The M7 Rifle Just Got Lighter – But Is It Really Better Than the M4 Carbine?

The M7 Rifle Just Got Lighter – But Is It Really Better Than the M4 Carbine?

Key Points and Summary – The Army’s M7 rifle is finally reaching frontline units, starting with Pacific-focused formations and the 101st Airborne, as the long-planned replacement for the M4 and M249. Chambered in 6.8×51mm and paired with the high-tech Vortex M157 optic, the M7 promises better range and armor penetration against near-peer threats like China. U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gabriel Guzman, a platoon sergeant with Combat Logistics Battalion…

The M7A1: a rifle by committee

Several years ago, the Army began work on a new rifle and machinegun based on Sig’s “MCX Spear” rifle chambered in 6.8 X 51mm to replace the ubiquitous M4. Like many military procurement programs, it was design by committee and trie...