, it's the perks that count.

 

[kwerk]

Good luck picking someone off at 500 yards with an ak47.

 

[meghatronic]

WTF are you on about? There's nothing 'weak' about fire from what used to be named the SA80. Of course the SLR has more hitting power, the round is far bigger. Compare like with like perhaps?

That's what I meant, sorry for ambiguity. But it isn't entirely false.

You aren't, the world record shot was done with a .5 cal machine gun I'm sure

I meant if you were in a machine gun nest with all the firepower in the world, a sniper can still take you out.

 

[setter]

Corporal rob furlong of the canadian princess patricias light infantry holds the record for longest confirmed sniper kill, 2675 yards with a .50 cal rifle.

 

[footman]

When I did gate duty I always felt that a target painted on my body would have been appropriate.
Might as well have been armed with a spud gun, would always have been the first to cop it.

 

[Aod]

WTF are you on about? There's nothing 'weak' about fire from what used to be named the SA80. Of course the SLR has more hitting power, the round is far bigger. Compare like with like perhaps?

tell that to marines and army soldiers in afghanistan who requisitioned old M14's out of storage to replace their .223 M4A1's and M16A2s and A4s because the .223s were completely failing to pacify threats at 400 yards or more in the afghani mountains.

 

[setter]

tell that to marines and army soldiers in afghanistan who requisitioned old M14's out of storage to replace their .223 M4A1's and M16A2s and A4s because the .223s were completely failing to pacify threats at 400 yards or more in the afghani mountains.

Yep, hence the popular nickname of "mouse cartridge" for the .223/5.56mm round.

 

[Eddmac]

The 5.56mm round isnt about placing accurate single shots, but is more about quantity of fire to a given area, hance the smaller round and the higher rate of fire. You can fire more rounds and carry more ammo, which I believe is the current Nato doctrine (I believe incorrectly, as quality is better than quantity imho)

 

[setter]

True, carrying more ammo is good, but when the rounds cant be placed on target at range its no use, an alternative touted a while back was the introduction of a 6.8mm calibre, better stopping power at extended ranges.

 

[fadetoblack]

A new rifle has been bought for troops in Afghanistan that will improve the long-range firepower available on the front line, the Ministry of Defence has announced today, Monday 18 January 2010.


A soldier looks down the sights of the new Sharpshooter rifle
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
The L129A1 Sharpshooter rifle will fire a 7.62mm round and will enhance accuracy of engagement during longer-range firefights with the Taliban. The weapon will be used by some of the best shots in the infantry.

More than 400 of the semi-automatic Sharpshooter rifles*have been bought as a £1.5m Urgent Operational Requirement. It is the first new infantry combat rifle to be issued to troops for more than 20 years.

Training on the rifles will begin in mid-January 2010 and the first batch will be sent to Afghanistan later in the year.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:

"Troops in Afghanistan are already bristling with a variety of weapons they can use when fighting the Taliban.

"The Sharpshooter rifle adds to this arsenal and provides them with an additional, highly-precise, long-range capability.

"This is a concrete example of where we add to our range of equipment to ensure our brave forces have the best kit available to them on the front line."


The new Sharpshooter rifle will be used by some of the best shots in the infantry
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
Colonel Peter Warden, Light Weapons, Photographic and Batteries Team Leader at Defence, Equipment and Support, said:

"The Sharpshooter rifle is very capable and has been bought to fulfil a specific role on the front line in Afghanistan.

"It is a versatile weapon which will give our units a new dimension to their armoury. It will complement the SA80A2 by adding to the weapons available to commanders on the ground. The Sharpshooter's capabilities are also complementary to the current Sniper System.

"Initial feedback on the rifle has been very positive and the Army units deployed in Afghanistan are very keen to get their hands on it."

The Sharpshooter will complement the already potent range of weapons used by our forces in Afghanistan,*including:

SA80A2 assault rifles, which fire 5.56mm rounds;
Light Machine Guns, which fire 5.56mm rounds;
General Purpose Machine Guns, which fire 7.62mm bullets;
the Combat Shotgun, which fires 12-gauge shells;
the Sniper System, which fires 8.59mm bullets; and*

 

[Aod]

A new rifle has been bought for troops in Afghanistan that will improve the long-range firepower available on the front line, the Ministry of Defence has announced today, Monday 18 January 2010.


A soldier looks down the sights of the new Sharpshooter rifle
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
The L129A1 Sharpshooter rifle will fire a 7.62mm round and will enhance accuracy of engagement during longer-range firefights with the Taliban. The weapon will be used by some of the best shots in the infantry.

More than 400 of the semi-automatic Sharpshooter rifles*have been bought as a £1.5m Urgent Operational Requirement. It is the first new infantry combat rifle to be issued to troops for more than 20 years.

Training on the rifles will begin in mid-January 2010 and the first batch will be sent to Afghanistan later in the year.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:

"Troops in Afghanistan are already bristling with a variety of weapons they can use when fighting the Taliban.

"The Sharpshooter rifle adds to this arsenal and provides them with an additional, highly-precise, long-range capability.

"This is a concrete example of where we add to our range of equipment to ensure our brave forces have the best kit available to them on the front line."


The new Sharpshooter rifle will be used by some of the best shots in the infantry
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
Colonel Peter Warden, Light Weapons, Photographic and Batteries Team Leader at Defence, Equipment and Support, said:

"The Sharpshooter rifle is very capable and has been bought to fulfil a specific role on the front line in Afghanistan.

"It is a versatile weapon which will give our units a new dimension to their armoury. It will complement the SA80A2 by adding to the weapons available to commanders on the ground. The Sharpshooter's capabilities are also complementary to the current Sniper System.

"Initial feedback on the rifle has been very positive and the Army units deployed in Afghanistan are very keen to get their hands on it."

The Sharpshooter will complement the already potent range of weapons used by our forces in Afghanistan,*including:

SA80A2 assault rifles, which fire 5.56mm rounds;
Light Machine Guns, which fire 5.56mm rounds;
General Purpose Machine Guns, which fire 7.62mm bullets;
the Combat Shotgun, which fires 12-gauge shells;
the Sniper System, which fires 8.59mm bullets; and*

and interesting development to the afghanistan weapon situation for UK troops, but i'm not sure this's related to the thread

 

[xGaffner]

Good luck picking someone off at 500 yards with an ak47.

I see you're an AR fan, enjoy your constant 24/7 jamming.