More to follow Kevin, but the general answer is the requirement put forth for the M-14 EBR was realy centered on 7.62mm being the requirement, vs any logical thing like i need this effect at that range, ect.

It pissed me off writing it, Shaw at SW's was pushing for a M-110 based system, but at the time of writing it was still an XM system, and the DM derivative was not even that. Then we had to specific it be M-14 based and ...........................

I understand there was a great deal of debate between the 600m and 800m group at higher levels as they developed the EBR and some other requirements. I left the position that I had, so in the end all I saw was the out come, not the process leading to it.