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SOCOM searches for 7.62mm conversion kit
A US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) solicitation calling for the design of a Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) could have serious implications for the future of the standard NATO 5.56mm x 45mm calibre assault rifle across the special operations community, defence sources have explained to Shephard.According to the 9 March request for information (RFI), the Tampa-based command is seeking a conversion kit for the 5.56mm x 45mm Colt Defense M4A1 carbine in order to upgrade it to a .300 BLK cailbre (7.62mm x 35mm) weapon system. The news follows years of ongoing debate in which special operations forces (SOF) have considered the evolution from 5.56mm to alternative calibres including 6.5mm, 6.8mm and .300 BLK ammunition. Despite retaining the option to alternate between such weapon systems for specialist tasks and roles, sources explained how such a wholesale change in calibre across entire assault rifle inventories had been avoided due to the vast costs associated with such a change. The USSOCOM requirement features an upper receiver and buttstock conversion kit, which would allow an operator to switch between 5.56mm and .300 BLK calibres within a few minutes with the additional benefit of the added integration of a suppressor, the solicitation reads. Posted by: Skidmark 2017-03-22 |
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