The theory is: The M16 was designed to wound and maim.
That is not true. 5.56 simply means you can carry more ammunition. The M16 has greater lethality than a 7.62 rifle, because the heavier fully capped projectile tends to - sometimes - punch right through, leaving a more easily treatable wound. While the 5.56 tends to fragment, tumble and so on, creating an inner sish-kebab situation that's really difficult to say anything positive about.
Overall, lethality isn't the decider either way, if you get hit in combat, you are essentially out of the fight. Good enogh. The lighter cartridge has slightly shorter range, comparable penetration against most things (but not ceramic or composite plate), but allows you to carry substantially more ammo. The latter really was the deciding factor: Logistics over all other concerns.
Sorry if what you say is true, then that is revisionist history. Just wound and maim and not kill is what was basically taught. This is what was taught in Army Basic, this is what the vietnam vets were taught when they were issued the original M16s. This is what is passed down from the experienced to the new guys. Yes the logistics were a bonus to carrying more ammunition but at a cost due to the lack of penetration. The M16 was developed to find a lighter weapon while the US was in Vietnam, so removing 3 people was more desirable then the one dead person. But being lighter did hamper reliability & durability. I am not a big guy, but I even snapped a few M16 rifle butts going to the ground. The AK47 was much more durable and reliable. You can set the AK47 in the mud, stand on it, then pull it out and still shoot. So you could repack and reuse AK47 ammo brass.
On the other hand, if you’re not accounting for the expandable on the FR side why are you only accounting for them on the soldier’s side?
Because expendable ammo is worth more than it's weight in gold. Without that ammo, then the weapon is useless, as the bullets are what causes damage. Arrows and sing rocks are "semi" easily obtained. Refilling your magazines with bullets is not.
^^ this. A bow without arrows and a rifle without rounds of ammunition are both fairly useless, with a slight edge to the rifle because it makes a better club than a bow makes a staff. That said, you can run down to the local fletcher and get the bow back in action as intended, and the rifle, without a supply of ammunition will never be more than a club.
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Sorry if what you say is true, then that is revisionist history. Just wound and maim and not kill is what was basically taught. This is what was taught in Army Basic, this is what the vietnam vets were taught when they were issued the original M16s. This is what is passed down from the experienced to the new guys. Yes the logistics were a bonus to carrying more ammunition but at a cost due to the lack of penetration. The M16 was developed to find a lighter weapon while the US was in Vietnam, so removing 3 people was more desirable then the one dead person. But being lighter did hamper reliability & durability. I am not a big guy, but I even snapped a few M16 rifle butts going to the ground. The AK47 was much more durable and reliable. You can set the AK47 in the mud, stand on it, then pull it out and still shoot. So you could repack and reuse AK47 ammo brass.
Because expendable ammo is worth more than it's weight in gold. Without that ammo, then the weapon is useless, as the bullets are what causes damage. Arrows and sing rocks are "semi" easily obtained. Refilling your magazines with bullets is not.
^^ this. A bow without arrows and a rifle without rounds of ammunition are both fairly useless, with a slight edge to the rifle because it makes a better club than a bow makes a staff. That said, you can run down to the local fletcher and get the bow back in action as intended, and the rifle, without a supply of ammunition will never be more than a club.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha