tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post8345844374245787129..comments2024-03-16T11:54:44.590+01:00Comments on Defence and Freedom: Modern small arms calibresUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-47941938705172634442023-04-14T20:48:46.294+02:002023-04-14T20:48:46.294+02:00This blog text is a bit aged.
The move to higher p...This blog text is a bit aged.<br />The move to higher pressures (EPR round and more recently more extreme cartridge designs) made the smaller calibres more powerful.<br />I'm in favour of 5.56 for dismounted use (simply don't expose yourself to view if your enemies aren't within 300 m!) nowadays.<br />The indecisive harassing fires at longer distances are no good idea anyway.S Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-21244239980733602592023-04-14T19:12:39.448+02:002023-04-14T19:12:39.448+02:00Two points seem important to remember:
1) The Squ...Two points seem important to remember:<br /><br />1) The Squad MG and the Squad Rifle should, ideally, use the same caliber so ammo can be shared and supply is less complicated.<br /><br />2) There can be no one, perfect round for infantry. At best, there must be at least two. One heavy round (full power 7.62) for Open Terrain (Rolling hills, desert, mountains, etc...) and one lighter round (9mm SMG, 5.56, or 7.62X39) for Closed Terrain (Urban combat, dense jungle, etc..)<br /><br />The US has never settled on the best system only because they've had to fight in wars which alternated between the two types of terrain. One system was great for one war and then became less than ideal for the next one. For example, Iraq was mostly urban fighting so the short, light M-4 became popular. Afghanistan was mountain fighting and open terrain so a full power 7.62 round was ideal for long shots across valleys.Big Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-15846537720382139972014-10-11T21:40:00.008+02:002014-10-11T21:40:00.008+02:0012.7 mm ammo is extremely bulky compared to more r...12.7 mm ammo is extremely bulky compared to more rifle-like cartridges, and anything that withstands a .338 is likely built to stop 12.7 mm bullets as well.<br />Furthermore, one could use a 20 mm or a low power 30 mm gun instead of a typical 12.7 mm gun.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-78730068364215180852014-10-11T20:31:31.135+02:002014-10-11T20:31:31.135+02:00I've often thought a 7mm-range cartridge like ...I've often thought a 7mm-range cartridge like the 6.8mm Remington SPC would be a great replacement for both 5.56 and 7.62. It seems to combine many of the benefits of each caliber while sacrificing only a little of the smaller cartridge's light weight or the larger cartridge's range and hitting power.<br /><br />Of course, as you say, a separate cartridge would be needed for dedicated sniper rifles, but we already seem to be moving in that direction with the .338 Lapua, and even 7.62x51mm sniper rifles tend to use non-standard cartridges for maximum range and accuracy.<br /><br />One question, though, if we're going to also standardize on a single cartridge for vehicles, is there any reason not to use the 12.7mm Browning? The lightest vehicle mounts couldn't handle it but our 7mm cartridge might be still be adequate in those roles, and for most vehicles, the 12.7mm cartridge is already widely available and well-proven in countless wars.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03482360611268297449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-66670788783172522432010-12-21T15:43:50.598+01:002010-12-21T15:43:50.598+01:00A well composed piece on this issue, well done!
J...A well composed piece on this issue, well done!<br /><br />JMAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-8848872224194023362009-02-10T19:36:00.000+01:002009-02-10T19:36:00.000+01:00An unitary cartridge for infantry could replace 5....An unitary cartridge for infantry could replace 5.56 and 7.62 in dismounted applications, a unitary cartridge for vehicles could replace 7.62 and 12.7 in mounted applications.<BR/><BR/>I consider a smart mix of 5.56/7.62 acceptable, and two unitary cartridges as superior in performance (but inferior in costs).S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-65447378497955830742009-02-09T18:38:00.000+01:002009-02-09T18:38:00.000+01:00One down side it seems to me with a new perfect ca...One down side it seems to me with a new perfect cartridge. Is that it would make the surrounding cartridge seem out of place. Is the .308 enough of a step up from a 6.perfect to warrant carrying it? Would some non-combative troops find out that 6.perfect is too much gun? It might be a better cartridge, but I think it would have a disruptive on the scheme of arms.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02891026012522167083noreply@blogger.com