05-07-2012, 06:40 PM
The SAW is an 800m weapon for area targets, as are DM weapons for suppression. A 7.62 DMR with a well-trained shooter in lower winds can be an effective 800m weapon if he uses someone to spot for him with capable optics.
As far as riflemen go, many will be awe-stricken at the thought of something new or cool, until they have to carry it. (Surveying 1st-term riflemen is not a good way to determine caliber appropriateness, as they have a very limited understanding of their role in the big picture.) Then anything heavier than 5.56 will become an albatross real quick, and buyer's remorse will occur within the 1st few minutes of a field exercise with it if it is adopted for all riflemen. The bean-counters will see quickly how dismounted and even mounted units are requiring re-supplies more often, and have significantly reduced combat endurance compared to what we have now with 5.56, and it will be back to the M60/M14 fiasco all over again.
The 5.56 is not just superior at CQB distances, but out to 150m, where most riflemen engagements will occur. For the 300m-800m distances, it would be an advantage to have DMR's and LMG's with something roughly equating 7.62 NATO capabilities, with less weight and recoil, from lighter platforms than the SAW and M14EBR or M110 SASS. An 18" Grendel SPR/DMR would weigh less than even a 5.56 SPR with the same barrel length/profile, so we just need a new LMG that weighs half of what a SAW does. That is the main code to crack, as I would lean towards a 5.56 SPR with the 77gr or maybe even a different projectile suited to better performance at 700yds, and still cross-compatible with the riflemen in the squad carrying M4A1 SOPMOD Block II's.
I would also like to see lightweight barrel M4 Mk18 CQBR-type blasters for the FO, RTO, PL, PSG, SL, Combat Medic, and others who are in leadership or direct support duty positions that only require them to engage targets with their carbine in a worst-case, getting overrun type scenario. An 11.5" barrel would be better in that regard, but a smaller, lighter carbine without the leftovers from the M16A2, like the heavy forend barrel.
Either way, the new LMG needs to be the primary focus, as that is the weak point right now.
As far as riflemen go, many will be awe-stricken at the thought of something new or cool, until they have to carry it. (Surveying 1st-term riflemen is not a good way to determine caliber appropriateness, as they have a very limited understanding of their role in the big picture.) Then anything heavier than 5.56 will become an albatross real quick, and buyer's remorse will occur within the 1st few minutes of a field exercise with it if it is adopted for all riflemen. The bean-counters will see quickly how dismounted and even mounted units are requiring re-supplies more often, and have significantly reduced combat endurance compared to what we have now with 5.56, and it will be back to the M60/M14 fiasco all over again.
The 5.56 is not just superior at CQB distances, but out to 150m, where most riflemen engagements will occur. For the 300m-800m distances, it would be an advantage to have DMR's and LMG's with something roughly equating 7.62 NATO capabilities, with less weight and recoil, from lighter platforms than the SAW and M14EBR or M110 SASS. An 18" Grendel SPR/DMR would weigh less than even a 5.56 SPR with the same barrel length/profile, so we just need a new LMG that weighs half of what a SAW does. That is the main code to crack, as I would lean towards a 5.56 SPR with the 77gr or maybe even a different projectile suited to better performance at 700yds, and still cross-compatible with the riflemen in the squad carrying M4A1 SOPMOD Block II's.
I would also like to see lightweight barrel M4 Mk18 CQBR-type blasters for the FO, RTO, PL, PSG, SL, Combat Medic, and others who are in leadership or direct support duty positions that only require them to engage targets with their carbine in a worst-case, getting overrun type scenario. An 11.5" barrel would be better in that regard, but a smaller, lighter carbine without the leftovers from the M16A2, like the heavy forend barrel.
Either way, the new LMG needs to be the primary focus, as that is the weak point right now.