Posted on May 18, 2017
Here's What Gen. Scales Thinks The Next Infantry Rifle Should Look Like
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Great "Ideas", and we should work toward it, but let's get a decent caliber while we wait.
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"Its lack of mass limits its range to less than 400 meters. The civilian version of the 5.56‐mm bullet was designed as a “varmint killer” and six states prohibit its use for deer hunting because it is not lethal enough to ensure a quick kill." Ah, those laws were on the books long before there was even such thing as the 5.56. They were made to keep people from hunting with a .22LR. Which is inhuman and hence the law. Not even relevant.
"The optimum caliber for tomorrow’s rifle is between 6.5 and 7 millimeters. The cartridge could be made almost as light as the older brass‐cased 5.56‐mm by using a plastic shell casing, which is now in final development by the Marine Corps." The 6.5 is a better round. It's ballistic coefficient is better. That means it will fly further and faster for longer ranges. Plastic cases don't work. They tend to blow guns up. The last 10 years has produced zero practical polymer cased rounds. To go along with that the weight savings is .002 ounces that converts to a full combat load of 4.2 ounces or 1/4 of a pound. Is it really worth it dumping millions into R/D for that kind of return?
Computer miniaturization now allows precision to be squeezed into a rifle sight. All an infantryman using a rifle equipped with a new‐model sight need do is place a red dot on his target and push a button at the front of his trigger guard; a computer on his rifle will take into account data like range and “lead angle” to compensate for the movement of his target, and then automatically fire when the hit is guaranteed. This rifle sight can “see” the enemy soldier day or night at ranges well beyond 600 meters. A what?? A lasering, computing, BDC, thermal imaging, self adjusting scope. Well there goes they 1/4 pound and then add 50 to it.
Unrealistic expectations do not create realistic outcomes.
"The optimum caliber for tomorrow’s rifle is between 6.5 and 7 millimeters. The cartridge could be made almost as light as the older brass‐cased 5.56‐mm by using a plastic shell casing, which is now in final development by the Marine Corps." The 6.5 is a better round. It's ballistic coefficient is better. That means it will fly further and faster for longer ranges. Plastic cases don't work. They tend to blow guns up. The last 10 years has produced zero practical polymer cased rounds. To go along with that the weight savings is .002 ounces that converts to a full combat load of 4.2 ounces or 1/4 of a pound. Is it really worth it dumping millions into R/D for that kind of return?
Computer miniaturization now allows precision to be squeezed into a rifle sight. All an infantryman using a rifle equipped with a new‐model sight need do is place a red dot on his target and push a button at the front of his trigger guard; a computer on his rifle will take into account data like range and “lead angle” to compensate for the movement of his target, and then automatically fire when the hit is guaranteed. This rifle sight can “see” the enemy soldier day or night at ranges well beyond 600 meters. A what?? A lasering, computing, BDC, thermal imaging, self adjusting scope. Well there goes they 1/4 pound and then add 50 to it.
Unrealistic expectations do not create realistic outcomes.
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
SGT William Howell Common sense dictates .22LR is not good for deer, the fact laws had to be put in place for this is kind of sad. That being said I was not aware that there were laws against it, again because it is kind of common sense. As for a plastic casing, Shotgun shells. As you said, not applicable to the situation, but it is a successful plastic cased round. As for the scope, the only thing missing is a robot that deploys asking the enemy combatant to stand still, and turn a little to the side so that it is a solid hit.
I agree with you that developing a rifle that will use the 6.5MM Cartridge is a good idea.
I agree with you that developing a rifle that will use the 6.5MM Cartridge is a good idea.
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