Optimized Caliber

[LR1955]

By willingly carrying 7.62mm weapons instead of 5.56mm, the troops in Afghanistan have demonstrated that range and lethality can override weight in their priority order.

Tony:

Joes tend to believe anything bigger must be better. Few if any have the skills to prove it. They see a bigger cartridge like a round of M-80 and think it is more effective than their round of 5.56.

What conventional forces have the option of carrying a 7.62 rifle over their issued M-4? I know there are EBRs and M-110's out there but they are not for general issue.

Please link us to a study that proves in quantitative (not qualitative) terms that hit and kill ratios in Afghanistan were significantly higher at distances from 300 to 600 meters because someone had a issued 7.62 carbine firing issued M-80 Ball as opposed to a 5.56 carbine firing issued M-855. And that the same study quantitatively proves that range overrides lethality and that range and lethality, range only, or lethality only override weight.

Just because someone carries a specific anything that is different from standard issue doesn't mean it is better.

LR1955