Two Weapons stories as the US heads towards ground troops deploying, again, in the middle east.

The Marine Corps, which insists on avoiding equipment adopted first by the Army, looked at the M7,and said, nah. . . 

M7 Rifle.

Marines not interested in switching from M27 to Army’s M7 anytime soon

Chances are good, I'd rate them as overwhelming, that the USMC will be using M27s within a week or two in Iran.  This will be the modified HK416's first major combat use, maybe its first use at all.

M27 Automatic Rifle.

It's a mistake, the M7 is definitely the better rifle with better ammunition.  But the Marines, if allowed to have a different rifle, will always do so.

Marines in China with M1895 Navy Lee, at the time at which the Army was using the Krag.  They didn't use it long.

And there's now drone killing ammunition:

U.S. Military Unveils "Drone Killer" Rifle Cartridges | An Official Journal Of The NRA

The pelletized ammunition sort of resembles "snake shot" for pistols used by outdoorsmen in the summer months.  It was developed by the Navy.