Posted on Jan 8, 2019
Why does the Army insist on M4s being black when everything else is camouflaged?
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And no, I don't need a citation to the ARs. This is a practical question.
Camouflage
Army Regulations
Rifles
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 14
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Because the bluing on the weapon protects the metal and can be cleaned with gun cleaning solvent, have light oil applied then rubbed off to protect the exterior from rusting. With paint added, which is a foreign substance on the surface that shouldn't be added anyway and doesn't protect as well as the bluing and if it has to be removed will more than likely damage the bluing which protects the metal. Also make darn sure on interior moving parts they are well oiled so they don't lock up. The paint also could well seep onto moving parts when being applied and make problems with the weapon including jams and malfunctions, its not a good idea in My opinion. Even with bluing, apply oil to protect the exterior but wipe it off so it doesn't attract dirt but still protects the metal and doesn't shine in the sun or other source of light or get all over You either.
The M4 has the same sort of operating system that the M16 did which I carried in Vietnam and only our K9 troops carried the shorter version as in the M4. Both took the same type of care to keep them operational. I kept My weapons clean and oiled and never had a problem with them in dirt or even monsoon rains in Vietnam or later versions of the M16 or M4 in later years of service. During monsoon rains as much as possible I tried to keep it under My pancho to protect the weapon from the water and the light oil on the unpainted surface helped that. I hope that answered Your question.
PS: I notice also that Major Javier Rivera also offered some comments here that You also may want to read on the same subject and the facts about the bluing and some problems that can be caused by painting. I happen to agree with the Army and the reason to keep it black.
The M4 has the same sort of operating system that the M16 did which I carried in Vietnam and only our K9 troops carried the shorter version as in the M4. Both took the same type of care to keep them operational. I kept My weapons clean and oiled and never had a problem with them in dirt or even monsoon rains in Vietnam or later versions of the M16 or M4 in later years of service. During monsoon rains as much as possible I tried to keep it under My pancho to protect the weapon from the water and the light oil on the unpainted surface helped that. I hope that answered Your question.
PS: I notice also that Major Javier Rivera also offered some comments here that You also may want to read on the same subject and the facts about the bluing and some problems that can be caused by painting. I happen to agree with the Army and the reason to keep it black.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Thank you SMSgt. I was not thinking about letting soldiers paint these rifles themselves. I agree that is fraught with a host of potential problems. I can see some overly motivated soldier deciding to paint the bolt or bolt carrier, with predictably disastrous results. I was thinking in terms of the Army (and AF) purchasing the rifles and carbines with hard coating of the visible carbon steel and aluminum parts and manufacture of the non-metal components in a less conspicuous color from the git-go (or having the work done at the depot level when the rifles come in for rebuilds). There are modern coatings that can be applied to carbon steel parts (for example, titanium nitride) that mitigate the rust problem you allude to. There is no reason newly acquired (or rebuilt) weapons systems cannot be manufactured in colors other than black. For example, the new M-17 pistol comes in a coyote color PVD coating applied over stainless steel. There is no reason that this cannot be done for replacement rifles (or armory rebuilds) - other than cost and the Army's aversion to change.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
MAJ (Join to see) - That's kind of a different matter if its from the factory or qualified depot. I'm probably like the Army slow to change to some extent. As far as function, if its from the factory its whatever color they produce. The first Military rifles I had qualified on was the M1 Garand, then fired the M1 and M2 Carbines before moving onto the M16. of course using those also means I had to be able to disassemble and also put them back together and clean of course. You did get Me thinking though on an area I hadn't considered before. I do think We appear to agree though any change should be from either the factory or qualified depot.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Definitely. Field expedient camouflage is not what I was talking about. Factory or depot work was what was on my mind. By the way, love my M1 Garand, but I don't love cleaning it. Now the Garand is a rifle where protecting the Parkerized finish and bore from rust damage was an issue. Anyway, glad that my question sparked a discussion, because that was the point. Gotta keep our minds sharp.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
MAJ (Join to see) - it did produce a good discussion and I'll admit I enjoyed it. When I was learning the manual of arms on the M1 Garand I had My first and only M1 Thumb. I was at a Military Academy, was new and We were in a Company formation learning and going from inspection arms,closing the bolt and going to order arms. Now that hurt when the bolt slammed forward on my thumb. the idea is get Your thumb out of there before the bolt goes forward. I was quiet about it and said nothing, screamed or cried and no one noticed but I sure remembered it. I have in more recent time actually taught other how to perform hte manual of arms both on the M1 and Springfield 03.
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They don't. Unless it has changed in the past handful of years, the army authorized units to camo weapons as they saw fit as long as it was done appropriately.
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I was told that (at least in some units) the weapons were actually leased, not owned, and it was a violation of the terms of the lease to paint them. However, pretty much everyone painted them anyway or at least had a camo paint job from the last guy who had had the weapon.
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