Lawmakers press for better rifles, bigger bullets for soldiers, Marines

[rangerrebew]

Lawmakers press for better rifles, bigger bullets for soldiers, Marines

By: Todd South, May 20, 2017
As the Army continues to develop a potential replacement for the M4, for a handful of senators, replacing the carbine and 5.56 mm round with a new bullet and better rifle is a no brainer.

During a Senate Armed Services Committee subcommittee hearing this week, members heard testimony from two retired Army generals who have been staunch advocates for getting a new rifle into the hands of at least infantry and special operations troops.

https://www.armytimes.com/articles/lawmakers-press-for-better-rifles-bigger-bullets-for-soldiers-marines

[Elderberry]

Go with the FN SCAR 17S



I sure like shooting my Son's.

[geronl]

Phaser rifles for all.

[Old Warrior in Exile]

I was out of the loop for a while and never heard why the U.S. agreed to go to the 5.56mm NATO round in preference to the 7.62mm.



The 7.62mm was larger in mass and had stopping power superior to the 5.56mm.
I mean, that's what we want our boys to do, right? Locate, close with and kill the enemy, no?

Give them anything and everything they need.

[Fishrrman]

Old Warrior wrote:
"The 7.62mm was larger in mass and had stopping power superior to the 5.56mm.
I mean, that's what we want our boys to do, right? Locate, close with and kill the enemy, no?"

Wasn't one of the primary reasons NATO adapter the smaller round was because it did NOT kill as much as wound, and the theory was that more resources [of the enemy] were wasted in caring for wounded soldiers than dead ones?

[geronl]

miniature rail guns

[driftdiver]

Old Warrior wrote:
"The 7.62mm was larger in mass and had stopping power superior to the 5.56mm.
I mean, that's what we want our boys to do, right? Locate, close with and kill the enemy, no?"

Wasn't one of the primary reasons NATO adapter the smaller round was because it did NOT kill as much as wound, and the theory was that more resources [of the enemy] were wasted in caring for wounded soldiers than dead ones?

That and our troops could carry more rounds.

[geronl]

I thought it was a compromise and  the French wanted even smaller rounds...



The caption where I found it: Get out of there bullets. You are not screws, you are bullets. You are not even threaded

[rangerrebew]

How much weight do larger bullets add to the soldier's load?  I know they are toying with biodegradable rounds which might help.

[Doug Loss]

How much weight do larger bullets add to the soldier's load?  I know they are toying with biodegradable rounds which might help.

Biodegradable rounds wouldn't make any difference to the loadout.  Polymer casings might, though.  All said, the intention is to go to a larger, heavier round to increase the effective range.  5.56 was adequate in jungle settings where the average engagement was fairly close, but elsewhere it doesn't have the needed ability to put metal on target (effectively) at range.