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2010-06-27 Science & Technology

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Posted by Jeremiah Flainter9609 2010-06-27 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11126 views ] Top

#1 I've never really liked the looks of them...they seem far too bulky to me.

Posted by Silentbrick 2010-06-27 00:55|| 2010-06-27 00:55|| Front Page Top

#2 They like the SCAR Heavy, the 7.62x51 version.

Can't blame them, as the 5.56 SCAR, while a good rifle, offered no advantage in lethality over the M4. It is a cartridge issue. Make the 5.56x45 into a .30 caliber version, the 7.62x45 based on the 5.56x45 case, and lethality issues are resolved, equipment costs are minimized (only a barrel and cartridge change, all rifles in service can be converted, same magazines, upper receivers and bolts are used) and you have a low cost solution in hand.

There will be a lot of relieved troops, operators, and US suppliers with this decision. Now let's see what they do about the core problem, the cartridge.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2010-06-27 05:07|| 2010-06-27 05:07|| Front Page Top

#3 I think that they should just go with the 6.8mm SPC II and be done with it. That caliber has 200 meters on the 5.56, weighs less than 7.62 NATO, and is controllable in full auto. Basically, it makes an M-16/M-4 a 550 meter rifle, with more knockdown power and only about a 20% reduction in ammo carriage.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2010-06-27 08:11|| 2010-06-27 08:11|| Front Page Top

#4 Small calibers are for peacetime armies. With the grind of extended combat, combat personnel will invariably call for larger and more powerful, and more of it.

Case in point were some of the combat aircraft near the end of WWII, that were just bristling with guns, and could barely get off the ground with a full load of ammo.

Experienced combat infantry no longer complain about the heft of arms and ammo, as long as it is visibly better than what they had before.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-06-27 10:19|| 2010-06-27 10:19|| Front Page Top

#5 "Whatever will Modern Warfare 2 players do now?"

always preferred the M-95 myself.....

Posted by Phomorong the Imposter7548 2010-06-27 18:50|| 2010-06-27 18:50|| Front Page Top

#6 Given the apparent last-minute aspect of the cancellation, I suspect that it has to do with the articles a few weeks ago about the .556 being too short-ranged for the Afghan distances as compared to jungle or urban conflict.

Posted by Mercutio 2010-06-27 18:52|| 2010-06-27 18:52|| Front Page Top

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