But I want a few of those new odd 249's. You'll have to give up to get: the ability to use the M16 magazine is lost, pretty well neglected or abandoned by most M249/Minimi users anyway. And the Mark 48 weighs in at 8.2 kg, a bit heavier than the 7 kg of the M249 [depending on model/configuration] or the 5.75 kg of the Navy Mark 46 Mod 0 Special Warfare lightweight 5.56mm SAW, which also deletes the magazine-feed capability as means to achieve weight reduction, but adds multiple Rail Interface mounts for scopes, laser targeting *killdots* thermal viewers and other useful accessories- some of them heavier than the gun.
The real question will be what comes of the proposed 6,8mm ammunition developments, particularly as they relate to the XM-8 rifle. Changes to the M249 to accomodate the new round should require little more than a bolt and barrel change, with a new link to replace the 5,56mm version probable, and possibly requiring some new components in the top cover/feed tray assembly. But we shall see.
The real question will be what comes of the proposed 6,8mm ammunition developments That is being pushed hardest by the raggediest-ass gang of phonies and wannabees I have ever seen... led by some guy who shouts about his rank, mumbles about naval special warfare, and when you actually take a hard look at him, turns out to be a dentist. What a fraud.
Way too much weapons development is being done by tinkering hobbyists and way to little by engineers. True or false: one reason the M4 had problems with bolt rebound, is that nobody did any analysis (not even a few envelope calculations, let alone FEA) on the system as revised?
When I bag on the process pushing the 6.8, I'm not saying an improved round wouldn't be a good idea, especially when the Army sacrificed the initial performance of the M193 round by stuffing the -16 with nasty, fouling ball powder instead of the stuff designed into the system. Which I think was a version of IMR that never made the commercial market, but definitely fouled less.
But the damn thing should have science and engineering behind it, not some phony without military, scientific or engineering credentials.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F