I can't understand why they keep wanting something in 6.8. Think they should go 6.5 or 7 but some of the old military brass probably read too much JOC.
I also don't understand why the bc on 6.8s are never as good as those on 6.5s or 7s. If you take the same profile bullet proportionally the same it seems like 6.8s just don't compete. Even the new heavier stuff fir faster twist guns like the 6.8 western don't seem to compete with its closest rivals.
I think something like the 6.5x47 lapua or that same case necked up to 7mm would be a decent all around round. I really like the Creedmoor case but the 6.5x47L is a nice little case that's a bit shorter and very efficient. A 7x47 lapua on a 7.5 twist barrel shooting high bc 180s at 2500 or so would offer great barrel life and still be able to reach out and touch things or defeat a lot of body armor.
I'm running a reduced load in my kids 6.5 grendel mini howa with a 129g ablr at a sedate 2350 or so and it still does pretty well out there a ways.
Every first person account I've read from Vietnam was that people hated the 5.56 because it lacked penetration in the brush and they held on to their m14's as long as possible despite the weight and ammo reduction issues. With the right metallurgy and treatments, I could see these new barrels holding up pretty damned well. I'll reserve judgement until results are in.
I've read and spoke to few GIs that wanted their M14s back, most of that was due to the government's decision to not listen to Stoner and use up the old powder they had, then they didn't supply cleaning kits and lube... maybe wrong barrels as well. Pretty auspicious intro of the M16.
Also, the US as of late has not been involved with jungle conflicts and the current bad guys know the effective range of the 5.56.
I was hoping they would adopt the 6 ARC, seems like it has a lot to offer.
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
I was reading a chart the other day, I think it was published by the War College, rounds expended per enemy casualty, damn boys, war is getting expensive. Each conflict, the number of rounds expended went up dramatically until Afghanistan where they estimate 300,000 rounds per casualty, I'll let you do the math. WW2 it was 45,000 rounds. I fully understand, looser formations, the importance of suppressive fire nowadays. But still, it seems there is plenty of room to adopt tactics to even up the casualty/ammo ratio. The emphasis on volume vs precision doesn't seem to be working if you want to break the enemy's will to fight. Precision shooters with powerful weapons? More accurate aerial intel and targeting and precision guided HE munitions? The Russians have shown in Uke that good artillery is NOT obsolete yet. I don't know but it seems like worrying about individual infantryman loadout as a big factor isn't producing results.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
Every first person account I've read from Vietnam was that people hated the 5.56 because it lacked penetration in the brush and they held on to their m14's as long as possible despite the weight and ammo reduction issues. With the right metallurgy and treatments, I could see these new barrels holding up pretty damned well. I'll reserve judgement until results are in.
Well we have the much more recent 20 year long GWOT that proved the M-4 shooting 5.56mm was a really solid carbinie for infantry.
Some units tried the M-14 in the early days but it was a disaster.
Every US SOF unit and all of JSOC use the 5.56mm weapons as the standard because of how well the cartridge works.
Nobody but Gen Milley want this silly gun and he is on the way out the door. It's done.
John Burns
I have all the sources. They can't stop the signal.
I'm a big 270 Win fan but don't think this new Army cartridge is a good idea. The reason they went from the 30-06 to the 308 to the 223 was less recoil, ammo weighed less, flatter shooting. Though I'm a big fan of the 45 ACP vs the 9mm for pistols. If I want to get some angry I'll just insult them.
Regards,
Chuck
"There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit"
