Hunting the ghost gun: an analysis of the U.S. Army infantry rifle

Abstract

Like many other nations, the United States was born of war. The freedom sought by our founding fathers was not free; it was paid in patriot blood during the American Revolution. No matter the reason—the preservation of democracy, liberation of the oppressed, or revolution—the United States has been no stranger to the battlefield. Through deserts, jungles, and grassy plains; in brick buildings, straw huts, and log cabins; by mountains, ditches, and the oceans, the infantry soldier has relied on one key tool to accomplish the mission: his weapon. Indeed, among the many characteristics of war, the infantry rifle has remained a critical battle component throughout time. The purpose of this study is to provide an analysis of the U.S. military’s usage of various small arms and their associated cartridges from WWII to current day. The primary objective centers on an analysis of the driving factors and decisions used in military cartridge selection and development. The expected product will be a reference document to aid in the decision-making process for future small arms cartridge/weapon selection and development.