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Science & Technology |
US Army plans to aquire new rifle with bigger bullets |
2017-05-17 |
After carrying the M16 or one of its cousins across the globe for more than half a century, soldiers could get a peek at a new prototype assault rifle that fires a larger round by 2020. Army researchers are testing half a dozen ammunition variants in “intermediate calibers,” which falls between the current 7.62 mm and 5.56 mm rounds, to create a new light machine gun and inform the next-generation individual assault rifle/round combo. The weapon designs being tested will be “unconventional,” officials said, and likely not one that is currently commercially available. Some intermediate calibers being tested include the .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, .264 USA as well as other non-commercial intermediate calibers, including cased telescoped ammo, Army officials said. If selected by senior leaders, the weapon could resolve a close-quarters weapons debate about calibers that critics say dates to the 1920s and has influenced military small arms ever since. If successful, the new rifle and round combination would give troops a weapon they can carry with about the same number of rounds as the current 5.56 mm but with greater range and accuracy in their firepower — with little change in weight. |
Posted by:Frozen Al |
#5 Is there some kind of pendulum effect here? |
Posted by: james 2017-05-17 22:07 |
#4 been going downhill ever since they dropped the .30-06. |
Posted by: OFWG Bob Phineger2970 2017-05-17 21:15 |
#3 6.5 Grendel also talked about |
Posted by: Injun Bucket8891 2017-05-17 19:52 |
#2 ...Going with an 'intermediate caliber' pretty much means an expensive new weapon. And figure a good 10-15 years to deploy it. Mike |
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2017-05-17 19:09 |
#1 Less weight would be good. |
Posted by: Glineng Speaking for Boskone4786 2017-05-17 19:06 |