Josh and Henry over at 9-Hole reviews hit the gas on the M4 Block II and took it on a speedway run.
The Block II is about a decade old at this point and no longer represents the pinnacle of what the M4A1 is, especially rocking the old ACOG. But its also a good rifle. Like a really good rifle. It can handle just about anything smoothly and reliably that you could ask a 5.56x45mm NATO carbine to do and has shown that we can stretch the legs on these things more than we though by putting the right combination of training, optics, and ammunition together.
As mentioned in the video near the end, each iteration of the M4 looks to be significantly better than the last. However, the last iteration was also near universally a good rifle too (No, not you M16. The M16A1 was the start of the good ones. Army Ordnance done goofed there)
That brings me to the point of this Independence Day post. The current standard in American rifles.
We’ve settled nicely more and more on the ~13.7-14.5 guns, with a capable muzzle pinned on and ready for a can, as the proper carbine standard. They’re svelt and nimble enough while not giving up enough maximum range or muzzle velocity to be of any concern. They easily, especially with good optics and ammo, command about 500 meters in any given direction and can also move through the tight confines of a house or close urban streets and alleys with ease. Its good for the soldier, the peace officer, and the home defender alike.
While this further relegates the longer guns, like the M16 and MK12 evolutions, into the role of DMR rifles pushing the rounds as fast and as far as they can be made to go, that isn’t a bad thing. Giving rifles specialties while we make the GPRs more useful is a grand way to continue to push our technological and physiological training development to make better use of what these tools can do for us.
So Happy Independence Day! Celebrate by making your GPR M4 the best it can be. TONS of sales this year. Drink and shop responsibly (but not too responsibly, have fun too)
