.264 USA on TFB

[stanc]

6.5 Grendel is still the answer. Still compact, both weapons and ammo. Recoil still at max for newly trained troops. Performance well balanced with all the rest. Only thing against it is Not Invented Here syndrome.

Want more velocity from an 11.5 inch barrel? Use a copper slug M855A1 analog in 6.5mm weighing, oh, 95 grains in 6.5 Grendel.

Yes, you can boost MV by using such an ultra-lightweight bullet, but then BC will go in the crapper and take long range performance down with it.
While I agree that 6.5 Grendel would be a better choice for carbines, I think .264 USA would be superior to replace 7.62 NATO for machine guns.



All things considered, it looks to me like they want a "do over" of the one-caliber/one-gun concept that gave us the 7.62 NATO cartridge and M14 rifle.
Except this time they're going with a cartridge of more reasonable power, and a modular weapon that can be configured as SMG, carbine, and DMR.