[Long Cut]

Didn't Armalite chamber one version of their AR-10 in that caliber? It does sound like the correct path, at least. Hopefully more serious work will be done on the problem. At the least, we should try some different actions besides the direct-gas system of the M16.

I would like to see what American arms designers could do with such things as gas-pistons(AK, M14,), or delayed-recoil(Browning M2, Thompson) and a cartridge such as the .243.

BTW, I also don't think we need all the geegaws we seem to hang or attach to the rifle. What we need is something which follows the concept of RAM-D(Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Dependability) first and only then play with the toys. Weapons following this concept well are much liked. Witness the affection of older vets for the M-1/M-14 rifles. It's near universal. The M16 has been "controversial" for 40 years, and is still viewed with suspicion by a great many who use it.

This alone should tell us something about what to replace it with.

[mouser]

when you take into consideration weight and all factors
i would like to see them try a mini 30 or beefed up
m-16 in 6mm ppc it gives you a lot for not any more recoil
and not much more weight i would want a 85 to 90 gr bullet

[AmericanDave]

Yes, Armalite has the AR-10 .308 for that modern look and good old reach out and touch someone range! I guess someone in DOD has ruled out the .308 caliber period...........

[Redleg Duke]

Yes, Armalite has the M-10 in 7.62 Nato and it is one sweet machine.