Posted: 12/19/2008 1:53:46 PM EDT
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Colt, H&K, and FN got the contracts today FWIW
....support of the Marine Corps’ Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). The IAR will be a light weight, magazine fed, 5.56 mm weapon which will enhance the automatic rifleman’s maneuverability and displacement speed while providing the ability to suppress or destroy not only area targets, but point targets as well. The IAR is planned to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAW) currently employed by automatic riflemen within Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalions.... Link |
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Heckler and Koch Defense, Inc., Ashburn, Va., is being awarded a five year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with possible delivery orders up to $23,600,000 for the production, delivery, and associated support of the Marine Corps’ Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR).
GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY!!! 
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| Seems pointless. Isnt the point of the belt fed to have alot of rounds available why go with a magazine fed weapon much less in 5.56 really hoped they would go with something better. I MIGHT could see if they replaced with a magazine fed 7.62 but still takeing away a beltfed for magazine is dumb... |
This is a great system/firearm. A guy shooting at me with a 30 round mag is enough to make sure my ass is glued down low. Add a Beta mag to that rifle and I start praying. 
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/the-iar-multi-purpose-assault-rifle-future-weapons/3838718424/?icid=VIDURVENT12 |
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What does this give that a m16a3 with a grip bipod thingy won't? I just don't get how a 30rd. mag would be enough? Thats no more firepower than any one else in the squad. 
 It has a huge heavy barrel with large cooling fins. Yeah. Open bolt on auto also. Neat idea. |
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It's me Bren gun... /crosspost |
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To the best of my knowledge, the idea behind the IAR was to make the support weapon more versatile. Because the M249 is fired from an open bolt, it made first shot reliability spotty, meaning the SAW gunner couldn't take point, kick down doors, etc. With the IAR, the first shot, even on full auto, is made with the bolt closed, massively increasing first shot reliability. Subsequent shots are made from an open bolt position.
Granted, this is all based on an article I read about the LWRC IAR prototype, I really don't know how the Colt/HK/FN versions differ, if at all, from this basic idea. |
| The only way that it is really worth going to a magazine fed support weapon is if they can finally make a fucking good 100 round drum mag like the beta c mag, only instead of it being a pile of shit, it is a GOOD mag. If they could do that, then it would be great, because heck with a magazine fed support weapon, it would be quicker to change the mags than to open up the feed tray and lay the damn rounds on top and making sure the rounds are perfectly placed on the feed tray. |
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I'm sorry, but trading a belt-fed LMG for a magazine fed LMG makes no sense for use in Combat. Granted I am not a veteran, and mayber there is some advantage, if there was I wish some explain it to me. Its already been done with the Bren (as Canuck points out), the BAR r 63 - why the 1919AX came along. Later and closest the Stoner 63 (12 lbs) then LSW 9is this a copy?). Everything old is new again. But I'm sure the Corp has its reasons - I just havnt seen anything particularly cogent on this yet. ETA For those of you who wished you'd had this –– what's the attraction? Weight Luck Alac |
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I liked my saw , but i would much rather have that. I did some training with the dutch marines and they had something similar. http://www.diemaco.com/lsw-page.htm 
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The only way that it is really worth going to a magazine fed support weapon is if they can finally make a fucking good 100 round drum mag like the beta c mag, only instead of it being a pile of shit, it is a GOOD mag. If they could do that, then it would be great, because heck with a magazine fed support weapon, it would be quicker to change the mags than to open up the feed tray and lay the damn rounds on top and making sure the rounds are perfectly placed on the feed tray. Wehrmacht Assault Drums? Eh you'd still need to prime the tray. 
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From 200 rounds (or 100 is using the soft bag) to 30 (ahem 28) . . . I thought the SAW was for suppressive fire. How does this equate? Why not just go back to FA M16s? http://www.betaco.com/ |
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I'm trying to figure out the reasoning behind this. Was it the weight issue of the SAW?. SAW weighs 20lbs empty + 800rd basic combat load + body armor + frags+ NVG's + all your food and water.... get the picture? Its just too heavy. Thats if you dont bring all the other bullshit they make you take. |
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This is a great system/firearm. A guy shooting at me with a 30 round mag is enough to make sure my ass is glued down low. Add a Beta mag to that rifle and I start praying.
Raise your hand if you've seen somebody drop a beta mag and break it. The manufacturers involved will probably design their own rendition of a "beta-mag". |
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Im pretty sure this is just to suppliment the SAW's.
Have a rifle you can use as a standard rifle, but when you need to do suppressin, you have a couple extra guns with open bolt auto mode, that you can lay down lead with a little better than with an M16 or M4. Although the 30 round mags may be a bit of a killer, since 30 rounds aint much for any sort of supression gun. You'll be out quicker than you can say "FUCK". Mabey they have a 50-80 round drum in the works that they will use to supliment the IAR's with? |
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From 200 rounds (or 100 is using the soft bag) to 30 (ahem 28) . . . I thought the SAW was for suppressive fire. How does this equate? Why not just go back to FA M16s? http://www.betaco.com/ They would be a great option.... if they weren't a piece of shit. Otherwise a 30 round mag fed rifle is NOT a support weapon. |
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It's me Bren gun... /crosspost Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels? |
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From 200 rounds (or 100 is using the soft bag) to 30 (ahem 28) . . . I thought the SAW was for suppressive fire. How does this equate? Why not just go back to FA M16s? http://www.betaco.com/ They would be a great option.... if they weren't a piece of shit. Otherwise a 30 round mag fed rifle is NOT a support weapon. You cannot think that they haven't already thought about, and planned for, a higher capacity magazine for these rifles....can you? HK probably has a nifty plan for a 100+ round feeding device to quench these rifles thirst. I doubt they are going to stick with 30 round mags in these things. |
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