04-08-2012, 12:53 AM
Jordanian Secret Service has purchased 6.8 SPC PDW's from LWRC, and there is a totally different lower/upper receiver set on that PDW. The Middle Eastern nations with minority rulers buy all kinds of crazy weapon systems from different countries all the time. It's like a sampling of arms from around the world. You'll see various rifles from H&K, Steyr, the US, former Warsaw Pact, Israel, South Africa, FN, etc.
Their logistics would be a nightmare if they had any. Most of their aviation is maintained by US contractors working for big money after a term or two in the Air Force or Army, or working for one of the aircraft manufacturers/subcomponent manufacturers.
To infer that the 6.8 is gaining widespread military adoption because of the Beduin King's body guard service in Jordan is a bit of a stretch. The Grendel will do everything that the 6.8 will do, even from short barrels, so between the two cartridges for consideration for military use, the Grendel makes way more sense. I still don't see a huge need for anything other than a 5.56 in a PDW though, unless you go below a 10.25" barrel length, which is an extremely small niche market anyway. 10", 11.5", and 12.5" 5.56 carbines generate plenty of velocity, despite what all the claims have been.
There is zero reason to deviate from 5.56 in a carbine for military use. The biggest demand is in quality range time, which is not currently supported by most of the military. Allocation of range and ammo resources, compounded with a lack of institutional prioritization of true practical marksmanship are the main issues. Adoption of a new caliber for carbines would only exacerbate the current situation.
Their logistics would be a nightmare if they had any. Most of their aviation is maintained by US contractors working for big money after a term or two in the Air Force or Army, or working for one of the aircraft manufacturers/subcomponent manufacturers.
To infer that the 6.8 is gaining widespread military adoption because of the Beduin King's body guard service in Jordan is a bit of a stretch. The Grendel will do everything that the 6.8 will do, even from short barrels, so between the two cartridges for consideration for military use, the Grendel makes way more sense. I still don't see a huge need for anything other than a 5.56 in a PDW though, unless you go below a 10.25" barrel length, which is an extremely small niche market anyway. 10", 11.5", and 12.5" 5.56 carbines generate plenty of velocity, despite what all the claims have been.
There is zero reason to deviate from 5.56 in a carbine for military use. The biggest demand is in quality range time, which is not currently supported by most of the military. Allocation of range and ammo resources, compounded with a lack of institutional prioritization of true practical marksmanship are the main issues. Adoption of a new caliber for carbines would only exacerbate the current situation.