The Flip up "Iron sights" were a user inputed Modification, along with several others (see Army times from early Sept). The Rifle itself isn't the problem, it is the round that most people, esp the end use has issues with. Those that love the 5.56 are those that have never had to use it for anything other than either paper or varments. I've heard of folks hunting deer and hog's with it but it is rare, on small game it is EXPLOSIVE according to what I've heard. In balistic gelitin tests I've seen all 5.56 takes approx 6" before any tumble or fragmitation happens and then the fragmitation is limited the further away the target is. Targets at or past 300m may have ZERO frag, and only minor tumbling, even though it will penitrate 12" or more! Needling doesn't stop the enemy, large mass trama does, wounding enemy theroies isn't effective against those that do not care about losses only stopping them all in their tracks. With out a reason to change rounds I still do not see a reason to change weapon platforms, with different uppers you can have pistol, SMG, belt fed LMG, Assualt Rifle, Carbine, and grenader systems with the M-16/ M4.
As an Airsoft weapon of course caliber doens't matter it is all 6mm or 8mm (8 in pistols mostly) and if your shooting hot enough to penitrate 12" of flesh you need to pull that M20000 spring out![
] Over all if an AEG verson was avail off the self I think it might be somewhat of a seller, just like the G36. as a plus it would open the door for OCIW type addons for those that like those mosnters.[V]
Edit- yes according to the Army times they were suppost to issue out XM-8's to select troops for feild evaluations starting this fall. So there MAY alread be some seeing action he in Iraq.