Grendel as a Universal Infantry Cartridge

[LRRPF52]

That would be no worse than Joe slinging 62gr projectiles in CQB situation, with poor tactics and inadequate battlefield awareness.

The more I think about the more I'm a proponent of Joe slinging a 200-230gr projectile in CQB environments. A 10mm or 45acp. Adequate energy at the muzzle and it sheds that energy relatively quickly. This is assuming we use "Open Tip Projectiles".

A 120-130gr pill retains a lot of energy, but also requires a lot of energy to be spit forth, so shot recovery suffers above certain pressures. With 5.56, shot recovery is excellent. Anything pistol caliber is out of the question, since I need my guys to be able to reach out to 300-400yds once we pass through the buildings, or even set-up overwatch in the buildings. 5.56 also does significantly more damage than .45 or 10mm HP's, not even close. 5.56 will fillet legs and arms, canoe heads, and pulverize lungs and hearts. Pistol calibers pretty much suck equally at causing damage to people. I've seen several examples of both, including being shot personally by 9mm, and I'm infinitely glad that I wasn't shot with 5.56 NATO.

Then get back to the soldier's load issues, resupply after contact, combat endurance...it's hard to argue with 5.56 and 5.45 Russian for riflemen.