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

[JASmith]

...At 100-300 meters there is negligible difference in trajectories, even between 5.56 M855 and 7.62 M80. It's at 500-900 meters where the difference in trajectories between bullet types becomes very noticeable...

I guess myopia is in season

I'm pretty sure that adjustable optics are used for the 500-900 meter and beyond environment. This would imply a simple change of hard-copy or electronic range tables.

The picture will be different, of course, when a new cartridge enters service, but we can reasonably forecast that electronic-adjustable sights are not too far around the corner. At that point, absent truly stupid implementation, changing ammunition would require a simple change in drop and drift tables.

No, we don't need to debate the nuances of implementation just now...

So, my vote remains "equal or better" trajectory for our discussions and let the sighting implications sort themselves out.

If the DARPA and other intelligent sight initiatives bear fruit, we'll have a whole different picture, but the one thing that will remain is uncertainty in actual range, and wind variability. These will continue to favor the flatter, better wind-bucking load.

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I'm hoping that these and other debates are helping sharpen recall and writing skills for all of us!!

My wife and others complain that I'm too verbose -- perhaps because there's so much to say!!