Originally Posted by
ABNAK
When you are looking at an M-14 [+] level weight I doubt it'll be a big hit.
Even in situations where a load might be lightened somewhere on the Infantryman (not in the M5's case) the Army sees that as an opportunity to add something else! I'm sure the Marines are the same in that regard. If you're a grunt it is "lose-lose".
I still think 5.56 in an even more improved version than M855A1 is the answer, at least for the foreseeable future. A standardly equipped grunt should probably not be expected to successfully engage GPMG's at 700 or 800 meters. That is what YOUR 240 gunners are for. *Maybe* morph into the SIG platform but introducing both a weapon system and caliber change simultaneously won't work well. It didn't in the mid 1960's (although it eventually was forced to succeed) and it won't now.
I can see logic in looking for more universal cartridge that can replace both the 5.56 and 7.62. The thing is, they have this pipe dream that the .277 Fury is going to punch through Chinese body armor at 600 yards, which just seems very doubtful. With that in mind, a big argument for going to a overpowered battle rifle cartridge loses credibility. However, if they want to extend the range of both the riflemen and the SAW gunners, I can see the logic of going to a true intermediate round along the lines of that hypothetical 7mm UIAC that was floated about 10 years ago. Yes, it would be added weight, but not nearly as much as going to something like the Fury, and it would extend the range for riflemen.
Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who do not.-Ben Franklin
there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.-Samwise Gamgee
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