04-25-2011, 02:10 PM
The British analysis I was reading reckoned that a relatively long bullet with a sharp point rather than a flat meplat (but not so sharp as to be easily damaged) aided rapid upset. Obviously, a steel core helps to increase the length but it needs to stay below the 6:1 L/D ratio.
Another solution was used by the old British .303 inch Mk VII ball, which had a light-alloy (or other lightweight) tip filler, putting the centre of mass well to the rear.
My intention is not to increase battlefield lethality or range over the 7.62mm M80, but to match them in a smaller and lighter-recoiling package which could also replace the 5.56mm.
I don't see why such a bullet need be any more expensive than the M855A1 or even the M855, which are already complicated bullets to make.
If there is a problem with the range being too long for some places, then the approach already in place for .50 cal (and being developed in 7.62mm) can be adopted: design a training bullet which matches the trajectory of the ball round out to a certain distance, then loses stability and falls to the ground much sooner than usual.
I'm not specifically arguing for the Grendel gun or even the ammo, but for a long-range medium-powered round somewhere in the 6.5-7mm calibre range. The Grendel is currently the closest available round at the bottom end of that range, which is why I'm interested in it: it would make a good test-bed.
Another solution was used by the old British .303 inch Mk VII ball, which had a light-alloy (or other lightweight) tip filler, putting the centre of mass well to the rear.
My intention is not to increase battlefield lethality or range over the 7.62mm M80, but to match them in a smaller and lighter-recoiling package which could also replace the 5.56mm.
I don't see why such a bullet need be any more expensive than the M855A1 or even the M855, which are already complicated bullets to make.
If there is a problem with the range being too long for some places, then the approach already in place for .50 cal (and being developed in 7.62mm) can be adopted: design a training bullet which matches the trajectory of the ball round out to a certain distance, then loses stability and falls to the ground much sooner than usual.
I'm not specifically arguing for the Grendel gun or even the ammo, but for a long-range medium-powered round somewhere in the 6.5-7mm calibre range. The Grendel is currently the closest available round at the bottom end of that range, which is why I'm interested in it: it would make a good test-bed.