"Biting the Bullet"

[Badger]

Here's an interesting artcle sent to me by a friend about what the next military cartridge might be and why. It is interesting to note that the British consider 50% of their engagements to be from 300 – 900 meters.

"Biting the Bullet"


(Click PIC to read and save Adobe PDF File)
(Right Click on PIC and choose "Save Target As..." to download PDF file)
PDF file size = 635k

Regards,
Badger

Information

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[PeteDavis]

Grendel!

[jmoore]

Never satisfied w/ the weapon at hand.

The 6.5's were dropped (or attempted to be dropped by Italy and Japan) by those nations that used them in combat way back for their lack of "stopping power". Its tough finding that magic round that works as well at 0m full auto as at 1000m for precision fire.

What's really stupid is restricting bullet construction, but allowing obliteration by Javelin.

ETA So just how hard is it to made an unstable bullet similar to the .303 MkVII in 5.56? Seems the Soviets sorted it in the 5.45 projectile...

[gunner]

I think it will give 2 standards, the Infantery main weapon is in my opinion the 6.8x 48mm. H&K made a lot of testing on it and it has a good power and a not so heavy recoil. But i think also the 7.62x 51 Nato will stay at the army`s. It has a really good power and works good at the ranges beyond 300m. I`ve made good experiences on them with distances between 300 and 600m. The 5.56mm is for me not a good stuff. It is only good at distances from short up to 100m. We tested this ammo in the G36 and the problem was that the constructed instabillity of the bullet made this round worthless against targets behind thin doors of a car in a distance over 150m. The bullets hit the targets mostly crossways so that it gaves only a dent in the door. To shoot at a target behind a wall was senseless. With the 7.62 round not a problem at all. The only advantage from the 5.56 in my eyes is the low recoil and the less tendency to rise in the full auto mode and the short rifles wich is easier to handle in buildings and you can turn the gun a bit faster than the longer G3 or else.O.K. you can carry more rounds in the same weight as the 7.62mm but for less effectiveness. But these are only my opinions.

Regards

Gunner

[JBS]

Pete, don’t ever lay that rifle down in the grass, it will disappear, great paint job.

I find it amazing how every few years someone comes up with the latest and greatest remake of the original intermediate combat round,,,,, 8mm Kurtz.

Gunner, is the 8 Kurtz still shot over there ?

[RCS]

Early assault rifle cartridges from 1943 to 1977

5.45x39mm Soviet

7.62x39mm Soviet

5.6x39mm (220 Russian)

7.92 Spain (CETME)

4.85 British

except for the 5.6x39mm and 7.92 CETME, all have been used in the M16 series

[gunner]

JBS,

yes it is in use over here. Since 1 or 2 years there is a gunsmith who makes semi autos out of old Sturmgewehr 44 parts and as i heard now they make complete new ones. Also the FG42 and Ppsh41 and the Thompson MP is in stock. But the prices are horrible, the FG42 is at $9000. Here is a part from an Power Point pres. for the weapons development of the US Army.

Regards

Gunner

[Gibbs505]

Interesting article!

[jmoore]

Just had a thought: Rather than a new caliber or weapon, in the short term field a replacement bullet for the steel cored 62gr M855.

Replace that bullet with a lead( or "green" heavy metal) cored 62gr fmj of the same ballistic profile that has either an air space or enclosed polymer tip for maximum unstability upon impact, ala the Mk VII .303" SA round.

No changes would be required to sighting systems except minor rezeroing. Its gotta help!
(no substitute for shot placement, mind you...)

[Gibbs505]

Phased rifle in the 40 watt range.