Erick
I do agree that this gets away from the OPs original question a bit, but still fits though loosely under the same subject. I understand what you are saying and agree to some extent but disagree as well. As prepper/survivalist does not need to focus on what a light infantry unit has for equipment....for a couple of reasons. A light infantry unit has significant items that the avg prepper has no access to that are integral to its composition. Some major items a prepper has no access to would be the beltfeds or grenade launchers, comms, etc. These are all integral to a light Inf. unit. If anything I feel that the prepper should be thinking more akin to unconventional units. This is because of the small, varied groups or even need for individual action. Im not talking about Delta or Devgru.
I do honestly feel that if you are able to own a suppressor it is an important piece of kit that should be considered seriously. It has significant advantages. As you pointed out the flash hider mitigates muzzle blast in low/ no light. The can does this to a level that no flash hider can achieve, while also giving a huge reduction in sound signature. In addition to the ability to make identifying location through the sound (just lie flash), having a can allows for much better communication among a small unit/group. Preppers are not likely to have comms through Sordins and therefore are likely to either suffer hearing damage by operating without or stuck with hearing pro that destroys their ability to communicate and or hear the environment properly. They are not inexpensive but can be worth their weight in gold. The Army and Corps are both looking at issuing cans to line units....though like initially to just small specific units (not Special Ops, they already have them).
Even if we were looking at just light inf. issued kit when do we draw the line on how far back. Not long ago, just prior to GWOT, light infantry units did not get issued optics. It was live or die with irons. We all agree RDS are a good thing and worth it for a prepper/survivalist. Also not long a go a light inf platoon would have 1 sets of NODs per fire team...not every man. Today every man will have them when in the field in night time operations. Again not mandatory but if you have the resources NODs are something a prepper/survivalist should consider a set (they dont need to be white phosphor PVS15s).
All of my "tactical" rifles have brakes (other than the 1 Warcomp). This is specifically so I can mount up the Surefire Cans I have access to. As I mentioned if I didnt want to mount those specific cans I would never have those muzzle devices.
Chris
Sorry now we are definitely way off the OPs original question.
Chris,
I dont disagree w/ what you are saying.. I used the Light Infantry as an example to come from the
other side of the argument and you are making a point I often make when folks want to follow the .mil too much.
So many folks want to follow what the US military does and for many reason ( as u listed) that is a flawed approach as our operational environment and Operational Concept are different.
However
if one is to use a configuration from the US military as a starting point
then one should look to the pre GWOT Light Infantry as it is the closest to a preppers Operational Concept ( though clearly not identical)
A good example:
Pre GWOT Rangers, operated in small teams, wore no helmet on a Recon, no Flak Jackets and just a basic load of Ammo had no immediate access to mortars etc etc..(as they were traveling entirely by foot)
So they mostly tried to avoid firefights and when they did engage they tried to solve their problems mostly by rifle fire and maneuver
Big mil GWOT Forces, wear Helmets all the time, Armor basically all the time, often extra bandoleers of Ammo past the basic load, by default often substitute Fire support for maneuver etc etc etc.
Thats why I believe the Pre GWOT LightFighter Operational Concept is much closer to ours than whats currently going on in the big .mil
PS: Its a ironic That Rangers are now considered Special Operations Forces considering their raison-de-etre is excellence at traditional Light Infantry tasks.
Recently we have seen that SpecOps forces do the direct action and the general Purpose Combat Arms does the instruction foreign forces which is a complete role reversal over how its properly supposed to be. This is clearly the result of the unhealthy dominance of SOCOM within DOD and of JSOC within SOCOM.
