Every generation of soldiers complains about what they were issued. “Back when we had the good guns.” It happens every time. People from my generation often talk about missing the M14. Most of them never carried one, but we all know the story: bigger caliber, more stopping power, longer effective range. My era moved from the M16A4 to progressively shorter barrels, ending for me with the Mk18—a 10.3-inch 5.56.