PDWs...and other small arms.

[Texas]

6.5 Grendel with an M855A1 projectile does have arms defeat advantage over M855A1 5.56, and will perforate the CRISAT test at 400m from a 14.5" barrel.

Sectional density and length of projectile to depth of armor shows significant advantage to 6.5mm, as well as BC and retained impact speed or momentum at distance.

Not saying 6.5 Grendel should be a 5.56 replacement, just something to consider.



If one of the main objections to a new PDW cartridge is adding an additional DODIC to the system, then we really should be looking at letting 9mm and 7.62 NATO being left in the 20th Century, and maybe even 5.56 NATO.

A smart move would be to develop a PDW cartridge that is also suitable for a good portion of the Combat Arms Duty positions that are not specifically tasked with engaging the enemy with their primary weapon unless in the defense or in an overrun scenario. Guys like key leaders, RTOs, Ammo Bearers, Assistant Machine Gunners, Forward Observers, JTACs, TAC-Ps, Stinger Gunners, Javelin Gunners, Carl Gustav Gunners, etc.

None of them should be carrying a 9mm pistol. All of them should be carrying a small PDW that is effective out to 300m, but fits in a smaller package than 5.56 NATO, like the 6x35 KAC PDW updated with a better projectile in the form of M855A1.

If that 6x35 PDW was dusted off with engineered propellant, a higher BC, and copper core with steel penetrator construction, you could have something that would do as well as 5.56 NATO M855A1 by making up for MV with BC, while allowing many more magazines to be carried than is currently feasible. Even 5.56 mags become more difficult to carry with out armor. I used to be able to carry a double basic load before Interceptor IOTV and SAAPI plates. Now you have man units who go with an SOP that is less than the older 210 rounds basic load for the M16/M4.

With an improved 6x35 PDW, you could carry 1.5x as many mags as with NATO 5.56 STANAG mags, and have better terminal performance than M855, with higher hit probability than M855A1 5.56 by going with much higher BC.

Have a dismounted cartridge mix of:

PDW/Enhanced Infantry Rifle Cartridge for most soldiers
DM/Light SASS 6.5mm cartridge
6.5mm LSAT (which exceeds 7.62x54R performance)

These would replace the aging 9mm, 5.56 NATO, and 7.62 NATO systems and all their penalties and limitations. 9mm has no place outside the wire, 7.62 NATO is too heavy with not enough juice for the squeeze, and 5.56 suffers from too long of a case with no room for ogive length to increase BC like 5.45x39 has.

WE ARE IN VIOLENT AGREEMENT! Keeping the same demensions in the joining of the M16 upper and lower, the diameter to the upper could be increased to provide stronger webbing to the bolt/barrel lockup which would allow for higher pressures/velocities and REPLACE THE 5.56 and 7.62 which would simplify the supply chain significantly.