I'm pretty skeptical of accounts like these. With proper maintenance, the AR-15 system (upon which the M-4 and M-16 are based) can be very reliable. The direc

I'm pretty skeptical of accounts like these. With proper maintenance, the AR-15 system (upon which the M-4 and M-16 are based) can be very reliable. The direct impingement gas system does increase fouling, but as long as you keep the rifle properly maintained it's not clear this translates into decreased reliability. I think a lot of the stopping power complaints would be relieved by one of the following not-at-all-realistic changes: 1. Issue the M193 5.56 round to units fielding the M4 carbine. The M855's heavier and more complex bullet has been shown to fragment less reliably at the sort of velocities the M4's shorter barrel can achieve. Since the 5.56 FMJ round's lethality is tied to fragmentation more than punching big holes, this could fix many of the failure-to-stop issues 2. Back out of the damn Hague Convention and issue hollow point ammunition to our military forces. Hornady TAP law enforcement ammo is some pretty nasty shit, even out of a poodle shooter like the M4. Not as effective against body armor, but much more effective against flesh. Our LEOs and civilian contractors use this ammo; why not our military forces?