This should irritate a few crusty grunts around here http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/12/18/the-m2a1-50-machine-gun-and-lightweight-m240l/
The only way this bothers me is that I wish this program to lighten loads existed 20 years ago. Other than that, Im glad they are doing this.
Okay, here's the skinny on "lightening loads" for grunts - it never happens, and here's why. If a weapon gets lighter, then the grunts are given more ammo, or food, or underwear, whatever. Let's say a grunt can hump a 50 pound ruck and a heavy weapon, for a total of let's say 70 pounds. Drop the weapon to 10 pounds and the Army mentality is "we know they are conditioned to hump 70 pounds. Why should we lighten their load to 60? It's been 70 pounds for the last thirty years and it hasn't broke them - their conditioning gets better every year, so obviously 70 is within their limits."
possible for training environments such as ranger/SF school. As I see it though, most grunts are not taking more than the basic combat load of ammo since most of the outright firefights have calmed down. In '06 when I knew 11Bs that were deployed they often took as much ammo as they could carry. Nowadays there are vehicles (MRAP/HMMWV) everywhere and you don't necessarily need to hump it just to have it nearby.
This works nicely in my plan for a nose-mounted machinegun in my car. The standard M240 is a tad long. Now I just need to do more research on heat buildup in the engine compartment. (And truth be told, I'd much rather have machineguns oriented towards 8 & 2 o'clock. Why is it other motorists seem to like being in your blindspot or you being in theirs? And anyway shooting the car directly in front of you really doesn't make a lot of sense 95% of the time.)
