100 SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM SADEFENSEJOURNAL.

COM 101
M27 M27
F
or the past several years SADJ has
been following progress of the US
Marine Corps program to identify
und heId u suILubIe uILernuLIve Lo
LIe Mzqq Squud AuLomuLIc Weup-
on. WIIIe LIe .6mm beIL Ied SAW Is
LouLed us u reIuLIveIy porLubIe weupon
LIuL cun pump ouL u IIgI voIume oI hre,
muny oI LIe euLIerneck MOS o11 grunLs
wIo Iuve been IumpIng LIIs LwenLy-pIus
pound puckuge sInce 1q8 Iuve been usk-
Ing Ior someLIIng IIgILer, sImpIer und
more reliable. This sentiment has been re-
peuLed by muny In LIeIr cIuIn oI commund
Irom hre Leum Ieuders Lo ug oIhcers.
Ike mosL uny sIgnIhcunL cIunge
Lo LIe sLuLus quo, LIe SAW-repIucemenL
process Ius been dIIhcuIL us vurIous Iuc-
LIons Iuve mude LIeIr oILen conLenLIous
posILIons known. DeLuIIs oI LIIs sLruggIe
wILIIn LIe Corps, spunnIng more LIun Lwo
dozen yeurs, wIII be provIded In PurL z.
MeunwIIIe, LIe decIsIon Ius been by ROBERT BRUCE
T H E U . S . M A R I N E C O R P S N E W I N F A N T R Y A U T O M A T I C R I F L E
P A R T O N E
102 SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM 103
made and the Corps is well on its way to
IssuIng more LIun q,qoo Mz; ARs us IusL
us gunmuker HeckIer & KocI cun deIIver
LIem. By eurIy zo1, every Squud AuLo-
muLIc RIemun In nIunLry hre Leums und
IgIL Armored Recon scouL Leums wIII be
curryIng LIe new AR.
BuL don`L mourn Ior LIe Mzqq. A
IuII dozen SAWs wIII be reLuIned In eucI
nIunLry RIe Compuny, uvuIIubIe Lo LIe
communder us LucLIcuI sILuuLIons urIse.
RIGHT TO THE SOURCE
KnowIng LIuL SADJs readers de-
serve u cIose Iook uL LIe MurInes` new
mucIIne rIe, our conLucLs uL U.S. bused
HK DeIense unswered LIe cuII, generousIy
provIdIng Iunds-on IIve hre und deLuIIed
InIormuLIon on LIIs IIsLory-mukIng uddI-
LIon Lo LIe DevII Dog ursenuI.
Small Arms Defense Jour-
nal InLervIewed RoberL Rob-
bIe ReIdsmu, on Novem-
ber z1, zo11, IoIIowIng LIe
excIusIve Mz; brIehng und
IIve hre sessIon Ie Iud ur-
runged Ior us eurIIer LIuL duy
uL u specIuI operuLIons und Iuw
enIorcemenL LucLIcuI LruInIng
cenLer cuIIed TIe CrucIbIe In ruruI
SLuIIord CounLy neur rederIcksburg, VIr-
gInIu. ReIdsmu, u reLIred USMC nIunLry
SenIor NCO, wus IIred by HK DeIense In
zoo;. He wus numed by HKD us LIe AR
Progrum Munuger In December zooq.

SADJ: Your duty position title and re-
sponsibilities as they relate to the M27
program?
Reidsma: sLurLed oII us one oI LIe
LecInIcuI guys wILI HeckIer & KocI De-
Iense In our response Lo LIe MurIne
Corps` nIunLry AuLomuLIc RIe soIIcILu-
LIon In zoo;. IuLer becume LIe DepuLy
Progrum Munuger Ior HK`s AR eIIorL,
und LIen Progrum Munuger. sLIII Iuve
oLIer responsIbIIILIes uL HKD reIuLed Lo
mIIILury, governmenL und IederuI Iuw en-
IorcemenL suIes und progrums.
SADJ: riej describe the experience
cnd quclijcctions ou hcte thct cre pcr-
ticulcrl tclucble to the Mz; prorcm.
Reidsma: TwenLy pIus yeurs enIIsLed In
LIe MurIne Corps, LIe mujorILy on LIe In-
IunLry sIde oI LIe Iouse. SnIper und snIper
InsLrucLor, worked uIongsIde wILI SYS-
COM (MurIne Corps SysLems Commund)
wILI LIe ScouL SnIper Duy Scope und ScouL
SnIper equIpmenL progrums. TIuL`s wIere
some oI my ucquIsILIon experIence comes
Irom. reLIred us Gunnery SergeunL In
zoo6 und wenL Lo work us u conLrucLor Ior
LIe DepurLmenL oI DeIense. wus onIy
LIere u sIorL LIme beIore cume InLo HK
ubouL Iour yeurs ugo.
SADJ: We understand that
you arent at liberty to talk
to us about the Marine
Corps information-gath-
erin, etcluction, test, cnd
selection process. ut tell
us what HK did in response
to the initicl solicitction cnd
jollou-up stces.
Reidsma: n LIe hrsL pIuce, everyLIIng
comIng ouL oI HK Ius Lo meeL NATO re-
quIremenLs under NATO ACJzz specIh-
cuLIons. HK ensures LIuL eucI weupon uc-
LuuIIy meeLs LIuL regurdIess II IL`s goIng Lo
mIIILury, Iuw enIorcemenL or cIvIIIun cus-
Lomers. I you buy u commercIuI Iundgun
Irom HK IL Ius meL LIuL process. TIuL`s
wIy HK Ius sucI u good repuLuLIon Ior LIe
quuIILy becuuse we don`L suy, 'LIIs dIdn`L
meeL u cerLuIn requIremenL so now we`re
goIng Lo seII IL on LIe commercIuI murkeL.`
AII HK producLs meeL LIe sume NATO re-
quIremenL und we`re SO qoo1 cerLIhed on
LIe munuIucLurIng sIde us weII.
We revIewed LIe governmenL`s re-
After a rigorous testing process, both in garrison and deployed environments, and in-depth
consultation with weapons experts through the Corps, the Commandant approved fielding of the
M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. The fielding of the IAR will significantly enhance the ability
of our infantrymen to gain and maintain fire superiority, reduce their fighting load and pro-
vide them a more ergonomic and accurate weapons system that can keep up during the assault.
Major Joseph Plenzler, USMC spokesman, June 2011
PREVIOUS PAGE: 5 September 2011, Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Shoulder to shoulder with
members of his fire team who are armed with M4 carbines, a Marine Squad Automatic Rifleman,
MOS 0311, with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, continues his transition to Infantry Automatic
Rifleman, battle sight zeroing his new M27 IAR soon after the units arrival in country. While the
distinctive outline of the belt fed M249 tends to draw unwanted attention from the enemy, the M27
closely resembles the rest of the squads rifles. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan
Chandler) LEFT: 21 November 2011, The Crucible training center, Stafford County, Virginia. In
Reidsmas hands, the M27s approx. 12 rounds per second full auto cyclic rate is no impediment to
effective target engagement from prone to standing. In addition to a favorable ratio of 12.7 lb. weight
vs. the relatively light recoil of its 5.56mm ammunition, the rifles in-line stock, broomstick grip, quick
adjusting sling, and forward-mounted bipod combine with the inherent accuracy of the weapons 16.5
inch cold hammer forged barrel for remarkable long range performance. (Robert Bruce)
THE U.S. MARINE CORPS M27 IAR
104 SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM 105
quIremenLs und soIIcILuLIon Lo deLermIne
wIuL HK producLs wouId meeL LIe requIre-
menLs, ensure we cun meeL LIe LImeIInes,
und supporL LIe evoIuLIon. We Iook uL II
we need Lo IurLIer LesL LIe ILem or modIIy
und LesL un exIsLIng ILem, eLc. TIen we`II
do un InLernuI LesLIng process. WIenever
possIbIe, dependIng on LIe sIze oI LIe pro-
grum, we`II Lry Lo mImIc us besL we cun
whatever the government is going to do.
So we Iuve our seL oI resuILs Lo com-
pure wILI LIe poLenLIuI cusLomer`s LesL
hndIngs; Lwo seLs oI duLu LIuL IopeIuIIy
sIouId come ouL sImIIur. TIey don`L
Iuve Lo be exucL, buL IL sIouId poInL In
LIe sume generuI dIrecLIons. AII suId und
done LIe LesLIng cume ouL preLLy good Ior
HK's AR.
SADJ: Comment on cn sinijccnt
trcdeojjs necesscr to meet IAR's specij-
cctions. Thins lile piston ts. cs, open
bolt ts. closed, coolojj, bcrrel sucp, belt
ts. mc, etc.
Reidsma: We Iuve Lo meeL LIe USMC`s
specIhcuLIons. or LIe InILIuI R (Re-
quesL Ior nIormuLIon) In zoo, we Iooked
buck uL our XM8 or G6 Lype sysLems und
we uIso Iooked uL LIe q16 or possIbIy do-
Ing someLIIng eIse. WIen IL cume down
Lo LIe ucLuuI specs In LIe requIremenL we
suId 'q16 sIouId meeL LIe requIremenL.` A
Lrue commercIuI-oII-LIe-sIeII sysLem LIuL
wus reudy uL LIe LIme. TIe HKq16 Ius u
sImIIur uppeurunce und operuLor LruInIng
us LIe currenL M16Aq und Mq. ncorpo-
ruLe und InLegruLe LIe uncIIIury ILems LIuL
meeL LIe MurIne Corps requIremenLs und
oLIer specIhed ILems und LIen submILLed
LIe HKq16 us our versIon oI LIe AR.
WIen IL comes Lo open boIL vs. cIosed
boIL, u cIosed boIL sysLem Is goIng Lo be
more uccuruLe compured Lo un open boIL,
so IL`s u LrudeoII. n order Lo meeL LIe
uccurucy requIremenL we puL our eIIorL
Lowurds u cIosed boIL sysLem becuuse we
knew we couId geL LIe uccurucy ouL oI IL.
So Iur LIIs uccurucy uppeurs Lo uveruge
ubouL z- mInuLes oI ungIe wILI u -round
group usIng M8 ummunILIon. A benehL
oI LIe HKq16JMz; AR gus pIsLon - oper-
ating rod style of operation is that there is
u reduced umounL oI IeuL goIng buck InLo
LIe cIumber und boIL group wIIcI uIIows
Ior u susLuIned ruLe oI hre IIgIer LIun LIe
M16JMq dIrecL gus operuLIng sysLems.
SADJ: Hou cbout not exclusitel closed
or open bolt, but c suitchcble sstem?
Reidsma: WILI our gus pIsLon sysLem,
LIe mujorILy oI LIe IeuL Is IocuLed In LIe
gus bIock ureu oI LIe weupon so IL Is uwuy
Irom LIe cIumber. RougIIy qo percenL oI
LIe IoL gus und curbon exILs LIrougI LIe
muzzIe oI LIe burreI und gus bIock. TIIs uI-
Iows enougI oI u LImeJdIsLunce ruLIo beIore
LIe cIumber geLs Loo IoL. L`s u IeuL sInk
LIuL gIves you enougI LIme Lo geL Lo uL IeusL
LIe mInImum susLuIned ruLe oI hre specI-
hed under LIe condILIons. TIe HKq16J
Mz; AR Is u sImpIe, more reIIubIe sysLem;
cIosed boIL sysLem Ior uccurucy und LIe gus
pIsLon operuLIon uIIows Ior LIe susLuIned
ruLe oI hre LIe MurIne Corps usked Ior. A
swILcIubIe sysLem couId be deveIoped, buL
wouId udd cosL und LIme, und wouId need Lo
be LIorougIIy LesLed Ior reIIubIIILy, wIIcI
Is noL uIwuys uvuIIubIe or desIrubIe under
ucquIsILIon LImeIInes und hscuI resources.
SADJ: elt jed ts. mcczines remcins cn
open question. You ccn slcm cn M: mc
in the side oj c SAW.
Reidsma: You cun, buL LIere`s u reIIubII-
ILy quesLIon wILI LIe Mzqq und muguzInes.
TIe mucIIne gun LecInIcuI und operuLor
munuuIs wIII LeII you LIere ure reIIubIIILy
Issues wIen you puL u muguzIne InLo LIe
SAW. TIe MurIne Corps` requIremenL suId
LIe AR Iud Lo work wILI LIe US govern-
menL o round muguzIne. L uII goes buck
Lo LIe roIe und use oI un uuLomuLIc rIe
wILIIn LIe InIunLry Leum und squud com-
pured Lo LIuL oI u beIL Ied, open boIL, IIgIL
mucIIne gun.
SADJ: Whct perjormcnce cnd other
jcctors led to the decision to cdopt HK's
modijed (: rije cs the USMC's Injcntr
Automctic Rije?
Reidsma: TIIs Is more oI u USMC ques-
LIon. HK`s AR meL LIe requIremenLs.
SADJ: Comment on HKs assertion in a
recent press relecse thct their entr ucs
Deteloped ct no cost to the U.S. tcxpc-
er.... HK ucsn`t pcid to respond to the
solicitction, to deliter scmples, to be there
during the testing, for spare parts if need-
ed and these sorts of things along the way?
Reidsma: L`s u Lrue 'non-deveIopmenLuI,
commercIuI-oII-LIe-sIeII` gun. A good, re-
IIubIe sysLem, uIreudy deveIoped InLernuI Lo
HK bused on prevIous requIremenLs LIuL
HK Look on bourd LIemseIves. Yes, us wILI
LIe oLIer compunIes` sysLems per LIe con-
LrucL, sumpIes und spure purLs were pur-
cIused und deIIvered Ior LesLIng, Iowever
no governmenL R&D doIIurs were spenL.
SADJ: Whct `lessons lecrned` in jormcl
tests, jeld etcluctions, combct experi-
ence, etc. hcte resulted in enineerin or
other modijcctions to the Mz;?
Reidsma: MosL oI LIese cume Irom LIe
users durIng LIe IImILed heIdIng porLIon;
LIe Lwo poInL sIIng, ruII covers und bI-
pod were upgrudes Lo LIe sysLem. OLIer
LIun uncIIIury Lype geur LIere`s reuIIy no
mujor cIunges wILI LIe gun. More oI LIe
'creuLure comIorLs` LIuL uIIowed beLLer
murksmunsIIp sucI us LIe sIIng or beLLer
empIoymenL oI LIe sysLem sucI us LIe bI-
pod und ruII covers. L goes buck Lo newer
sLuII vs. oIder sLuII wILI modIhcuLIons.
THE U.S. MARINE CORPS M27 IAR
ABOVE: HKs M27 IAR, while sharing many of the characteristics of the M16/M4 family of weapons, differs substantially in ditching the Stoner system direct
gas tube that operates the bolt carrier. Instead, HK engineers chose a piston driven operating rod along with other mechanical refinements and improvements
for greater reliability and durability. (HK Defense graphic) OPPOSITE TOP: 21 November 2011, The Crucible training center, Stafford County, Virginia. Big and
little brothers. The USMCs new M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle is a lightly modified version of Heckler & Kochs HK416, seen here with a compact 10.4 inch barrel.
HKs M27, supported by its Harris/LaRue bipod and topped with the Trijicon 3.5 power TA11SDO-CP, is equipped with accessory items that will be standard
in USMC service including black colored synthetic rubber Manta rail and broomstick covers. (Robert Bruce) OPPOSITE BOTTOM: 21 November 2011, The
Crucible training center, Stafford County, Virginia. Starting with the piggyback mounted RMR (Ruggedized Miniature Reflex), Trijicon Instructor James Jimmy
White, provides a guided tour of the companys versatile 3.5 power TA11SDO-CP on HKs M27. Already in service with the Marine Corps as the SDO (Squad
automatic weapon Day Optic) on M249 SAWs, and selected as the primary sight for its new M27 IAR, its official designation is SU-258/PVQ. (Robert Bruce)
106 SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM 107
SADJ: The Mcrine Corps tells us thct
hot weather testing showed the desirabil-
it oj slouin the cclic rcte c bit uith c
slihtl lcrer exhcust port in the cs
blocl. Dther thcn thct, uere there eni-
neerin chcnes?
Reidsma: As Iur us LIe gun goes, IL`s
LIe HKq16 sysLem, LIe sume LIIng. We
dId sIIgILIy udjusL LIe gus bIock exIuusL
Lo IurLIer Improve Iong Lerm durubIIILy
of the system in a range of environments
und Lo beLLer coIncIde wILI LIe InLended
use oI LIe AR und governmenL ummunI-
tion. Most of the improvements were new
deveIopmenLs uL LIe LIme. You suw LIe
hrIng pIn reLuInIng pIn beIng round und
cupLIve und LIe reversIbIe cIurgIng Iun-
dle. Those were the new developments
uL HK uL LIe LIme. WIere now IL's kInd
oI u sLundurd buIId or un uddILIonuI uc-
cessory In u reguIur producLIon run. We
IncorporuLed LIose deveIopmenLs InLo LIe
Mz; sysLem. BuL us Iur us 'do we Iuve
Lo cIunge LIe operuLIng sysLem or do we
Iuve Lo cIunge componenLs or muLerIuIs
or someLIIng IIke LIuL uIong LIe wuy?`
LIe unswer Is reuIIy no. No mugIc, no
HK wILcI docLor, noLIIng compIIcuLed
(IuugIs). L`s u commercIuI-oII-LIe-sIeII
gun. And LIe coId Iummer Iorged bur-
reIs IusL Ior hILeen LIousund rounds, even
wILI u IoL oI IuII uuLo hre.
SADJ: We'te csled the Mcrine Corps jor
their compcrison oj Mz; ts. Mz(p cs jcr
cs cclic rcte, sustcined jre, rcne, cc-
curcc, relicbilit, ecse oj hcndlin, etc.
Your comments?
Reidsma: CycIIc ruLe Is ubouL ;oo Lo
qoo rounds per mInuLe. TIIs Is ubouL LIe
sume us LIe Mzqq. SusLuIned ruLe oI hre
Is upproxImuLeIy 6 rounds per mInuLe or
LIree LImes LIuL oI un M16 und uImosL LIuL
oI LIe Mzqq SAW susLuIned ruLe oI hre oI
o RPM. n u compurIson - und you Iuve
Lo Iook uL Iow LIe sysLem`s beIng used
und empIoyed - LIe susLuIned ruLe oI hre
oI 6 rounds per mInuLe Is wIuL we`II suy
IL wIII do. L cun ucLuuIIy do beLLer LIun
LIuL. Becuuse IL Is u cIosed boIL Lo geL LIe
uccurucy, LIe umbIenL LemperuLure cun
pIuy u roIe. As your umbIenL LemperuLure
decreuses Irom 1zo degrees you cun ucLu-
uIIy geL u IIgIer susLuIned ruLe oI hre ouL
of the system.
WIen IL comes Lo LIe runge, we`II IIsL
u 'gruduuLed runge` so IL`s wIuL LIe sIgILIng
sysLem wIII do uIong wILI LIe ummunILIon.
So II you`re usIng LIe SDO (Squud Duy Op-
LIc) IL wIII go ouL Lo u LIousund meLers; II
you`re usIng LIe Iron sIgILs IL`s ouL Lo sIx
Iundred. You cun sIooL LIe rIe ouL Lo sIx
Iundred, no probIem uL uII und you cun IIL
poInL LurgeLs wILI IL. You cun geL ureu hre
on u group oI LurgeLs ouL Lo u LIousund me-
Lers. Compured Lo LIe SAW IL`s LIe sume
LIIng. Compured Lo un M16Aq, LIe Mz; Is
u IILLIe bIL IurLIer reucIIng due Lo LIe In-
creused uccurucy.
ReIIubIIILy; hILeen LIousund rounds
burreI IIIe und mujor componenLs. L`II
go beyond LIuL buL LIuL`s wIuL we`re
guurunLeeIng us u mInImum. Ten LIou-
sund rounds on mInor ILems. One oI LIe
LesL process ILems we do Is un endurunce
LesL wILI every IoL oI Mz;s we deIIver Lo
the Marine Corps. The government will
pIck one oI LIe guns und we`II sIooL hI-
Leen LIousund rounds LIe wuy LIey wunL
IL hred. We muke sure we`ve sLIII goL LIe
uccurucy und LIe gun sLIII IuncLIons und Is
reIIubIe us requIred.
Ike you suw Loduy IL`s very eusy Lo
IundIe. Eusy Lo conLroI In bursL hre. L`s
IncredIbIy uccuruLe IIke you suw Loduy uL
the range when we were shooting at three
Iundred yurds und IILLIng LIe LurgeL on
LIe eIgIL IncI Ieud pIuLe. And LIe rIe we
were sIooLIng Ius over hILeen LIousund
rounds LIrougI IL.
WIen you do u compurIson oI LIe
Mzqq und LIe Mz;, one cun sIooL jusL
us IusL us LIe oLIer so II you reuIIy Iud Lo
sIooL sIx Iundred rounds In ubouL Lwo
or Lwo und u IuII mInuLes you cun. BuL
(smIIes) `d be cuIIIng Ior uIr supporL by
that point in time.
SADJ: Comment on the choice oj Triji-
con's SDD cs primcr sihtin detice.
Reidsma: TIe TrIjIcon Squud Duy OpLIc
is what was already on the Marine Corps
Mzqqs. So LIuL sIgILIng sysLem ucLuuIIy
ended up workIng jusL hne on LIe Mz;
AR. L`s one oI LIeIr ussIgned opLIcs:
'TIe SDO wIII be on LIe Mz;.` rom my
experIence, ucLuuIIy IIke LIe SDO over
LIe RIe CombuL OpLIc becuuse IL does
have the extended eye relief in there so its
u IoL IusLer Lo geL on LurgeL. WIen you`re
LuIkIng ubouL un uuLomuLIc rIe on LIe
move - more u MurIne Corps LucLIcuI Lop-
Ic - wILI LIuL sysLem your LurgeL ucquIsI-
LIon Is so IusL. Your probubIIILy oI hrsL
round IILs Is IncredIbIy IIgI und LIuL`s
exucLIy wIuL you wunL us un InIunLrymun
cIosIng wILI LIe enemy. L comes down
Lo LIe gun beIng uccuruLe, IIgILweIgIL,
beIng ubIe Lo deIIver u IIgIer ruLe oI hre,
und LIe opLIcuI sysLem on IL wILI regurds
Lo hndIng LIe LIreuL, und LIen beIng ubIe
Lo LrunsILIon Lo engugIng LIuL LIreuL. L`s
IncredIbIy IusL LIrougI LIe process.
OPPOSITE TOP: 21 November 2011, The Crucible training center, Stafford County, Virginia. HKs Robbie Reidsma (left) with an M27, and Trijicons
Jimmy White with an HK416 10.4 inch barrel version, inspect a silhouette target showing the results of some of the mornings CQB practice. (Robert
Bruce) OPPOSITE BOTTOM: M27, disassembled. ABOVE: Accessories for each M27 IAR include items provided by HK per contract, while the
Marine Corps adds the SDO sight, bayonet and laser module. HK offers its steel bodied high reliability magazines as an option, but the Corps is sticking
with its standard issue aluminum 30-rounders, sending 22 of them off with each rifle. This adds up to a total of 660 rounds distributed among members
of the auto riflemans fire team in addition to their own basic combat load. (HK Defense photo)
THE U.S. MARINE CORPS M27 IAR
108 SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM 109
SADJ: Comment on clternctites to stcn-
dcrd-issue o round mcczines to jeed
the Mz;. Thins lile the C-Mc, multiple
os clipped toether, etc.
Reidsma: L`s specIhed LIuL LIe AR Ius
Lo work wILI LIe sLundurd Issue muguzInes
LIe MurIne Corps heIds. AL HK we`ve done
some InIormuI evuIuuLIons oI vurIous IIgI
cupucILy muguzInes. You suw us usIng
some oI LIese Loduy In LIe IIve hre. BuL IL
wIII be up Lo LIe MurIne Corps Lo decIde II
they want something else.
SADJ: Comment on how easy or dif-
jcult it hcs been to intercte the Mz;.
Thins lile trcinin oj operctors cnd
crmorers, loisticcl support, chcnes in
tccticcl doctrine.
Reidsma: TIe Mz; AR ILseII Is IIke un
M16Aq. TIe operuLor ergonomIcs be-
IInd IL; LIe conLroI Ievers und everyLIIng,
ure busIcuIIy LIe sume us wIuL`s on un
M16Aq. So your busIc InIunLry LruInIng,
your quuIIhcuLIon on LIe runge goIng buck
USMC SQUAD AUTOMATIC-WEAPON DAY OPTIC (SDO)
(Tech Specs from Trijicon)
MANUFACTURER: Trijicon, Inc., Wixom, Michigan, USA
NSN: 1240-01-575-1724
USMC NOMENCLATURE: SU-258/PVQ
TRIJICON MODEL: TA11SDO-CP
MAGNIFICATION: 3.5 power
OBJECTIVE LENS: 35mm
EYE RELIEF: 2.4 in.
EXIT PUPIL: 10mm
FIELD OF VIEW: 5.5 degrees (31.5 ft. at 100 meters)
LENGTH: 8.7 in.
WEIGHT: 1.34 lbs.
RETICLE: Horseshoe and red dot with bullet drop compensator, graduated scale for M249 bal-
listics with both standard 19.5 in. and short 14.5 in. barrels. Illuminated by radioactive tritium and
fiber optic light collector (no batteries needed)
WATERPROOF: 66 ft.
RMR: No magnification, 9 MOA amber dot, illuminated by tritium and fiber optic.
SDO ISSUED WITH: LaRue Tactical LT100 Quick Detach Mount, Tenebrax killFlash anti-reflec-
tive lens device, flip-up lens caps, SDO carrying pouch, lens pen cleaning device, ACOG manual
NOTES: In 2009, the US Marine Corps selected Trijicons 3.5 power TA11SDO as its primary
sighting device for the M249 light machine gun, to assist gunners in target detection, recogni-
tion, identification, and engagement. It includes the top-mounted Trijicon RMR (Ruggedized
Miniature Reflex) sight, providing the operator with quick target acquisition at close quarter
distances or when the weapon is mounted on a vehicle. The TA11SDO is also the USMCs
pick as primary sighting device for the new M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle.
Lo oo yurds. AII LIose LecInIques und
operuLor ergonomIcs wILI LIe Mz; AR
remuIns LIe sume us Iur us Iow you use
IL, Iow you work LIe sysLem, und Iow IL`s
hred. So Irom un operuLor`s sLundpoInL
IL`s us sImpIe us puL down one gun, pIck
up LIe oLIer gun und go. SImpIe us LIuL.
MuscIe memory Is uIreudy LIere, LruInIng
Is uIreudy LIere, IL reInIorces eILIer sys-
Lem, no probIem uL uII LIuL um uwure oI.
rom LIe operuLors und urmorers sLund-
poInL, LIe wuy LIe gun works Is essenLIuIIy
very sImIIur. TIe bIg dIIIerence Is LIe gus
pIsLon wILI LIe pusIer rod In LIe Mz;
AR. You suw Loduy on LIe runge IL`s very
eusy Lo Luke upurL und puL LogeLIer.
TIe urmorer LruInIng Is very eusy,
sImpIe, und sLruIgILIorwurd. A IoL oI wIuL
LIey uIreudy know ubouL u reguIur M16Aq
Is sImIIur Lo LIe Mz; AR. TIe ucLuuI op-
eruLIng sysLem beIInd LIe gun Is dIIIerenL
LIun wIuL`s InsIde un M16Aq. You`ve uI-
wuys goL Lo keep LIuL In LIe buck oI your
mInd Irom un urmorer perspecLIve or u
user muInLuInIng LIe gun.
ComponenL repIucemenL wIen
someLIIng does weur ouL Is very sImpIe.
TIuL speeds up your urmorer process,
cuLs down on IIs LIme so Ie cun ucLu-
uIIy work on oLIer LIIngs or more LIIngs.
TIe Mz; AR IusLs Ior hILeen LIousund
rounds Ior LIe mujor componenLs uL u
mInImum, und LIInk IL`s Len LIousund
or rIgIL uround LIere Ior purLs und pIeces
IIke u sprIng or wIuLever.
HK`s LruInIng purL Lo LIIs Is 'LruIn LIe
LruIner` concepL. WIen we hrsL deIIvered
LIe guns Lo LIe MurIne Corps we guve LIem
urmorer cIusses, guve LIem u busIc operu-
Lor cIuss on LIIs Is Iow LIe gun works, LIIs
Is Iow Lo muInLuIn IL, LIIs Is urmorer sLuII.
TIey Look IL Irom LIere wILI 'NETTs` -
New EquIpmenL TruInIng Teums.
TIe muIn LIIng Lo keep In mInd Is u
IoL oI peopIe wIII suy 'IL`s HK, IL`II IusL Ior-
ever.` WeII IL won`L. You sLIII Iuve Lo Luke
cure oI everyLIIng; you sLIII Iuve Lo puL Iu-
brIcuLIon on IL, eLceLeru. TIe bIggesL LIIng
see Is peopIe wIII IorgeL Lo IubrIcuLe up In
LIe pIsLon gus bIock ureu und LIe operuLIng
rod. And LIen II IL sLurLs geLLIng sIuggIsI
on LIem IL`s IIke 'OK, yeuI IubrIcuLe IL.` BuL
Lo be on LIe suIe sIde, we dId run un Mz;
LIrougI u Iew 6oo round cycIes compIeLeIy
dry - IL worked, buL wouId noL recom-
mend doing that.
SADJ: No specicl lubriccnt needed up
there in that high temperature area?
Reidsma: No specIuI IubrIcuLIon Is
needed. SImpIe reguIur CP (CIeuner, u-
brIcunL PreservuLIve; mIIILury-Issued com-
mercIuI Breuk ree brund producL) Is
uII LIuL Is normuIIy requIred. Becuuse LIe
HKq16 sysLem Ius Lo meeL uII LIe MII-Spec
sLuII LIuL`s ouL LIere uIreudy und be com-
puLIbIe wILI uII LIe cIeunIng und IubrIcuL-
Ing compounds, uII LIe nucIeur, bIoIogIcuI
und cIemIcuI deconLumInuLIon. L meeLs
uII LIe requIremenLs or IL wouIdn'L be puL
into the Marine Corps.
SADJ: HK hcs c $z. million IDIQ
(Indejnite Deliter Indejnite Qucntit)
contrcct uith the USMC cnd the`te re-
centl ordered jull rcte production. Stc-
tus report?
Reidsma: HK Ius u deIIvery order Irom
LIe MurIne Corps Ior ,68 wILI IuII ruLe
producLIon rIgIL now. TIere ure q8 LIuL
were deIIvered Ior ow RuLe nILIuI Pro-
ducLIon und IImILed heIdIng on LIe MurIne
THE U.S. MARINE CORPS M27 IAR
ABOVE: 21 November 2011, The Crucible training center, Stafford County, Virginia. In his introduction briefing for the live fire demonstration, Reidsma slides off
the M27s one-piece quad rail to reveal the rifles piston driven operating rod, a key factor in reliability and durability of the system. (Robert Bruce) OPPOSITE:
21 November 2011, The Crucible training center, Stafford County, Virginia. Discarding the M16s direct gas-blown operation thats handicapped by heat buildup
and carbon fouling, the HK416/M27s bolt carrier is kicked back by an operating rod impacting a hardened surface thats integral with the bolt carrier. Reidsma
told us this bolt and carrier had endured more than 15,000 rounds in Marine Corps testing and was still going strong in our familiarization (Robert Bruce)
110 SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM 111
Corps` bIrLIduy oI November 1o, zo1o. L
wus reuIIy neuL Iow LIuL worked ouL.
(Editor's Note: The jrst bctch oj jull rcte
production Mz;'s hcs been delitered b
HK to the Mcrine Corps. Iull rcte pro-
duction uill stcrt deliteries b the end oj
cclendcr ecr :st qucrter.)
SADJ: Hcte other U.S. or cllied mili-
tcr jorces or lcu enjorcement entities
contccted our ojjce expressin interest
in the M27?
Reidsma: do geL cuIIs und InLeresL on
LIe Mz; AR uII LIe LIme und reIer LIem
Lo LIe MurIne Corps becuuse LIey`re LIe
PCA, PrImury nvenLory ConLroI Agency.
I LIey ucLuuIIy wunL one LIuL suys 'Mz;`
on IL LIe requesL goes Lo LIe MurIne Corps.
I LIey wunL un HKq16 wILI sIxLeen und
u IuII IncI burreI, Lwo IncI Ionger Iund
guurd, cun seII 'em LIe HKq16 und TrI-
jIcon cun seII 'em LIe SDO. BuL cun noL
seII LIem un Mz;.
TIe oLIer purL Is LIuL u IoL oI our cII-
enLs, `d venLure Lo suy, Iuve u Iew q16s
uIreudy. or exumpIe, IL`s LIe sLundurd
Issue rIe In LIe NorwegIun Army. OLIer
LIun LIuL, cun`L go InLo wIo, und wIuL
Lypes oI q16s.
SADJ: Whct hcte ue missed thct ou
uould lile to comment on?
Reidsma: L Is neuL Lo wuLcI LIe MurInes`
eyes IIgIL up wIen LIey geL down Ior LIe
hrsL LIme und sIooL IL. oL oI smIIIng Iuc-
es, u IoL oI IIke 'wow, `ve never Iud u gun
group LIIs good In my IIIe!` A IoL oI hrsL
round IILs on LurgeLs uL Iong dIsLunce. L`s
dehnILeIy u conhdence boosLer us weII.
A IoL oI IL, LIInk, comes ouL oI wIuL
we were LuIkIng ubouL on LIe runge Loduy.
GeLLIng ouL LIere und sIooLIng LIe gun,
Iow LIuL gun Is used. A IoL oI peopIe wIII
Iook uL IL IIke IL`s un Mzqq repIucemenL
ucross LIe bourd. And IL`s noL. TIere`s un
overIup In cupubIIILy buL LIey`re dIIIerenL
cupubIIILIes bused on LIe use.
TIe Mzqq LIuL`s In LIe uuLomuLIc rIe
roIe rIgIL now cun IInder somebody`s per-
Iormunce bused on LIe IucL LIuL IL`s IeuvIer.
AIso, II LIe gun Ius u sLoppuge wIen you`re
In u hrehgIL you`ve goL Lo geL down In LIe
prone posILIon, open LIe Ieed Lruy, you`re
ouLLu LIe hrehgIL Ior LweIve or hILeen sec-
onds wIIcI Is crucIuI. And LIuL`s In LIe duy-
IIgIL. L geLs wuy more compIIcuLed uL nIgIL.
WILI LIIs gun IL`s u bIended cupubII-
ILy oI IuvIng u IIgI degree oI uccurucy yeL
sLIII IuvIng LIuL IIgIer susLuIned ruLe oI
hre. Becuuse oI LIe wuy LIe sysLem works
wILI u gus pIsLon und u pusI rod operuLIon
IL`s keepIng LIuL IeuL Irom LIe cIumber Ior
u Iong enougI perIod oI LIme. And you`re
sLIII geLLIng LIuL IIgI degree oI uccurucy
ouL oI IL uIong wILI LIe Iong IIIe oI IL - hI-
Leen LIousund rounds.
SADJ: Mcn Mcrine tetercns hold the
M:p:8 rounin Automctic Rije in hih-
est recrd. Whct uould ou lile to tell
them cbout todc's Mz; ts. the old AR?
Reidsma: TIe BAR; .o-o6 curLrIdge,
LwenLy round mug, und weIgIIng upproxI-
muLeIy LwenLy LIree pounds. TIe BAR Iud
u IoL oI sIgnIhcunL use over u Iong perIod
oI LIme. L Is u bIg Ieuvy gun wILI noL u IoL
oI muguzIne cupucILy. WIen we Iook uL LIe
.o-o6 curLrIdge LIuL recoIIs u IoL more LIun
u currenL ;.6zmm und .6mm rounds,
LIere`s probubIy no wuy we cun Luke u .o-
o6 or even u ;.6z NATO curLrIdge und be
ubIe Lo geL LIe sume engugemenL crILerIu
requIremenLs und weIgIL requIremenLs
LIuL we cun wILI LIe 1z.; pound Mz;, jusL
due Lo LIuL bIgger, IeuvIer recoIIIng sysLem.
LIInk LIe Mz; wIII be LIe BAR`s IILLIe
broLIer. L comes down Lo recoII munuge-
menL und Lo commonuIILy In LIe MurIne
RIe Squud wILI ummunILIon, muguzInes,
everything else. Thats part of it. The differ-
ence Is LIIs gun Iooks IIke und Ius LIe sume
ergonomIcs und conLroIs jusL IIke un M16Aq
und Mq. So LruInIng wIse, LIere`s mInImuI
LruInIng needed In goIng buck und IorLI.
TIe guys ure busIcuIIy uIreudy LruIned on
LIe sysLemLIey jusL don`L even knowIL yeL.
SADJ: Would ou sc to them thct `ucrs
are fought differently now?
Reidsma: YeuI, we undersLund LIe ud-
vunLuges oI LIe BAR`s hrepower Ior InIunLry
squuds In WW, WW und Koreu, buL In u
modern duy InIunLry squud, LIe oLIer Mu-
rInes ure urmed wILI M16s IeedIng .6mm
ummunILIon Iromo-round muguzInes. So
now LIey Iuve LIe Mz;, u modern versIon
oI LIe BAR LIuL Iooks IIke LIe oLIer sysLems
LIey Iuve und cun deIIver u IIgIer voIume
oI more uccuruLe hres wIIIe mInImIzIng Iu-
LIgue us weII us uccepL LIe ummunILIon und
work reIIubIy wILI LIe heIded muguzIne oI
LIe InIunLry Leum und squud. TIuL hLs LIe
wuy LIe MurInes hgIL, wIuL LIey hgIL wILI
und LIe nuLure oI combuL Loduy.
I you need Lo reucI ouL beyond
hve Iundred meLers or more und IIL
Iurder LIere ure oLIer weupons orgunIc
Lo LIe InIunLry compuny. You`ve sLIII goL
;.6zmm Mzqo medIum mucIIne guns
und LIe Corps Is keepIng some .6mm
Mzqq IIgIL mucIIne guns. Drugon mIs-
sIIe sysLems, morLurs, und more Lo cuII In
Ior supporL. You`ve goL IeIIcopLers und
more In LIe wIoIe MurIne AIr Ground
Tusk orce wILI urmumenL Lo beur on u
gIven LIreuL II IL`s wuy ouL LIere. TypI-
cuIIy your MurIne rIe squud hgILs ouL
Lo LIe Iour Iundred meLer murk. TIey
cun Inuence und exLend beyond LIuL be-
THE U.S. MARINE CORPS M27 IAR
OPPOSITE TOP: 21 November 2011, The Cruci-
ble training center, Stafford County, Virginia. Dem-
onstrating the M27 in close quarters assault, White
has both eyes open behind the Trijicon SDO as he
slams burst after burst into the lineup of silhouette
targets on Crucibles Range 5. (Robert Bruce)
MANUFACTURER: Heckler & Koch GmbH, Oberndorf, Germany (HK Defense, Ashburn,
Virginia, USA)
NSN: 1005-01-579-5325
CALIBER: 5.56 x 45mm NATO (SS109/M855 cartridge), muzzle velocity 2,900 (+/-) fps
OPERATION: Air cooled, gas operated, short stroke piston-driven operating rod, fires fromclosed bolt
LOCKING: M16 style multi-lug rotating bolt in carrier
SELECTOR: Safe, Semi-Auto, Full Auto
RATE OF FIRE: 700 - 850 rpm cyclic, 36 rpm sustained
FEED: US military standard 30 round M16 type magazine
LENGTH: (stock extended) 37.5 in.
WEIGHT: 8.16 lbs. weapon only. Combat weight w/loaded 30 round magazine, SDO and iron
sights, PEQ-16 laser, sling, bipod, vertical foregrip, rail cover set: 12.67 lbs.
BARREL: 16.5 in. long, fixed (not quick change) barrel is cold hammer forged for exceptional
durability, 6 groove rifling, 1 in 7 in. right twist, tipped with M16 type birdcage flash suppressor,
integral bayonet lug
SIGHTS (ASSIGNED BY USMC): Trijicon 3.5 power SDO, Knights Armament BUIS (backup
iron sights)
BUTTSTOCK: HK 6-position telescoping stock with internal storage space
ISSUED WITH: 22 ea. US military M16 type 30 round magazines, Blue Force Gears Vickers Com-
bat Applications Sling and rail sling mount, AIM Manta Rail Covers, Harris Larue tactical bipod,
Knights Armament Backup Iron Sights and broomstick foregrip, M16 type blank firing adaptor,
USMC operators manual, Otis cleaning kit, , Ontario Knife USMC bayonet (M16/M4 compatible)
NOTES: The M27s nomenclature is a tribute to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine
Division for its seminal role in championing a revival of automatic rifles in the Corps. It is now replac-
ing the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon in all USMC infantry fire teams. The M27 is a slightly modi-
fied version of Heckler & Kochs highly respected HK 416 rifle, originally developed for U.S. special
operations forces. The rifles proprietary gas piston system was first introduced by HK on its G36,
boasting cooler and cleaner operation than Stoner-type direct gas impingement of the M16 rifle and
M4 carbine. The M27 features HKs 1 piece quad, free-floating, 11 inch long, M1913 Picatinny Rail
system, barrel life 15,000 + rounds, parts life 10,000 + rounds, accuracy 2 MOA w/ service ammuni-
tion, Over the beach features allowing safe and effective firing after being fully submerged in water.
USMC M27 INFANTRY AUTOMATIC RIFLE
(Tech Specs from HKD)
cuuse oI LIe sysLem cupubIIILIes. BuL us
Iur us your Lrue hgIL, IL`s uII InsIde LIuL
Iour Iundred meLer runge.
SADJ: Would ou ucnt to clecr build-
ins uith c AR?
Reidsma: No, wouId venLure Lo suy
you wouId noL wunL Lo cIeur u Iouse wILI u
BAR. JusL us you wouId noL wunL Lo cIeur u
Iouse wILI un open boIL, beIL Ied IIgIL mu-
cIIne gun. L`s Loo cumbersome. AguIn,
IuvIng un uuLomuLIc rIemun wILI un Mz;
AR Iends ILseII Lo every envIronmenL.
So wIeLIer Ie`s goL Lo swIm wILI IL,
do urbun work wILI IL, hgIL In LIe jungIe
wILI IL, ouL In LIe deserL wILI IL, In und ouL
oI veIIcIes wILI IL; LIe Mz; Is mucI, mucI
eusIer Lo muneuver, geL InLo ucLIon, und
sLuy In ucLIon.
PART 2: FROM BAR TO IAR (NEXT ISSUE)
In the lcte :pos, the Mcrine Corps
mcde the ill-jcted decision to ditch its
iconic rounin Automctic Rije oj World
Wcr z cnd Korecn Wcr jcme in jctor oj c
bipod-equipped M:(. This unuorlcble ri
ucs replcced b the hect cnd unuield
;.zmm Mo mcchine un durin the
Vietncm Wcr. The .mm Mz(p SAW,
c bcb Mo to some, jolloued in :p8.
Now, some 27 years later, the Corps is
rcpidl jeldin the Mz; IAR. Lecrn hou
the Lecthernecl chcin oj commcnd ccme
to rips uith unit-letel complcints cbout
the SAW's shortcomins cnd ot c suitcble
replccement throuh the sstem.
112 SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM 113
RoberL RobbIe ReIdsmu, Mz; Pro-
grum Munuger Ior HK DeIense, Lukes us
LIrougI LIe rIe`s heId sLrIp sequence.
PIuce LIe seIecLor on SAE, remove LIe
muguzIne, puII buck on LIe cIurgIng Iun-
dIe Lo reLrucL LIe boIL currIer, cIeck LIe
cIumber Lo ensure no curLrIdge Is pres-
enL. ReLurn LIe boIL currIer ussembIy Lo
LIe Iorwurd und Iocked posILIon.
UsIng LIe buIIeL poInL oI u curLrIdge or
sImIIur LooI, pusI LIe reur Lukedown pIn
LIrougI Irom IeIL Lo rIgIL unLII IL sLops In
LIe IuIIy exLended posILIon wIere IL re-
muIns cupLIve In LIe Iower receIver.
PIvoL LIe upper receIver open, depress LIe
cuLcI on LIe cIurgIng IundIe und wILI-
druw LIe boIL currIer ussembIy Irom LIe
reur. TIe serIes oI LrIunguIur cuLs on LIe
sIde oI LIe boIL currIer work wILI LIe Ior-
wurd ussIsL. WIIIe IL Is noL necessury Lo
sepuruLe LIe receIver IuIves, LIIs cun be
done by pusIIng LIe receIver pIvoL pIn
LIrougI Irom IeIL Lo rIgIL unLII IL cuLcIes
In LIe IuIIy exLended posILIon.
ConLInue Lo puII LIe cIurgIng IundIe Lo
LIe reur unLII resIsLunce Is encounLered.
IIL up on LIe cIurgIng IundIe und sepu-
ruLe IL Irom LIe upper receIver.
TIe cIurgIng IundIe cun be used Lo de-
press LIe buIIer deLenL, uIIowIng LIe buI-
fer assembly and spring to be withdrawn
Irom LIe buLLsLock Lube. TIe red doL und
HK murkIng sIow LIuL LIIs Is LIe specIuI
desIgn wILI grunuIuLed LungsLen hIIer.
ugs on LIe boIL Ieud cun be used us u wrencI Lo Lurn LIe ree IouLIng RuII SysLem (RS)
reLuInIng screw counLer-cIockwIse, LIen puII unLII IL cuLcIes In LIe IuIIy exLended posILIon.
PuII Iorwurd on LIe RS Lo sepuruLe IL Irom LIe burreI ussembIy. NoLe Iow LIe RS
reLuInIng screw Is secureIy IeId In LIe deep groove mucIIned In LIe burreI IockIng coIIur.
TIe Mz;`s one pIece, Iour ruII RS us
seen Irom LIe muzzIe end.
DIsenguge LIe pIsLon rod Irom LIe gus
pIsLon by pusIIng buck uguInsL ILs coIIed
spring and lifting it free.
PuII LIe gus pIsLon Irom LIe gus bIock.
To dIsussembIe LIe boIL und currIer, hrsL
pusI LIe hrIng pIn reLuInIng pIn LIrougI
Irom rIgIL Lo IeIL unLII IL cuLcIes In pIuce.
IIL up on LIe end oI LIe sprIng Iouded
drop suIeLy und wILIdruw LIe hrIng pIn und
spring assembly from the rear of the bolt.
TIIs Irees LIe cum pIn Lo be IIILed ouL oI
boIL und currIer.
Slide the bolt for-
wurd ouL oI ILs currI-
er. L Is noL necessury
Lo remove LIe exLruc-
Lor eucI LIme LIe
weapon is stripped
und cIeuned.
M27 FIELD STRIP SEQUENCE
21 NOVEMBER 2011 // THE CRUCIBLE TRAINING CENTER, STAFFORD COUNTY, VIRGINIA. PHOTOS BY ROBERT BRUCE
THE U.S. MARINE CORPS M27 IAR
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