Requirements for Replacement of Currently Issued 5.56 M-855 and 7.62 M-80.

[stanc]

The biggest obstacles to a one-caliber system are the varying performance requirements for a combined arms team. What I want a bullet to do in the house, forest, and city streets from my carbine with riflemen is almost opposite of what I want it to do from my LMG's at 200-900m. The weight penalties to favor an LMG performance envelope prohibit the close-in fight envelope from a practical standpoint.

Granted, the one-caliber approach is not ideal for close combat, but it was used quite successfully for that purpose by US infantrymen in WWII and Korea. And they used a rifle which was nearly four feet long, too!

To say that CQB is only practical with a short-barrel, telescoping-stock carbine and minimum-size cartridge is contradicted by history.