Would agree on the points you bring up. For a general service carbine type
weapon, though, I'd think a middie really has a lot going for it. For one, a
16" barrel has to be a bit better in the velocity dept. than a 14.5", and with
the longer gas system, the R.O.F. would be somewhat lower. There may be
a wee bit less debris left in the BCG after comparable usage...altho I can't
prove it. For iron sight users, you get some increase in potential accuacy,
as has been pointed out in the other thread. And of course there's that
bayonet thing! It all kinda makes me wonder why COLT came up with the
carbine system the way they did, now that we can all look back with 20/20
hindsight ! I'd agree too that for the way things are in general, the M4
ain't bad, and could be worse. If we were to start over afresh, I'd say make
mine Middie !