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Weapons of the World: Little Bullets (5.56) Lose Respect
Weapons of the World ^ | November 15, 2005

Posted on 11/15/2005 2:32:39 AM PST by holymoly

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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.

Pssst, guys...
M1 Garand

1 posted on 11/15/2005 2:32:40 AM PST by holymoly
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To: holymoly

Itty bitty bullet bump


2 posted on 11/15/2005 2:33:47 AM PST by The Red Zone
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To: holymoly

While the Garand is a fine rifle, I prefer the M14.


3 posted on 11/15/2005 2:41:05 AM PST by CrawDaddyCA (There is no such thing as a fair fight. Thou shall win at all costs!!)
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To: holymoly

I think the XM8 in 6.8spc would be a great choice. I'm surprised it's taking so long.

However, the M16/M4 are still very viable systems.


4 posted on 11/15/2005 2:43:35 AM PST by Lauretij2
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To: Lauretij2
Ronnie Barrett has an answer ready today.


5 posted on 11/15/2005 2:47:35 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Guns themselves are fairly robust; their chief enemies are rust and politicians) (NRA)
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To: CrawDaddyCA
" Lots of 1960s era 7.62mm M14 rifles have also been taken out of storage and distributed. "

HALLELUJAH!!!

"I prefer the M14."

As do I. Love that rifle.

6 posted on 11/15/2005 2:48:27 AM PST by Past Your Eyes (I'm just sitting here on the Group W bench.)
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To: holymoly

BAR with armor piercing ammo is fine for shooting a door way through a cinder block wall in about two seconds.


7 posted on 11/15/2005 2:50:33 AM PST by mmercier (so it goes)
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To: Lauretij2
I think the XM8 in 6.8spc would be a great choice. I'm surprised it's taking so long.

Why not just rechamber it for 7.62x51 NATO?

8 posted on 11/15/2005 2:51:27 AM PST by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
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To: Lauretij2
However, the M16/M4 are still very viable systems.

Not for the kind of battles our troops are engaged in. The 5.56 is fine for European theater warfare, less so for urban combat.

Troops in Iraq regularly report that while shooting at cars that run checkpoints that 5.56 rounds fail to penetrate sufficiently to stop the car.

Additionally, troops in Afganistan report that shooting an enemy at 500+ yards with a 5.56 often ends up with the target going down and then getting back up.

5.56 is fine for an area denial weapon, ie keeping the enemy's head down while riflemen move into killing positions. It's not so fine as a primary infantry rifle.

Let's put composite stocks on the M14 and issue that as the primary rifle until we get something better.

9 posted on 11/15/2005 2:52:30 AM PST by Knitebane (Happily Microsoft free since 1999.)
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To: lentulusgracchus

The reason we went to 5.56 was more ammo-per bag, and lighter weight. I still think those are important. The 6.8spc is a decent balance I think.


10 posted on 11/15/2005 2:53:54 AM PST by Lauretij2
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To: Squantos; Eaker; Travis McGee; Jeff Head; Joe Brower; sit-rep; archy; Lion Den Dan; ...
I had not heard of the XM-8 being scrubbed. If this is true, it is one of the best things the guys and gals at the Infantry School has ever done. IMHO they should erase all preconceived notions of 5.56, 6.8, and 7.62 and start from scratch. Rather than design a rifle around a caliber, figure out what the best caliber compromise is (yes it will be a compromise) and then design the rifle around the caliber.
11 posted on 11/15/2005 2:56:20 AM PST by SLB ("We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us." C. S. Lewis)
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To: SLB

I hadn't heard it being shelved either.


12 posted on 11/15/2005 2:59:58 AM PST by Lauretij2
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To: Lauretij2
I hadn't heard it being shelved either.

I checked the Early Bird this morning - nothing there. This might be a latrine (nice wording) rumor.

13 posted on 11/15/2005 3:02:17 AM PST by SLB ("We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us." C. S. Lewis)
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To: Past Your Eyes

As reliable a killer as the M14 was -- there were problems.

It was too long for close quarters and heavy undergrowth.
It was too heavy.
The 7.62 ammo to feed the piece, was also too bulky and heavy.
Ten 20 round magazines were a load -- and you still had to carry at least one belt for the M60.... LOTS of weight.

The redeaming value, was that you could reach way out and put the deadly touch on Charlie - and one round properly placed was sufficient....out to better than 600 yards.
At that range, Charlie's AK47 was a spray and pray piece.

Semper Fi


14 posted on 11/15/2005 3:02:22 AM PST by river rat (You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: SLB

You got that right, the bullet is the most important design.


15 posted on 11/15/2005 3:03:54 AM PST by JudgemAll (Condemn me, make me naked and kill me, or be silent for ever on my gun ownership and law enforcement)
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To: JudgemAll

The 5.45mmx39mm Soviet is probably the one I'd start from if we were going to go all new cartridge mode. Base it on that.


16 posted on 11/15/2005 3:06:57 AM PST by Lauretij2
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To: river rat
When your humping 80 to 100 pounds weight becomes the Major consideration. Is there info on that SOCOM gun? I would think that would be one of its features.
17 posted on 11/15/2005 3:15:51 AM PST by Recon Dad (Force Recon Dad (and proud of it))
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To: Lauretij2

I was talking to a colleague who was in Vietnam, and handled both the M14 and M16. He told me the M14 was a far better weapon. He called the M16 "Mattel" from all the plastic.


18 posted on 11/15/2005 3:22:13 AM PST by shekkian
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To: shekkian

I've shot a semi-auto M14, and it is very nice. Kicks pretty good though, and the weight again.

An updated M14 like Sprinfield's SOCOMII would be pretty good. I'm just used to the AR/CAR15 style.

I'm curious to see what the military will end up doing.


19 posted on 11/15/2005 3:24:17 AM PST by Lauretij2
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To: FreedomPoster
If you are going to bring in Barrett's offerings and the subject is penetration, have a look at his semiauto 4-round 25mm "payload" rifle, the XM109......it's the heaviest-caliber assault rifle I've ever heard of.

He also has a close-quarters battle, bobbed version of the M-107/M-82 .50-cal. rifle.

The drawback to a weapon like that in an urban scenario being that, if you miss, or even if you don't, there's a possibility that you accidentally bag Grandma four houses away.

Did someone say, "overpenetration"?

20 posted on 11/15/2005 3:27:22 AM PST by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
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