New military rifle lighter, more powerful

NBC13 ^ | 09-29-2010 | Staff

[em2vn]

It was designed with input by U.S. Special Operations Command warriors for special ops missions to be lighter, more maneuverable and longer lasting.

Earlier this month, the MK-17 – dubbed the SCAR by its Belgian manufacturer FNH – went into "full rate production" making it the first new assault carbine to be purchased by the U.S. military since the M-16 and M-4 rifles went online four decades ago. The rifle is expected to be particularly valuable in situations like those faced by soldiers fighting in Afghanistan, where the weapon's additional range will provide a significant upgrade.

[em2vn]

What is the 7.62 X ? I missed the length of the cartridge. My apologizies if this is a repeat.

[Perdogg]

7.62mm X 51mm (NATO).

[rrebo]

also goes by the civilian caliber .308.

[Chode]

i want one...

[stumpjumper]

7.62 X 51. Also called a .308

Everything old is new again. General Patton called the M1 Garand the best rifle ever developed. It used a .30-06 round. .30 caliber rounds seem to work well in all applications: AK, M1 Garand, M14, and now the SCAR M-17.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

The info was in the article:

It can also fire the standard 5.56mm bullets now used in the M-4 – the mainstay of special operators – or the larger, 7.62mm bullet, which is more effective at longer distances.

Lets hope that it doesn't require the maintenance that the M-4/M-16 required to stay functional. Not very practical in field conditions.

[A. Morgan]

http://defensetech.org/2007/07/12/meet-the-scar/

[101voodoo]

"New military rifle lighter, more powerful"

Confusing headline. Sounds like a description of a rifle shaped cigarette lighter. Perhaps a comma after "rifle" or even a period.

[LSUfan]

Thank goodness someone finally broke the 5.56mm mafia monopoly.

Let’s hope this opens the way for more military units to adopt the SCAR-H as well.

[LSUfan]

For an idea of how much more powerful a 7.62mm NATO round is over a 5.56mm round, just watch this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOm3dfYYNeI

[Red_Devil 232]

I had the same thought.

[Vaquero]

[tlb]

Interesting looking weapon but really must the wheel be re-invented? Wouldn’t a cut back M14 but with a new lighter stock served as well.

Not to mention years earlier in the field.

[em2vn]

I was hoping for the 30.06 which is a 7.62X63. I was surprised that the barrels are only good for fifteen thousnd rounds-not that I will every put that many rounds downrange but with the advancements in production it seems fifteen thousand is a low number.
I hope the weapons works out as planned.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Here are some more specifications.

It appears that this weapon will also fire 7.62 x 39mm ammunition from the AK-47.

[Joe Boucher]

I’ll stick with my kids Dragonov

[barb-tex]

But the M14 wasn’t an ugly black rifle.

[em2vn]

I re-read the article but I missed the reference to the NATO round. Is it in the article?

[TXnMA]

Might's well see what we're discussing"

[CynicalBear]

>>Confusing headline. Sounds like a description of a rifle shaped cigarette lighter. Perhaps a comma after “rifle” or even a period.<<

Hey! Hush! It was meant to throw off the anti gun people.