Replies

Thanks for the props, but I only posted what I thought was an interesting article with a lot of implications. All the pros here, like Archy and Travis and Squantos, provided the lion's share of the useful info and opinions.

I am pleased as punch that this thread has turned out this way. Good, solid information from true professionals has flowed like water here, and has washed the misinformation away with it. I have learned a great deal here, and hope to learn much more about the subject at hand. While I'm a military member, my job does not require the carrying of personal weapons (unfortunately...there's been times I wished it DID, being unarmed in a war is disquieting), but I've long been highly interested in them, from swords all the way to toys like the XM-8. Their function, abilities, and their tactical employment fascinate me no end, and this thread has become a valuable resource in that regard.

I plan to keep it going as long as possible, and to update its central topic as information becomes available. it is my fond hope that those knowledgeable professionals who have made it so informative will continue to do so.

While I'm a military member, my job does not require the carrying of personal weapons (unfortunately...there's been times I wished it DID, being unarmed in a war is disquieting), but I've long been highly interested in them, from swords all the way to toys like the XM-8.

Kewl! So if by chance an XM8, hopefully refined to M8 standard by then, should come your way as either an issue piece or a personal purchase item, what sort of sword do ou figure would make a good partner item to go with it.

Sure, a bayonet or fighting knife is the most probably useful companion item for one such, but it doesn't hurt to have either the skills or attitude that goes with the wear of edged cold steel for defence, whether silent methods are preferred over noisy ones or should ammo be limited for expenditure on any but the most high-profile hostile targets.

Plenty of room for varied opinion here too, likely based on wide variances of training and maybe a personal experience or two. I've yet to actually use a sword in a lethal confrontation, but once swung an entrenching tool during an interpersonal dispute that came pretty close.

Here's some stuff I just came across :

re: .223 -

" The soldier's satisfaction turned South in the Somilia days, when it took multiple hits from SS109 projectiles, to bring down a 110 lb. Somilian militiaman that was hopped up on an amphetamine type plant, called "khat" or "khack", memory does not serve. I remember one instance where one of the bad guys soaked up between 8 and 11 hits before he cashed it in. One of the Delta boys that was awarded the CMH postumously did not trust the 109 round, and went into the fight with an M14. He and two others held the line literally to the last cartridge."

re: 6.8 SPC -

"This is a reply to the guess work all the supposed smart people are doing on the 6.8x43mm. It would appear that our operational security is working real well. But here are a few bits for you guys to chew on. Its not made from a .25 Rem. case, or reforming .223 brass, how do I know, I designed it. It has nearly the same flight path as the 7.62x51mm M80 ball round out to 650 meters. Delivers approx 4 times the energy on target at 300 meters compared to a SS109 round. The gel block tests are awesome. It drops a 150-300 lbs feral hogs like an axe, also works great on whitetails.

My first choice was 7mm projectiles, but the users wanted something with a flatter trajectory, closer to the 5.56. Tested all calibers 6mm, 6.5mm, .25, 6.8 (.270 for Americans, oh actually the Chinese came up with the 6.8x63mm in the 1930s), didn't do much testing in .30, because it would only be an American M43 cartridge. This was not a private endeavourer nor a fully sanctioned government project, just users and a gun builder making a better product for our guys on the ground, in harms way."

It was also pointed out that the case head is the same size as the .30-30, only rimless !