05-17-2011, 04:16 AM
I am sure that such a lighweight portable MG using much lighter ammo would be very popular with the troops. What it would have to do in order to be accepted is to convince the bean counters that the advantages are worth the cost of the calibre change, compared with the lightweight 7.62mm MK48 or a PKM converted to 7.62mm NATO, as a couple of east European companies are offering.
One detailed point on the question of bore vs. bullet diameters; the military practice is of course to use bore diameters in designations, so the bullets are always a bit larger. 5.56mm uses 5.69mm bullets, 6.5mm uses 6.71mm, 6.8mm uses 7.04mm, 7mm uses 7.21mm and 7.62mm uses 7.82mm. (Edit: I see I was beaten to this point by Stan!)
One detailed point on the question of bore vs. bullet diameters; the military practice is of course to use bore diameters in designations, so the bullets are always a bit larger. 5.56mm uses 5.69mm bullets, 6.5mm uses 6.71mm, 6.8mm uses 7.04mm, 7mm uses 7.21mm and 7.62mm uses 7.82mm. (Edit: I see I was beaten to this point by Stan!)