The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Want a 30 cal battle rifle .. can I complain just a little?

**44 AMP** · July 30, 2021, 05:46 PM

As long as we count "limited service" as "in service" a number of arms have long histories. IF we look at how long a weapons serves as the primary issue arm (in its class) then those numbers are often quite different.

Sometimes an arm's service longevity is cut short by changes in technology, sometimes by changes in mission requirements and sometimes for entirely political or politico/economic reasons.

And some guns and cartridges soldier on and on, because nothing newer does what they do, as well as they do, as cheaply as they do.

I believe Browning's .50BMG round and "Ma Deuce" are approaching the full 100 year mark soon, having been in continuous, uninterrupted full scale service use since their adoption. Even the beancounters haven't managed to kill it just yet.

July 30, 2021, 05:46 PM	#90
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,820	As long as we count "limited service" as "in service" a number of arms have long histories. IF we look at how long a weapons serves as the primary issue arm (in its class) then those numbers are often quite different. Sometimes an arm's service longevity is cut short by changes in technology, sometimes by changes in mission requirements and sometimes for entirely political or politico/economic reasons. And some guns and cartridges soldier on and on, because nothing newer does what they do, as well as they do, as cheaply as they do. I believe Browning's .50BMG round and "Ma Deuce" are approaching the full 100 year mark soon, having been in continuous, uninterrupted full scale service use since their adoption. Even the beancounters haven't managed to kill it just yet. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.