Optimized Caliber

[stanc]

I was browsing Tony Williams' forum tonight. They, too, have had endless discussions/debates about designing a cartridge that could replace 7.62 NATO. Apparently they've settled on what they call a 6.5/8/800 (6.5mm 8-gram bullet @ 800 m/sec).

One member suggests using an AR-10 in 6.5 Creedmore as a proof-of-concept demonstrator.

...to quickly evaluate the 6.5/8/800 concept from an assault rifle, then an AR10 clone with a 16" bbl like the L129 (with select fire option) chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor might be a good start IMO.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/m...msg=5041.3

...a quick and cheap capability demonstrator one could use to help prove and sell the concept of 6.5/8/800 from a performance standpoint. It would demonstrate the superior exterior ballistics, demonstrate terminal ballistics, and demonstrate controllability of such a cartridge.

It would also be easy to convert a Mk48 LMG over to 6.5mm Creedmoor or 6.5x47mm Lapua to demonstrate the capability of the 6.5/8/800 concept to replace 7.62mm NATO in the machinegun role.

I may be wrong but I think the military brass may need to be sold on the need for, and the capabilities of, a 6.5/8/800 type cartridge before they can be sold an actual idealized 6.5/8/800 cartridge.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/m...msg=5041.5

Unfortunately, nobody seems interested in getting a gun and actually shooting it to see if reality matches their theory.



Another thread of possible interest:

I have been involved in a fairly lengthy industry discussion about medium caliber military cartridges. Now that everyone has access to basic ballistic calculators, there is some doubt about whether our ideal 6.5 mm to 7 mm cartridge would offer a significant enough weight saving versus 7.62 mm to justify adoption. In order to achieve a flat trajectory and to match 7.62 mm at 1,000 metres, it is argued that we would need a cartridge that's quite close to the M80 in size, volume and weight.

Cris Murray's 6.86 mm UIAC is an example of the problem: clearly a very good cartridge. But the weight saving isn't even 10%.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/m...msg=5023.1