Size does matter. Soldiers and marines generally agreed that the shorter M-4 assault rifle was preferable to the longer, and heavier, M-16. Climbing in and out of armored vehicles, and fighting in towns, and inside buildings, favored the shorter, and lighter, M-4. While some marines got to use the new M-16A4, which had the rail on top that allowed use of night and day scopes, the size of the weapon was still an issue. Such was also the case with the standard 55 grain 5.56mm bullet used in the M-16 and M-4. Many soldiers and marines would like to use a 40 percent heavier (77 grain) bullet. But most troops admitted that the 55 grain bullet took down enemy troops if you hit them in the body. Shots in the limbs often did not drop enemy troops, and the 77 grain bullet was not likely to change that. Another size issue was the 9mm pistol that has replaced the .45 caliber (11.4mm) pistol. The pistol was often used in urban warfare, and many troops complained of the lesser stopping power of the 9mm weapon, as well as persistent problems with magazine reliability. This complaint has been around for some time, and simply got louder because the magazine reliability problems are still there.
