Yep, due to NATO's insistance on staying with a battle rifle cartridge. FN originally prototyped the FAL in 8mm Kurz.
“FN originally prototyped the FAL in 8mm Kurz.”
Using the Sturmgewehr round was really forward thinking on their part.
Would the .300 whisper be the modern equivalent of the 8mm Kurz? It uses brass the same size as 5.56 NATO.
Is there an intermediate round that uses shortened 7.62mm brass and a .30 caliber bullet?