Posted on 11/17/2005 7:52:28 PM PST by strategofr
The U.S. Army’s cancellation of the XM8 (a replacement for the M16) reflects disenchantment with the 5.56mm round, more than anything else. While the 5.56mm bullet was OK when used in an automatic weapon, it is much less useful when you have so many troops who know how to shoot, and can hit targets just as easily with single shots.
In addition to better shooting skills, the troops also have much better sights, both for day and night use. It’s much more effective to fire less often, if you have troops who can do that and hit what they are shooting at with the first shot. Most American troops can.
Moreover, the 5.56mm round is less effective in urban fighting, where you often want to shoot through doors and walls. The 5.56mm round is not as effective at doing this as is the heavier 7.62mm bullet. And the troops have plenty of 7.62mm weapons available, in order to compare. There is the M240 medium machine-gun. While this 7.62mm weapon is usually mounted on vehicles, it is often taken off and used by infantry for street fighting. Lots of 1960s era 7.62mm M14 rifles have also been taken out of storage and distributed. While used mainly as sniper rifles, the snipers do other work on the battlefield as well, and the troops have been able to see that the heavier 7.62mm round does a better job of shooting through cinder block walls, and taking down bad guys with one shot. Too often, enemy troops require several 5.56mm bullets to put them out of action.
In a situation like that, it makes more sense to carry a heavier round. The question is, which one? The army has been experimenting with a 6.8mm round, but now some are demanding that the full size 7.62mm round be brought back. There are M16 type weapons that use the full size 7.62mm round (and the lower powered AK-47 7.62mm round). The new SOCOM SCAR rifle can quickly be adapted to using all of the above by swapping out the barrel and receiver. Could be that the army is going to wait and see what SOCOM decides to do.
The other big complaint about the M16 is it’s sensitivity to fine dust, as found in Iraq and, to a lesser extent, Afghanistan. This stuff causes the rifle (and the light machine-gun version, the M249), to jam. Troops have to be cleaning these weapons constantly. Another problem with the M249 is that most of the ones in service are very old, and in need of a replacement (with new M249s, or a new weapon design.) The XM8 solved much of the “dust sensitivity” problem, but part of the problem was the smaller round.
A decision on the army’s new assault rifle will probably come sooner, rather than later, because the troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are making a lot of Internet noise over the issue.
I had a suspicion that this was going to happen.
I am old fashioned, I like 8mm or .303 m'self.
As they should.
this bullet wt diameter issue just wont go away
Here's a very informative report:
http://www.firearmstactical.com/hwfe.htm
I think we have already talked this one to death on another thread.
Even though the report is for handguns, many of its points are relevant to military small arms.
What about the .308? Isn't that a round a version of the AR-15 uses??
Is the 7.62 round the same as the .308? Like the FAL's?
Those shoot a long way don't they?
Pardon the long gun newbie question.
Nothing wrong with the M-14. Lots of Marines weren`t happy when we lost them. Of course, Marines know how to shoot.
I read part of this and decided that I don't want to get shot. Not even with a .22. No thank you. Goodbye.
"I read part of this and decided that I don't want to get shot. Not even with a .22. No thank you. Goodbye."
Too bad you had to wait this long to learn that, but its good you finally did.
Robert Ruark said "Use enough Gun." and IMHO 5.56 is not enough to use on a predater in the 100-200lb range. Most especially when aforementioned predator is in possesion of a firearm and can use it.
.30/06 is much better, but .45ACP and .50BMG among others are good, too.
Wyatt Earp [IIRC] is vindicated! "One aimed shot is better than...".
Let's hope they dust off the plans for the AR-10 and make it happen.
It shouldn't go away. It is a characteristic of a physical system. The correct rifling rate is a function of length to diameter. For a given caliber, more weight means a longer bullet and a faster required rate of spin to stabilize. At caliber .224 you need 1:12 for 40 gr, 1:9 for 55 gr, 1:8 for 62 gr. Spinning a bullet too fast for its weight can cause disintegration in flight.
Heavier bullets retain more kinetic energy over longer distances. Bullets with better ballistic coefficients e.g. hollow point/boat tail will given a more consistent trajectory. Pick the design that meets your intended use.
Thank you.
I am one smart feller!
A little slow perhaps,....but,...I do eventually pick up on the important stuff like,.. Don't Get Shot!
Like the article said, most troops can hit what they can see with the first shot. The old 'one shot, one kill' thingy.
If you were lost in the dark, would you rather have 5 tiny crappy pocket flashlights, or one powerful and reliable one? Peace through superior firepower.
If you can hit the enemy from far away without exposing yourself to danger, that's a good thing. So what if you can carry fewer rounds. You can reach out and touch someone. Can you hear me now? Good.
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