Our Marines need new guns, and you're in charge. You've got options and a reasonable budget. How do you get it done?

RallyPoint Team — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 17:24:25 -0400

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 20 at 2017 5:25 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 17:25:26 -0400

I prefer the Glock option.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jun 20 at 2017 5:27 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 17:27:41 -0400

Set up where weapon manufaturers send in their bids, the one that is the lowest and has the best weapon, that will do what is expected of it gets the contract.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2017 5:46 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 17:46:30 -0400

Well first there is the bona fide needs rule, make or buy determination, coordination for small business concerns and set aside opportunities, posting of a sources sought and conducting an industry day, obtaining proper funding from congress, apply the proper buy American act or NATO trade agreement, detailing out the government performance specifications, synopsizing through federal business opportunities, eventually putting out a solicitation, receiving items for tests, evaluation of those tests, disclosing the testing findings to the companies, allowing ample time for alterations to the design, resubmission of tested items, receiving best and final offers, evaluating their proposals, auditing their proposals, conducting a source selection advisory council, choosing the vendor, determining equal opportunity status of the manufacturing plants, auditing the contractor's accounting system, determining forward pricing rate agreements, evaluating first article testing, dealing with the protests, rewriting the specifications due to a change in senior personnel, re-pricing the change orders, reworking the delivered items, and eventually receiving the items. Not to mention the thousand other steps that go into this process.

Or you could just call it a commercial item and buy them at any store at a discount price, but that approach is frowned upon.

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Jun 20 at 2017 6:45 PM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:45:02 -0400

Plasma rifle in 40 watt range..... Sorry only what you see here bud.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 20 at 2017 7:08 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 19:08:32 -0400

BFG 9000

Response by MSgt George Cater made Jun 20 at 2017 7:09 PM

MSgt George Cater — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 19:09:54 -0400

None of the above. The options presented do not indicate a serious question.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Jun 20 at 2017 10:48 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 22:48:03 -0400

Clearly changing back to a heavier round has been a hot topic since Vietnam. I can say I have only carried a combat load of an M1 Garand ( 30-06 rounds) while plinking targets. It has great stopping power and can reach out, but damn it's heavy. My combat load of 5.56 was 168-224 rounds. It was also heavy but had lots more ammo. Now the issue is the enemy is starting to wear body armor we can shoot through. Hence more rounds needed.
We should look at a total new designed weapon that can stand up to the harsh desert climate. We should explore a round that is larger than 5.56 but smaller than 7.62. Screw NATO regs. If we find a good caliber round, they can adapt. (yes I understand why we have NATO ammo) Time to ditch the M16 style weapons. Lets put a bid out to gun manufactures and get this started.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2017 11:31 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 23:31:34 -0400

I'll go ahead with a shameless plug: I L-U-V my Beretta ARX100. The ARX160 has multiple caliber options, is virtually maintenance free, 100% ambidextrous, compact, and freaking LIGHT weight.

Response by SGT David T. made Jun 23 at 2017 6:45 AM

SGT David T. — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 06:45:34 -0400

Can I at least get a draft ICD so I have some idea what the requirement is?

Response by SP5 Richard J Jones made Jul 21 at 2017 8:23 PM

SP5 Richard J Jones — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 20:23:28 -0400

Contact Sig Sauer, USA hdqtrs. and ask them what they can provide in the way of a lightweight, collaspsible stock, 6mm full auto, with a 30 round mag, interchangeable to a 50, or 100 round mag, that can fire a variety of rounds from fmj to armor piercing. Ask them if they have anything already available, and ,if not, ask them to give a due delivery date when that hardware will be available. Request a mockup copy fully working model, and test in a live fire situation to see if it meets specs. If successful, give them the multi- million dollar contract for supplying new weapons for The USMC. You could also call other arms manufacturers and repeat this process with them. I think there is a requirement that says you have to have an open field in the process to land a government contract.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2017 8:31 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 20:31:51 -0400

Simple. THUNDER DOME. 20 leading gun manufacturers enter, only one leaves... But seriously though I am big fan of competition in these types of things instead of countless panels, discussions, and incomplete studies. Setup a simple tactical competition that pits all the leading contenders for a contract against each other. I know similar things have been done before, but lets just settle the finalists this way. Whoever wins, gets the contract.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 5 at 2021 10:32 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 22:32:48 -0400

Thanks for sharing