So guys,after 56 odd years, there is finally a replacement for the venerable M16icon and it's variants in US Army service. A slow creeping replacement that is, with a brand new rifle and new calibre.

Sig's MX5 and their 6.8x51mm round will slowly roll out and replace the M4.

The MX5 appears to be a relatively 'safe' route to take, nothing overly revolutionary or risky, it's a aluminium upper and lower rifle, rotating bolt, short stroke piston design with controls that will be immediately comfortable to anyone used to an AR15.

The rifle uses both a non reciprocating side charging handle and a 'T' rear charger.

The biggest surprise is the calibre, so much for intermediate! 6.8x51 is a very powerful round by all accounts, very high pressures too...

You can bet all the major manufacturers are scrambling to design new rifles for the new calibre, possibly adaptations of AR10 designs, somewhat beefed up to take the chamber pressure of the new round.

I assume NATO will adopt the new calibre too, certainly the MX5 looks to be one hell of a piece of hard hitting kit, I would suppose the M240 'could' be re-barreled for the new calibre, if it can take the stress of the new round?
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